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guide dog

Yellow lab wearing blue Leader Dog Dad bandanna

Meet Hero, a 3-year-old Labrador retriever who was raised in the prison system as part of our Prison Puppies initiative. When he came back to Leader Dog to go into formal training, our breeding team determined he would become a breeding dog instead, making him Leader Dog Dad Hero.

In March of 2021, he met his breeding hosts, Carrie and Geoff. They immediately fell in love and took Hero home. He fit right in, and Carrie and Geoff were so happy to be hosting a dog that would produce Future Leader Dogs to change people’s lives.

Yellow lab lying its head on smiling man's lap
Geoff and Hero

After a few litters, Hero’s breeding career came to an end early in July of 2022. When that happens, our breeding dogs become the host family’s pet. However, after much thought, Carrie and Geoff believed Hero was destined for more. “We both have people in our lives who may be affected with vision loss down the line,” said Carrie. Knowing how exceptional Hero was, they wanted to give him a chance to change someone’s life. “We believe in him, and we believe in the program.” Hero was evaluated and it was determined that he was fit to come back to Leader Dog for formal guide dog training. A bittersweet moment for Carrie and Geoff as Hero was off to Leader Dog again.

Yellow lab sitting next to smiling woman kneeling on ground with grass behind
Hero with his instructor, Emily

For formal training, Hero was paired with Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Emily Rowland. She worked with him for four months. “I cannot express how grateful I am to Carrie and Geoff for their selfless decision to offer Hero back into the training program. I tear up every time I think of when Carrie told me that she knew someone else needed Hero.  Hero’s journey is truly unique and touching with so many people to thank for making it possible: his inmate raisers, Carrie and Geoff and all the people who cared for him along the way,” said Emily. Even though Hero was in formal training, on his off weekends, he was able to spend time with Carrie and Geoff, who were grateful to get extra time with him.

During training he was sweet, gentle and playful and effortlessly won over everyone he met. Hero’s nature to be calm, patient and eager to please were all great qualities that led him to become a Leader Dog for a client in Spain. “We look for dogs that are confident in new situations, very adaptable and able to generalize their skills quickly. We know the dogs going out of the country will be working in environments that are very different than the ones we train in the metro Detroit area,” said Emily.

Three yellow labs in harness standing next to three women in winter clothes in a lobby area
Hero and two of his offspring in training together

It was a hard day for Carrie and Geoff when they found out Hero was paired with a client from Spain. They had no doubt that he would make it through training and give someone else the independence they’d been waiting for. What made it easier was meeting the person whose life Hero was changing. “Just to hear how long [Hero’s client] has waited and what she’s been through, it kind of erased any doubts that we had,” said Carrie.

The definition of a hero is someone who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. There were many acts of heroism along Leader Dog Hero’s journey. As his official Leader Dog journey is just beginning with his client, his legacy lives on as five of his offspring are in advanced training to become Leader Dogs.

Black lab in Leader Dog harness facing toward the camera on a sidewalk. A person's leg can be seen in the background next to the dog. The background is blurred and the dog in focus

Today, we’re going to talk about guide dogs—those amazing four-legged companions who help people with visual impairments get around. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions out there about these incredible dogs, so we’re going to sort through the facts and fiction.

Myth #1: All guide dogs are the same breed. Truth: There are a few breeds that are commonly used as guide dogs—like Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers and German shepherds—but other breeds can be trained as well. In fact, some guide dogs are crosses between multiple breeds. At Leader Dog, we use the three most common guide dog breeds as well as crossbred Labrador retrievers/golden retrievers and German Shepherd/Labrador retrievers.

Black lab/golden retriever cross running on grass with its tongue flopping to one side and its ears waving in the airMyth #2: Guide dogs are always “on duty.” Truth: Guide dogs are definitely trained to work when they’re in harness with their handlers, but they also need time to relax and play. When they’re not working, Leader Dogs are just dogs—running around, playing and snuggling with their people.

Myth #3: You can pet a guide dog whenever you want. Truth: This one is definitely a myth. When a guide dog is working, they’re focused on their job and need to pay attention to their handler and their surroundings. So, it’s important to never distract a guide dog by petting them, talking to them or making eye contact with them. It’s okay to ask their handler if you can say hi to the dog, but always wait for their permission before interacting with the dog.

Myth #4: Guide dogs know where they’re going all the time. Truth: While guide dogs are trained to lead their handlers safely through different environments, they don’t always know exactly where they’re going. Instead, they’re trained to follow specific cues from their handler like “forward,” “left” and “right” and to stop at curbs or obstacles. It’s up to the handler to give the dog directions and let them know where they want to go.

Myth #5: Guide dogs can only help people who are completely blind. Truth: This one is also a myth! Guide dogs can help people with a wide range of visual impairments, from total blindness to partial vision loss. Leader Dog requires our clients to be legally blind, but many of our clients have some remaining vision.

So, there you have it: some common myths and truths about guide dogs. These amazing dogs are trained to help their handlers live more independent lives, and they do an incredible job. And remember, if you see a guide dog out in public, give them plenty of space and respect for their important work!

Mark sits on a park bench with flowers and greenery behind him. Yellow lab Leader Dog Izzy sits in front of him on the cement in her harness.

Fifteen years ago I began my journey to receive my first Leader Dog, Callie. [Guide Dog Mobility] Instructor Sue guided me through the new experience of learning the commands, what the dog is capable of in times of any difficult path that was before me. Callie was very curious and loved to smell the fresh flowers along our paths.

Ten years later, my first dog retired and I was once again on the journey for my second dog, Hanna, with instructor Kate. She helped me to understand the need to sharpen my skills working with a new leader dog. Hanna was full of energy and determination to show me what she was capable of.

Mark and yellow lab Leader Dog Izzy, in guide dog harness, walk down a sidewalk with grass on either side and trees in the far background.I just completed my journey for my third dog, Izzy, with instructor Linda. She helped me to appreciate the giftedness of Leader Dogs and the commitment of the instructors role in preparing these dogs for us, as clients. Izzy too is very energetic, curious and well disciplined in her work. She was a perfect match (nice job matching me with Izzy, Linda).

After each journey I learned a perspective that needs to be said. The first journey gave me a greater perspective of what Leader Dog is all about. The second journey gave me another perspective of the commitment the instructors, resident workers, kitchen staff and housekeeping staff has for us as clients. The third journey gave me a keen perspective of what the result of having a Leader Dog means to my life.

What I want to share with all at Leader Dog is that while the instructor’s responsibility is to help us bond with the dog, but more importantly learn of the safety these dogs provide in our everyday paths.

What goes beyond what the instructors may believe is important to us as clients is having a Leader Dog provides opportunities that impact our work, education and social environments going forward. Many clients will achieve not only independence but maybe a better job opportunity. They can also complete their desires to further skills for new job opportunities and to have the ability to be involved in the social environments that they live in.

To all at Leader Dog, your commitment to us as clients and to the dogs you work with goes far beyond any imagination that impacts one’s life.

I believe I can speak for all clients, thank you!

– Mark Harris

A book cover showing a drawing of the upper half of a young teenage boy. He has short, side-parted blond hair and is wearing round wire sunglasses, a white short-sleeve shirt and red sweater vest. His left hand is resting on the head of a German shepherd. The dog is tan and dark brown with large dark ears, its tongue is hanging out. The words “Follow My Leader” are in red across the top and “By James B. Garfield” underneath in black text.One of my favorite books as a little girl was a children’s novel called Follow My Leader. It was a story about a young boy who loses his vision when he and his friends find and set off a firecracker. Through hard work and the support of family and friends he bravely goes on with his life. He gets a guide dog named Leader who helps provide companionship as well as independence. It is a great story, and when I read it, I had no idea that I would lose much of my vision a few years later. I think reading it and loving it was providential preparation.

Two round images on a black background. Both images are of a blue ocean in the background with an area reflecting white from the sun. The sky above is light blue, and a black telephone wire runs across the top. In the foreground is a sand dune with brown spikey bushes. The image on the left completely fills the circle. The image on the right has dark, blurry edges that hide about 50% of the image including the sand in the foreground, the edges of the bushes and the wire overhead.I first started losing my vision at about age 12 or 13. After a lot of tests, the doctors determined that I had a genetic condition called fibrous dysplasia. I had an overgrowth of bone in my skull that was gradually squeezing my optic nerves and taking my vision. Over the next few years, I had three big surgeries to decompress the nerves and save as much vision as possible. When I stopped growing, the bone stopped growing, and my condition stabilized. I was left with total blindness in my left eye. But in my right eye I had tunnel vision like looking through a keyhole. I also had some peripheral/side vision scattered around that was very helpful. Although I would have qualified as legally blind by today’s guidelines, my doctor and my parents encouraged me to participate in every aspect of normal sighted life as possible. I am thankful for all the vision that was saved, and for the wisdom and support of my parents.

A woman and a golden retriever are sitting on a wooden dock with a rippling blue lake in the background. The woman is smiling and sitting cross-legged with her right arm around the dog’s shoulders, she holds the dog’s brown leather leash in her left hand. She has long, straight blond hair and round wire glasses; she is wearing denim capri’s and a white, red and light grey top. The dog’s tongue is hanging out and has a black spot in the middle. He has long light tan fur and a very black nose.

It took a couple tries, but I was able to complete college and graduate school with accommodations. I had a twenty-year career as an occupational therapist working with children. I am married and have four adult children and two grandchildren. A full life. At around age 60, I lost some additional vision from an unrelated retinal problem. I decided I could no longer adequately carry out my work duties and went on disability. I also decided to get a guide dog from Leader Dogs for the Blind. His name is Prodigy, and he helps me to be more confident and independent, like the little boy in the story.

A woman and man are standing with a golden retriever wearing a harness sitting in front of them on grass. The background is a variety of trees and a river. The woman is smiling, she has long blond hair and round, wire-rimmed glasses. She is wearing a long-sleeve black blouse with a tan floral/leaf patten and khaki pants. The man has grey hair and a full white beard and moustache. He is wearing round glasses, a tan short-sleeve t-shirt and khaki shorts. The dog has very light-yellow fur, dark eyes and a dark nose. His mouth is slightly open, and you can see a black spot on his light pink tongue.Just between you and me, it has not been easy. There are lots of things I simply cannot do, and lots of things that require inordinate effort and extra time. But I keep trying and am satisfied with less than perfect results. I no doubt would have been a better occupational therapist if I had normal vision. But my kind coworkers stood in the gap for things I couldn’t do, and I focused on getting really good at the things I could do. I have always had trouble recognizing people by sight, but I learned to cheerfully greet everyone I met just in case. I think this made me a more cheerful and outgoing person than I would otherwise have been. I cannot drive a car, but I have friends who offer to pick me up for events, online shopping, and a wonderful husband who will take me anywhere.

I have a history of bumping into people and tripping over things, but now I have my beautiful Prodigy to steer me around obstacles. I cannot read books to my grandchildren, but I have memorized a few children’s books, and I am trying to get better at making up stories. Sometimes I feel discouraged and sorry for myself, but when I call out to God, he hears me and helps me, and lets me know that he understands and loves me. I am blessed.

A woman, young girl and golden retriever are on a sandy beach with water and waves in the background. The woman is standing in the back. She has long blond hair, round, wire-rimmed glasses and a smile on her face. She is wearing a turquoise fleece jacket and is holding the dog’s brown leather leash in her left hand. The young girl in front has long blond hair partially pulled back with a ribbon. She is wearing a navy-blue skirt and jacket and is holding a pink and blue plastic bucket containing shells. The dog is wearing a leather LDB harness and calmly sits next to the girl.As I get older, I am more aware of the challenges that others face. We all have struggles and disappointment, victories and joy. Within our relationships, we can provide one another with the love, encouragement, and support that makes all the difference.

Would you like to write a future installment of Voices of the Leader Dog Community? If so, please let us know! All emails will be answered, but we can’t promise everyone will have the opportunity to participate.

Read more about our Voices of the LDB Community initiative.

Today’s Voices of the Leader Dog Community is a special one! Meet nine of our clients from the past several months and find out more about them in their own words.

Sandy S. from Wisconsin with LD Mira

Sandy S sits smiling with yellow lab Mira in harness seated next to herTell me a little about yourself.

I miss my career, which was driving a semi. I drove all over the country, but I had to stop in 2014. I had to stop my business and now I run a storage facility. I was the first woman mail carrier in my hometown in 1969. I was a private investigator in Canada for 3‒4 years. This is just a new adventure.

How did you feel when you first met Mira?

I was delighted, truly delighted. I have some sight, so I was very interested in getting a light-colored dog, I was very pleased. I live in an old country house and there are a lot of dark areas, and a nice bright yellow is perfect.

What most surprised you about working with a Leader Dog?

I think the training is very substantial, which is making my job of learning how to work with her so much better. We did a night walk, and I really have a problem at night but Mira did a superb job of getting me around all the things that I would have normally crashed into. 

Lydia O. from Michigan with LD Piper

Lydia sits smiling next to black lab Piper in her Leader Dog harnessTell me a little about yourself.

I am in the process of going back to school. I went from perfect vision to no useable vision within a matter of a couple of days. Initially, I went to school for human resources but then lost my vision. So, I am planning on doing some counseling now.  Building up on my skills and relearning how to do things differently.

How do you anticipate that having a Leader Dog will impact your life?

I’m already more comfortable walking with a dog.  I was already independent in my neighborhood with a cane, but Piper helps me walk at a more normal pace. She helps me walk straight, which is life changing when it comes to street crossing. I used my cane skills to recover from veering off, but to not have to recover from veering is better.

Tell me a little about your experience at Leader Dog.

I am blown away by how great Leader Dog is and everything that they provide. But the biggest thing is the people. Everyone is so nice, so genuinely nice here.

Jackie M. from Michigan with LD Nico

Jackie sits in front of a light grey photo backdrop, smiling, next to black lab Nico in his Leader Dog harnessHow did you feel when you first met Nico?

I was sort of anxious and impatient and excited—all the things. He came right in and gave me kisses and got right in my face. We bonded instantly. It was better than Christmas.

What most surprised you about working with a Leader Dog?

Dog versus cane—the cane is very tactile so you have to pay attention to surfaces for feedback, but with the dog my tactile feedback is now just through my feet. I don’t miss being cognizant of all the things between point A and point B to just get to the door when using a cane.

I always thought that I didn’t need a dog, but I should have done this sooner. I’ve been alone through all of COVID, I felt very limited, and the world was closing in and my independence was going away. Even O&M helped, Leader Dog is a game changer.

David K. from Missouri with LD Nigel

David looks downward, hugging black lab Nigel sitting next to himTell me a little about yourself.

I’m a retired teacher, I taught everything from kindergarten to junior college. Most of the time I taught art classes, which is funny because now I can’t see any art. I am the only blind school board member in the state of Missouri and it makes me feel worthwhile.

How do you anticipate that having a Leader Dog will impact your life?

Having Nigel will help me to be more mobile in my little community. I can literally walk anywhere and do it more safely with his guidance. I hope to be a role model in my community and encourage other individuals to be willing to accept their necessary types of assistance. I already have two or three speaking engagements booked with people who want me to come share what I have experienced at LDB. 

Jennifer R. from Texas with LD Mosby

Jennifer smiles with both her arms around yellow lab Mosby. Mosby is seated next to her in Leader Dog harnessTell me a little about yourself.

I was born deaf and then I became blind at age 14. I have Ushers Syndrome Type 2. My first language is American Sign Language (ASL) and tactile signing. I often interpret for my local Lighthouse for the Blind. I am a workaholic. I love to go do whatever the church is doing. I love activities like walking and going to the lake and I like to travel. I’m a bit of a wild girl who likes to jump and take the risk. I love to do hard work, I come up with lots of ideas and ways to do tasks creatively.

Tell me about your experiences with Leader Dog.

I love Leader Dog. The people, the team, the volunteers, they are amazing. Everyone is very patient, they teach, they guide me around. The team that works with us and the dogs [the guide dog mobility instructors] are amazing. I was incredibly shocked by everything. 

Jeffrey B. from Pennsylvania with LD Mack

Jeffrey looks left toward Leader Dog Mack, a black lab seated next to him. Jeffrey is holding the front of Mack's harness with one hand and hugging Mack with the other armWhat most surprised you about working with a Leader Dog?

I was surprised by how loveable and playful Mack is. He listens and does so much. He saved us when we were out walking past a parking lot and a van pulled out in front of us and he stopped us. He saved my life. He is definitely my buddy.

How do you anticipate that having Mack is going to impact your life?

I anticipate being out walking around, seeing my grandkids. Lately, I’ve just kept myself busy and now I’ve got more motivation.

Danny M. from Texas with LD Violet

Danny smiles with one arm around black lab Leader Dog violet seated next to him in harnessTell me a little about yourself.

I was in martial arts for over 40 years and have two black belts in different forms of martial arts. I have four college degrees, I’m a veteran, and I worked for the Department of Defense and the Department of the Navy.

How did you hear about LDB?

My doctor at the VA (Veterans Affairs) was a member of the Lions club. He asked me why don’t I get a guide dog? I told him that I’m not totally blind, and he said you don’t have to be. Next, I asked him about how much it would cost, and he told me there was no cost!

Imanni G. from Florida with LD Lumi

Imanni smiles with her arm around yellow lab Leader Dog Lumi, seated next to Imanni in harnessHow do you anticipate having a Leader Dog is going to impact your life?

Having Lumi will give me endless possibilities. I won’t have to wait for someone to come and take me places, and I will be safe and secure. People won’t have to check up on me to make sure I make it home safely. This will help me tremendously as I continue to lose more of my sight.

Why did you choose to come to LDB?

I have waited a long time for a guide dog. I was all set to come here in 2020, but COVID kept pushing it back. [Through all the time] the Leader Dog team was always checking in with me.

Tim K. from Canada with LD Ulric

Tim looks toward the camera with his arm around black lab Leader Dog Ulric, seated next to Tim in harnessTell me about Ulric.

He is got lots of personality and loves to play. He is dopey in the morning, but then he wakes up and is very wiggly. He moves at my pace, which I really appreciate because I move fast. Also, he isn’t easily distracted.

How do you anticipate having a Leader Dog is going to impact your life?

Ulric makes it so I don’t have to rely on others so much. I will have more confidence with him than I would with a cane. Even if I just need to go get my hair cut, I can just grab the harness and go. [Where I live] we have winter for five months or more of the year, so a dog is much easier to work in the snow than a cane.

Would you like to write a future installment of Voices of the Leader Dog Community? If so, please let us know! All emails will be answered, but we can’t promise everyone will have the opportunity to participate.

Read more about our Voices of the LDB Community initiative.

A young yellow lab/golden retriever cross sits on a porch in a too-big blue Leader Dog vest. Behind the puppy is a bench with a plush dog in a blue Future Leader Dog bench. To the right is a pink sign with a flower design. It reads: watch me grow.

By Volunteer Puppy Raiser Karen Beatty

My first-born grandson, Dawson, was born at 24 weeks 3 days and weighed in at 1lb 11oz. Due to being premature, he developed Retinopathy of Prematurity stage IV (ROP). ROP occurs when blood vessels stop growing for a time, then begin growing abnormally and randomly. The new vessels are fragile and can leak, leaving the retina scarred and possible detachment. In Dawson’s case, the retinas detached, tearing away from the back wall of the eye and putting him at a high risk of becoming blind. He now has no vision in his right eye and low vision with nystagmus (an involuntary eye moment) in his left. His visual acuity is 20/800.

An older yellow lab/golden retriever puppy sits next to a young boy holding a white cane. They are in a living room.
Mira D and her namesake, Dawson

While reading all I could on vision impairments and blindness, I came across the Leader Dogs for the Blind website. A guide dog, I thought, would be something Dawson might really benefit from. I noticed the volunteer tab and wondered in what capacity we could volunteer (we live two hours away from Rochester Hills). Puppy raising seemed to be the perfect fit. We got a puppy of our own to see if we had the dedication it took to raise a Future Leader Dog. When our dog Lacy was 1.5 years old, we decided to apply. We were approved and picked up our first puppy, Mira D, (Everest X Gatsby), a yellow Labrador/golden retriever cross on January 27, 2020.

Her name has a special meaning. Mira, short for miracle, and D for Dawson. We later learned about the Mira Foundation, an organization that provides guide dogs for clients between the ages of 11 and 17, and that “mira” in Spanish means sight. We didn’t know that when choosing her name, but we refer to these type of things as “God winks.”

Yellow lab/golden retriever in a Leader Dog harness sits next to a smiling woman with graying hair and glasses.
Mira D with her forever person

We raised Mira D for about 15 months, dropping her off at Leader Dog on April 29, 2021. She’s now working with her client in Wisconsin. As for Dawson, he’s now 12, has a personality larger than life, is quick witted and very musically talented.

Our journey with Leader Dog continued when we picked up our second Future Leader Dog Resi B (Casey X Briggs) a yellow Labrador/golden retriever cross on September 9, 2021. Her name also has a special meaning.

A young yellow lab/golden retriever puppy sits on a kitchen floor next to a young smiling boy with his arm around the puppy.
Resi B with her namesake, Benjamin

Resi is for resilience and B for Benjamin, our second born grandson. Physical resilience refers to the body’s ability to adapt to challenges, maintain stamina and strength and recover quickly and efficiently.

Benjamin was born with malrotation of his intestines with volvulus, which means the intestine did not form properly and failed to make the normal turns in the abdomen. Volvulus is when the intestines twist, cutting off the blood supply. At 3 days old, Benjamin went in for emergency surgery where the doctors untwisted and re-routed his intestines. He was given a 20% chance of survival. It was a huge surgery for such a tiny boy, but he did great. Benjamin is now a very loving, athletic, amazing 7-year-old. Resi is a very sweet, loving and obedient puppy with maybe just a little more pep in her step. Her projected return date is August 21, 2022.

If all goes as planned, we will pick up puppy number three when returning Resi B to Leader Dog. The house felt so empty after returning Mira D and our personal dog, Lacy, felt her absence.

Karen and her husband with a young puppy in Karen's arms. They are smiling and standing in front of a field of sunflowers.We have our sixth grandchild on the way, so we know we must raise at least four more puppies after Resi B, hopefully more! All our children and grandchildren love the puppies and the entire family pitches in to help.

I feel so blessed to have met so many wonderful people in the Leader Dog community, some in person and some through email and social media, but all are supportive and full of great advice. I have our puppy counselor on speed dial! I love how everyone is cheering each other on every step of the way. We have utilized all the materials and resources available. Puppy raising for Leader Dog has taught me how to be a responsible pet owner and all about positive reinforcement. Our only regret is we didn’t know about it sooner.

If raising a puppy might be the right volunteer opportunity for you or someone you know, you can find out more on our website. Browse the FAQs, sign up for a free, virtual orientation session and learn more about the impact you could make.

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 of good behavior and obedience. Now, it’s our guide dog mobility instructors’ turn to build on that foundation with the special skills needed for guide work.

Guide dog training has four phases, each of which introduces more challenging work and lasts about a month. Our guide dog mobility instructors work in teams. When the team begins with a new class of dogs, each instructor is assigned a “string” of about eight dogs. Each string will have a variety of sizes, breeds and temperaments. We need a variety of dogs for every class to ensure we’ll have the right match for each client.

Stages of Training

Foundations

During the foundations phase, the instructors begin to build and strengthen relationships with their dogs. The instructors work with the dogs on things that puppy raisers taught, including loose leash walking (walking in a heel position at the instructor’s side without pulling on the leash), settling calmly, and obedience (sit, down, stay, stand, etc.). This helps the dogs recognize that the skills they learned need to transfer to a new handler. It also gives the instructors a chance to evaluate the dogs’ skills and learn their personalities. Instructors use praise and treats (we like low-calorie Charlee Bear treats to help keep the dogs in good shape) to reinforce the skills they’re working on. The dogs get their first introduction to the guide harness and curb work (training them to stop at curbs before crossing a street).

The first two weeks of foundations are spent on the Leader Dog campus. The dogs then progress to working on quiet streets as they learn basic cues.

Basic

In basic training, the instructors build on guide skills like stopping at curbs, traveling in a straight line, avoiding obstacles, making turns, and stopping for traffic. They also start working on new skills, such as having the dog find an empty chair. Instructors and dogs load up in our training trucks and head to our auxiliary training building in downtown Rochester. This building serves as home base when they’re out training on local streets. Instructors take the dogs into quiet neighborhoods and the busier Main Street area.

The instructors and dogs start working in group obedience classes to make sure the dogs are responding to the instructors on an individual basis. To increase the complexity of the training, instructors add distractions to the group classes. During this phase, our veterinary team performs another health exam on the dogs. The instructors check the dogs’ training progress with a blindfold exam. For the exam, the instructor is blindfolded and the dog must take them on a route in Rochester while demonstrating the skills they’ve learned (a spotter follows each exam to make sure everyone stays safe).

Intermediate

This phase includes the addition of country travel and working in larger urban areas. The dogs have established basic skills and met standards up to this point. In country travel training, the dogs learn to walk along the left side of the road in areas where there are no sidewalks. Instructors work on complex guide skills, such as recognizing overhead obstacles, traffic responsibility, and intelligent disobedience.

Leader Dogs must recognize when they’re passing under an obstacle that their handler will run into, like a low-hanging tree branch. This way they can safely guide their handler out of the way. Traffic responsibility is teaching the dogs to slow down and stop when a vehicle pulls into their line of travel. The instructors work with the dogs to teach them intelligent disobedience: if the instructor commands the dog to move forward but there’s a hazard such as a vehicle in the way, the dog must deliberately disobey the command. Clients often talk about moments where their guide dog’s intelligent disobedience saved them from situations like stepping into a construction zone or being hit by a car.

Dogs being trained for clients in our Deaf-Blind program may learn additional skills like alerting to a sound (such as a doorbell or knock on the door).

Instructors and our client services team start “pre-matching” dogs to client applicants. Training may proceed differently for a dog that might go to a large city versus a dog that will be working in a country setting.

Advanced

This is the most difficult phase of training. The dogs must master complex situations, multiple moving cars, busy streets and difficult obstacles to be ready to be matched with a client. Instructors and dogs train in Detroit, which provides plenty of distractions, complex obstacles and unique environments.

During the last week of advanced training, things wind down for the dogs. They come back to quiet residential areas in preparation for where they will begin working with their new “forever person.” Part of the application that our clients submit includes a video of them traveling in their home environment. This helps instructors gather information like what the daily travel environment might include and the client’s walking pace. Instructors review videos of incoming clients to make the best client/dog matches possible. At this point, about 25–30 dogs are ready for clients. There are always more dogs than clients to ensure that we have options when making a match.

All the dogs receive another health exam and complete a second blindfold exam with their instructors. This exam uses a less familiar route with more complex obstacles. If the dogs score well on this assessment, they are now “class ready.”

Class

This is when the real work begins! Class begins in the Polk Residence Center on Leader Dog’s campus, where clients stay during their time here. Instructors meet their clients and spend the first two days working with them on what we call JUNO training. During JUNO training, the instructor plays the part of the “dog” by holding the harness and leading the client. This helps the client learn the commands and mechanics they’ll use with their Leader Dog. This also gives the instructors a chance to evaluate whether they’ve selected the best dog for each client.

After JUNO training is complete, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives: dog issue day! All the dogs are groomed and ready to make a good first impression. Instructors bring the dogs in one at a time to introduce them to their new handlers. The introductions take place privately in each client’s room. Then, the clients and dogs have the rest of the morning to just meet and bond.

In the afternoon, the new handler and dog teams will take their first walk around the practice course on our campus. Instructors work closely with the teams in the beginning and slowly reduce the level of support until the handler and dog can walk comfortably without the instructor right beside them. Over the next few weeks, the instructors, clients and dogs will practice working in quiet residential areas and progress to busier, more distracting environments to solidify each team’s skills. They also work on skills like finding an object or location. Instructors talk to each client about individual goals to include during training. For example, if a client is about to go to college, the instructor and handler/dog team can head to a nearby campus to practice in that environment.

After three weeks of training together, the clients and Leader Dogs head home. Clients introduce their Leader Dogs to their new environment and begin practicing daily routines. The year and a half of growing, learning and practicing that each Leader Dog has just completed is now the foundation for a person’s independent travel.

You can be part of a dog’s journey to becoming a guide dog – become a puppy raiser today. Interested in getting a Leader Dog of your own? Explore our Guide Dog Training program.

Image with pictures of Terra, Justin, and Jonelle with their Leader Dogs seated next to them in harness

Sadona and I are doing well. She just “celebrated” her 6th birthday. Sadona’s work is great. We enjoy walking around our neighborhood and going places like church and shopping.

My mom wanted me to thank you for matching me with Sadona. She used to worry about me crossing crazy busy streets alone. She hasn’t worried (much) since she knows Sadona is by my side and won’t let me cross if it’s not safe.

Thank you again for matching me with such a smart and assertive worker who loves her work and enjoys playtime. She has boosted my confidence so much! Her silly antics keep me laughing. She is just the dog I need! Thank you Leader Dog!

Terra Peterson

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Justin and Winnie go for daily walks around the neighborhood and walk up to a nearby shopping center often. They have bonded immensely over the last year. Winnie is always at his side. She is a great dog that has added a lot of joy to our family. She and Justin are best friends! We are overjoyed with the experience that Justin had at Leader Dog. He still talks about all the people he met.

We’ve been able to keep in contact with the puppy raiser family, the Stauffers from PA, through Facebook. It’s such a cool relationship that really warms my heart. They are such a great family and I love seeing all the work they’ve done with Leader Dog.

Sincerely,

Amanda Mellis (Justin’s sister)

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Hello! I just finished training at the Leader Dog campus and I am so grateful for your organization. I came to Leader Dog a broken person—I left an independent person again!

You have some of the best staff, instructors, puppy raisers and veterinarians I have ever encountered. I owe you… not just for the courage to go again without my sight, but for giving my life back to me with this beautiful dog Bailey. I will recommend you to all in need of Orientation & Mobility Training or a guide dog. I have no complaints. It was an eye-opening and beautiful experience. Who knows what me and Bailey will get into but I do know the adventures ahead will be awesome!

Thank you,

Jonelle Bray

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I just returned from Leader Dog. After many years of being unable to go outside without assistance this was a life changer. I live in Las Vegas and the traffic here is really pedestrian unfriendly so I was petrified to leave [my place] alone.

I am proud to say since I have gotten home just three days ago I have been out more than the last six months. I went to the pharmacy last night in the dark alone to get my prescriptions that were ready. My fiancée was nervous but I wanted to do it alone as I have not done in at least eight years. I am 50 and my life is a LOT different than what it once was.

I plan on going back for a dog as soon as I can because every single person at Leader Dog was amazing, friendly, and totally caring of each and every client. Out of a 5-star rating in my book they get a 10. Everyone from the front desk, instructors, kitchen staff, and even the sales people in the store were totally amazing and truly care about every client that is there.

Christopher LaRue

Pictured above from L to R: Terra Peterson and Leader Dog Sadona, Justin Mellis and Leader Dog Winnie, Jonelle Bray and Leader Dog Bailey.

A young man walks with a Leader Dog in harness down a sunny sidewalk lined with trees. Another man in a Leader Dog polo follows slightly behind the first

In the second part of our webinar series, Leader Dog staff discussed our brand new, expanded options for Guide Dog Training as well as giving an overview of Summer Experience Camp.

Leader Dogs for the Blind understands that every client has their own one-of-a-kind goals. This webinar talks about six unique options we’ve created for Guide Dog Training, including Flex, Urban and Warm Weather offerings.

Our Summer Experience Camp is open to teens ages 16 and 17. This experience helps campers build independence, leadership skills and GPS travel skills while making new friends.

View our previous webinar, “Is a Leader Dog the Right Mobility Tool for Me?”

If you would like to be notified of future webinars, please email Rachelle Kniffen with your request.

Meet Your Host and Presenters

Erica Ihrke has been Leader Dog’s manager of extended services since 2008. She earned her master’s degree in orientation and mobility from Western Michigan University. She is currently a member of the O&M Subject Matter Expert Committee for the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals and is a past president of Michigan Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).

Erica is an in-demand speaker and has presented at several AER International Conferences and the International Mobility Conference on the topics of guide dog readiness, alternative models of O&M, and accessible GPS.

David Locklin has 17 years experience in guide dog training. His career started with Guide Dogs for the Blind in the United Kingdom where he was a guide dog mobility instructor for seven years before becoming their service delivery manager.

Since 2014, David has been Leader Dog’s director of programs, overseeing the training department and the outreach services & community engagement department. Among David’s responsibilities is ensuring that all programs meet International Guide Dog Federation standards and that the needs of all clients are being met.

Jim Dugan, Leader Dog’s manager of outreach services, has been with Leader Dog since 2016. He oversees client field activities including home delivery of Leader Dogs and client support, as well as agencies and community engagement activities.

Jim has been in the guide dog industry since 1989 and has been a guide dog mobility instructor since 1992 for organizations in the U.S. and Australia. Prior to that, Jim was a member of the Military Police K9 Corp. in the U.S. Army.

A man stands in a large open space with tall dog kennels visible behind him. In front of him sit three dogs, one black lab and two golden retrievers, looking up at the man. Another black lab walks toward the group

Once Future Leader Dogs are returned to our campus by their puppy raisers, most will live here for four months in the canine development center before graduating to working Leader Dogs. During that time, it’s important that every dog stays happy, healthy and ready to learn the lessons that will allow them to be successful guide dogs. To make sure that happens, we have several groups of people who work and interact with the Leader Dogs-in-training every day.

At any given time, we average between 110–130 dogs in the canine center. During a typical day we have 10 dog care team members, 20 guide dog mobility instructors (GDMIs) and 15 canine support assistant volunteers interacting with our dogs. Each one provides our dogs the maximum amount of interaction time to support their opportunity to become a successful Leader Dog.

Our dog care team members’ normal routine is to feed, medicate, handle, relieve and clean 2–3 villages (average of 25 total dogs) twice per shift. After those tasks are complete, they focus on the dogs’ health, training and enrichment. They take dogs to the vet clinic to check any health concerns, problem solve any concerns that were noticed while caring for individual dogs and spend one-on-one or group enrichment (dog-to-dog interaction) time with the dogs in their villages.

A typical weekday has 20 GDMIs concentrating on providing the 5–8 dogs they are responsible for with progressive guide dog training, such as a 30-minute training in the canine center or taking 3–4 dogs for a half-day training trip to Rochester, Birmingham, Detroit, etc. While the GDMIs focus mainly on training, they also pay close attention to the health, enrichment and care of their dogs.

We have three shifts of canine support assistant (CSA) volunteers every day. Each CSA shift has a dog care team member who guides their shift to provide enrichment time. The current focus for CSA volunteers is to provide one-on-one enrichment time with our dogs. This might be grooming (we have a never-ending supply of fur) or performing TTouch techniques (essentially a form of massage) to calm our dogs. We recently introduced a new opportunity for CSA volunteers to support group enrichment with our dogs.

We also created a new volunteer opportunity, dog transition assistant, with the goal to have 21 shifts (two hours long each) with two volunteers on each shift. The focus of this role is to use relaxation protocols that our puppy raisers have already introduced to our dogs to help them transition into their new environment. An amazing group of puppy raisers helped develop this role that other puppy raisers are now supporting on-campus.

Our dogs receive an amazing amount of interaction every day, and each staff member and volunteer helps to pave the way for another client receiving a well-trained Leader Dog that is ready to become the eyes of someone who’s blind or visually impaired.

Pictured above: Apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Kevin Guay interacts with some of the dogs in our canine center during a group enrichment session.

A golden retriever in leather Leader Dog harness walks on inscribed bricks on a sunny day. A person is walking next to the dog and is only visible from the waist down
 

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 webinar tackled the topic: “Is a Leader Dog the Right Mobility Tool for Me?” Two professionals from our training team, Manager of Extended Services Erica Ihrke, certified orientation and mobility specialist, and Director of Programs David Locklin, guide dog mobility instructor, presented. They gave insight into the similarities/differences of using a cane vs. a guide dog, overviewed admission standards for both our Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Training and Guide Dog Training programs, and covered the application process for both programs, among other topics.

We had a great response to the webinar and are making it available for everyone to review on YouTube.

There were requests to include some of the content discussed in the webinar including International Guide Dog Federation standards and information for O&M professionals about our Pro Seminars.

If you would like to be notified of future webinars, please email Rachelle Kniffen with your request.

Meet Your Host and Presenters

Erica Ihrke has been Leader Dog’s manager of extended services since 2008. She earned her master’s degree in orientation and mobility from Western Michigan University. She is currently a member of the O&M Subject Matter Expert Committee for the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals and is a past president of Michigan Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).

Erica is an in-demand speaker and has presented at several AER International Conferences and the International Mobility Conference on the topics of guide dog readiness, alternative models of O&M, and accessible GPS.

David Locklin has 17 years experience in guide dog training. His career started with Guide Dogs for the Blind in the United Kingdom where he was a guide dog mobility instructor for seven years before becoming their service delivery manager.

Since 2014, David has been Leader Dog’s director of programs, overseeing the training department and the outreach services & community engagement department. Among David’s responsibilities is ensuring that all programs meet International Guide Dog Federation standards and that the needs of all clients are being met.

Jim Dugan, Leader Dog’s manager of outreach services, has been with Leader Dog since 2016. He oversees client field activities including home delivery of Leader Dogs and client support, as well as agencies and community engagement activities.

Jim has been in the guide dog industry since 1989 and has been a guide dog mobility instructor since 1992 for organizations in the U.S. and Australia. Prior to that, Jim was a member of the Military Police K9 Corp. in the U.S. Army.

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

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 that I would move from sunny, warm, fried chicken and home cooking Georgia to the frigid Midwest for my dream job.

Becoming an apprentice guide dog mobility instructor for Leader Dog isn’t an easy task. After passing two rounds of phone interviews, I flew to cold, cold Michigan for a long day of whirlwind testing experience. One question: HOW do you choose what to wear to look professional for an interview while working with dogs? The perfect shoes alone are an enigma.

In advance of my arrival, I prepared a presentation to teach someone a new skill of my choice. My previous boss talked me out of my original idea, “How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse,” so I created a slideshow with videos of me working with a dog on training food refusal with positive reinforcement and operant conditioning. It turned out there wasn’t a way to play the presentation. I did my best under pressure and used some lovely and verbose descriptions of what my carefully crafted videos would have looked like. Somehow, I made it through that excruciating ten minutes.

After that there was a dog working section. Two members of management and a guide dog mobility instructor (GDMI) gave brief instructions and then watched me complete an obedience routine with a dog. Then I ate lunch with clients, attended a report writing segment, shadowed part of class and observed a training route with a GDMI. I attended both an individual and a panel interview with four people who asked TOUGH questions. Working on the training staff at Leader Dog involves a high level of teamwork and togetherness. Ensuring that a new candidate is a good fit for the team is of paramount importance.

After an apprentice candidate completes a similar interview process to mine and accepts the position, he or she is greeted on their first day by Team Supervisor Sebastian McPherson, who oversees all apprentices. The first month is spent working with the dog care team members to understand how the dogs are cared for during their time in-for-training. The second month is spent shadowing teams in each stage of training and class and bringing a shared string of three dogs through the first stage of training, the foundations stage. The apprentice also receives one-on-one training from Sebastian learning the basics of guide dog specific training.

Next, the apprentice is put on a training team and paired with a mentor. The mentor is the point person along with Sebastian for training instructions, questions and concerns related to clients and dogs. The apprentice goes into their “observation class” and shadows their mentor and other team members as they work with clients. This allows the apprentice to get an in-depth view of the realities of and what the final goal of a Leader Dog looks like.

Next the apprentice is assigned four dogs to work with and two clients for their first class—all closely observed by their mentor. Three clients are assigned in the second class, and for the following classes apprentices are at full capacity with four clients.

Throughout all three years of the apprenticeship, there are online learning modules to be done, field visits and agency visits to observe and conduct, workshops put on by the orientation & mobility department and an immersive three-day blindfold experience.

The apprenticeship is specifically geared to set learners up for success with gradually increasing responsibility and decreasing mentor support. Though eventually “onboarding” ends, the piece that keeps every apprentice/GDMI hooked on this job is that the learning never stops. Every dog is different; every client is different; every match is different. From my perspective, I’m grateful to Leader Dog for taking the chance on me from a stressful interview process, investing time and resources into my education, and allowing me to work at my dream job.

Ashley is pictured above with a group of clients and Leader Dogs whom she helped to instruct. She is top right, standing in the back row.