From ruff recruits to guides

Rose Harland • Published 24 Aug 2010 08:00 0 Comments

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A DOG'S life is a busy one at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's centre in Wokingham.

In the extensive grounds, groups of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed recruits undertake the final stage of training that will enable them to be entrusted with people's lives.

Andrew Carson, district team manager, said: "We start teaching the dog to take responsibility for its actions. That's the biggest jump. It has to start making decisions."

The animals that come to Wokingham are typically just over a year old and already have spent a year living with a volunteer "puppy walker", who gives the dog its initial training.

Fifteen weeks of basic training follow before the dogs, which hail from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and three London boroughs, come to Wokingham for 12 weeks of advanced training, where they learn how to navigate a person around both still and moving objects.

Nicola Martin, guide dog mobility instructor, said: "They are young dogs so we try to put in a lot of playtime and teach them through play and games. As training goes on, the dog learns to accept more responsibility."

The centre currently supports 145 clients who have guide dogs and has a list of 27 others waiting for dogs. Some on the list have dogs nearing retirement; others have never had a guide dog.

The centre off Barkham Road has been used by Guide Dogs since 1977. Its staff of 12 train the dogs, help with aftercare and raise funds.

About 30 dogs a year graduate from the school, mostly yellow Labradors crossed with Golden Retrievers, plus both breeds separately, and a small number of German Shepherds, border collies, Labradoodles and others.

Miss Martin said: "We choose very specific breeds that are by nature quite biddable and are working dogs. They all like to do things, they like to please. They are also very into people, they like company."

The dogs are carefully matched with their human partner, who is only charged a nominal 50p for the dog, despite it costing Guide Dogs - which receives no government funding - a total of £35,000 over each dog's lifetime.

Yet the difference these animals make to people's lives can be so profound that often the friends and families of clients become dedicated supporters of the charity.

Frank Jiggins, 73, from Great Hollands, whose wife Janice was first matched with a guide dog in 1985 after losing her sight, said: "It gives a bit more freedom. It's also company and it gives you independence."

The couple have supported the charity by fundraising, collecting puppies for training and looking after dogs overnight while they are being trained at Wokingham.

Miss Martin said: "That's really what gives you a buzz in the job, when you find a really good partnership and really do make a difference to someone's life. It's lovely to see someone have the confidence to walk out of their house and down the road.

"It is a road to freedom."

FAMILIES and animal lovers can have fun while supporting Guide Dogs at an open day in Wokingham on September 4.

The Saturday open house will feature displays and parades by guide dogs, prison dogs and puppies, as well as a range of activities and stalls, plus a Go Walkies sponsored walk - with or without dogs - at 2:30pm.

Fiona Wright, senior district fundraiser, said: "We do need the public's support and all are welcome to the Go Walkies fun day.

"We would like to see as many local people, with or without dogs, as possible come along and support the day."

The event will be held at the charity's centre at Folly Court off Blagrove Lane from 11am-5pm.

It will include a "Sticky Paws Cafe" where sighted customers will serve themselves drinks and scones with jam while blindfolded to better understand some of the challenges faced by people with visual impairments. Similarly, people will be able to experience putting their trust in a guide dog on a blindfolded walk.

There will be children's games, a bouncy castle, raffles, a pet shop, stalls and beer and Pimms tents.

Entry is £5 per car or £1.50 per person.

To volunteer to help set up for the event, or to do other volunteer work for the guide dog program, contact Mrs Wright on 07917244583 or email gowalkiesfunday@guidedogs.org.uk

You can also support guide dogs programs by joining a fundraising branch, becoming a volunteer speaker, going to different groups and into schools; or you could become a puppy walker and look after a young dog for the first year of its life, or be a dog boarder for the Wokingham centre. You could also look after a retired guide dog.

This article appeared in Villager 18 Aug 10

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