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leader dog puppy

Black lab puppy wearing blue Future Leader Dog bandana looks up toward the camera

By Puppy Raiser Becky Wynn

I am a retired speech/language pathologist and raised my first two Future Leader Dog puppies while I was still working in the public schools in Southgate, MI. I traveled between several schools and worked with children from preschool through middle school. It was an incredible journey for all of us. My main building was an elementary school whose principal was a former Lions club member. He, as well as the school board and the special services director, were very receptive to raising a puppy in school. He said he had never seen quieter hallways than when the puppy was walking with me to the different classrooms.

I think the first puppy taught us more than we taught him. His picture hung up on the entry wall along with all the staff pictures and the students took great pride in their contribution to his training. The students named both puppies. When it was time for Mr. Webster to go to “college” (come back to Leader Dog for formal guide training), the elementary school had an awards ceremony for him. Parents came and Mr. Webster was presented with a certificate. Then we went from room to room and took off his jacket so that each student could give him a hug good-bye.

Logistically, I had a crate in each of the therapy rooms that I worked in and over time the puppy learned to lay quietly under the table while I worked with small groups of students. One 2nd grade teacher had her students describe one thing that they learned from having a Future Leader Dog puppy in school. Here are a few of my favorites:

“I learned that you can do more than collect bottle tops and soup can labels to help other people.”

“I learned that a Leader Dog can be working when he is sound asleep.”

“I learned that if you act up in the hallway the puppy acts up too, and no one wants the puppy to get in trouble.”

“I learned that Leader Dogs help blond [sic] people who can’t see.”

“I learned that puppy slobber makes your hair lay down.”

What I learned was how devoted and responsible children can be when they are part of an important project like raising a Leader Dog. They took such pride in how their behavior affected Mr. Webster’s training. They educated all visitors and their parents about proper manners around the puppy. My speech students got to help him with his “cues” (commands) and learned how important precise pronunciation had to be in order for the puppy to understand what they were asking. They learned patience by giving only one cue word and then waiting for the puppy to respond. I had autistic students who preferred to talk only to the puppy. It was an incredible education for all of us and Mr. Webster had a profound and lifelong impact.

The Williams family kneels outdoors with a black lab

I first considered raising a puppy for Leader Dogs for the Blind when our school-age son declared, “I am going to have ten dogs when I grow up.” I decided then that our children needed to learn to be responsible pet owners. Although we have always had a family dog, our kids did not know the time and effort that goes into developing a well-mannered pet. As they moved into middle school, they were required to log volunteer hours. They willingly participated, but their hearts were not always in it. In 2009, I decided it was time to raise a puppy so they could learn to LOVE volunteer work.

Both objectives were met: they learned how to properly raise a dog and how fun and rewarding volunteering can be. But we all got SO much more out of it, including the satisfaction of working together toward a common goal and honoring a commitment even when it is difficult. We showered that puppy with love and had to regroup and come to terms with him being career changed. He was adopted by a wonderful family and has single handedly turned six people into dog lovers! His true purpose.

We have since raised three additional puppies. Although the main responsibility is mine, my family is extremely supportive and invested in each puppy. I have also taken on three additional volunteer duties at Leader Dog. For three hours each Friday, I assist in feeding, enriching and bathing puppies as an on-campus puppy raiser. The puppies are at Leader Dog for approximately one week between leaving their host home and being assigned to a raiser. With the encouragement of another volunteer, Mary St. Clair, I also began volunteering as a resident orientation guide. Once a month, resident orientation guides welcome clients to the campus and give each one an individual tour of the residence building and their room.

My fourth volunteer role is one I was not seeking out but has turned out to be amazing. Our fourth puppy was pulled for breeding and we became her host family. Witnessing puppies come into this world and the loving care the mother gives them is indescribable and unforgettable. She is currently due with her second litter.

One of our most memorable Leader Dog experiences was meeting Miguel, the client who had received one of the puppies we raised, and his interpreter. Miguel was over the top with gratitude to Leader Dog and us. Despite the language barrier we had an incredibly heart-warming visit. He explained to us that on issue day (the day that clients receive their Leader Dogs), the instructor told him that he was receiving the smallest dog in that class. He told us that he quickly learned that although she was small she had the biggest heart of all, after which Miguel, my family and even the interpreter cried. I beamed with pride for the puppy we raised and knew all was right with the world.