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Five clients are seated, facing the camera and smiling. Each one has a Leader Dog in harness sitting on the floor next to them. Behind the clients stand two instructors, one male and one female

Becoming a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor

By Ashley Nunnelly, Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Before joining Leader Dog, I worked for three years in the puppy department at another guide dog organization, hoping to pay my dues and eventually be considered for an apprenticeship position. I never dreamed ...
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Melissa smiles at the camera

Congratulations to Melissa Weisse!

We are proud to announce that Leader Dog’s own Chief Philanthropy Officer, Melissa Weisse, has been named by Crain's Detroit Business as one of 2018 Notable Women in Nonprofits. The women highlighted were nominated by their peers for their outstanding ...
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A young yellow Labrador puppy sits in a metal bucket with its mouth open as though smiling

Five Best Things About Hosting a Leader Dog Mom

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 ...
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Gretchen Preston sits smiling at the camera with her left arm around her Leader Dog, black Labrador Floyd, who is wearing a leather Leader Dog harness

Five Ways to Keep Your Leader Dog Active in Inclement Weather

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 ...
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Amy Chevalier sits facing the camera and smiling with her left arm around yellow Labrador Leader Dog Ember, who also sits facing the camera in harness

Part of the Family

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 ...
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A woman holing a white cane crosses a street with vehicles and a stoplight in the background. Another woman in a Leader Dog shirt follows behind, observing

Expanding Comfort Zones with White Cane Training

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 [orientation and mobility] challenges. I really was looking forward to another day. ...
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Tripp walks toward the camera on a sidewalk with one arm extended in front of him. On his left is a yellow Labrador Leader Dog in harness

Full Speed Ahead

© 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 ...
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A man stands at the edge of a grass- and tree-lined sidewalk, holding a white cane out in front of him. Behind him and to his left is a woman whose arms is extended toward him

Is O&M at Leader Dog the Solution to Your Heavy Caseload?

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 ...
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A black lab and two yellow labs wearing blue Future Leader Dog bandannas stand or sit, looking up at their handlers, who are only visible from the waist down. The handlers are wearing blue pants with an orange stripe down the side, indicating they are inmates

Prison Puppies FAQs

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 ...
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Bill sits in a chair in a suite in the canine center. He is smiling at the camera with one hand on the yellow lab lying next to him on a Kuranda bed

A Love of Dogs and Volunteering

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 ...
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