On December 4th, I went to the Pet-a-Puppy event. It was really great to be able to meet some of the dogs and get to she them play with people. Service dogs are extremely important to people of all disabilities. although these dogs are being trained to help guide the seeing impaired, there are all types of service dogs, many who help people who disabilities can’t e seen from the outside. My father for example who is disabled has a service dog named Bella. She is his best friend and constant companion. My mom and I have her two sisters. Together they bring so much joy into our life. My dad uses Bella to stabilize him and brace himself when walking, to pick up things he can’t get to, and for many more things. She has a deep understanding of my dad and their friendship is quite remarkable. Without her I’m not sure how my dad would get around. She has provided an immeasurable service to my father and our family and we are just trying to give it back. I love this program Guiding Eyes because it allows students to help train and take care of these dogs who I know will one day make the same difference in someone else’s life.

For college students there’s no time more stressful than finals week. What better way than too relax than play with pets? Being away from home makes such time near impossible. It was a nice study break to spend time with dogs from Guiding Eyes, to learn more about the organization and the selection and training criteria that are required for the service dogs they raise and train.

I was particularly interested in the utilization of the dogs in helping mitigate autistic children’s bolting behavior. A representative of the organization explained how the dogs, being coupled by a belt worn by the child and a handle on the dog’s harness, are trained to act as an anchor when children that exhibit such behavior bolt. It had never occurred to me that a service animal could be trained to add a layer of safety for autistic toddlers and small children; previously associating them exclusively with the visually impaired or for emotional support.

It was nice to take a break and see some dogs. There was a brief presentation at the beginning, and then the participants were allowed to mingle with the dogs and their keepers.

Although I had attended a similar presentation last year by other representatives of the same group that brought the dogs, I didn’t know that the organization that ran the program gave the resulting guide dogs to people who needed them for free. The presenter mentioned this after saying that the a trained guide dog was worth tens of thousands of dollars of work and time (I forget the exact number of the estimate, somewhere around 50,000 I think). Hearing this, I felt appreciation for the people involved.

Although one would think that getting to take care of a labrador puppy during school would be fun, I’m sure that being one of the keepers is a difficult job in addition to being a privilege. I felt that the keepers were more selfless than the average person.

This last Rose Scholar event was undoubtedly the cutest event by far and my personal favorite. We had the opportunity to hear a presentation from Guiding Dogs about training dogs that are used to help individuals with various disabilities. Prior to this event, I always knew people used guide dogs and how helpful they were—however, I never considered the amount of training that went into these animals. These puppies are essentially trained since birth and are constantly groomed to be successful guide dogs. I think the most interesting fact was how much money is needed in these training programs. A year of guide dog training is almost as much as a year here at Cornell! Granted, the benefits these dogs are for individuals are priceless. Guide dogs are utilized for people with different physical and mental disabilities. Sometimes, individuals with PTSD use guide dogs for comfort and children with autism use guide dogs to curb dangerous behavior. I think it’s incredible how guide dogs have the ability to sense dangerous behavior and react appropriately. I have the utmost respect for students here who train these guide dogs and will definitely keep my eye out for them on campus.

Last Friday I attended my favorite Rose Scholar event so far, the Pet a Puppy event. Guiding Eyes brought in a few dogs for us to play with while they gave a presentation about their incredible program. Although they seemed like average dogs, we soon learned that these animals go through an extensive training program which essentially starts from the moment that they are born. I couldn’t believe the amount of training that these dogs go through to become certified. By the end of their training, these dogs can become life changing for their new owners. Some dogs are given to those who are visually impaired so that they can lead as independent of a life as possible. One incredible thing that I learned was a new purpose that these dogs are now being used for. They are being given to families whose children have autism. Autistic children are prone to running away and this can be incredibly dangerous. However these dogs can be attached to autistic children and if the dog feels tension on its leash, they know that the child is trying to run. The dog will immediately lie down and use its body weight to keep the child from running away. This tendency to run away is almost always eradicated from autistic children who have these dogs. It is amazing to learn about how capable these animals really are. I hope this program continues to grow because it is doing a lot of good for a lot of people.

It’s unbelievable how much relief and joy a simple touch can bring after a stressful day.  During last Friday’s Pet-A-Puppy event presented by Guiding Eyes, we learned about the extensive training a single dog must undergo from birth in order to eventually become a guiding eye dog; some new programs involving those with autism; and the services currently offered by Guiding Eyes.  Upon entering the crowded room, it was immediately evident that all of the dogs were exceptionally obedient, calm and well-adapted to large audiences.  In all honesty, I entered the event feeling a little jealous of the seemingly glorious lives of the guiding dogs, who don’t have to endure the stress of prelims or the exhaustion of pulling an all-nighter.  However, after watching the dogs being pet and possibly harassed by dozens of hands for two hours, I realized that these guiding eye dogs are under a similar level of stress as us on a daily basis.  In reality, they must undergo critical diagnostic, intelligence and obedience tests in order to make it through numerous rounds before becoming a guide dog.  Moreover, those who fail to pass a test are eliminated from the competition to become a guiding eye dog and are placed into a loving home.  Ultimately, the joy and relief that we experience petting guiding eye dogs overshadows the hardwork that the dogs must undergo everyday.  Unlike most other dogs, guiding eye dogs possess the incredible ability to spread their calmness to everyone around them, although one could only wonder about the pressure and exhaustion the dogs must feel after living a lifetime of nonstop human interaction. 

As soon as I walked in, I could feel everyone’s energy lifted. Just the presence of dogs makes people happy. Although I love dogs, since I’m allergic, I wasn’t able to have as much fun with them as most other people did. When I saw the trainers explain what these dogs were capable of, however, I realized that their purpose was far more than just on-the-surface happiness. Their purpose was to provide essential help to autistic patients, who depend on them to function.

There is no way to appreciate what these dogs are capable of on the outside. The intense training and resources behind these dogs are staggering, but on the outside, they look just like ordinary dogs. Guiding Eyes’ presentation just served as a reminder in a general sense that we should look beyond outside appearances and appreciate the inside of people, because little can we truly know how precious people can be to others just from how they appear.

Last Friday I got to attend an event I was looking forward to all week, pet-a-puppy. It was put on by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind club, a club which I can happily say I am a member of. After a very stressful day of trying to meet a deadline, and trying to cram in just a few more paragraphs to meet the word count requirements, I was pretty drained. So the idea of handing in that paper and going to see the guiding eyes dogs was just what I needed.

Guiding Eyes is a great program. One of the things we learned about was the new autism program. Not only are they great for guiding the blind, but they also have expanded their reach into acting as an anchor for those with autism. This is a safe method for preventing the very real issue of bolting,  where the child may put themselves in a dangerous situation through a sudden jolt of emotionally charged movement. This may land them in the path of cars, or near ledges, where they can very easily get hurt. The dog here is connected by leash to the child, and helps by lying down as a response to the sudden movement, limiting the mobility of the child. Over time, bolting as a coping mechanism begins to fade away, and the risk disappears.

And it’s not easy becoming a guide dog.  These dogs have been specially bred for the intelligence, responsiveness, and personality. When a dog passes initial testing for these qualities, it then undergoes years of training to be selected as a guide dog. If they don’t make the cut, they still may end up as another form of work dog, such as bomb sniffing dogs. But all the effort is worth it in the end, when a disabled person is able to gain their freedom, and these dogs gain a family.

I attended the Pet-A-Puppy event, where I got to play and pet puppies and dogs who were also service dogs. Of course, how could I resist an event with puppies?

It had been a rough day, and being able to hug those furry little angels was such a great stress reliever. I don’t know how or why, but there really is something so therapeutic about dogs and their touch. I understand why they are used in therapy. The dogs, to my surprise, were completely calm around the storm of people that walked into the room that day. I found out that service dogs have to be massaged and constantly touched by humans in the early phase of their lives in order to accustom them to being around humans. I found it incredible how well behaved these dogs were – so intelligent! While getting to play with these adorable creatures, I also got to understand more about the process of training dogs for guidance. I learned that it takes years to prepare a dog for providing guidance to humans. Also, the costs of training, feeding, medical costs total to about $30,000 per dog.

I found this astonishing. I usually see service dogs walking around with their owners and I do not think anything of it, much less appreciate or contemplate the amount of time and effort both on behalf of the dogs and their trainers. The dogs who make the cut to be service dogs have to meet certain standards and criteria, and they work hard to do so. I now have a new found respect for these dogs, being them is not easy. They have to ignore their own animal instincts and follow what they were trained to do in sometimes very stressful situations. The dogs that do not meet the criteria are adopted into loving homes, so that definitely helped me comforted for the dogs that could not. Overall this service dog agency has had 60,000 dogs go through their program. It is truly amazing, the work that is put forth for people to have service dogs.

Walking in the room, I will admit to initially viewing the experience as something else I had to do, something else in a crowded schedule, that quickly changed. I learned about the difficulties associated with training and raising a seeing eye dog as well as their ultimate purpose. Then I switched my full attention to the puppies. Yahtzee was her name. The one-year-old black labrador (and future seeing-eye dog) was without a doubt the best thing to happen to me all semester. We all were settled around the dogs in little circles. Yahtzee ran up to me as soon as her trainer told her “say hi!”. She licked my face with ridiculous amounts of enthusiasm and saliva. I was smiling without having to force it on my face, something that had become a rare occurrence with the stress of the ongoing semester. For a couple of hours I set aside the worries and anxieties, and allowed myself to be a girl with no concern greater than winning tug-of-war.

In the midst of a very stressful and academically challenging week, touch brought me comfort. The comfort of a hand on my shoulder to express solidarity. A shake of a hand, to symbolize thanks for a great semester. The deep hug of two bodies to display gratitude for a late night study session. A kiss on the cheek to welcome.

Touch.

This sense has power to heal. This sense has the power to transform. The sense has the ability to connect people to one another. For those of us not numb to Ithaca’s cold winters, we have the opportunity to feel.  While many see touch as only physical , the essence of touch extends far greater. After receiving a compliment or a gift, you’ll hear someone say, ” I’m touched.” This stems from the innate belief we all carry that touching someone is about creating a feeling – a feeling that lingers within. As humans, I believe that community is vital for mental stability and emotional growth. That’s why I strive so hard to ensure that those closest to me will only touch me positivity. Touch from the wrong person, in the wrong way, can destroy your confidence and security.

For most people petting puppies would bring joy; for a student who is allergic to animal fur, like me, this wasn’t ideal. But as I sat watching my classmates interact with these puppies, I started to feel their same emotions. I was excited, warm and eager to play. Within moments, touching these animals changed the atmosphere in the room.

Interestingly, I saw an interesting connection between touch and sight. The goal of this event was to pet puppies. But these dogs weren’t just ordinary puppies, they were puppies training to guide the blind and other that may be lacking full capability of any of their senses. The touch of a dog with a young child with autism can reduce “bolting” a reaction autistic children express when stressed. The touch of a dog softly guiding a blind adult. All these exhibit the power of touch and this one sense can transform the lives of many individuals.

This past Friday I went to the pet-a-puppy event at Rose House. I spent time petting a golden retriever who was withdrawn from the guide dog program for medical reasons, and who is a PR dog for the program.

It was cool to learn about how the dog guide program works. The program breeds their dogs (German Shepherds and Retrievers). When the puppies are young they start training, first with training to see if they would be a good candidate for a guide dog. The dogs have to be able to stayed focused and behaved especially around distractions such as other dogs or animals and loud noises. Then if they make it through earlier stages of training they are taught how to be a service dog.

They also have a new program for Autistic children. These children have a tendency to “bolt” in stressful situations, which can be extremely dangerous. To remedy this, the children are strapped to their service dog who is trained to sit when the child is tense and act as an anchor.

Spending some time with dogs was a great way to destress before finals while also learning more about guide dogs.

This past wednesday I attended one of my favorite events this year — pet a puppy! Not only did I get to play with cuddly puppies, but I also got to learn a bit about what goes into becoming a service dog.

What I first learned, which was very interesting, was that this company only uses two types of dogs, and they breed them themselves. I was always under the impression that anyone could offer their dog to be a service dog, but apparently these dogs are raised right away into being a service dog. Additionally, these dogs go through rigorous training once they can function independently of their mother. It was neat to hear that they go through distraction tests, where they are put in situations with loud noises that test their ability to function quickly and properly. Having a dog of my own, I can understand how difficult this portion is, as my dog loses her mind once a trashcan lid falls or someone rings the doorbell. Its neat to learn how they were able to train them. Additionally, it was cool to hear that some dogs that don’t pass go up for adopotion. This could be a dog that is too energetic or doesn’t enjoy being a service dog. It sounds like there is a long list for these dogs as they are all very well trained.

Overall, I really enjoyed this event because I got to play with puppies. I had a very long and tough week with projects, so this was a great way to de-stress. I hope they have another puppy event such that I can enjoy their company again.

Did anyone attend the event and not enjoy playing with the dogs? If so, why?

Last Friday, I went to the Guide Dog meet and greet. It turns out that on top of training dogs to essentially be the eyes of the blind, guide dogs can also get trained for those with other disabilities as well. Two that stood out to me in particular were that they can be trained to help people who are deaf/mute and those who are autistic. Specific dogs are chosen early on to serve in these positions and they are trained solely for these people. Autistic children, I learned, tend to have a behavior called “bolting,” in which they essentially just run away under any form of stress. Dogs that are trained for autistic children are usually fitted with a sort of strap around their bodies and this strap has a handle that the child is supposed to hold. If the dog feels any tension on this handle, the dog is trained to lie down and act as an anchor so that the child doesn’t run away. If that’s not both clever on both the trainer’s and dog’s parts, then I don’t know what is. It turns out that autistic children who have guide dogs have almost entirely stopped the behavior of bolting as a result of this effective technique.

The guide dog program is such a heartwarming, loving organization with caring trainers and beautiful dogs. They are the epitome of everything society should strive to be. (Hint: if anyone is looking to be a guide dog trainer, they apparently have a few locations in the area!)

In the meantime, please enjoy these pictures of some very furry friends I made:

I love puppies. Anyone who knows me knows I love my dog pretty much more than anything else on this planet. Dogs are amazing animals and it really makes me sad how so many people think they are just that – just animals. We treat my dog like another person in my house. When you pay attention, you notice just how expressive dogs are. They get happy, sad, frustrated and tired. They miss their humans when they’re gone but they also need their own alone time. They can communicate very effectively if you know how to listen, and they can tell you things beyond just “I need to go out” or “I’m hungry”. And every dog is different – snuggly dogs will tell you that they love you by plopping in your lap. My dog, who is a German Shepherd, doesn’t like to snuggle, but she tackles me every time I come home and follows me around the house and sits at my feet when I watch tv or eat dinner.

Guiding Eyes is a nonprofit organization which breeds all their own dogs and trains them to be seeing eye dogs. They work with labs and shepherds, and the process is very extensive and is as much about the dogs as it is about the people. People get matched to dogs and the people actually have to go through training as well to learn about the particular aspects about the dog and how to handle them. The dogs also have some sort of say – if they really don’t seem to enjoy the work or if there is a reason they cannot work, they are given to loving homes as pets. Guiding eyes recognizes the amazing abilities of dogs and their intelligence, and I really appreciated hearing about the organization (and playing with the puppies!)