Two jobs are better than one!

Well folks, it's been a while since I posted.  I've been nagging My Person to get photos for this post for a few months now, but she kept forgetting to put fresh batteries in the camera!  However, at last I have photos to share and a story to tell...

In May, My Person started working at Genazzano FCJ College - so of course, so did I!  We've been working in the school libraries - the senior library with the year 7-12 students four days a week and then, on Fridays, we spend the day in the junior library with the prep-6 students.  I'm loving it!  You see, I work as a Guide Dog to get My Person safely to work and any time she needs to leave the library during the day, but otherwise she takes my harness off and I'm the Library Dog. 

Working in the junior library

What does it mean to be a Library Dog?  Well:

• I am expected to wander the library before and after school, at recess and lunch, and at any other time, for the express purpose of letting the girls pat me, cuddle me and otherwise adore me.
• I provide stress relief and amusement for students preparing for exams, major assessment tasks, challeenges, personal troubles or anything else.
• I act as mascot for the Chess Club.  This has involved being present in their group photo for the yearbook, attending an excursion where the girls participated in a tournament, sleeping under the table when the chess tutor is teaching the girls and giving moral support by demanding pats when the girls are trying hard to win a game against a tough opponent.
• I inspire more people to visit the library - students and staff have been told that if they visit the library through the day they can pat/play with me.

It's a hard job, but someone has to do it - and I'm happy to say that somebody is me!

The girls that visit the junior library spoil me: they created this nest for me yesterday.  So comfy!

Well, I'm off to rest up a bit more.  Weekends are a great chance to relax and recharge ready for all the attention of the working week!  Have a lovely day, everyone!

Welcoming a new member to the family

Hi folks!

You may remember a while ago I shared with you the sad story about my cousin Keegan having to retire. You might be pleased to know that he has adjusted well to his new home - back with his puppy-raisers who now live in the Adelaide Hills. He's learned lots of new tricks and is loving the fact that he has two little kids to spend plenty of time with. We visited him early this year and he's happy and healthy and we could tell that his new People love him very much.

Now I have some other news to share with you. It's been a while since Keegan retired and his Person - My Person's middle sister - has spent months waiting for a new dog to be matched with her (Guide Dogs Victoria are very careful - finding the perfect match cannot be rushed) and relying on a long white stick called a 'cane' to keep her safe. She finally had word a little over a month ago that they had finally found the right dog for her! We were all so excited to hear it! She has now completed her training with the new dog - and brought him over to meet us.

So... Introducing Guide Dog Vollance (more commonly known as 'Volly')

Volly is about 22 months old. Amazingly, we discovered that Volly's parents and mine are the same! This is especially amazing since he is a GIANT and I'm only smallish. I'm serious - he's half again my size, at least!

This afternoon Volly and I were being taught how to ride in the trailer that gets towed along behind the little tractor that the MummyBear uses to cut the grass. We started out just being pushed about in the trailer:

Then I was lucky enough to have My Person's brother take me for a ride behind the tractor - all the people were amazed at how calm I was! Volly didn't try it - his Person doesn't want him getting too used to being behind vehicles with the motor running just yet, since he's still working on his traffic training. Here's a pic of me having my ride:

So, welcome to the family, Volly - my little brother who is bigger than me and now also my cousin!

- Kenworth

What breeds of dog are used as Guide Dogs?

I was out and about the other day when a lady stopped to talk to My Person. One of the things that she wanted to know was what breeds of dog are used as Guide Dogs.

This does vary slightly from place to place, but generally the most common breed for a Guide Dog is the Labrador Retriever (like me!) – around 70% of Guide Dogs currently working in the USA, for example, are Labradors - and this figure is the same (or higher) in most countries where you find Guide Dogs. Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds are also in service, as is the Labrador/Golden cross-breed. Though far less common, it is not unknown for Boxers, Border and Smooth Coated Collies, Australian Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles and Vizslas to be used as Guide Dogs. Guide Dogs Victoria, who trained me, do not train these breeds as Guide Dogs, though for a time they did breed and train Labradoodles (Labrador/Poodle crosses).

So why these breeds?

The key traits for a successful Guide Dog are intelligence, willingness to learn and work, high tolerance for stress, good health and endurance (sometimes we work long hours). Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers fit the bill perfectly. Poodles and Poodle crosses have been tried as a breed suitable for handlers with dog allergies as they tend to shed less hair.

German Shepherds were the original Guide Dogs – primarily due to their availability. They suited the job perfectly: they were willing to work, highly trainable and intelligent enough to solve problems they encountered outside their training. They do, however, require confident handlers – they can be stubborn and tend to get destructive and may even bite if not given adequate stimulation and boundary reinforcement. Unfortunately, German Shepherds lost a lot of ground in the image department as Guide Dogs because they were also being used in other working fields such as as police, guard and attack dogs.

It was then that the Labrador Retriever came to the fore. Coming in a wide range of colours and sizes, the Labrador had, and still has, the image of the lovable family pet. Intelligent enough to learn the job but not so smart as to get bored doing the same route over and over, the Labrador is eager to please its handler and takes most things in its stride, making it fantastic as a Guide Dog. Labradors are highly trainable and readily transfer their loyalty from one person to another, meaning that moving from a puppy-raising home to the training kennels and then bonding with a vision impaired handler does not create undue stress or effect their ability to work.
The Golden Retriever has many similar traits to the Labrador Retriever. They are the clowns and eternal optimists of the dog world, which means occasionally they can be a little flighty, but in general they are highly trainable and eager to please. The Golden takes a little more time to groom, with its longer coat, but for the handler who has the time and energy to deal with them, the Golden makes an excellent helper. Goldens are often cross-bred with Labradors with great effect.

Guide Dogs Victoria, and many other Guide Dog schools, have their own breeding program. They choose to breed and train mainly Labradors and some Goldens and Labrador/Golden crosses. Other breeds can occasionally be requested, but the wait time for these is considerably longer – a suitable dog must be found (or bred) and trained to the standard expected of Guide Dog representatives from the school. It is more common to find schools who will breed and/or train German Shepherds in the USA or UK. Some schools around the world do not have their own breeding programs and instead select suitable young dogs from local shelters and breeders to join their training programs – it is generally these schools which are more likely to include other breeds of dog in their programs.

So, whilst it is most common to see Labradors as Guide Dogs, there are others you may occasionally see out and about as working teams. As long as they have been appropriately trained by a registered Guide Dog school and possess the appropriate harness and identification, just about any dog of the appropriate size and temperament could be a Guide Dog!

Resources used in the compilation of this post:
http://www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au/about-our-dogs/breeding
http://ezinearticles.com/?Guide-Dogs-For-the-Blind---What-Breeds-Do-They-Train-to-Be-Guide-Dogs?&id=2522506
http://thepuppyplace.org/page15.html

What happens when a Guide Dog retires?

Well folks, I'm a little bit sad just now. My cousin Keegan has had to retire from being a Guide Dog. Guide Dogs retire for many different reasons, but the deciding factor is 'when they can no longer do the job effectively'. So, for example, if we can't keep up with our person any more, develop problems with our sight or hearing or become generally unwell. Sometimes a traumatic experience can end a Guide Dog's working life.

Keegan was the victim of a vicious dog attack - where the owner told his dog to attack whilst Keegan was walking his Person home from the station one night - a couple years ago. Poor Keegan hasn't been the same dog since, and now he can't work any more. His Person and the instructors from Guide Dogs Victoria have been trying to help him get over his fears, but it hasn't worked. He's afraid of dogs and doesn't want to go anywhere wearing his harness, because bad things happened whilst he was wearing it. So, he's being retired as a Guide Dog. This picture shows him with his Person in happier times.

So, what happens when a Guide Dog retires?

For the Person, it's a case of training with a new Guide Dog - usually they will be placed on the waiting list and matched with their new dog before the current one officially retires, but sometimes this isn't possible and the current dog retires before there is a new one ready to train with the handler. Then they must use a long white cane to get around (which is a lot harder and involves running into everything instead of going around it). For the dog, though, there are three options:

Option 1: The handler keeps the old dog as a pet
This is the option most handlers would prefer. We Guide Dogs develop a very strong bond with our handlers. They take care of us and we take care of them. So, where possible, our handlers keep us as a pet after we retire - we stay at home instead of going out all the time, getting plenty of love and attention when our handler is home. This option often works best if there is someone else in the house to give us extra love. Our handler is working on developing a bond with a new Guide Dog, and it can be hard on us when we retire to see our Person go out and take another dog instead of us. That doesn't mean it can't be done, just that we can feel better if there's extra people to give us love. There are several reasons why it might not be best or possible for the retired Guide Dog to stay with their Person. For example, if the Person's home is too small for two big dogs or is often away from home for long periods of time. Also, if seeing their Person go out with another dog becomes too stressful for the retired one. If this is the case, then the nest option is preferable.

Option 2: The retired Guide Dog goes to live with a friend of the handler
This means that someone the Person knows will provide a home and love and attention for the retired Guide Dog. This is the next best option, because we still get to see our Person fairly often, they hear all about how we are doing and know we are being loved and cared for. In some cases, though, this isn't possible either. Perhaps our Person doesn't know anyone who has a safe yard, time to be with us or space for a large dog. It's rare, but it can happen. In these cases, option 3 comes into play.

Option 3: The dog is placed in a new home by the Guide Dog association
If all else fails, the Guide Dog association which placed the Guide Dog in the first place will assist in finding a home for us to retire into. Most have long lists of people who want puppies who are reclassified (don't quite make the grade as a Guide Dog). They also have lists of people who are prepared to house dogs on a temporary or permanent basis. Sometimes retiring Guide Dogs go back to their puppy-raising family. And yes, we do remember them, even years later!

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So, what of Keegan? Well, his Person has become friends with his puppy raisers and they have arranged to take him back. He will be living in Adelaide, a long way from us, but he will be happy and safe and we will be kept updated on how he's doing. He's only 5, so there's a lot of life for him to enjoy still!



The MummyBear says she would have liked to be able to take him here, where I live, but with so many big dogs already, it would be too much for her. Besides, I'm grooming her to take extra care of me when, years and years from now, I decide that I need to retire. Then she can give me more treats!

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Well, hope that helped explain what happens when a Guide Dog retires. It really does depend on the dog and the situation the Person is in when the Guide Dog retires, but I've tried to give you a basic rundown on the options!

More questions? Feel free to comment!

How does a Guide Dog know when to cross the road?

I got a message from on of my Twitter pals, @Snick_the_dog recently. Here's what he had to say:

@GD_Kenworth,
Mom wonders how Guide Dogs know when to cross the street. I would run into traffic if Mom didn't stop me. I am too impatient!

Well, Snickers, to be honest, I get a little impatient sometimes too. You see, I'm not actually allowed to say 'GO' to cross roads, only 'STOP' when it isn't safe. Sometimes I think My Person takes FOREVER to say 'forward'!

It's up to My Person to assess the traffic conditions and decide when she thinks it's safe for us to cross. She gives me the 'foward' command when she thinks it's all OK. I'm allowed to say no (by not moving foward) if there's a car or something dangerous. This is called intelligent disobedience.

I found this picture of my cousin, GD_Keegan, when he was in training.

As you can see, the instructor has his arm back. This is the start of the hand movement that goes with the 'forward' command. The instructor is waiting for the truck to be close enough to be a threat, then he'll give the 'forward' command. If Keegan doesn't move, he gets lots of praise (and is told 'when you can', so he can choose to go when the truck is past, if the road is then clear). If Keegan steps at all, the instructor would pull back on the harness sharply and say 'NO'. Most of us learn pretty quickly that stepping out when there's a car that close only leads to getting in trouble.

It does help that we've been having to stop at roads all our lives - our puppy raisers never cross a road without stopping. We are also not supposed to walk in front of (or behind) a car with the engine running EVER.

So how does My Person tell if it's safe to cross? She looks (as she is not totally blind she uses what sight she has) and she listens. On quiet streets this isn't too hard - hear a car and figure out where it's coming from. On busier roads it's harder. We always try to cross at traffic lights or intersections. If there aren't audio signals for the crossing, My Person can use 'parallel traffic' to give her clues. If traffic is going accross the intersection in the same way she wants to cross, it should be safe.

Sometimes we Guide Dogs do make mistakes - which is why our People need to make the judgement and stay aware of what the traffic is doing. Road crossing safety for Guide Dogs and their handlers is a matter of continual reinforcement - if My Person thinks I'm cutting things too fine (and she tests me on it sometimes) she lets me know I've chosen wrong and won't cross the road. I'm usually pretty good at it, though!

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Thanks for such a good question, Snickers!

Questions? Comments? I'm looking for my next question, folks - comment me your ideas!

How does a Guide Dog know where to go?

Well, this is both a simple question and a complex one.

The simple answer? Our handlers tell us where to go. They can tell us the name of somewhere we've already been, or they can tell us when and where to turn - we Guide Dogs know words like 'straight on', 'left' and 'right' as well as 'find'.

So why is this a complex question? Because it can also mean 'how does a Guide Dog know what a [name of place] is?'

The answer? We don't really. We get taught what our person means when they say things like 'chemist', 'post office' and 'supermarket'. They could just as easily teach us that those places are called 'elephant', 'apple' and 'blue'. So - how does it work? I'll tell you how My Person teaches me. It's pretty similar for most handlers, but there will always be some variations.

First, My Person checks maps and asks questions to make sure she knows EXACTLY where she's going - how many streets do we need to cross before we turn? Is there a path to follow through the park? How far along a street do we need to go before we might see the place?

Then we leave home. She tells me we are going 'somewhere new' - so I don't have to worry about not knowing. This tells me I'm going to be told every step of the way what to do. I don't like it much - I'd rather know where I'm going and take My Person there. But I do like new places, too, so I'm willing to compromise occasionally. At each road or turn My Person will give me the direction and sometimes she tells me the name of the place we are going. We just keep following her directions until we find a place that seems right. (Lucky My Person has some useable sight or we might never find some places!)

Sometimes My Person gets someone to help her find somewhere the first time. She has them walk in front so I can follow them. This does make her life a lot easier, but I don't mind either way.

Once we've found the new place we stop and My Person makes a big fuss of me, tells me where we are and how clever I am. Sometimes she even gives me a treat! After that, I know that word and that place are the same. If My Person tells me we are going to that place I'm very happy to take her there - after all, I love being told how clever I am!

Some Guide Dogs need to go somewhere several times to learn the word for it. Others (like me) only need to do so once and we know the way backwards and fowards.

Usually a Guide Dog needs to be taught each place they need to go. We don't usually recognise a building as being a particular place unless we've been taught what it is. Some of us can be taught that the word 'chemist', for example, means a different place depending on where we are. I know that My Person means the nearest one and take her there.

Sometimes we still choose to do things our own way. One day, My Person and I went with the MummyBear and the DaddyBear to a new shopping centre. My Person told me she was looking for a 'chemist' but didn't expect me to find it myself. I took her right there!

Now it's time for my question to you... How do you think I managed to find a chemist in a place I'd never been before? My Person asked a primary school class this question a few weeks ago and got some interesting answers. Comment me with your thoughts and I'll give you mine a bit later on!

Back to Buisness as Usual

Well! This last couple weeks I've been back at work in Melbourne!

I've been enjoying going to uni on Mondays and Fridays - there's so many people who just love to say hello to me!

Thursdays I've been visiting the Preps at Pembroke Primary. Last week they had a party and dressed up as things that started with P. I wore my pirate hat - everyone was impressed! I had my photo taken with all the other pirates, too. My Person dressed up as a princess - so did five of the preps. It was a fun day! I love the new principal at the school - she will give me cuddles and get down on the floor to play with me!

Last night I caught up with Clementine again - we were at a Guide Dogs Girls Group (now apparently known as Chic) meeting. I also got to see Peggy, Shelley and Rose! Amy couldn't make it because she was working, but I'm going to her place today, then we're going out. My Person says we may even catch up with the guys at some point. I'm looking foward to it!

Tomorrow we are going out for lunch - and I think I heard a rumour that Guide Dog Prince will be there - and maybe a few others. I'll have to try to behave while I'm wearing my harness - it will be difficult, but I'll manage!

Anyhow, must go make sure My Person packs my dinner into her bag for tonight,

Have a good weekend!

Guide Dog Kenworth

A day at the vet...

Oh my, do I feel funny this evening!

I've been having trouble with my ears for a little while, so today I had to go to the vet and spend the day with them. They gave me some medicine that made me all sleepy and then cleaned a lot of mucky stuff out of my ears. Now I can't seem to get my legs to do what I want them to.

All this and they didn't even give me any treats today!

I must get some sleep now,

Next time, people!

Guide Dog Kenworth

My Trip to Tassie

Well, hello again everyone!

I got back home from Tasmania last night - and boy was I happy to see My Person's Mum and Dad and littlest sister!


The trip was great! I got to go heaps of new places and show everyone how to get back to the hotel - which I was very good at!


Here's a picture of me with My Person, Guide Dog Clementine and most of my new friends (I never did get a photo of all the instructors!)

That's Gerry on the left, then My Person and I, Spencer, Amy (hiding at the back), Andy, Maysa with Clementine and Sam.

This was a great day - we went on a tour of all sorts of new places. My Person called them 'Richmond', 'The Devil's Kitchen', 'Port Arthur' and 'the Dog Chain'. When we stopped to look at the place where the dog chain used to be, I got to have a run around - it was so much fun! I even played chase with Clementine. Then we went to look at something that looked like a dog - I was so looking forward to meeting it, but then I realised it wasn't really a dog, but metal!

That night, we went on another tour - my person called it a 'ghost tour'. We walked around a big old building in the dark. My Person was being a bit silly, but I was happy to do my job. I didn't much like the narrow stairs, though!

On Thursday I went walking in the snow! We went up to the top of Mount Wellington and climbed up some rocks to the very top. The snow was a little cold on my feet, but it was very interesting stuff! Here's a picture of my Person and I on Mount Wellington:

We went down the mountain a bit to have lunch - though the instructors had forgotten to bring any for themselves! Luckily My Person and Amy and Maysa had thought to bring fruit and biscuits to share!

After lunch we went on a long bushwalk. All the people kept slipping, and My Person decided I could just walk on the leash and she got out her cane. Andy nearly fell down an embankment, and he, Amy and My Person were laughing so hard they had a job getting him back onto the path! It was fantastic fun, and when we got back to the picnic spot all the guys played fetch and chase with me!

Later in the afternoon Shane drove Amy, Andy, Gerry, My Person and I to a park where they climbed on an old cannon.

I was sliding around too much in the back of the 4WD, so my person said I could ride up front with Andy. That was good, but Andy had gotten soaked when he walked into the sea at Blackmans Bay and a huge wave hit him. I'd been told I couldn't go into the water, but I did get a bit wet in the car - yay!

Clementine wasn't so keen on the flights, but I didn't mind - except when we landed in Melbourne coming home, because that was a bit bumpy for my liking! Mostly I slept on the floor beside My Person's seat.

Anyhow, I'm hoping to be fed soon, so I'll go sit on my mat for a while and hope My Person gets the hint. This has been a fantastic week!

Next time, people,

Guide Dog Kenworth

Oh Joy! I'm going on a 'holiday'!

Well, I've recently been given some good news - my Person has been selected to go on a training course that Guide Dogs Victoria are running - in Tasmania!

The Occupational Therapist and Orientation & Mobility Instructors from Guide Dogs Victoria have put together a program that is designed to help clients learn how to plan a holiday, improve cooking and other 'life-skills' abilities and challenge them to use their orientation skills in a completely unfamilliar environment. There are seven clients and three trainers going to Tasmania for this - and two of us Guide Dogs.

The other Guide Dog who is going with us is Clementine. She and her Person, Maysa, are a little green - they've only been working together for about five months - but she's a great friend to be travelling with.

Of course, I'll have to get my Person (or someone else in the group) to take a few photos so I can show you Clementine and I in action in Hobart.

Well, I'll catch you soon, time for me to get a brushing!

Guide Dog Kenworth.

Mummy, why is there a dog inside?

When I am out and about, I often hear children ask their parents 'Why is there a dog inside?' This question is often followed by the statement 'Dogs aren't allowed inside.'

The question always amuses my Person and I - not so much for the question itself, but for the variety of responses it gets. Here are a few examples:

'Shhh!' (We assume these people are too embarrassed to think we might hear them talking about us, or just don't want to say they have no idea.)

'The lady is training it to help people who can't see.' (This one is flattering - I must be doing a great job! Actually, I'm fully trained and am guiding my Person so she can do her shopping etc.)

'He's a Seeing Eye Dog and is helping the lady.' (Yes, I'm helping 'the lady' but I'm not a Seeing Eye Dog - I'm a Guide Dog. What's the difference? Guide Dogs Victoria and Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) are different organisations. There are a few differences in the breeding and training set-ups of the two organisations, as well as the harness - if you ask me, Guide Dogs has a higher standard of expectation in relation to behaviour. Still, I'm not offended if people think I'm a SEDA dog - it is hard to tell the difference!)

'He's a working dog - he's helping the lady because she can't see very well' (We like this explanation - obviously the parent is prepared to explain things fully to their child and is not afraid to mention my Person's disability.)

'OK, so now the explanation I would probably give if I was asked:

I am a Guide Dog, and that means it is my job to look after my Person wherever she goes. I am allowed anywhere my Person is allowed (with the exception of the Zoo, because I might disturb the animals and they might distract me from doing my job properly - and some other reason called 'quarantine'). This includes resteraunts, supermarkets, libraries, milkbars, shopping centers, markets...

Until next time...

Guide Dog Kenworth