Celebrity Status

An article was published in a magazine about Southeastern Guide Dogs school.

It gives another perspective on the process the school undertakes to accomplish their mission of providing world-class Guide Dogs, free of charge to visually impaired individuals, Service Dogs to veterans and Canine Companions to children facing a future with impaired vision.

One of the aspects in the article is the new condition training program implemented by the school.

Featured giving a demonstration is none other than the ever beautiful and ever sweet Watson!

An excerpt, which is the most important part of the article (not that I am biased), reads as follows:


"Training really begins after quarantine, when the dogs are taught over 40 commands, from “forward” to “find my phone,” and assessed on qualities like attentiveness and tolerance. The most promising prospects work with Southeastern’s accredited trainers and apprentices like Stephanie Spence to learn guide and service dogs skills, and complete a conditioning regimen prescribed by head veterinarian Kevin Conrad and Lauren Hugus, a canine conditioning and rehabilitation coach. Twice a week, dogs are brought individually to a room filled with Swiss exercise balls, balance boards and treadmills. There, Hugus uses healthy, green treats to encourage them through canine calisthenics that engage both their body and mind.

Training begins in earnest after quarantine, when the dogs are taught over 40 commands, from “forward” to “find my phone,” and assessed on qualities like attentiveness and tolerance. Photo by Dyllan Furness

“I’m a believer that our dogs are athletes. All of the equipment serves a purpose,” Conrad says, pointing to a gorgeous Golden named Watson who’s just climbed onto a balance board with encouragement from Hugus. “This bidirectional board here wobbles on both sides, so Watson has to decide, Can I handle motion or does that scare me? Can I handle sound, because it makes sound? We can then separate these dogs into those that are sound-sensitive, motion-sensitive, body-sensitive, and then work with their weaknesses and focus on strengthening that.”

What a thrill to see her picture while training!

To read the full article you can click on this link.

https://abeautifulperspective.com/2018/11/how-raise-guide-dog/?fbclid=IwAR0q_BnmWvx_YAvvfrrX8DiR7MjYr5M37YHF3lxCQ1hUV_aLmR8qElA7ntA 

Watson has a Career!

Because Watson has excellent health, great genetics, a wonderfully gentle and patient disposition, Watson has been chosen to join the Breeding Colony!

That means Watson will be a mother and will have puppies! YIKES!

That means we will be grandparents! YIKES!








We are thrilled that Watson has excellent genetics and that she has a job that will contribute to the future success of SEGD.

She will help more Vision Impaired people that need Guide Dogs. 






Watson always loved little dogs and puppies, so we are confident she will make a great mother.

This means we will have more puppies' lives to follow.

Congratulations little Watson!

Watson's Medical Test Results Are Back

Watson has completed her extensive medical testing and the results are back.

A big concern is hip dysplasia. With all the walking they will be doing as a guide, hip dysplasia is always a major concern, especially for golden retrievers.

Watson came out with flying colours for all her medical tests.

Her hip tests came back as "EXCELLENT"!!!

This is great news and means Watson can keep moving forward in the program.

Postcard from Watson

I got a postcard from Watson today. 

She said:
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I wanted to write you a quick note to let you know that I’m having so much fun! I have made lots of new friends and I love my roommates!  The Canine Care Technicians are spoiling me with cuddles and treats. 

I’ve completed my conditioning classes. I must have done well because I got a lot of treats!! Later this week, I’ll get to meet my trainers. I can’t wait!! 

Please find attached a picture of me at the beach (not really, but I wanted to make you smile).

Just so you know, there is no need to worry about me. I have made so many new friends and I enjoy hanging out with them every day.  I’m having tons of fun here and I’m learning so much already. I’m going to work very hard and I know I’m going to make you proud!

Love and Licks,                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Watson

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P.S. Cami's mom, Jenni, got the same postcard. I think Cami and Watson were doing their homework together.  

Watson's Potential Career Options

Heroes come in different forms, shapes and sizes.

SEGD dogs are bred to become heroes.

During Freshman Orientation the trainers and veterinarians will determine what career path is best for Watson.

They will assess her aptitude, abilities, personality, health, temperament and trainability.

Some of Watson's potential career paths could include:

Guide Dogs: trained in over 40 commands they help people with vision loss navigate independently. These are the top echelon of all service dogs. People's lives literally depend on the accuracy of their decisions. Only 1 in 3 of SEGD's dogs become Guide Dogs.

SEDG also supports veterans. With Watson's calm, sweet and steady personality she could help veterans in several ways, including:

Service Dog: help a veteran cope with PTSD

Facility Therapy Dog: work in a military medical facility providing comfort

Emotional Support Dog: offer comfort to a veteran with special needs.


SEDG also provides dogs for children and teens. Watson LOVES kids, so one of these careers could be a great career path for her:

Kid's Companion Dog: children with vision loss can receive a gentle dog to help them prepare for a future guide dog

Gold Star Family Dogs: these dogs are gifted to military family members that have lost a loved one in military service

Child Advocacy Dogs: calm dogs provide assistance to children in crisis.

Sometimes a dog could be well suited to a certain career, but, if a position is not available, another path is chosen.

Some of the dogs will be welcomed back into the home of their Puppy Raising family.

Some dogs change lives through public adoption. There is a long waiting list to adopt Career Changed dogs from SEGD.

I am excited to know where Watson's path will take her.

But for now, we have to patiently wait......

What Comes Next?

During the first 3 weeks at college the dogs will begin a new program called "Condition Training".

The program has been implemented by a SEGD vet. Through it, the dogs will get into tip-top shape before they begin their formal Guide Dog training program.

Condition Training involves building their core muscles using rubber balls, tilt surfaces and encouraging them to balance on different footings.

They will have the equivalent of a Personal Trainer working with them for 2 hours three times a week .

Learning to master these devices will not only make them stronger, but also build their confidence.

In addition, they will undergo extensive medical tests, including assessing their hips, elbows, hearts, eyes and overall health.

The cost of a Guide Dog is $50K to $60K, so it is important that they can enjoy a long career.


In conjunction, Animal Behaviour experts will evaluate their temperament and confidence.

Canine Care Technicians (CCT) and trained volunteers will be helping them with their transition to living in dorms with roommates.

The CCT's will continue working with them on the basic commands we taught them.

The freshmen pups will also be challenged with puzzles and treat dispensers.





They will experience relaxation strategies including soothing oil diffusers, canine calming music, petting and massages by volunteers.

I am thinking I want to go where Watson is going!

Blindfold Walk with a Guide Dog

After we watched our sweet puppies prance away to their new life, one of the SEGD IFT activities is a blindfold walk with a Guide Dog in harness.

Wearing their blackout sunglasses I could only see a thin sliver of light. That is unnerving!

The Guide Dog guided me around the curved path.

He then stopped me at the curb before I walked out into the road and potential traffic.

At the end of our walk I was able to tell him how good he was and love him to bits.


I have to say, it was an incredible relief to be able to take those blackout glasses off.

There are different degrees of blindness, but the need to trust the dog's decisions would be the same for every vision impaired Guide Dog Handler.

That trust with a Guide Dog is what creates an incredible bond between the vision impaired person and their Guide Dog.

They become a team.

As a Puppy Raiser we contribute to the start of that partnership, freedom and confidence.

Watson's Freshman Orientation to College

Taking Guide Dog puppies back is very tough for Puppy Raisers.

We know when we go into Puppy Raising that we have to give them back, but, it doesn't mean to say that it isn't hard.

Southeastern Guide Dogs know this is an emotional time and do a great job at IFT (In For Training).


The walkway leading up to the Assessment Centre, where the dogs will start their training, is lined with welcome signs.

Each dog also has their own sign and kindergarten photo greeting them.






Watson was so excited to be back.

She was on high alert watching everything.

There were so many dogs and so many smells to catch her attention.






It is a beautiful campus with gardens, fountains and paths for training and practice walks with the dogs.

There is a statue specifically in honour of Puppy Raisers and our contribution to the program.

The recognition is very touching.





Twenty-eight dogs went IFT the same day Watson went.

Four of Watson's siblings were also there. Brother Preston, brother Champ(agne), Watson, sister Ava and sister Cami all posed for a family group photo.

We also got to see the kennels where Watson will be living over the next 3 weeks while she has her initial assessments.

Boys dorm in one wing, girls dorm in the other wing.

Watson will be rooming with her sister Ava.

Cami will be several kennels away.

We were each given a large milkbone to write a note to our puppies.

I am sure Watson gobbled hers down quickly and didn't even hear our note to her.

The Orientation Yearbook had a kindergarten photo and a short bio for each puppy.

Each dog and Puppy Raiser was called forward while a commentary was read and Puppy Raiser pictures taken over the last year were on the Big Screen.

Someone always has to go first. I was warned that Watson would be called first.

GULP.

Watson was super excited.

A Canine Care Technician met us.

I took off our collar and they put on their collar.

I said my goodbyes.

Then Watson trotted off.

She did not look back.

Not one of the dogs looked back or hesitated.

It is bittersweet, but that is the way it should be. It means we did a good job raising a confident dog that is prepared to face the world, without us.

But it doesn't make it any easier.

Siiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

Preparing For IFT

We know she has to leave for her next journey, but, when the date looms closely overhead it makes it seem more real.

All of a sudden all the little things put aside for a later date seem so much more important and significant.

New exposures and experiences on our To Do List need to be done now and not later.

Training needs to be fine-tuned and tightened up.

Commands without treats need to be practiced.








More pictures need to be taken.

(Photos are difficult to take because she is so blonde. Plus she has no vanity and will not pose. She could probably take lessons from the Kardashians.)



There are a lot of reports and assessments to be filled in.

Vet visits are required to prepare her for her flight to return to Florida, college and living in a dorm with roommates.

Flights, car rentals and accommodation bookings need to be made.




Watson was oblivious to our preparations, angst and bittersweet sadness.

Excitement and Anxiety

As Watson's IFT (In For Training) date approaches, Watson is getting excited to go back to her school in Florida.

 At college she will be challenged to learn more, be reunited with her siblings and be training (and playing) with other dogs her age.





We know she has to go back to Florida and go to college. But, now that the date, and reality, is getting closer, John and I are getting anxious and melancholy.

Apparently Watson doesn't care about our feelings. 

PR Photo Shoot for Rienzi, Museum of Fine Arts

Watson has been very popular doing PR work with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

I am a docent at Rienzi, the MFA's home for European Decorative Arts.

The house contains precious works of art, including porcelain, silver, paintings and other rare objects from the 1600's to 1800's.

They know that I Puppy Raise a Guide Dog in Training, and, they asked if Watson and I could train docents what to do with a Service Dog in the house.

What a great opportunity for Watson and me!

Public Relations and educating people about Guide Dogs is one of our Puppy Raiser roles, so we were more than happy to help.




I had confidence that Watson would be able to handle the responsibility.

But, I would be lying if I didn't say that I was just a little nervous taking Watson, a 13-month old puppy, through a home that contains precious objects that I, nor anyone else, could ever replace should they get broken.

Guide Dogs Puppies need to learn that when they are not needed to safely guide their handlers, they need to patiently wait until they are needed.

Watson made me very proud. She was the perfect Guide Dog in Training!

While we stopped and talked, she did exactly what she is supposed to do, she took a load off her feet and relaxed.

She even laid down and tried to catch a few zzzzz's.

One definition of pride, and relief,  is taking a 13-month-old Guide Dog puppy through a home with priceless objects, and, leaving it exactly the way we found it!

Except maybe adding a few strands of Golden Hair Dust behind.

Down Under

For safety reasons Guide Dogs need to keep out of the way as much as possible when their handler sits.

We teach Guide Dog puppies a command called "Down Under" where they tuck themselves under their handler's chair or under the table.

When we took Cami and Watson to the local coffee shop they both tried to get "Down Under".

It was a tight squeeze for them to do it together.

Book Worm

Watson and I went to our neighbourhood library to check out the latest Best Seller List.

Watson loves people and kids, but, she needs to learn that when she wears her vest she is working and that she needs to ignore distractions and stay focused.

We set the bar high and sat in the children's section.

It might look like she is sleeping on the job, but, what she is doing is ignoring the people and kids around her.

I think it is safe to say that Watson aced the test!

Pirates on the Bayou

Watson went on a Boat Tour of Buffalo Bayou through downtown Houston.

Cami and her mom, Jenni, joined the adventure.

Cami and Watson practiced their Down Under position as much as possible.

Watson and Cami were so well behaved the Captain was impressed and had to have his picture taken with The Girls.












We can now check off  "Searching for Pirates" on their Exposure List. 

Theatre District Open House

Houston has a very vibrant Theatre scene.

Once a year they hold an Open House in the Theatre District.

This is a great opportunity for Watson to be exposed to costumed characters, large groups of people, music and lots of kids.









Characters from the Nutcracker were very happy to pose with Watson.












The large crowds gave Watson practice ignoring children and adults.

It also gave us an opportunity to teach children and adults to ignore a dog wearing a service vest.

Watson certainly wasn't afraid of the "cheap seats" or "nosebleed" seats in the upper balcony.

Walking in front of the wall-length mirror was a piece of cake.











Watson was not invited to go on stage, but, as they say "in the business", performers should never share a stage with children or animals, because the children and animals always steal the show!