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Showing posts with label DOG HERO STORIES. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DOG HERO STORIES. Show all posts

Delta Society Australia Celebrates 20 Years

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“Every day I thank Dog I am alive” says Robin Simpson, Chairperson of Delta Society Australia. In November 2017 the charity is celebrating 20 years of providing therapy dog services and positive reward-based dog training education in Australia. 

Delta Therapy Dog Team - Fiona Morton and her dog Ruby
"Delta has grown from two vets and a dog trainer operating from a Sydney kitchen in 1997 to 600 certified professional dog trainers and over 1,200 therapy dog volunteer teams across 15 branches all over Australia, visiting 850 care facilities every week. Not bad for a charity with only four full-time and two part time staff!

My own history with dogs goes back a little further. Like many rural lads, I’ve been surrounded by dogs since I was born. Admittedly my earliest memories are of sheepdogs like Jack (who also enthusiastically chased cars until he caught one) and Sandy the red Kelpie (who loved to bark at the full moon) – but on my eighth birthday I was given my own dog, a golden Cocker Spaniel called Lucky (who unfortunately wasn’t). Despite his early demise, for me Lucky began my love affair with dogs which has continued for more than fifty years.

Robin Simpson and his dog Rafa
Ever since, I have always had two dogs so that they keep each other company when I am at work, and partly so that if one becomes ill, the other is still there to help me with the profound grief that comes with the loss of a much-loved friend. 

There is an extraordinary kinship between dogs and people of all ages. My dogs have kept me grounded and sane through both the tough times and the triumphs of my life. It’s not just the companionship – an enthusiastic welcome at the front door when you get home can brighten the darkest day and make your heart soar; they provide unconditional love, unwavering loyalty, judge nobody and are always willing to listen to your problems or share your joys.

Delta Therapy dogs brighten up a workday at Sunsuper
But there is much more: recent research has shown that dog owners live longer, healthier lives (especially if they live alone) and have lower risk of heart attack, and that sleeping with a dog (on the bed, not in it!) helps some people to sleep better.

Children growing up with dogs are less likely to be obese or to develop asthma and other allergies. 
Dogs are literally keeping some of us alive!

Perhaps this explains why a 2016 survey of pet ownership by Animal Medicines Australia showed that 38.5% of Australian households have at least one dog, 68% of those households regard the dog as a member of the family and 66% of those dogs are allowed inside. Unlike other pets, the number of dogs increased since the previous survey in 2013. Dogs have become highly valued members of the family, with owners spending almost $2,000 per annum per dog on dog food, veterinary care, training and accessories – a total of $7 billion annually.
 Students at the Australian Catholic University (ACT) enjoy a Delta Society Paws The Pressure visit
This also explains why there is increasing demand for our Delta certified dog trainers on how to train dogs to be model citizens – inside the house and out. But it’s much more than puppy training or “sit”, “stay”, and “roll over”. Many owners (and their dogs!) derive great pleasure from training their dogs to work with them in the show ring, obedience trials, dog sports – or as Delta Therapy Dogs. A Delta certified trainer can help you with all of these things.

Given the pleasure and comfort that our dogs provide, it is easy to understand the trauma that elderly people must experience when they have to leave their familiar surroundings and enter aged care (often after the loss of a partner) and are forced to give up a beloved pet which might otherwise have helped them to cope. To make it worse, up to 40% of aged care residents never get a single visitor all year.

The Classroom Canines program improves children's confidence
That’s where Delta Therapy Dogs come in. Each week our volunteer therapy dog teams touch the lives of 20,000 people by visiting in aged care, hospitals, schools and prisons all over Australia.

Your dog does not have to be an obedience champion or a special breed to participate in this incredibly satisfying activity. Becoming a certified Delta Therapy Dog Team is mostly about having the right temperament and the ability to walk nicely on a lead.

Given all the positive mental and physical health outcomes from dog ownership, it is hard to understand why some governments and local councils are making it harder to own a dog. In the UK and many European countries dogs are welcome in hotels, shops, cafés and on public transport. Not so much in Australia! 

However, there are some positive signs. The Victorian government recently changed tenancy laws to prevent landlords and body corporates from discriminating against tenants on the basis of pet ownership. 

Pet friendly hotels are emerging, like Pier One in Sydney, and accommodation rental websites such as Stayz now have a tick box to help you find pet-friendly holiday rentals.

A 2016 University of Sydney survey found that 95% of Sydney dog owners are in favour of allowing dogs on public transport, and more than half of those said they would use public transport and do more activities with their hound if allowed. Given that there are approximately 2.4 million dog-related trips in a private car in Sydney every week, that seems like an enormous opportunity for reducing pollution and traffic congestion and making it easier for dog owners to get around.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

Well, Delta relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to provide its life-changing services so consider making a donation to Delta this year as a gift for family and friends, or even as a special Secret Santa present, or get involved! 
Volunteer Genevieve Reid and her dog Byron

After 20 years of providing therapy dog services and training there is increasing demand now for Delta’s services, especially leading up to Christmas when people in hospitals and care facilities may feel particularly lonely. 

Knowing the joy of companionship that Delta therapy dogs and my own dogs bring, I want to share that joy, like all Delta volunteers, with with those not able to have a dog. Then every day, you too can say “Thank Dog I am alive!”

Robin Simpson, Chairperson Delta Society Australia, November 2017

Dogs and Kids: How to Manage it Right!

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If you’re thinking of adopting a Greyhound, have adopted or are thinking of adopting any new dog, you may benefit from reading Sue Tofful's experience. 

Sue Tofful is the adoptive mum of two Greyhounds, Marcus (9) and Lucy (8), mum of daughter Lauren (8), as well as step-mum to Alex (almost 17) and Nic (21). She emphasises that she’s not a dog behaviourist or trainer, but a mum who’s used some common sense. 
She says that integrating a dog into your family amounts to three things: vigilance, consistency and commitment.

"It makes all at Greyhound Rescue very sad to see another poor hound, straight from a racing kennel, who has probably had very little - if no exposure to home life - returned to us from a trial home within three days, because he growled at the child or would not get off the couch without a fight. It is sad because of the missed opportunity for both the dog and the family to become lifelong friends.

But these issues are the number one reason hounds (in fact all dogs) are returned. So how do we prevent this? If your child (whatever age) does something wrong, do you send him or her ‘back’? Of course not, you teach them the acceptable behaviour. So, why don’t we apply this to the hound as well?

Greyhound Rescue is constantly asked “is that hound kid friendly?” Instead, ask yourself “are my children dog friendly?” More often than not, dogs are blamed for incidents with children that have been caused by the child - inadvertently or otherwise. Where this is not the case, problems usually occur because the dog has not been correctly handled and managed for behaviours such as resource guarding (protecting a special thing such as her bed, toy or food).

When I got Greyhound Marcus from Greyhound Rescue, I was advised he’d been sent back from a trial home because he “barked at their child”. My first question then was “what was the child doing?” The volunteer was unsure, but it wasn’t enough to put me off and she also felt it was totally out of character. And that’s true! Marcus has barked ONCE in the years we’ve had him. That bark was an understandable protest when Lucy our second hound came along and took his toy!

Marcus was immediately wonderful around my daughter, Lauren. She was two and a half years, when he came to live with us. Marcus stepped over or around her so elegantly and gently and never jumped at her noise. Family and friends were amazed. He was a natural. In fact, he ignored her completely, which I think in most cases is the best way for a dog to be around young children. Having been around my elderly Retriever since birth, Lauren wasn’t in awe of large dogs and this does help. The less fascination the better! Marcus really has become the bomb-proof dog. We trust him implicitly in any situation with children of any age, even if the child is doing the wrong thing.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing. A few months after we adopted Marcus, he was happy and had settled in. I started letting him on the couch at night when we watched TV. One night, Alex went to sit down next to him and he growled. Then one night, when he still slept in our room, he wandered downstairs and jumped on Alex’s bed in the middle of the night and refused to get off. The last straw was when he growled at Lauren, when she came to sit next to myself and Marcus on the couch. That day, we banned him from the couch and he hasn’t been back, unless we invite him. 
After that, we began a gentle process of retraining him to ask to be allowed on a couch or bed and not think of it as his bed. Both hounds have their own beds (in fact they now have three each!); neither the couch nor the bed is one of these! I started getting Lauren to carry his food bowl to him and to ensure we walked through doors first and so on. We have had no problems since. Lesson: kids and dogs sharing couches and beds is not advised unless it's on your terms. 

Because one is never enough, we also adopted Greyhound Lucy. She too had been sent back from a home due to an issue with a child. I thought we’d be fine, given our success with Marcus. Also, Lauren had developed dog savvy, so no problem. 

Sue Tofful with her Greyhounds, Lucy (left) and Marcus (right)

However, Lucy’s issues were a little different to Marcus’ issues. She was and is a stronger character (female you see). It soon became obvious she suffered from sleep startle and also tended to resource guard, so that a couple of times when Lauren went to pat Lucy (when she was asleep on her bed), she snapped at my daughter. This only happened if I was not close by.

Once she drew blood on her face. This was not good. At this point, most dogs would be sent back, but having seen so many returned for this, I committed to work through it. My husband was overseas, so it was only me at home with Lauren. Immediately following the last incident, I very sternly reprimanded Lucy verbally, really growled at her. I then ignored her completely, gave her no attention, and instructed Lauren to do the same. 

Lucy wanted pats, but we did not give them. She was not to be rewarded for unacceptable behaviour. Lesson: do not reward unwanted behaviours in your dog by giving them attention, always correct it and praise the right behaviour with treats. Always supervise your child around dogs.

I have read that in a pack, the alpha dog is usually female and I agree with this theory. Female dogs are more likely to be bossy and motherly, and to “tell the child off” so to speak. Lucy loves a cuddle and a pat more than anything, and often approaches Lauren for these (whereas Marcus almost never does this). However, as Lucy is more interactive with Lauren, I’ve found this can lead to more excitement from Lauren. This in turn can create behaviours that may cause issues. 

Consequently, I have instilled in Lauren that she must never approach Lucy if she is asleep on her bed or anywhere else. And Lauren knows that is not negotiable. She asked me sometimes if she wasn’t sure. Much time has passed with no further problems and Lucy has become a wonderful addition to our family. When other children visit, we ensure they know the right behaviours.

In no particular order, here are some pointers and rules I’ve followed to ensure a harmonious household with “dog-friendly” kids and “kid-friendly” dogs!

THINGS YOU SHOULD DO
  1. Play tug/toy games with caution and under supervision
  2. Teach your children to only pat a dog that is awake and only if the owner says you can. The best place to stroke any dog is around the ears, not on top of the head.
  3. Allow your children (over 3 years old) to feed the dog - carry their bowl, make them wait and/or sit before putting the bowl down.
  4. Always supervise children when they are around the dog.
  5. Reward good behaviour from your child around the dog.
  6. Reward all your hound's good behaviour with treats, time and again.
  7. When walking the dog on lead, keep him/her at your side, correct pulling and reward good walking. Encourage your children to walk the dog the same way, supervised of course.
  8. Ensure your dog waits before they are allowed to eat their food.
    Lauren walking Marcus (left) and Lucy
  9. Teach them stay, come and sit (if you can!). Attending formal training sessions can be great fun and very rewarding.
  10. Feed dogs after kids (where practical).
  11. Be consistent- don’t accept the wrong behaviour in dog or child and if you do, don’t then be annoyed when it is repeated! 
  12. Use verbal tone (your growl) to reprimand the dog, NEVER hit or kick your dog.


THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT DO
  1. Don’t allow kids to lie on the floor at the dog’s level.
  2. Don’t allow kids to lie on the dog’s bed or on top of the dog.
  3. Don’t allow the hound to push ahead of you or kids through doors.
  4. Don’t allow kids to walk around the house holding food.
  5. Don’t allow kids to scream and/or run away from a dog or encourage the dog to chase them.
  6. Don't allow your kids to poke or pull a hound’s eyes, ears, tail, mouth or private parts.
  7. Don't allow your child to tease a hound in any way.

THINGS TO AVOID
  1. Avoid if possible playing rough and/or loud games in proximity to the hound.
  2. Avoid allowing the dog on beds and couches that your children use. While people will have different views on this, I would stick by this rule. If you do decide dogs on beds/couches, wait at least six months and only allow it if the child is on the couch first and invites the dog up. But I don’t recommend it!
  3. Never take food a dog is eating away from him/her.
When considering a child/hound match, the best choice is a dog that doesn’t find noise and constant activity near him/her upsetting. 

Having had two male and two female dogs now, I believe male dogs are more tolerant and laid-back in general with children, but this is not always the case. 

Ensure you trial a hound that has been in a foster home rather than straight from kennels as he/she will have more experience with household noise and have some basic training. 

Do not expect the dog to be perfect straight away; they need a period of adjustment. The dog will need guidance from you as to what is expected of him/her, as does your child. 

You should be consistent with rules from day one. It really is your responsibility to ensure they get it right: yours, not the dog’s and not the child’s.

The rewards from a happy pairing of child and dog are endless. It is well known that owning a pet teaches children responsibility and compassion. It also gets them outside and keeps them fit! Alex always walks both the dogs on a splitter after school, and very proudly takes a friend if he has one over. Marcus almost falls over himself with excitement as Alex gets his shoes on! 

Lauren is having a tea party with Marcus the Greyhound
The dogs both come into Lauren’s cubby and she makes them tea (Lucy actually drinks hers!). 

Marcus always comes into Lauren’s room and lies on the floor for story time. They both poke their heads into the bathroom at bath time. Lucy gives Lauren her “bum hugs” as we call them. If Lauren is crying, both dogs unconsciously come over to her and stand near, as if to say “can we help?”. At school pick-up times, the dogs are regularly the quietest, gentlest, most popular and most patted dogs at the gate.

As I wrote this, Lauren was tidying up the dogs’ outside beds. She chatted away to them as she does this and they are both spellbound, standing quietly next to her. Gold."

Written by Sue Tofful, November 2017

While Greyhound Rescue covers Sydney, Canberra and the Illawarra, there are similar grassroots charities with available hounds in each state. 

For more information, visit www.adoptagreyhound.com.au/wheretoadopt/

Become a Seeing Eye Dogs Puppy Carer!

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Seeing Eye Dogs Australia (SEDA) is a national organisation which established its first school for training dog guides in Victoria in 1960.

SEDA was founded by Mrs P.M. Gration who was herself blind.  She believed strongly in providing independent travel and understood how a dog guide could provide independence to substantially improve the quality of life for people who are blind or have low vision. 

In 2008, SEDA merged with Vision Australia and is the only national provider of seeing eye dogs, especially bred and trained to act as dog guides for people who are blind or vision impaired.

These unique dogs provide the ‘gift of independence’ and freedom in day-to-day life by becoming the ‘eyes’ of a person who is blind or vision impaired. 

Only a very small number of Seeing Eye Dogs are funded through Government schemes so this work depends heavily on the goodwill and support of volunteers and donors.

 It costs more than $50,000 and takes up to two years of intensive training for one Seeing Eye Dog to graduate. However, because these dogs need to have the highest capabilities in order to meet strict requirements, not all of them pass. Recipients need to have total confidence in their dog's training and abilities to completely trust that they will be guided safely. 

Sometimes it’s not known until the very end of training whether a dog will be suitable – even the most highly skilled dog may not meet all of the criteria!

IT ALL STARTS WITH PUPPY CARING ...

With 180 puppies currently enrolled in training, the puppy caring program always requires more volunteers! 

Carers will look after a puppy in their home from the age of 8 weeks until they are 12-15 months of age.

Under the guidance of a puppy development officer, carers teach basic obedience, house manners, eating and toileting on command, socialisation in public places (restaurants, cinemas, cafes, shopping centres, supermarkets etc) as well as walking on lead in a relaxed manner.

WHAT SUPPORT WILL A PUPPY CARER RECEIVE? 

All Puppy Carers receive the following items to help them on their journey:


  • A puppy pack, which includes collar, lead, bed, bowl, food and everything needed for when your puppy arrives home
  • You will receive free ROYAL CANIN® dry dog food 
  • Paid vet care at a SEDA approved clinic
  • Training Manual prior to placement of puppy outlining training methods and what they need to learn
  • Supervisor on call should you require assistance
  • Boarding facilities at SEDA should they be needed, e.g. if you are going on holidays
  • Regular visits from a supervisor to assist in all aspects of puppy training and development. Carers are visited regularly at home by their puppy development officer to provide guidance in training and caring for their puppy. SEDA holds a training day that the carer and puppy are required to attend to once a month.
We thought we'd have a chat with a regular Puppy Carer to find out why they volunteered and how rewarding an experience this has been for them over the years.

MEET PUPPY CARER KYLIE SAUNDER AND MARLEY, HER SEEING EYE DOG

Q1: How did you find out about the SEDA Puppy Caring program?

"I discovered the program via an ad in our local newspaper stating that temporary carers were urgently required. We had lost our 16-year old pet dog only 6 months prior and whilst we really missed having a dog in the house, we didn’t want to commit to another pet dog just yet.

I run my copywriting and marketing business from home and really missed having a dog around the home. I called SEDA and their Puppy Development Supervisor came out to interview us. They checked our back garden and security, asked how long we would leave the dog alone (never longer than 3-4 hours) and during this initial interview I discovered there was an opportunity to become a permanent carer for puppies."

Q2: What was the Puppy Carer Application Process like?

"After my husband and I had the initial interview and the police check was cleared, the process went really quickly. SEDA was in contact with us every step of the way letting us know when we would have our first puppy!

Kylie Saunder with her latest puppy in training, Marley
Once we found out the arrival date of our first puppy we started preparing the house for him. We installed a ‘child friendly’ gate between upstairs and downstairs and made sure the garden was free from anything ‘tempting’ to puppies.

When he arrived we got the puppy training crate, toys, leash, and instructions on what to do in the first few days and a worming tablet. The SEDA Puppy Instructors are beyond helpful and any questions I had during this stage were immediately answered. Yes, we were nervous about 'doing the wrong thing’ with this first puppy. 

Because our pet dog had slept on the bed and had no strict food or toileting regime, it was challenging. But after a few days and with support of the puppy development supervisor, we set up a basic routine for the puppy.

We also made sure we tracked what time he ate, when he urinated and when he pooped. Because my husband and I share his care, this is really important when I take the puppies to a corporate environment. With this information we found out he peed, pooped and drank at regular times throughout the day. So when I dropped him off at my husband’s office and it was near his meal time, my husband knew he had to also take him out for poop!"

Q3: What do you get out of being a Puppy Carer?

"Our first SEDA puppy was a yellow Labrador called Jay and he is now working with a client who is blind or has low vision. We re-connected with him a couple of years ago when he was in Melbourne and he still remembered us!

Meeting Jay's new owner made us realise how important the volunteer work is that we do. We love dogs first and foremost but the training and socialisation we give them gives them the best head start for when they enter the formal training phase."
Q4: Why do you keep being a Puppy Carer?

"After our first puppy went into full-time training my heart broke open into a million pieces and I cried and cried... But through the SEDA Paw pal’s network I had become friendly with quite a few other puppy carers. I sent a text to one lovely lady (who has had over 10 puppies!) and said I was so very sad. She invited me to her coffee catch up with other puppy carers the next day.
Kylie Saunder with puppy Indigo
I turned up and through circumstances ended up coming home with my first puppy’s brother - Jimmy. He needed temporary care urgently for a few weeks before his assessment for training came through.

We put our hand up and Jimmy stayed with us for over 6 weeks. His presence in the home healed our loss with Jay - we knew Jay wasn’t our puppy from Day 1 but we are crazy dog people, who meet a dog and fall in love instantly!

Jimmy taught us that having a ‘transition' dog is okay…that every dog needs love, care, cuddles and kisses, training and of course - food! Which is why foster caring for ‘temporary dogs’ may be great for some people. Once Jimmy left, we got Lochie…then Sherman…then Indigo…and now Marley…. We call them ‘our boys’: the gorgeous, funny and sometimes challenging puppies that are with us from 8 weeks until 13-14 months."

A special mention about the Seeing Eye Dogs Staff

"When you’re looking at volunteering time to an organisation it’s important that they value you. From the puppy development supervisor who responds to a text on a weekend when you’re at the emergency vet with puppy to the kind-hearted kennel supervisors when you pick your puppy up after they’ve been desexed... At every single step of this journey every staff member has been there for us."

Puppy caring is a very rewarding experience and the organisation couldn’t run without all the volunteers that participate in this program.

OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUPPY CARING

#1. Yes, you can have other pets and be a puppy carer

Provided the other pets are of a suitable temperament, they are permitted and can be beneficial to a SEDA puppy by assisting with their socialisation. However, only one other pet dog in addition to the SEDA puppy is allowed per household. Pet dogs need to be assessed prior to placement of a puppy.

#2. You can take the puppy into shops and other public areas

So that a fully trained Seeing Eye Dog is comfortable travelling on public transport, entering shops and walking in crowded/noisy areas etc, it needs to experience these situations as a puppy.

Whilst out in public SEDA puppies wear a blue coat which identifies them as a Seeing Eye Dog in training. They do not have the same rights as a fully trained Seeing Eye Dog however most places welcome their presence and carers rarely experience problems taking SEDA puppies into shops etc.

#3. You can be a puppy carer and work

As long as your employer is happy for you to take the puppy to work with you and there is enough time to attend to its needs during the day. 

Some puppy carers work at schools, offices, pet shops or work from home. It really depends on the type of work you do whether or not a pup will fit in with your lifestyle. You don’t have to do much with them during the day except provide regular toilet breaks and ensure they don’t get up to mischief. Being puppies, they will generally sleep a lot.

#4. Can you play games with a SEDA puppy and take it running in the park?

Games can form part your puppy's training however they can't be chasing toys excessively or learning things that may be in conflict with their future role as a Seeing Eye Dog. Excessive running is not advised as this can cause joint problems as the puppy grows. 

A supervisor will advise what is appropriate when they visit a  prospective carer for an interview. In some ways, SEDA pups are less restrictive than normal pets as they can go with you almost anywhere and teaching a puppy to be well behaved and obedient should be a fun game for both puppy and carer.

HOW DO YOU APPLY TO BECOME A PUPPY CARER?

If you are excited about the prospect of becoming a puppy carer and believe that you meet the criteria, please apply and find out more about the application process   

You could also come to the Seeing Eye Dog puppy and foster carer information evening:

When: Thursday 16th November 2017, from 6pm to 7pm

Watch Assistance Dogs Super Pups Graduate!

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Come and see the Assistance Dogs Super Pups graduate with honours!
The cleverest canines in the land will take centre stage across three locations nationally— and get to wear mortar boards!

Graduations in three state capital cities this month will officially celebrate the union of newly qualified Super Pups with clients they have been meticulously and thoughtfully paired with, and the beginning of their new lives as Assistance Dogs.

This is an opportunity to celebrate not only the wonderful achievements of these Super Pups but also the special people who have dedicated their time, talent and love throughout their two-year journey to help them become fully qualified Assistance Dogs.
The graduating teams of dogs and owners will include Physical Disability, Autism, Educational Facility, Dementia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Assistance Dogs. 
These dogs don’t just change lives, they give people their lives back!

Assistance Dogs Ambassador and client Tim McCallum will not only MC the event with the help of his Assistance Dog Roxy, but will entertain the audience and guests with a musical performance. But the stars of the show will undoubtedly be the dogs and their clients who will appear on stage with Tim to talk about their experiences. That’s the owners, not the dogs! 


Expect a joyous, emotional, life-affirming afternoon of laughter, music and perhaps a few tears... This event is free and open to the public. 

QUEENSLAND 

Date: Thursday 21 September 2017 | Time: 12pm (for a 12.30pm start) - 2pm 
Location: Queen Street Mall stage, Brisbane 

VICTORIA 

Date: Tuesday 26 September 2017 | Time: 12pm (for a 12.30pm start) - 2pm 
Location: Red Stair Amphitheatre, Queensbridge Square, Melbourne 

NSW 

Date: Thursday 28 September 2017 | Time: 12pm (for a 12.30pm start) - 2pm 
Location: Martin Place Amphitheatre, Sydney
About Assistance Dogs Australia

Assistance Dogs Australia is a national charity that trains Labradors and Golden Retrievers to help people with disabilities, providing them with greater freedom and independence. Since inception over 250 Assistance Dogs have been placed across Australia. Dogs are placed free of charge to a wide range of clients. It costs in excess of $35,000 to train and place a dog, and the organisation receives no government funding. 

For more information, please visit assistancedogs.org.au or call 1800 688 364.

Puppy Raisers Needed for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

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Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is expecting a puppy boom this spring and is urgently seeking volunteer Puppy Raisers to meet the demand. 

Around 60 Guide Dogs puppies will be born between now and Christmas and these young pups will require a warm, loving home for their first year. Puppy Raising volunteers care for a Guide Dog puppy from the age of eight weeks until it is 14 months old, playing an invaluable role in preparing it for its potential career as a Guide Dog.

“As well as providing lots of love and cuddles, Puppy Raisers help introduce puppies to the sights, sounds and smells they are likely to encounter as a Guide Dog,”explained Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Puppy Development Manager, Karen Hayter. 

Puppy Raisers need to have a fully-fenced yard, be away from home no more than four hours at a time, have access to a car and be able to attend training days in the local area. Puppy Raisers must also be available to visit the Guide Dogs Centre at Glossodia in the Hawkesbury for vet checks and Puppy Pre-School when required.

“We are looking for people that are home most of the time, who are interested in putting effort into training and socialising the dog. What you will get in return is a fantastic experience,” Ms Hayter said.

While Puppy Raisers are responsible for everyday activities such as grooming, house training and exercising their pups, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT provides a strong support network.
“We provide the food, veterinary care, flea and tick prevention and we’re always on hand to answer any questions and provide guidance to our Puppy Raisers,” Ms Hayter said.

Every day in Australia, 28 people are diagnosed with vision loss that cannot be corrected, including nine who will become blind. “With the demand for Guide Dogs’ services increasing, we’re incredibly grateful for the support we receive from the community,” Ms Hayter said.

“Our volunteer Puppy Raisers make a wonderful contribution in helping to transform a playful puppy into a responsible Guide Dog that will one day change the life of someone who is blind or vision impaired.”

It takes over two years and costs more than $35,000 to raise breed, raise and train each Guide Dog. Like all of the organisation’s services, Guide Dogs are provided at no cost to those who need them.

If you would like to become a Puppy Raiser, please visit www.guidedogs.com.au/guide-dogs/puppy-raising 

About Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and orientation and mobility services to enable people with impaired vision to get around their communities independently. Services include providing training and aids including long canes, Guide Dogs and electronic travel devices such as talking GPS technology. 
Visit www.guidedogs.com.au, call 1800 804 805, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

K9Pro Angels - Pets as Therapy Program

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The K9Pro Angels - Pets as Therapy program was originally designed in partnership with the charity Yourtown (formerly Boystown) to help improve the literacy skills and self-esteem of disadvantaged children.

This pet therapy program involves a team of volunteers in Sydney, the K9Pro Angels, and their dogs visiting the San Miguel Family Centre, a service of Yourtown, once a week.

Participating kids are able to do things such as read to the dogs, one on one in a relaxing and stress free environment.

Encouraging kids to read to the dogs removes the threat of judgement that they can feel when reading to their peers or teachers in a normal school environment.

They also help train the dogs by reading training instructions to the handlers and also learn how to behave correctly around dogs and respect our canine friends. Not only will this help improve these children’s literary skills and help them gain more self-esteem and confidence, but it is also an opportunity to learn how interact appropriately and safely with dogs.

Steve Courtney is a Nationally Accredited Dog Trainer and Behaviourist who was approached to design and develop a K9 reading therapy programme for YourTown. All dogs participating in any K9Pro Angels programme will be temperament tested for their suitability to join.

“This programme can make a huge difference for these kids because by having the dogs there we are giving them a reason to engage with us to improve their reading and other skills. It’s something new for them and they love it! For us, being able to make such a valuable contribution with our canine best friends is a rewarding experience”. 

The program is headed up by program manager Trish Hendry, who herself has two German Shepherds trained as therapy dogs. Trish is still an active Volunteer and visits Yourtown with her dogs. The program volunteers are good people volunteering their time to work with people who may not have access to dogs or those who may be disadvantaged in some way.

K9Pro Angels have also now teamed up with Anglicare Australia to bring the volunteers into the many aged care facilities they have located in the Sydney Metropolitan area. 

After each visit to either YourTown or an Aged Care Facility, the Angels are encouraged to share their experience and stories on a private Facebook (closed group) page. In this way, they can stay in touch and also learn from each other's visits. Here is an example of a couple of visit “reports” from a K9Pro Angel: 

“We spent two hours visiting residents on all three levels of the home today, including the dementia ward, seeing a “light turn on” with some of the residents, my volunteer co-ordinator at the home commented that some of the residents were more lucid and chatty than usual. So worth the happy smiley faces, others reminiscing about their dogs, some just enjoying a pat and loving how soft my dog’s fur is.” 

“Animals are amazing ,while I toddled around the home with Ricki, trying to get my bearings, looking at my residents' list, to see who does and who doesn't want dog visits, Ricki had it sorted... She's already starting to head into rooms of people she clearly remembers visiting last week. My dog never ceases to amaze me.”

"Whilst the program already has a number of great volunteers on board, we are wanting to expand the program and we need some more Angels" explains Steve Courtney.


“The kind of dogs that are most suitable for this work would be dogs that are well balanced in temperament, not nervous of children or noise, and would be happy to relax quietly on a mat while a child sits next to them. 

If your dog has not been mat or crate trained before but meets the temperament required for therapy work, we can assist you with training these behaviours and other skills.”

Volunteers are needed at the moment for the Anglicare Aged Care facilities. The volunteers can elect to visit a nursing home in an area that suits them and their location, at a time and frequency that will suit their own schedule. 

To become an Angel you will need to contact the team at K9 Pro who can answer any questions that you may have. Next, every dog participating needs to be given an official temperament test by Steve to be eligible for the program but there are no costs associated with the training or assessment of any dog. 

Once your dog has visited Steve and been passed as suitable to join the program, you then attend an Orientation Day conducted by Anglicare Australia where screening will be completed such as a Criminal Record Check etc., again all at no cost to you. 

Angels universally enjoy the visits and working with their dogs. To become an Angel, you will ideally:
  • Be a man or woman over 18 years of age
  • Have a suitable dog of any breed ( determine suitability for you)
  • Have completed the Working with Children Check
  • Have own transport
  • Have a desire to work with your dog and have some free time to offer.
If you are interested in volunteering in the K9Pro Angels Child Therapy Program and feel your dog is suitable send an email to info@k9pro.com.au with your details.

This is a volunteer not for profit venture by K9 Pro – The K9 Professionals.