Seattle Guide Dog Training
Seattle is a city known as a beacon of culture and community in the northwestern part of the United States. The sense of community and goodwill proudly extends to those who live with various disabilities, including the blind. Raising and training guide dogs for the blind has received equal support from the community with sponsorship and support from reputable institutions including a sorority chapter and even an opera house.
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Significance
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Groups like the Guide Puppies of Seattle are dedicated to raising puppies in conjunction with a prestigious California-based group called Guide Dogs for the Blind. These specially bred puppies are born, raised and trained to help guide their visually impaired handlers. Most importantly, these guide dogs are provided free of charge to the blind, a significant gift considering this process of raising and training costs around $38,000 according to the Guide Dogs of America. People with visual impairment often face many financial burdens from unemployment issues, medical costs and equipment costs for items such as Braille embossers and digital recorders. To pay for the cost of a guide dog themselves would put the possibility of obtaining such assistance out of the reach of most people with visual impairment.
Puppy Training
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The actual puppy raising and training involves getting the young dogs familiar with people of all ages and exposing them to various environments. Puppy trainers take the dogs to parks, restaurants, movie theaters, malls and grocery stores. Exposure to other dogs, cats and other various animals is also part of the socializing process. Other than proper socialization, the other goal of a puppy trainer is to teach the puppy basic obedience including walking on a lead or leash, playing only with approved toys, basic commands like "sit" and "stay" as well as car riding etiquette.
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Guide Training
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Seattle does not have a guide dog training facility, so all the dogs groups like Guide Puppies of Seattle raise and train are then shipped back to facilities like Guide Dogs for the Blind in California. While a Seattle facility does not perform the intensive training, the Seattle community of the puppy raisers to the guide training programs is not to be underestimated. A dog simply would not be able to complete guide dog training if it is not first properly socialized and trained to have good manners.
Community Support
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The community support of groups like the Guide Puppies of Seattle is strong. The Seattle Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Chapter cosponsors an annual fund-raising event called Champagne & Chocolates Gala to raise money partly for the veterinary costs of guide dogs in the Seattle metropolitan area. The sorority has raised $300,000 to date for the support of 64 guide puppies-in-training and 36 working guide dogs in the area, according to the SADB Alumnae Chapter. They also donate their time in support of these animals and their blind handlers.
Special Events
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Other Seattle community events aid in the training and enjoyment of raising puppies for guide dog service. In 2005, the Seattle Opera opened up its dress rehearsals just for the puppies and their raisers to help in the puppies' socialization and exposure to real-life events without potentially disturbing other attendees. The dogs experienced a simulated full show with loud music, a dark house, performance on stage, crowded conditions and applause, all of which are very stimulating to a dog. Learning to behave in these types of environments will eventually enable the dog's future handler to experience the world without worrying if her dog will misbehave.
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- Photo Credit labrador image by fuxart from Fotolia.com
