Life + Style

Dr Rachele Lowe - Puppy Love

Nov 28 01:51pm

There's something about guide dogs that tugs at the heartstrings. When they're puppies, you can't help falling in love with those big, brown eyes staring lovingly up at you. They're eager to please, but still prone to a certain brand of baby mischief.

During training to become fully-fledged guide dogs, their faces are proud and intense. These animals truly change the lives of everyone with whom they come in contact.

GUIDING HISTORY

In 1819, Herr Johann Wilhelm Klein founded a guide dog institute in Vienna, but it wasn't until almost 100 years later that the idea really took off. With many soldiers blinded during WWI, Dr Gerhard Stalling founded a guide dog centre devoted entirely to training. The service spread quickly around the world, and by 1957 eight guide dogs were working at Australian Guide Dogs for the Blind.

These days, thanks to donations from individuals and industry, the association has 12,000 guide dogs working around the country. This year the Guide Dog Associations in NSW-ACT, South Australia and Victoria will be celebrating their 50th anniversary!

DOGGY DONATIONS

Guide Dog associations are non-profit, and are always in need of financial help. It costs $26,000 to raise one puppy, and five to six in every 10 graduate. Some of the others go on to become pets as therapy, and the rest make wonderful family pets. You can help by donating, sponsoring a puppy or volunteering.

Contact the Guide Dog association in your state for details.

PUP PARENTING

If you adopt a guide dog pup, you'll be helping someone who really appreciates it. You'll also get to keep one of these gorgeous, furry, loving, mischievous little bundles for a whole year.

Puppies are adopted at three months, and return for more formal training at 15 months. It takes two years to develop a playful puppy into a qualified, responsible guide dog.

To be a puppy raiser, you must:

Be at home for most of the day. Puppies can't be left on their own for more than three hours.

Take your puppy for a walk each day.

Allow your guide dog puppy to spend time indoors. They must also sleep inside.

Have a dog-proof backyard.

Own a car so you can transport your puppy.

Attend training at puppy preschool.

Live in an area near the training centre.

The association provides bedding, leads and medical expenses. You pay $10 a week for food.

For more information visit:

Guide Dogs Australia

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7 Comments Report Abuse

1. scotthamo - Apr 20 03:53pm

How do I do this?

2. adamandbekcollins - Apr 20 05:03pm

Where are the Training Centre's?

3. new_idea_online - Apr 22 07:57pm

Hi
We've added a link in above that will give you details of each state's Guide Dog Association.
Kind Regards
New Idea Online Team

4. prill_s_71 - May 01 10:07am

Hi, I was very intetested to read this article by Dr Rachele Lowe. I am in the process of organising a fund raising event in July on behalf of Guide Dogs Victoria and am looking for an MC for the event. Given her profile with your magazine & her obvious love of dogs, I wanted to ask Dr Rachele Lowe if she would be inteterested to get involved? How do I go about contacting her about this OR can you pass on my email? I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards Priscilla

5. new_idea_online - May 05 11:05pm

Hi Priscilla
You can get in touch with Rachele directly through her vet clinic:
http://mosmanvetclinic.com/
Kind Regards
New Idea Online

6. prill_s_71 - May 07 12:14pm

Hi New Idea Online, thanks for your help.
Regards
Priscilla