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Photo shows the entrance to the canine center on Leader Dog's campus. There is a blue wall with Leader Dog's logo on a white plaque. Beneath in white lettering is our mission statement. There is a brown double chair on the floor.

Webinar: Leader Dog’s Application Process

In the fifth installment of our webinar series, team members outline the application process for Leader Dog programs. Learn about the pieces of the application prospective clients need to complete and how we use the information to fulfill services. View ...
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White Leader Dog logo on a solid black background

A Message from Leader Dogs for the Blind President & CEO and Board Chair

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” These are the compelling words spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. more than 50 years ago. Sadly, we are reminded again by the recent death of George Floyd and by similar ...
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Two women kneel outdoors with a black lab in Leader Dog harness between them. They are both smiling. The left woman is wearing glasses. The woman on the right is instructor Ashley

Stage Left – Enter Leader Dog

By Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Ashley Nunnelly I never wanted to be a guide dog instructor. Seriously! That was never on my radar for a career choice. I always loved animals growing up—dogs and horses especially—and was the child that ...
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Photo of a golden retriever whose face is only partly visible with its paw resting in a person's hand. Only the person's hand and forearm are visible

Cooperative Care – Training Your Dog the Low-Stress Way

People are spending much more time at home right now, and many have been looking for new activities and companionship. This has contributed to a surge in adoptions of shelter animals and the number of people fostering pets. If you ...
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Photo of the canine center lobby. One woman walks with a dog through the mostly empty space, and another woman sits at a desk. A dog behind the desk is looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows toward the parking lot.

Amid Coronavirus, We’re Hopeful for the Future

Just last week, the Leader Dog campus was bustling with activity. Guide dog mobility instructors worked with their dogs in training, preparing for the clients who were soon to arrive. Puppy raisers arrived for vet visits with their Future Leader ...
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Close up photo of someone hand stamping part of a leather harness with numbers, using a metal tool

Old Skills, New Friends – Making Harnesses for Leader Dogs

By Steve Williams Steve works in the tack shop on Leader Dog's campus. After working as an orthotist (a person who makes custom orthopedic devices) for 39 years, my wife and I closed our family business in 2015. Shortly after ...
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A row of dogs stand on a floor that looks similar to a high school gym. They are looking up at the men standing beside them who are holding their leashes. The men are pictured from the waist down

Leaving Prison Behind – A Prison Puppies Perspective

By Puppy Raiser John There is a saying among prisoners, “everyone has their own bit to do.” Some are long, some shorter, but each one is long enough (or too long) for the person it was imposed on. My bit ...
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Dan leans back onto his skateboard, which is propped up against his back. He is lying on a low wall outdoors with people walking in the background on a sidewalk in a sunny public area. A white cane leans on the wall near his feet

A New Direction: Dan Mancina

Dan Mancina was very active growing up, not letting a diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) at age 13 slow him down. Then in his 20s his diminishing vision led him to rely on others to guide him around and he ...
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A yellow lab/golden wearing a green canine ambassador vest

Meet the Ambassador Dogs

Did you know Leader Dog has a dedicated group of canine representatives? We're often asked to bring dogs to events (here on campus and elsewhere), and one of the things we like to do with people who are getting to ...
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A man stands at a crosswalk on a busy street with a yellow lab in harness on his left

How Guide Dogs are Trained

When Future Leader Dogs are 12 to 15 months old, their volunteer puppy raisers return them to the Leader Dog campus to begin formal guide dog training. Puppy raisers have already worked with their Future Leader Dog on the fundamentals ...
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