DENVER, has done very well in his training so far and has recently moved on to more advanced training with mobility instructor, Amanda.
This is Denver’s final stage of training where his many skills will be perfected until he is at a level where he can be considered a potential guide dog for a blind person or partially-sighted person.
Much of Amanda’s time has been based around building a strong bond with Denver so that they both feel comfortable working with one another. Amanda told us, “I have been working Denver in the harness and taking him out into different environments. The key for me has been to build up his confidence and allow him to make his own decisions.”
In developing Denver’s decision making, Amanda tries to ‘trick’ Denver by deliberately asking him to do something incorrect, such as moving off from the kerb. As Amanda explains it herself, “I want Denver to get to a point where he feels happy to ‘override’ my judgments when he knows it is the right thing to do. When he does I give a lot of praise and cuddles, which he loves!”
When Denver isn’t training he stays with guide boarder Ruth. We were fortunate to also meet Ruth at our latest visit. Ruth told us that Denver likes to follow her about the house to stay close by. She added “he is not at all demanding though once he’s had a cuddle he’ll take himself off and lie down, particularly in the evening.”
Amanda told us that “finding good boarders is difficult, and the role is sometimes underrated in the training process. Ruth is fantastic with Denver.”
Amanda told us that Denver is a “very sensitive lad who is very responsive and has good social behavior. He bonds strongly with people and is happy to ‘share’ his time between Ruth and myself. He’s very bright and ge really is starting to think for himself, and, perhaps best of all, he is very eager to please.”
