Hey, Hey, Hey Bookshelvers! This week we have another DOGx Special for you. We also have been graced with the presence of, the one and only, Jason Light as this topic is very close to his heart.
Every year we have a charity slot at DOGx and this year we’ve managed to get the wonderful Guide Dogs to do a presentation and demo for us. With that in mind we thought it would be wonderful to have Elli Cavazza, a puppy development advisor for Guide Dogs and Mandy Pike, a guide dog user with her dog, Loney on to talk all things Guide Dogs from both perspectives.
The discussion provides a fascinating peek into the world of Guide Dogs, going beyond the public-facing image to explore the detailed, dog-centred approach to training. We find out about Elli’s role, which involves training puppy-raisers and ensuring puppies are well-socialized and prepared for their future, as well as Guide Dogs passionate views on their dog-centric and human-centric approach working in unison.
We then get Mandy's perspective as a guide dog partner. She shares her journey, from her initial hesitation as a self-proclaimed "cat person" to her profound bond with her current dog, Lonnie. Mandy openly discusses the challenges and triumphs of working with a dog that is a "work in progress," highlighting the importance of trust, communication, and understanding Loney as an individual first and a guide dog second. There are also some real valuable insights from both Ellie and Mandy for the general public. Enjoy!

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