Appealing puppies guided into new job

Sandy McAllen with Abbott and a friend he made out walking, Bill Charnock from the Chronicle. PHOTO STUART MUNRO

Sandy McAllen loves dogs.

And the Blind Foundation puppy walker has two dogs bounding around her Whanganui home associated with the cause but for slightly different reasons.

One is a failed guide dog and the other a stud.

Abbott's the stud. The golden retriever has fathered two litters of 14 puppies. Most have gone on to be guide dogs.

It's his good health and temperament which make him ideal for the job.

"He's very laid back. He's a very docile boy."

At five years old, Sandy says he has a few more litters to father. The matching is done at a breeding centre in Auckland - some naturally and some by artificial insemination. Sandy gets photos of the puppies Abbott has fathered.

The McAllens were asked to board Abbott before he was chosen for the breeding programme and they fell in love with him.

There are essentially his guardians with a formal contract drawn up.

When his genes aren't needed, he lives with Sandy and family alongside Vera, who came to them as a youngster under the Red Puppy scheme. When out and about, pups are distinctive in their red coats.

Puppies are usually with people for 12 to 18 months before moving on to more extensive training.

Vera failed one of the 30 assessments needed to be a guide dog while with her trainer in an Auckland mall. A child popped a balloon. She barked. And that was the end of her "career".

"That's just not allowed. She has to be calm."

Sandy was very upset but she had a lot of emotional support at the time. She said the puppy walking scheme run by the Blind Foundation is an incredibly supportive group.
"There is always a chance it might not work out for a puppy."

Vera, a golden labrador, came back to live with the McAllen family. She is now seven years old, turning eight this year.

Puppies in training go everywhere with their temporary carers be it church, a busy street, the movies, a library or public transport.

A teacher, Sandy has taken puppies to school each day.

She says a puppy can learn a lot in 24 hours using positive reinforcement. As well as acclimatising the dogs they are also toilet trained. "Busy" is the word to go outside. "Big busy is number twos."

Sit, down, stay, walk and off are also essential at this stage.

They will also learn to only eat when a whistle is blown.

As well they must not accept food from anyone else or eat off the ground. At cafes they need to settle quickly.

They are taught not to be distracted by noises outside be it "children, loud cars or the sound of school bells."

On a bus or train they learn not to sprawl in the aisle.

"It's about socialisation and good manners. They need to be as exposed to as many situations as possible."

Sandy was a puppy walker in Auckland and Hamilton. Unfortunately there is no structure for people in Whanganui to become puppy walkers, but people can contribute to this week's appeal.

Appeal
The Red Puppy Appeal is on Friday and Saturday.

The appeal raises money for the breeding and training of guide dogs for the Blind Foundation.

Dogs need up to two years of training before "graduating" as a guide dog. They go to people who are blind or have little sight and enable their owners to carry out daily tasks such as going to work, using the bus or train and eating out.

The waiting list for a dog is 12 months and this can be reduced if more funds allow more dogs to be bred or trained.

If you would like to volunteer as a street appeal collector or make a donation go to redpupppy.org.nz or call 0800 PUPPIES.