Guiding Eyes puppy

[Lucy Goose]

That is wonderful. I would love to do something like that. I lost my dog a little over a year ago and it is still painful. I miss her so. How do you go about this?

[Gatto Nero]

Originally Posted by Lucy Goose

That is wonderful. I would love to do something like that. I lost my dog a little over a year ago and it is still painful. I miss her so. How do you go about this?

I apologize for the error but I meant to put the link to Guiding Eyes in my original post. Instead I put the link to the same picture of Rhiana. I have fixed now it but you can also get it from here.

It really is a cool thing. I give my daughter all the credit in the world. It is quite a commitment for a high school kid. Although my wife and I will be pitching in she is the one that pursued this from the beginning and will be doing a large majority of the care and training. She saw a dog with a vest when we went to visit my son at college last fall. After speaking with the woman that had the dog she tracked down the link above and took it from there. Like I said above, she has been going to classes every other week since November to learn how to train the dog properly and now that she has her she will need to drive from Meredith down to Nashua every Sunday for the entire summer to continue those classes one on one with Rhiana and other dogs of the same age.

Although we are all loving it now we know it will be brutal when we have to give her up 18 months or so from now. I hope it helps that my daughter will be going off to college at about the same time we have to give Rhiana back.

I know they are always looking for volunteers so if you think you can do it just follow that link. I'd be happy to answer any other questions you may have, but may refer to my daughter for the real answers.

[donnamatrix]

GN: I am sure that relinquishing this dog in 18 months will be extremely difficult for everyone... But what a tremendous thing to do! I think you have to focus on how what you and your family are doing with this dog will enhance the life of somebody who truly needs the talent and skill Riahna will bring to their lives. What a gift. You will cry for days - but the person who receives the dog will smile for years.

[Gatto Nero]

Originally Posted by donnamatrix

GN: I am sure that relinquishing this dog in 18 months will be extremely difficult for everyone... But what a tremendous thing to do! I think you have to focus on how what you and your family are doing with this dog will enhance the life of somebody who truly needs the talent and skill Riahna will bring to their lives. What a gift. You will cry for days - but the person who receives the dog will smile for years.

We have no doubt it will be tough, but one of the other puppy raisers with spoke with, who is on her forth dog, said that she views it as the puppy going off to college just like your kids do. Stories like this also help considerably.

[Lakesrider]

I raised three German Shepards, and two Labs for the blind and deaf. One thing to consider is that not all puppies are accepted into the various programs. Just mentioning this as the true temperament of a dog does not really come into play until the age of two. If your program tests the puppy and it fails, you might just be keeping a dog for a while, as then normally give the trainer first dibs.......

[Gatto Nero]

Yes, we're aware of that. but we probably wouldn't be keeping her either way so we're really hoping that she makes it. Its really my daughter that's doing this and she is off to college at about this time next year. We already have a pretty cool house dog and I'm not sure my wife an I have the patience to keep another long term. I know that there is also a waiting list of good families looking to pick up the dogs that don't make it into the program.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by Gatto Nero

Yes, we're aware of that. but we probably wouldn't be keeping her either way so we're really hoping that she makes it. Its really my daughter that's doing this and she is off to college at about this time next year. We already have a pretty cool house dog and I'm not sure my wife an I have the patience to keep another long term. I know that there is also a waiting list of good families looking to pick up the dogs that don't make it into the program.

I had the pleasure of meeting Rhiana a few weeks ago. Cutest puppy! Great thing your daughter has taken on. The feeling when it is time to let go, knowing that it is going to assist someone with a disability, and will help with what alot of us take for granted in our everyday lives, is priceless.