2008 Woodie Awards
Univ. students raise dogs to be guides
BRITTANY COFER
Issue date: 10/13/08 Section: News
Gillis said Maggie sleeps in a crate in the living room and not in the bed. The dog is "baby-sat" if she is out of town, so Maggie can spend time with different people.
When the dogs return to the Guide Dog Foundation school, they go through another four to six months of training, Hooper said.
They are taught intelligent disobedience, which is when a guide dog disobeys a command if it judges a situation unsafe. The dogs can be dismissed if evaluators feel they are not capable of becoming a guide dog.
"If thrown out at any step in the process, they are immediately adopted out," Gillis said.
Hooper said it's important for students to remember the dogs are being trained to help someone.
"Basically we want people to ignore the dogs," she said. "It's really important that these dogs learn to focus on what they are doing."
"If people bark at them it can be really dangerous, because they can lose their concentration and these dogs will eventually be making life and death decisions."
Though anyone can apply on the Web site, Hooper urges students to think through the decision.
"Some people don't realize the commitment it takes and just apply on a whim," she said. "I encourage students to think about the commitment and having to give up the dog."
When the dogs return to the Guide Dog Foundation school, they go through another four to six months of training, Hooper said.
They are taught intelligent disobedience, which is when a guide dog disobeys a command if it judges a situation unsafe. The dogs can be dismissed if evaluators feel they are not capable of becoming a guide dog.
"If thrown out at any step in the process, they are immediately adopted out," Gillis said.
Hooper said it's important for students to remember the dogs are being trained to help someone.
"Basically we want people to ignore the dogs," she said. "It's really important that these dogs learn to focus on what they are doing."
"If people bark at them it can be really dangerous, because they can lose their concentration and these dogs will eventually be making life and death decisions."
Though anyone can apply on the Web site, Hooper urges students to think through the decision.
"Some people don't realize the commitment it takes and just apply on a whim," she said. "I encourage students to think about the commitment and having to give up the dog."
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
John Nelms
posted 10/13/08 @ 12:04 PM EST
Great!! Sonny Seiler and "UGA VII" need to get behind this!
Bud Whitmire
posted 10/13/08 @ 4:06 PM EST
Labs are the best dogs, hands down. Webster is a fine looking young man!
Petzone
posted 10/13/08 @ 9:43 PM EST
Cool beans! Glad to see this program, let me know if you ever need help with training. I am a AKC Certified Canine Good Citizen instructor and personaly have a registered therapy dog. (Continued…)
petzone
Petzone
posted 10/13/08 @ 9:53 PM EST
Cool Beans! This is such a great progam and a big YOU ROCK for helping dogs help people! If you need any help with training let me know. I am a certified AKC Canine Good Citizen instructor and only use positive reinforcement training. (Continued…)
suzanne woodill
posted 10/14/08 @ 8:12 AM EST
Thanks for sharing this article with us
Lindsay
posted 10/17/08 @ 9:25 AM EST
What is the name of the organization?
aunt jody
posted 11/15/08 @ 2:55 PM EST
Great job, well done. From Ohio.
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