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A golden retriever puppy wearing a blue Future Leader Dog bandanna sits with one paw on an orange dog toy

Training Your Puppy to Sit

Leader Dog's Puppy Development Supervisor, Deb Donnelly, offers advice on how to teach your dog to sit. Sitting on command is a skill that all dogs should have because it is helpful in many situations, such as: Mealtime – Encourages ...
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A woman wearing a blindfold walks toward some roadblocks while holding the handle of a harness on a golden retriever. The golden retriever is guiding the woman while a Leader Dog instructor holds the dog's leash and speaks to the woman

Executive Leadership Training at Leader Dog

Dogs are teaching humans to be better bosses in this training program By Jamie L. LaReau, Detroit Free Press Meet Coco. She's a 2-year-old yellow Labrador retriever raised in a prison — and she happens to be one of the ...
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Jeff and his wife, Linda, sit with their arms around each other's shoulders, smiling at the camera. They are seated at a table with other tables and guests visible in the background.

Empty Fork Again

By Jeff Hawkins, Leader Dog Client Seriously, did it just happen again? How many times have I lifted a fork to my mouth... and it's empty. Seems like a million, but it's just one of the many challenges any blind ...
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A golden retriever in leather Leader Dog harness walks on inscribed bricks on a sunny day.

Webinar: Is a Leader Dog the Right Mobility Tool for Me?

  We have held the first in a series of webinars that will provide answers to some of the questions we receive most often about the services we provide. Webinars will be held quarterly (January, April, July, October). Our first ...
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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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