In-Site In The Training Of Guide Dogs Australia

The Making of a Guide Dog – Celebrated In a New Film Series
A new campaign ‘Six Feet, One Journey’, developed by FRONTLINE PLUS® and HEARTGARD30® PLUS, celebrates the enormous work and love that goes into transforming playful pups into responsible Guide Dogs for Australians with impaired vision. This incredible journey, which starts from 8 weeks of age and takes almost two years to complete, has been captured in a series of short films which have been developed through a collaboration between National Geographic Channel, Merial and Guide Dogs Australia.

The Guide Dogs movement is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and orientation and mobility training nationally. A new campaign ‘Six Feet, One Journey’, developed by FRONTLINE PLUS® and HEARTGARD30® PLUS, celebrates the enormous work and love that goes into transforming playful pups into responsible Guide Dogs for Australians with impaired vision.

This incredible journey, which starts from 8 weeks of age and takes almost two years to complete, has been captured in a series of short films which have been developed through a collaboration between National Geographic Channel, Merial and Guide Dogs Australia.

Uplifting and informative, the series highlights the unique relationship people with impaired vision share with their Guide Dogs as well as revealing the three stages of training that a Guide Dog must undergo before they begin work assignment:

Puppy raising – during a pup’s first year of life it is checked by a veterinarian for good health and then placed with a specially selected ‘puppy raising family’. For 12 months, pups learn basic social skills and obedience, and visit the types of places they’ll later encounter as Guide Dogs while being monitored by a Puppy Raising Officer.

Team training – at around 14 months of age, they return to the Guide Dogs Centre where Guide Dog Trainers assess their suitability for guiding work. Not all meet the stringent criteria, but if selected, they begin five months of intensive training, learning a range of complex skills.

Training in the field – Guide Dogs that successfully complete the program are then matched to a potential handler, according to the person's specific lifestyle and mobility needs.

To gain further insight into the wonderful world of Guide Dogs, view the unique film series on subscription television on National Geographic Channel, or see them online at www.frontlineplus.com.au/guidedogs.

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