Working Dog – Part 2
by Michelle Stensud, Roving Reporter
Remember last month I told you about Dexter, who is training to be a guide dog? You may remember that Dexter is discouraged from playing with balls while he is training so that when he is out and working he doesn’t get distracted. Well, a few weeks ago I was at the University of Calgary and ran into Dexter in the racquetball courts. There were so many balls flying around, and he didn’t even look at them! Could your dog do that? It was amazing to see.
Training Dexter is basically a full-time job, except instead of getting paid in cash, you are paid in love and appreciation. Dexter himself, however, is paid in food, toys, leashes, trips to the vet – you name it. I know you are thinking “does Dexter really care about these pay days?” Likely not, but his foster family does and so will his forever family. The cost of all things for Dexter is covered by his sponsor, the people or corporation that supports the dog for the CNIB. They are the ones that get to name the dog too.
Before Dexter gets to work, he has to pass all his training. Once his foster mom, Melody, has spent the year with Dexter, he will graduate and move to Toronto. After another year of learning more specialised commands, Dexter will spend about two months interviewing and testing out different people to find his forever person.
Unlike our working years (which are too many!) Dexter will only work for about eight or nine years. When Dexter finally gets to retire, his owner will be the first person offered the option to keep him. If, for whatever reason, his person can’t keep him at his time of retirement, Melody and family will be asked if they’d like Dexter to come back and live with them.
Dexter’s life is mapped out and will certainly be full and exciting.
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