City Dog 101

You can take the dog out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the dog. Especially when its been an integral part of its training.

At Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., located in Palmetto, Florida, training guide dogs for the blind takes place on their beautiful 24-acre facility. "I called it boot camp," jokes Stephen Brown of Fort Myers, a graduate of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.

He is referring to the twenty-six days of intense schooling required to graduate from this program. Established in 1982, the sole purpose of Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., is to provide professionally trained guide dogs to the blind at no cost to the recipient. In addition to housing a breeding kennel, the program has an on-site kennel for dogs first entering the program and one for training adults in proper usage of the dogs. "They're great people," Brown adds, "And there is no charge for the program."

A unique aspect of this program is the implementation of training on The Freedom Walk. The Freedom Walk is a series of paved sidewalks and obstacles designed to introduce guide dogs to living in cities. For several years the Palmetto grounds provided not only top-notch training, but lush tranquil surroundings in which to train. However, many of these animals would then return with their masters to live or work in larger cities. The dogs sometimes were spooked by city noises like sirens, blaring horns, and loud engines. The idea of crosswalks, although not widely used in small towns, is vital in cities. The dogs must also learn to react appropriately while in large crowds on city sidewalks. Guide dogs and their owners often must utilize public transportation. Henceforth, the creation of The Freedom Walk has catered to the teaching of city living.

Kimberly Marlow, Development Director of Southeastern Guide Dogs, says, "The Freedom Walk is serving as a great training tool for our students. The walk provides an area which mimics real life situations, but provides a comfortable environment for those in training."

The Freedom Walk came as a concept from the graduate council at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc., of which Stephen Brown is a member. It was developed in five phases.

Phase One was laid out in a lazy figure eight with a gazebo. Phase Two runs in front of the main training facility and includes wooden bridges to signify a change in under-footing. Phase Three implements the challenge of distraction, as there often are 20-30 dogs running in this area at one time. Phase Four utilizes the dormitories.

Phase Five, the most vital phase in teaching "city living" to the guide dogs, includes a circular walk, railroad crossing, fountain, cobblestone walkways, wooden bridges, street lights, and a paved area with a complicated layout. It is adjacent to an area set up to represent a bus stop. Along the walkways are areas where the instructors frequently place parking meters, phone booths, mailboxes, bike racks, and other objects generally found on city streets.

It was a costly endeavor. "To raise the funds necessary for this project, we offered bricks for $100 and asked for sponsorship of other items such as park benches, street lights, and the fountain," Ms. Marlow states.

Although Labrador Retrievers are the primary breed used at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and Collies are sometimes used as well. Their initial training is from puppy trainers who host the dogs in their homes for one year, teaching them a variety of simple commands. At twelve months the dogs enter the program site and are paired with one trainer with whom they stay through graduation.

The Freedom Walk has proven to be very challenging and rewarding for the students and trainers at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. This state of the art concept of teaching the basics of city living has allowed many graduates to return to their city dwellings or offices well-equipped in handling obstacles they will undoubtedly encounter.

Kimberly Ripley