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Our guest speaker is Susan of Guide Dogs of America Tender Loving Canine
https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org
The organization’s goal is to provide guide dogs for
· the blind,
· for veterans who have PTSD,
· for a handicapped child,
· for a facility like a courtroom.
Their Sylmar campus is where most of the dogs are born, and tours are given every day. Difference similar schools around the U.S. exchange dogs. The dogs are trained for temperament and willingness to work. No dog is ever forced to do anything they don’t want to do.
At eight weeks old they are finished with their equivalent of the “Head Start Program” and then move on to Puppy Risers. Volunteers continue training them but must be with them around the clock until 18 months old. Then puppy kindergarten, training in the basics, and the main job is to teach the dog how to behave and perform in the outside world and get them comfortable in different places, such as grocery stores, weddings, sports venues, etc. By the time the dog goes to work, he should know how to behave.
All dogs are monitored by professional trainers. At 18 months they graduate to sort of college. Then get divided into two different tracks, dependent on an evaluation of their personality.
One track (guide dogs) are typically taught many things including how to warn their owner if he hit his head, and obedient disobedience, such as a blind person crossing the street against a red light.
A second track (service dogs) are taught in men’s prison. Inmates are chosen based on their prison record during incarceration. There has never been a prisoner who has a dog and ended back in prison. This is normally the first time they had a loving relationship or been responsible for something.
Only a small number of inmates can get in the program.
Prisoners must exhibit sterling behavior or are dropped from the program.
The dogs are taught not to be distracted by other things (such as squirrels).
On the first track they are taught to ensure the kids can feel comfortable going out in public, having friends, etc. This includes autistic children.
The dogs ever go back to the organization for graduation again.
This organization is a complete charity. There is no charge for the dogs. They depend entirely on contributions and volunteers.
(All the while the other two volunteers walked the dogs around the room to meet our Rotarians.)
The service dogs are taught to observe the direction of the traffic. If their master starts to move ahead with cross traffic, that dog is taught to get in front of their master to block them.
Questions –
Valeria “de Costa Rica” Espinoza – The dogs are identified by specific personality traits to decide which dog goes on which training track.
David “Major Bucks Entrepreneur” Stover - certain breeds, such as Golden retrievers, Labradors and German Shepherds were found to be a problem because people are inherently afraid of them.
PPx2 Chris “Workout King” Gaynor – the dogs are trained to exhibit no violence or aggression but at the same time be protective. That aggressive kind of protection is not part of their job.
PP Ron “best dressed Rotarian” Lyster – It’s true, you can’t teach old dogs’ new tricks. Some dogs can get dementia.
PP Ed “El Maestro” Gauld – There is a wide variety of definitions for a service dog. There is no enforcement to protect people from self-designated service dogs who just wear a jacket marked “Service Dog”. Ed suggesting that many dogs in grocery stores are not trained as service dogs. It is against state law to claim your dog is a service dog when they aren’t.
PP Ron Lyster – The point was made that an “emotional support” animal is not specifically trained with any special skills. It doesn’t give you any rights other than the right to rent an apartment.
The airlines now can develop individual rules for service dogs. Uber and Lyft are doing the same.
President Ben asked our Club members to bring your Google or iPhone for the program next week.
President Ben made a contribution made to the program on behalf of the Westwood Village Rotary Club.
If you would like to know more about the organization, click here to see the handouts passed around the tables.
Guide Dogs of America Tender Loving Canine
Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
PP Mark Rogo
Chairman, PPx2 Diane Good Fan Club
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