By Emma Jo Haden, Breeding Stock Host As a little girl, I was fascinated by a guide dog donation statue that sat in the front of the store where my Nanna worked. It had a real leather harness, and I ...

By Gretchen Preston, Leader Dog Handler Cold, wind, rain or snow may force an occasional “inside” day. Excessive heat, high humidity or just having a busy day may restrict your Leader Dog's daily exercise routine. Leader Dog client Gretchen Preston ...

When Amy Chevalier’s daughter, Samantha, began taking her first steps, Amy came to a realization. The diabetic retinopathy that had progressed rapidly during her pregnancy had left her legally blind, and her daughter’s exploration of the world around her could ...

A Letter from Mike Garrigan, Leader Dog Client I woke up Sunday morning thinking I was still at Leader Dog—mentally getting ready for another day of instruction and O&M challenges. I really was looking forward to another day. From the ...

© Jeffrey D. Etheridge There is no shortage of preparation needed for heading off to college, but being unable to visually orient yourself to a large, busy campus adds another layer of complexity. “We spent three and a half days ...

By Maggie Winn, COMS As a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), I know the demands of our field, the constant need for recruitment, and the caseloads and territories that can be simply unmanageable. At Leader Dogs for the Blind ...

One of the aspects that Carolyn (pictured above) considers when evaluating a dog for the breeding program is their willingness to stand calmly and be handled. By Carolyn Whitesell, breeding program manager What is involved in breeding dogs here at ...

By Melissa Spooner, LVT, coordinator of Prison Puppies Prison Puppies allows inmates to raise guide dog candidates for Leader Dogs for the Blind. Prison Puppies has proven to be a win, win, win initiative with inmates developing responsibility and positive ...

I was born in Minnesota and lived in California and Wisconsin before making my way to Michigan after college. Unfortunately, my dog passed away after I retired from a career in government contracting. I thought about getting another dog, but ...

We were first introduced to Leader Dogs for the Blind (LDB) during the summer of 2005 while walking our Labrador retriever, Alta. Someone hosting a LDB breeding stock dog stopped us and asked if our Alta was a career changed ...