| Sixth
Judicial Circuit Public Defender's Office sponsors
"PD" the Guide Dog from Southeastern Guide
Dogs' Program
 PD
a Golden Labrador Retriever was born on February
11, 1999 to Qala and Max. The Puppy Raiser Family
was Chris & Joan from Ocala, Florida.
At
9 weeks PD's most important job was becoming housebroken
to the command of "Busy, busy!" Housebreaking
was fun for the puppy because it kept the puppy
raisers up all night! PD at this age was learning:
•To
enjoy riding in a car.
•To recognize and respond to his name.
•The importance of good social and house
manners.
At
3 months PD enjoyed the excitement of that first bath!
It was also just about the right time for:
•PD's
puppy raiser family to finally get some sleep
as PD became housebroken.
•Trips to the grocery store.
•Visiting with other guide dog puppies at
their first Puppy Meet. This was an important
exposure experience.
•Leash training and walking on the left
side of the puppy raiser. PD built on this simple
skill to provide The Gift of Mobility.
 At
6 months PD was ready to start obedience classes.
This helped train the puppy raiser almost as much
as it helped train PD! At this happy age PD was
also:
•Beginning
to locate various things using the "Find"
command.
•Visiting restaurants, airports and other
public places for exposure training.
 At
8 months PD was about to graduate from obedience
class. It was also the time in PD's life for:
•Rapid
growth
•Swimming fun!
•Walking alongside traffic
At
10 months PD had his comprehensive checkup at the
veterinarian. Socialization and training was reinforced,
and PD was staying busy by:
•Learning
to ignore cats, squirrels and other animals. This
exposure is difficult work!
•Experiencing noise exposure.
•Boarding buses and other forms of transportation.
 On
April 24, 2000 PD returned to Southeastern for training.
Before PD's training began, there was plenty of
time for bonding between the trainer and PD. It
was also time for:
•The
experience of new roommates. Those social skills
are put to work as the dogs arrive for training.
Together all begin to learn proper kennel manners.
•Physical exam and hip X-rays. It's vital
for those hips to be good and strong for a lifetime
of guide dog work.
•Receiving the guide dog harness.
PD
graduated from training in the Southeastern's Class
11-FY00/01 and is a working guide dog. His new blind
master is so proud of him and they both visited
the PD Office in June, 2000.
Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.
4210 77th Street East
Palmetto, FL 34221
Telephone: (941) 729-5665
Fax: (941) 729-6646
www.guidedogs.org
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