Guide Dog Assessment

Wednesday May 3rd – This morning Sue and I got to observe guide dog assessments. When dog return for training at GDV they spend the first week being assessed. In general only about 50% are accepted for training. The assessment consists of loose leash walks each day starting in quiet areas and working up to busy areas. The dogs are not being trained at this time, the handler observed the dog and makes notes about its general temperament and potential to be a guide. It is similar to the assessments we do on our potential breeders. We saw 6 dogs and enjoyed every minute of it! The black lab pictured here was a real sweetie. His name is Merlin and he is a soft manageable intact male who I would pack up in my suitcase and take home in a heartbeat!


This is John Gosling out working a dog who is about halfway through training.






It rained off and on all afternoon but it didn’t matter for us as we stayed in for a lecture on cultural aspects and intellectual impairments. We stayed in and relaxed tonight watching the movie Troy (man does Brad Pitt look good in this one!).