CAREER CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS
Info for
Raisers
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from Mick Aguilera, Puppy Raising Department, GDB
It would be easy to think successful puppy raising results in a dog that graduates as a Guide Dog. But Puppy Raisers aren’t responsible for producing working guides. They’re responsible for nurturing and socializing puppies. The staff at GDB knows from the beginning that not all of our dogs will becomes guides. Therefore, it is unfair to Raisers when they feel that the burden of their personal success or failure rests on the results of their dogs’ Guide Dog training.
Guide Dogs in training fail for a variety of reasons, the vast majority of which are totally beyond the Raisers’ control. Just because we don’t all become brain surgeons, for example, it doesn’t mean our parents were failures. The raiser’s true role is to nurture and socialize their puppy. Raisers succeed when they develop a puppy to the best of its abilities. That’s all we ask our raisers to do.
CAREER CHANGE PLAN
From Barb Deevers, Puppy Raising Advisor
When a puppy returns to GDB for training, the dog is on a continued path towards its final career status. This status may include becoming a guide or breeder or may ultimately include a career change (CC.) Whether dogs graduate as breeders or guides or are CC, the raiser may expect to incur expenses if they chose to present the dog at graduation or bring their CC dog home. All reasonable efforts are made to provide the least expensive transportation possible for CC dogs, however many times the only available option is to ship the dog via air and this can cost as much as $300. My best advise is to begin to plan for graduation or CC dog transport the day you receive the puppy. If you are unable to travel at the time the dog graduates or choose not to adopt your CC dog you can roll the funds over for future use. However having a fund available may help open doors and make last minute expenses less burdensome.
Before the puppy returns to GDB for training, a raising family should consider what direction they may wish to take should the puppy not complete the program and be career changed. While a final decision does not need to be made until that time comes, it is helpful to have a general idea in mind should it come to pass. At times, the reason for a career change can affect the final decision, but more often than not the dog has the same general personality it did as a puppy.
In the case of career change dogs GDB asks that a raiser makes their decision in a timely fashion so that the appropriate arrangements can be made, whether it is transportation home to a raiser or placing the dog through the GDB career change department. Good communication is helpful in this process. All questions regarding a career change dog should be directed to the appropriate staff. Please refer to the list below for this communication plan.
1. GDB announces CC of individual dog to advisor.
2. Advisor contacts leader and forwards the training summary.
3. Leader contacts raiser.
4. Raiser should contact GDB regarding adoption or placement of dog within three days. For dogs in training on the San Rafael campus, contact Charlotte Hansen. For dogs in training on the Oregon campus, contact Debbie Hibbard.
5. Raiser should also contact their leader so that the leader knows the final status of the dog.
6. Leader should contact Advisor so that the Advisor knows the final status of the dog. If a raiser has additional questions regarding the CC summary, please
contact the Advisor. Individual calls to instructors or other staff may not result in obtaining the additional information being requested and delays the placement of a dog. For individual cases, the Advisor may ask a raiser to contact other staff for particular information (veterinary, etc.). Your help in following this general guideline is appreciated. We strive to have our CC process be as effective as possible for the raisers, the dogs and GDB.
CAREER CHANGE DOG PLACEMENT CHARGES
From The Puppy Raising and Dog Placement Department
The adoption fee for a career change dog through the Dog Placement program has been increased to $500. All applications received prior to March 1st, 2003 will be grandfathered in at the $300 level once matched with a dog.
The following considerations have been taken into account:
- All of our dogs have been socialized in the field; some have had training under the supervision of professional dog training staff.
- We have a complete history of the career change dog including pedigree, medical and behavior history.
- All dogs are neutered or spayed and have received all required vaccinations.
- Our new adoption fee is consistent with other U.S. Guide Dog schools, and below what many private parties would charge for similar dogs.
For more information, visit the Dog Adoption web page at http://www.guidedogs.com/placement.html.
Puppy raisers may still adopt a career change dog they have raised with only the cost of transportation home.
THOUGHTS ON CAREER CHANGE DOGS
“Your dog has been dropped from the program.” It’s the most unpleasant news a puppy raiser can hear. Like it or not, only half our puppies are fated to graduate as Guides. Some will not even be returned for training because of physical or temperamental concerns. It’s best to try to spend a little time thinking what you will do if your pup is dropped. If this happens, you will have several options. You can keep the dog as a pet or place it yourself. If you place it, be sure the dog will go to someone who knows and truly wants it. They should have gotten to know the dog when he was still in training, and truly be able to provide for his welfare. They should be willing to pay any transportation cost plus a placement fee. Don’t canvass the community looking for a home the day your puppy is dropped. Chances are he will end up somewhere ill prepared to receive an unexpected pet and you may not be happy with your beloved pup’s new life. Remember, you will be responsible for the future well- being and safety of any career change dog you place yourself, so it’s best to be sure of the situation well before you stake your dog’s future on it.
Often, at this emotional time, it’s nice to let Guide Dogs take care of the details–it’s a lot easier on your heart! GDB is as picky about placing its career change dogs as it is about approving puppy raisers, so you can be sure they will find your pup a good home if you can’t keep it. Remember, although puppy raisers usually have the first right of refusal, Guide Dogs still owns our dogs, and may decide a particular pup needs a different environment than your family can provide. They may determine a behavior problem is too severe to place another Guide Dog puppy in your home if you keep your career change dog. All of these factors influence your decision making process. No puppy raiser wants his dog to be dropped, but a little fore-thought can soften the blow if it should happen to you.
"CAN I HAVE YOUR DOG?"
While puppy raisers are usually offered first right of refusal for keeping or placing our puppies when they are career changed, we do not have the responsibility to place them. Guide Dogs for the Blind has that responsibility, and they take just as much care in placing career change dogs as they do working Guides. Unless your dog’s prospective family already knows and loves him, it’s best to allow GDB to place him in a diligently screened home.
Sometimes, people ask out-of-the-blue to take one of our puppies if it doesn’t graduate. If you’re not comfortable with the person, this can be a difficult situation. To defuse the tension, you might mention that your dog has every chance to graduate, or that you already have a home in mind, or that you always let Guide Dogs choose a home for your career change dogs. Tell them they can find out how to apply for a career change dog on Guide Dogs’ website, http://www.guidedogs.com/placement.html. Make it clear that Guide Dogs has a several-year wait for career change dogs, and there are travel and placement fees involved. If they are serious about adopting a locally raised Guide Dog puppy, then getting involved with a near-by puppy raising group would be a good idea--perhaps as a puppy sitter. Another thought is to refer the would-be dog owner to local breed rescue groups for labs, goldens, or shepherds. They can get these groups’ phone numbers by calling the Dumb Friends’ League. We love our puppies too much to let them take a “job” as the wrong family’s pet. Don’t commit your puppy to anyone who might be less than a perfect match!
Wall Flowers?
Anyone who has brought home a career change dog can attest that it's hard to resist those puppy eyes when it's time to go out the door. After a year of going everywhere with their people, our dogs can't understand why they don't get to put on a coat and accompany us anymore. Watching another puppy go along just makes it worse! But since puppy raisers can't put a career change dog in a puppy coat and pass it off as a dog-in-training (that would be an abuse of GDB's trust and the public's good will), how can a career change dog feel like it's still a part of the action?
It turns out that there are a lot of places that do welcome well behaved pet dogs, if you just know where to look. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Camping World have all welcomed HPWT career change dogs. Pet dogs have been spotted in Barnes and Noble. Concerts in the park are great for pet dogs. Good Times offers dog treats at their drive-through, and the Dairy Queen at Arapahoe & Yosemite offers a dog cookie sundae. If you ask store managers for permission to bring in a “Career Changed Guide Dog” you'd be surprised how many times they will say yes. Start with places that you frequented when the dog was still in training. The dog's old friends might even enjoy the visit. Of course, discretion and planning are called for—food servers, restaurants and grocery stores are probably not going to be the most welcoming to non-service dogs, but when you ask with a well-behaved dog sitting quietly at your side, many stores will tell you “Sure, no problem.” But have a plan just in case the answer is no. You don't want to have to put the dog in a car on a hot afternoon!
For CC Dogs with more ambition, try the Delta Society's Pet Partners program, Doggie Tales, blood donation, or agility or obedience training. And don't forget those leisurely neighborhood walks!
Instead of a puppy coat, try using a bandanna or scarf to reinforce to the dog that it is working, (but not to fool store managers) and experiment with some career change dog outings! When your ex-puppy-in-training has its own job, or gets to go along occasionally, those puppy eyes are a lot easier to resist when it's time to put the coat on the GDB pup!