Pearl and Talli
Pearl and Talli are very special and unique dogs, as they are being
raised as guide dogs. Labrador retrievers like Pearl and Talli are often
bred and used for guide dogs (or canine companions) due to their
disposition. The puppies spend about the first 18 months of their life
with "foster parents". The foster family knows that it must
give the puppy back later. During this time with their foster family,
the dogs attend canine obedience classes. After their initial stay with
the foster family, the dogs are taken to a new home where they receive
even more intensive evaluation and training that lasts about another
year. Pearl and Talli must undergo all these hurdles before finally
being placed with their permanent home. In Pearl and Talli’s case,
they are being raised to be guide dogs for Guiding Eyes, an organization
that provides assistive dogs for the blind.
Pearl recently took the next step towards her more intensive training
and had to say good-bye to her foster family. She passed her entry
examination with flying colors. While her foster family misses her, they
are also proud of her. Talli moped around the house for a few weeks as
she missed having Pearl around. Talli is only 8 months so she has about
another year with her foster parents.
Pearl went to work with her foster mother who always brought her favorite toys
with them. You can tell from the expression on her face that she takes her job
seriously. |
|
Talli misunderstood her instructions for
this photo, she thought we said pose as a guard dog, not a guide dog.
(We
think she makes a better guide dog.) |
