GDUI

GDUI Guide Dog Schools Survey 2006

(Section Summary)

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION/ASSESSMENT

 

1.         Your school’s policies regarding puppy raisers are best described as: (Mark all that apply.)

 

We encourage contact between the raiser and graduate and facilitate such contact. (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader)

 

We do not encourage contact between graduates and puppy raisers. (No schools chose this option.)

 

We pass along some puppy raiser-provided information about the dog to the handler during training. (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

We pass along communications between graduates and puppy raisers upon request. (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

We discourage contact between graduates and puppy raisers for a prescribed period of time after graduation. (Pilot)

 

2.         Your school’s puppy socialization/assessment program includes: (Mark all that apply.)

 

members of school-organized raiser groups (GDA, GDDI, GEB, Seeing Eye)

 

4H club members (Fidelco, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)

 

adult volunteers (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

youth volunteers (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)

 

school-screened applicants (Fidelco, GDA, GDDI, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

selected residents of correctional facilities who are part of an organized program (GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD)

 

school staff members (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

other (Please specify.) (Freedom: home-schooling families;  GDB: instructor-staff and graduates may also participate in the puppy-raising program)

 

3.         Please mark all statements that describe your puppy socialization/assessment program.

 

Participants in the puppy raising program are not subject to formal guidelines from the school. (No school selected this option.)

 

The puppy raising program is formally organized with a puppy raising manual that sets out specific guidelines for raisers to follow. (All schools checked this option.)

 

Participants in the school's puppy raising/socialization program must attend regular meetings. (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

Periodic assessment takes place to insure that participants in the program regularly and strictly adhere to established procedures for puppy raising/socialization. (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

Raisers are responsible for teaching basic obedience to the puppies. (All schools checked this option.)

 

Raisers are responsible for making sure puppies learn appropriate house behaviors. (All schools checked this option.)

 

4.         How frequently are puppies evaluated by school approved staff or volunteers? (Please indicate.)

 

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation: weekly

Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: depends on the raiser

Guide Dogs of America (GDA): monthly or as often as needed

Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB): minimum monthly, generally twice per month

Guide Dogs of the Desert International (GDDI): monthly

Guide Dog Foundation (GDF): minimum monthly, usually more than twice monthly

Guide Dogs of Texas (GDTX): monthly minimum

Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB): minimum every three months

KSDS: monthly reports are completed by raisers and sent to staff and several observations are made by staff

Leader Dogs for the Blind: monthly

Pilot Dogs: monthly

Southeastern Guide Dogs (SEGD): monthly

The Seeing Eye: monthly

 

5.         Behaviors that may cause a puppy to be dropped from training include: (Please mark all that apply.) 

 

dog aggression (All schools)

 

aggression toward people (All schools)

 

regular relieving accidents (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

fear of loud noises (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

pronounced fear-reactions to environmental stimuli (Fidelco, Freedom, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

6.         Your program’s health screening for puppies includes: (Indicate all that apply.) 

 

a complete physical exam performed by a veterinarian  (All schools)

 

screening for skeletal problems including hip and elbow dysplasia (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GDTX, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, SEGD, Seeing Eye)

 

screening for common chronic conditions that could necessitate ongoing treatment or medication for the dog  (Fidelco, GDA, GDB, GDDI, GDF, GEB, KSDS, Leader, Pilot, Seeing Eye)