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Month: June 2016

As the saying goes, it takes a village, and it certainly takes a village to make the work that we do here at Leader Dogs for the Blind possible. An important community within the village is our corporate partners, and one of these valued partners is Chief Financial Credit Union. Chief Financial moved into the Rochester Hills community in 2015 and has supported us from the very beginning—even stepping up to be the very first official credit union of Leader Dog.

When I approached Chief Financial about being the presenting sponsor of our inaugural Bark & Brew event, they immediately agreed. Their contributions were crucial to the event’s success (we had over 2,000 attendees!).

During Bark & Brew, Chief Financial unveiled the extremely cute Leader Dog Rewards Visa card (featuring one of our own yellow Labrador puppies). They even designed the rewards with us in mind because when you make purchases with a Leader Dog Rewards Visa, Chief Financial matches the dollar amount you earn in rewards with a donation to Leader Dog.

Chief Financial is a full-service credit union with a heart. Even while they’re busy excelling at what they do (and offering business and consumer loans, a competitive rate on deposits, and more), they are passionate about giving their time and support back to the community they serve. This makes us proud to call them a Leader Dog corporate partner.

By Dani Landolt, Director of Corporate Relations

Adult woman sitting at a desk in an office environment. She has her hands on a yellow lab sitting on the floor next to her and smiling down at it

A furry office mate? Don’t worry, it’s a good thing!

During national Take your Dog to Work Day on June 24, 2016, employees all over the country will bring their furry friends along to the office.

Here at Leader Dogs for the Blind we are surrounded by dogs and have a dog-friendly office space at all times, so we can share some of our experience to ensure your pet’s visit isn’t just fun for you, but enjoyable for your colleagues and safe for your dog, too.

If you’re thinking about participating, consider the following tips:

  1. Be sure to check with your employer that your place of work is participating in Take Your Dog to Work Day.
  2. Consider if your dog will be comfortable with your co-workers and their dogs. Carefully consider your work surroundings. If people wear hats or masks at your place of employment, your dog could be afraid. You know him best, so if you don’t think he’ll be up for it, don’t bring him in.
  3. Think of your dog’s safety first. Pay attention to what your dog is “saying” by watching how he is behaving. Is he relaxed, whining/anxious or are his ears perked? Monitor his behavior and act quickly to make sure he is safe and comfortable.
  4. Environment is everything. You want your dog to be comfortable, whether that means bringing in a crate, a dog bed, or having him on a leash while you hold it all day – make sure he feels at home. At Leader Dog, we often use leashes that are three feet in length and attach them to the wall so our pets have a small range to explore.
  5. When dogs are introduced to one another in the office, keep them on-leash in case there is tension. After a few introductions, if things are going well, feel free to take them off leash.
  6. If you leave for a meeting or break, consider putting a sign on your office door, telling people that if they go in they’ll be greeted by your buddy. You can also determine whether a baby gate is a useful alternative for you.
  7. Stimulation is key. By keeping your furry friend busy he’ll be happier to stay by your side at work. Toys are a great solution, make sure to bring several to work with you! At Leader Dog, we are big advocates of Kongs, and we often put peanut butter in the middle of them so that the dogs are engaged in an activity as opposed to lying around.
  8. Bring water and treats along so that your dog is hydrated and feels rewarded.
  9. Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with a tag that is up to date with your contact information in case of an emergency.
  10. Scout out where you will take your dog to relieve himself prior to bringing him into work. In fact, if you’re able to, bring your dog in on a day where your office is closed (prior to Take Your Dog to Work Day) so that he can familiarize himself with your workplace and where he’s supposed to go to the bathroom. This can help him be calmer when the office is full and buzzing.

With these tips in hand, we hope you enjoy Take Your Dog to Work Day!

By Denise Atler, Leader Dog Guide Dog Mobility Instructor

On Saturday, June 4, we held our inaugural Bark & Brew presented by Chief Financial Credit Union. More than 2,000 attendees came out to Rochester Mills Beer Co. in support of Leader Dogs for the Blind, making our first year a resounding success!

Attendees enjoyed live music on the Sellers Subaru Stage from Single Shot Steve and Oakland University Gold Vibrations and danced the night away during Parallel Fifth’s set. Children had a blast in the Kids’ Play Area enjoying a bounce in the Andrews Realty Bounce House and other inflatables, face painting, a coloring station and five carnival games.

Chief Financial Credit Union, the presenting sponsor of Bark & Brew and the official credit union of Leader Dogs for the Blind, unveiled its special Leader Dogs for the Blind reward Visa card at the event. For every card opened between now and June 18, Chief Financial will donate $25 to Leader Dog. Not only that, the more you spend, the more rewards you earn and the more donations Chief will make to Leader Dog!

Our intent behind putting on Bark & Brew was to create an event in which families and people of all ages could come out to learn more about Leader Dog in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. We couldn’t have been more pleased with our turnout in year one, especially considering some of the heavy rains we experienced in the evening. Some of our younger attendees even took the opportunity to play in the rain!

There were plenty of Future Leader Dogs, Leader Dog moms and dads, Leader Dogs in training and working Leader Dogs in attendance which gave attendees the opportunity to learn more about the many facets of Leader Dog, up close and personal. (would love the pic of the dog and little boy by this)

Attendees learned about volunteer opportunities such as puppy raising and hosting a breeding stock dog and took advantage of viewing live training demonstrations to see how our expert trainers teach our dogs the necessary skills to become guide dogs.

All in all, it was a great day and we look forward to seeing everyone (and more!) back next year as we plan to make Bark & Brew and annual Leader Dog event.

By Dani Landolt, Director of Corporate Relations at Leader Dogs for the Blind

Our event couldn’t have been a success without the support of our sponsors – a special thanks goes to: Chief Financial Credit Union, Sellers Subaru, Coastal Pet Products, Purina Pro Plan, All American Pet Resorts, Three Dog Bakery, Andrews Realty Group/Somerset Lending Corp, WNIC, WJR, WXOU and WXYZ.