Winter/Spring 2022 Pupdate

CNIB Guide Dog Trainers walking CNIB Future Guide Dogs Scout, Jamie, Calah, and Graham at the CNIB Canine Campus

Read the latest on our pups’ journeys!

Friend,

As a monthly supporter of our program, you’re receiving this inside look at the journeys of four of our newest future guide dogs: Jamie, Calah, Graham, and Scout! Previous Pupdates can be found at this link.

Winter 2022 has been an eventful one! In February, Puppy Raisers said goodbye to Graham, Calah, Scout, and Jamie as the pups moved into formal training at our Canine Campus in Carleton Place, Ontario.

Future guide dogs spend their first eight weeks of life with their mother and siblings. From there, they are placed with a volunteer Puppy Raiser, where they learn the fundamentals of being a good canine citizen. At around 12-15 months, pups progress to formal training at the CNIB Canine Campus where they work with a trainer to learn all aspects of guide dog mobility.

Throughout this intensive process, we are always working to determine which dogs are best suited to becoming a guide dog, taking on the responsibility of guiding; or if another career would be a better fit.

Formal training is made up of basic and, later, advanced training. Basic training starts when pups arrive at Canine Campus, where they’ll spend the next six months. For the first week or so, the trainer spends time bonding with their new dog. They will sit with them, groom, play, and start basic obedience exercises, often with the use of a clicker. Early walks are in quiet areas.

Each of the dogs has now been introduced to the harness and paired with a trainer who will help them navigate the journey ahead. Read on to find out how their first months have gone!

Training in Action

Future CNIB Guide Dog Jamie, a golden retriever, wearing his harness. His trainer is walking with him through a ladder as part of his training at the CNIB Canine Campus

Future CNIB Guide Dog Graham, a Labrador retriever, is wearing his harness and walking beside his trainer at CNIB Canine Campus.

Future CNIB Guide Dog Scout, a golden retriever, is wearing her harness and closely following her trainer’s instructions at the CNIB Canine Campus.

Future CNIB Guide Dog Calah, a Labrador retriever, is wearing her harness and is sitting on a training raiser, patiently following her trainer’s command.

Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Jamie, Scout, Calah, and Graham.

Training Update

Scout, a fluffy golden retriever, sits smiling with her tongue out on her ergonomic dog bed

Name: Scout
Entered program: March 2021
Sex: Female
Breed: Golden retriever

Scout is settling in great at the Canine Campus! She has fantastic leash manners, walks in a graceful heel, and keeps a slower pace. Scout is gentle and extremely friendly to both people and other dogs, and she loves to use her nose to discover the world.

Scout is pictured above on her ergonomic bed in her dog pod. These beds are very comfortable for the dogs and are large enough for two – or even three! – to cuddle up together. Dog pods are very large and are more like dog bedrooms than kennels. They have glass walls, so the dogs can feel like they’re a part of what’s going on in the Canine Campus office area. Dogs live with up to four or five other dogs in the pods. This is important to keeping these social animals happy and stress-free during their stay at the Canine Campus.

During the day, Scout is busy learning new obedience skills and cues. When she is familiar with a cue, she is sharp and willing to work, but if she is confused or unsure, she takes her time to think it through. Scout and her trainer are working on building a bond and slowly introducing new skills. Scout loves her new friends at the Canine Campus and being able to free run in the field!

Jamie, a golden retriever, stands with his front paws on a blue riser as part of his training. He is looking directly up at the camera and smiling.

Name: Jamie
Entered program: March 2021
Sex: Male
Breed: Golden retriever

Jamie is friendly, loving, and playful. His kennel mates absolutely adore him! He has settled in at the Canine Campus and is very comfortable with his new environment. Jamie is a true golden: he LOVES people, wants to meet everyone, and cherishes all the attention.

Jamie is already attached to his trainer! When she walks into the Canine Centre, he is as happy as can be. Jamie is learning to control his excitement, however, because he does have a habit of jumping up on people to say “hello.” He’s working hard with his trainer to keep “off,” and he is learning that he will receive love if he is sitting or standing (on four legs, not two!) when greeting people. Jamie is not very food motivated, so praise and love work better than kibble as positive reinforcement.

On lead, Jamie occasionally pulls, so his trainer is working on getting him to steady and heel before moving on. With some consistency, a little persistence, and a lot of love, he should learn that it’s always better to be closer to the person holding the lead.

Jamie’s trainer says he has been an absolute joy to train! He has adapted well to the Canine Campus. He is smart, loving, and obedient, and is showing wonderful Guide Dog potential so far.

Calah, a black Labrador retriever, sits wearing her new CNIB Guide Dogs harness while her trainer looks down at her, smiling.

Name: Calah
Entered program: February 2021
Sex: Female
Breed: Labrador retriever

Calah is doing very well in this new stage of training. She is willing, responsive, and attentive, and has bonded to her trainer, Rebecca (pictured above), quite quickly!

Calah’s standard of obedience is high, and she is very willing to please. As part of the move to Canine Campus, pups progress from their yellow puppy vest into a training harness. While Calah was initially hesitant to accept the new harness, she has now done many walks while wearing it and is picking up guiding tasks with ease.

Calah does have some separation anxiety, which is something she has been slowly working through with her trainer. She has made some improvement and is gaining more confidence. Calah loves to free run with the other dogs and gets along well with them. Calah’s trainer says she is a pleasure to train and is very happy with her progress so far.

Graham, a yellow Labrador retriever lays on his comfy dog bed, smiling.

Name: Graham
Entered program: February 2021
Sex: Male
Breed: Labrador retriever

Graham is a very enthusiastic and energetic dog with a sensitive side. He came into formal training on February 2nd, 2022.

Graham listens best when bonded to a handler. He is calm and composed in familiar and predictable environments but can easily be distracted when in unfamiliar places.

Since arriving at the Canine Campus, Graham has visited local malls, shops, and his trainer’s home! Current goals for Graham are getting him comfortable wearing his harness (with and without the handle attached), being able to focus despite distractions being present, assuming the appropriate guiding position, and responding to speed change cues.

It's important that Graham master these skills so that he is able to advance to the next stage of training. Learn more about our career options for dogs.

Your monthly gift is making incredible things possible for people with sight loss across Canada. Thanks to you, our future guide dogs will receive everything they need in early and advanced training – and throughout their working lives until they retire around age 10. Scout, Jamie, Calah, and Graham couldn’t do this remarkable work without donors like you. Thank you!

Warmly,

Andrea Critch
Program Lead, Puppy Raising Supervisor

P.S. Looking for previous Pupdates? You can read them at this link !

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