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WATCH: Guide dog Gina set to venture off with new partner

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IT’S graduation time at the Blind Foundation. Two-year-old golden Labrador Gina has finished training in Auckland and has been matched with her new partner in Wellington.

Kim Norton is Gina’s guide dog mobility instructor and has been working with her for two months to maintain her guiding skills before she is finally handed over to her new owner. .

The dogs work with puppy walkers for 12 to 14 months to gain skills of socialisation, obedience and go all the places they might go as a working dog.

The next stage is intensive training, lasting four to six months, where the dogs learn all the guiding skills.

After the dogs are matched with someone they spend three weeks getting to know the route their new owner takes each day.

Ms Norton says the training takes the dogs through basic skills of walking in a central pavement position, avoiding obstacles and stopping at curbs.

Five breeds of dogs are used by the Blind Foundation – golden and Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, poodles and some purpose-bred first crosses – used to gain the ‘best of both breeds’.

“They are very willing for the handler. They want to please so they try really hard to do the right thing,” Ms Norton says.

For Gina, being a guide dog doesn’t make her any different from a non-working dog. She still has the spirit and playfulness every dog displays and showed it during the interview.

The expected life for a working guide dog is 11 years, although some will retire earlier, Ms Norton says.

A retired working dog will then be offered to their handler or will be adopted out to a home.

The Blind Foundation is looking for people to help with their Red Puppy Appeal on March 27 and 28, 2015. If you can help call 0800 120 254 or visit the website redpuppy.org.nz.


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