Spotlight on Assistance Dogs

Canoeing and snowshoeing, fishing and ice fishing … Lawrence Gunther, Canada’s only blind conservationist, has done it and continues to do it with his guide dog.  He tells us about some of his adventures, and points us to podcasts videos, and blogs about how he and his guide dog continue to explore Canada.

The last presentation of this past summer’s first-ever virtual GDUI convention was given by Katie Maertens, a nationally certified pet massage therapist.  She devoted the last part of her presentation to answering questions about how to massage your assistance dogs.

First, I chat with Sharon Morton from Gravenhurst, Ontario and Kim Marsden from Barrie Ontario about Guide Dog Users of Canada’s first-ever virtual annual general meeting.  On the same call, I also speak with Kim Bannatyne from Winnipeg, Manitoba about GDUC’s new on-line merchandise store, and the tea-shirts that she co-designed.

We speak first with Heather Walkus, co-founder of The Coalition of People Who Use Guide and Service Dogs in Canada. Next, we hear an article about the re-opening of a museum about the dog.

As well as music and poetry about dogs and the festive season, we feature an article about how to discourage dogs from eating their feces.

Devon chats with Victoria Nolan from the new CNIB guide dog training program. We also hear an article called “Is Your Dog Crazy? 22 Strange Dog Behaviors Explained” by Marissa Leotaud.

Marcie Davis speaks with Dr. Cindy McCauley about emergency veterinary clinics. Originally aired on Pet Life Radio’s Working Like Dogs programme and rebroadcast with permission.

Michael Goehring, a guide dog mobility instructor with Guiding Eyes for The Blind may live in Arizona now, but he most definitely remembers what it’s like trying to get around in Winter conditions. This is the first part of a chat which focuses mainly on keeping your dog safe and warm.

When technology doesn’t work for you the way you expected to, old-time radio will, especially when it relates to guide dogs. Here, from March 11, 1951 is an episode of Tales of The Texas Rangers from March 11, 1951 called Blind Justice.

Prior to the pandemic, several affiliates of Guide Dog Users Inc—GDUI used to organize mid-Winter weekends called Top Dogs. The theme of the last weekend was Thank You. This session is called Thank You, Patriots. In Part 1, we hear how instrumental veterans from World War 2 were in the establishment of both The Seeing […]

February is Pet Dental Health Awareness Month. we're going to hear excerpts from a webinar, sponsored by the Animal Medical Centre of New York, presented by Dr. Jordan Ford, who will be talking to us about parodontal disease in pets. It's a subject that should be of particular interest to those of us with guide, […]

Have you ever wondered how training is carried out at guide dog training centres around the world? During the July, 2021 convention of Guide Dog Users Inc., GDUI, attendees were treated to a panel discussion called Global Affairs. Panelists included Diane Bergeron from CNIB Guide Dogs in Canada, David Loughlin from Leader Dogs, and Luca […]

Welcome to a half-hour of seasonal songs, stories, and poetry about the guide, hearing, and service dogs we love.

This month, we hear Part 2 of an address given by Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Tellington Touch practitioner Jane Madigan from the Ottawa area. She was speaking to attendees of the most recent AGM and conference of Guide Dog Users of Canada. Hertopic was how to get rid of anxiety in your dog.

In this month's edition, we hear part 1 of an address that Tellington Touch practitioner and Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Jane Madigan gave to attendees of the virtual conference and Annual General Meeting of Guide Dog Users of Canada. Jane is originally from England. She worked with horses in New Zealand prior to moving to […]

Shortly after the horrific events of September 11 of 2001, Michael Gaither wrote a song which described how a guide dog named Roselle led her handler, Michael Hingson and others who had been blinded by the choking smoke out of the World Trade Center.  We begin by pausing respectfully to hear that song. Next, we […]

In keeping with the extremely hot temperatures here in the northern hemisphere, we begin with an article listing six signs that your dog is overheating and what you can do to combat the potentially deadly effects of heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Next, I chat with Megan Kennedy, treasurer of the International Association of Assistance […]

International Assistance Dog Week is the first full week of August, but we're celebrating early this year by featuring an interview that Marcie Davis, founder of International Assistance Dog Week did with Laura Watamanuk, Executive Director of PADS—Pacific Assistance Dog Society in Burnaby, British Columbia.

This month, I speak with Sarah Calhoun, president of Guide Dog Users Inc. about the group's second virtual convention which will take place in mid July.  And guess what.  You don't have to be a paid-up member to listen in. I also announce a new E-mail address for the show: spotlight@theglobalvoice.info

First, we listen to a portion of a press release about a training video put together by Guide Dogs for The Blind and The Seeing Eye for the benefit of employees of both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines.  Next, we listen to the audio described video itself.  Finally, we tip our hat to the International […]

This month, we hear all about Guide Dog Users of Canada’s upcoming virtual AGM from committee co-chairs Sharon Morton and Kim Marsden. Kim Bannatyne of Winnipeg Manitoba also tells us about GDUC’s new on-line store front, and the products being sold from there, which she co-designed

First, Marcie Davis of Santa Fe, New Mexico tells Devon how we can celebrate International Assistance Dog Week, August 2 to 8, in spite of Covid-19. Next, we hear an article called A Frankie Assessment of Service Dog Training, written by Devon’s guide dog, Frankie. Third on the docket is Devon’s monthly chat with Kim […]

We begin by asking Marcie Davis, founder and co-ordinator of International Assistance Dog Week, August 2 to 8, 2020 how we can celebrate the week with breaking social distancing rules. We also hear how a woman gave her dog an anti-allergenic capsule, totally unaware that it contained Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can be fatal […]

This time, we feature the first episode of a podcast from Southeastern Guide Dog School called Dogs and Storms. This is very timely, since June marks the beginning of Hurricane Season, which lasts until November.

We begin this half-hour by listening to a poem called My First Christmas at Rainbow Bridge. Next, we listen to a short story by yours truly called Ophthalmo at The North Pole. Finally, we listen to ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, Guide Dog Edition.

This the story about how a Canadian lady managed to get an American-trained guide dog without crossing the border.

Picking up from where we left off last month, Michael Goehring and I continue our discussion about travelling safely in Winter conditions. Mike, who is a guide dog mobility instructor with Guiding Eyes talks about protecting your dog’s ears from frostbite, and keeping your white cane in your back pack to be used as a […]

Gallant Hearts Training Centre is one of the newer guide dog schools. I chat with co-founder Becky Floyd about about her lifelong interest in guide dogs, and the interesting breeds that Gallant Heart specializes in.

Devon speaks first with Guide Dog Users Inc.’s outgoing president, Penny Reeder about this coming July’s convention that will be available to anybody and everybody who registers.  No membership required. Next, CNIB Guide Dogs newly appointed president Diane Bergeron speaks with Devon from her treadmill about a 5-km. Virtual Pup Crawl taking place during the […]

Today, we begin by chatting with Rob Cramer, a guide dog mobility instructor with Canada’s newest guide dog training program, CNIB guide dogs about how to keep your dog engaged during these times of social distancing. Next, we hear some tips from the medical director at Guide Dogs for The Blind about keeping your dog […]

First, we hear from Lynn Merrill, treasurer of Guide Dog Users Inc., about how she and her guide dog successfully climbed the highest mountain in the state of Maine. Next, we share messages from three guide dog training centres about the care of your dog during the Covid-19 pandemic.

When Brittni Williams from Angus, ON trained with a PTSD dog, she never dreamed that Xia would end up being both a service and a guide dog.

This month we feature a presentation which was originally given last July at the convention of Guide Dog Users Incorporated. Veronica Morris talks about how her psychiatric service dog helps her to cope with her ongoing mental illnesses. We thought we would play this because January 31st is Bell Let’s Talk Day. We finish the […]

First, we hear an article by guide dog handler and Labrador breeder Patti Ellis which contains a whole list of Yuletide reminders that dog owners should keep in mind.  Next, Wendy Campbell, a groomer at one of Peterborough, Ontario’s PetValu Store, talks to us about toys that are appropriate to various sizes and breeds of […]

This month, we hear a presentation from Dr. Nicole Constantine the owner of Charleston Veterinary House Calls. She offers suggestions on how to minimize risks to assistance dogs from household products.

This month’s feature guest is Msindisi Bunguza, who became a guide dog trainer in his native South Africa, and is currently working at Canadian Guide Dogs for The Blind near Ottawa, ON.

We begin by hearing a couple of brief articles: the first regarding regulations aimed at airlines in the United States, and the other warning dog owners in Norway about a mysterious disease.  Next, we talk with Steve Doucette from Canadian Guide Dogs for The Blind about present and future plans for the training program.

This month, we hear a conversation between Marcie Davis of Working Like Dogs and Gayle Harbott of Mobility Dogs of New Zealand.

This month, we hear a chat with Patti Ellis and Sue Neveu, organizers of Guide Dog Users of Canada’s AGM and conference.  The event is scheduled for September 19 to 22.  Weather permitting, many of the activities will take place in the great outdoors, because this 20th anniversary weekend will be held at the Canadian […]

At the Top Dog conference in January of this year, the underlying theme was mutual understanding and respect among people who use guide, hearing, or service dogs. This month, we speak with Brad Morris from his home near Charleston, South Carolina, who has come up with a method for people to indicate that they agree […]

This month, we hear Part 2 of a panel discussion on the need for equal recognition of all types of assistance dogs. We also get a reminder about the national fundraising walk for the Lion’s Foundation of Canada dog guide training centre in Oakville, Ontario.

This month, we begin with a time-sensitive announcement for those living in North America and Puerto Rico. We then turn to a presentation given at last January’s Top Dog weekend in Charleston, South Carolina.  Part 1 of the panel discussion entitled Thanks, Pups talks about those of us in the assistance dog field building an […]

We begin this edition with three very time-sensitive announcements about what are being called guide dog camps. Next, we hear an interview with Keith McGregor, director of the training program for Deafblind clients at Leader Dogs in Rochester, Michigan.

Heather Bird from the New York Association of Guide Dog Users talks to us about a series of conference calls outlining training programs. Next, we hear an article recounting yet another incident where a driver of ridesharing company refuses to take a woman and her guide dog.