Spring 2006 Puppy Tales
Ambassador Dog Program
Update from Emily Simone, Field Manager
Greetings to everyone in the puppy raising community. Many of you are aware of GDB‟s new dog
placement program called the “Ambassador Dog Program.” Since this program‟s introduction, we
have placed two Ambassador dogs in field manager territories. Many people have questions
about this program, so I‟d like to address a few of the most frequently asked questions here:
What is the purpose of the Ambassador Dog Program?
The purpose of this program is to provide Graduate Services field managers with convenient
access to suitable career change dogs in their territories for various GDB/work related activities.
These activities include:
Real dog demonstrations with potential applicants
Assessment tool for applicant home interviews and K9 Buddy interviews
PR tool for presentations in field manager area
PR tool for conventions and conferences
Demonstration tool for children‟s programs/PR events
Field Managers are regularly in situations where they have a need to utilize a “real dog” for PR or
assessment purposes. There is no better “ambassador” that demonstrates our programs in a
more real and genuine way than utilizing a well trained dog from our program. Applicants enjoy
the interaction with a “real dog” versus “juno” (simulated Guide Dog experience).
What dogs are selected and why?
Graduate Services field managers are looking for a very specific type of dog to be utilized in this
program. Since these dogs are important „representatives of Guide Dogs for the Blind, several
criteria must be present before a dog can be considered for the program:
Specific breeds – A potential Ambassador dog must represent the majority of dogs that
we use in our program. For this reason we will only consider using Labrador retriever or
Labrador/Golden Retriever Cross. Either gender is appropriate.
Suitable temperament - A potential Ambassador dog must have a calm, stable
temperament. It must have the ability to be around large crowds and not exhibit shyness
or significant fear issues. It must also be comfortable with regular travel.
Average controllability – A potential Ambassador dog must be confident but not too
excitable or difficult to control. Overly substantial or too soft type of dogs would not be
suitable for the work they would be asked to do in this program.
Training – A potential Ambassador dog must have received an introduction to guidework
training and obedience, since they will regularly be used to offer “demonstration
guidework” to potential applicants. Any dog dropped prior to receiving some obedience
and guidework training would not be suitable for this program.
Health – A dog being considered for this program cannot have any chronic or severe
medical issues that would be financially taxing for potential adopters or would impact a
dog‟s ability to travel or be an inappropriate representative. Career change dogs that are
dropped for allergies, soft trachea, or chronic ear infections would not be good
candidates.
How does a field manager apply to get an Ambassador Dog in their territory?
It should be noted that this program is voluntary, and not all field managers need an Ambassador
dog. Some field managers use their own dogs for these purposes or live close enough to a GDB
campus to utilize dogs in training for PR or assessment purposes. If a field manager is interested
in having an Ambassador dog in their territory, they have two options: They can personally apply
to adopt an Ambassador dog as a pet and use it as needed, or they can identify a suitable
adoptive family in their territory that would allow the dog to be in the field manager‟s close
proximity and readily accessible.
Spring 2006 Puppy Tales
Who selects the dogs for this program?
The program is currently designed to select potential Ambassador dogs in the following manner:
California or Oregon training supervisors will fill out a career change form on any dog that
is dropped from their training string. This form explains why the dog was dropped and
gives training information and general information about the dog‟s temperament and
manageability.
Pat Cook, PRA and Canine Community Programs‟ Canine Resource Manager receives
all of these reports and identifies possible Ambassador Dog candidates using the above
listed criteria. If she identifies a possible candidate, she sends this information to the field
manager to review.
If the field manager feels that the dog may be a suitable candidate, they will arrange to
meet the dog on the campus and evaluate its temperament and approve or deny the
candidate. The field manager will inform Pat Cook accordingly.
Pat will then contact the puppy raisers of that dog and ask if they would be interested in
adopting the dog, or if they would consent to GDB placing the dog as an Ambassador
dog If the puppy raisers voluntarily offer this dog to the program, then Pat will inform the
field manager, who will then arrange to have the dog placed as soon as possible.
Where are these dogs placed and why?
As stated earlier, the newly elected Ambassador dog is placed in the adoptive home of either the
field manager or a suitable family in the field manager‟s territory. Any potential adopter of an
Ambassador dog must fill out a career change application and must adhere to the same home
standards of any adopter of a dog from our program. The adopter must also be willing to submit
to a home interview and assessment of the home by the field manager. The adopter of the
Ambassador dog assumes full financial responsibility of the dog, including vet care and support.
GDB releases all liability of the dog to the new adopter. However, the new adopter must adhere
to the following rules:
1. The adopter must be flexible and allow the field manager to use the Ambassador dog for
any PR purposes, at any time. The field manager must give adequate notice when they
will need the dog.
2. The adopter must maintain the dog‟s training and health to an “above average” standard
so the dog will be an excellent representative of our program. The adopters are not
allowed to work the dog with a harness or take it into public areas: it is a career change
dog and is not given special access rights because it is an Ambassador dog. Only field
managers have the ability to use the dog in certain public areas for PR purposes.
3. Ambassador dog adopters should be willing to consider transporting the Ambassador
dogs to certain functions if possible (this is not mandatory).
4. Any Ambassador dog adopter must live in a suitable, convenient location that allows easy
access to the dog by the field manager. For this reason, field managers may seek an
adopter that lives in a very specific geographical area.
5. Adopters must adhere to strict rules for the dog in their home. Even though it is a “career
change” dog, it is not given generous freedom. The dog must have strict rules and be
under control at all times. The adopters must be willing to work regularly with the field
manager to ensure the dog is not developing poor habits.
How are the dogs monitored in the home and how often are they used for Ambassador
duties?
Ambassador dogs are monitored regularly by the field manager, at their discretion. I personally
have weekly email or phone contact with the adopters of the Ambassador dog in my area. In
addition, I visit the dog at least once a month, or more frequently if there are behavioral or training
issues. The adopters are given a manual about dog behavior and must adhere to strict feeding
and relieving requirements. They must also adhere to strict toy and walking requirements.
Use of an Ambassador dog by a field manager varies, depending on their schedule. I have used
the Ambassador dog in my field service territory at least 1 or 2 times a month since he was
placed. The dog has been used as a demonstration dog on several occasions and as a PR tool
Spring 2006 Puppy Tales
multiple times during presentations to various groups such as blind support groups and service
clubs.
Can any career change dog be considered an Ambassador dog?
Not all career change dogs can be considered an Ambassador dog; the primary distinction is that
the field manager is the only person who can utilize the dog in their Ambassador role. At all other
times, the Ambassador dog is a pet. Also, every Ambassador dog has specific traits, training and
temperament that make it suitable for this program. Since the inception of this program, some
puppy raisers have approached GDB and offered their career change dogs to be part of this
program. While we certainly appreciate their offer and willingness to be a part of this program, the
requirements for a dog to be a part of this program are very specific and we will continue to make
appropriate placements with pre-identified dog candidates.
Miscellaneous information
As a field manager, I am extremely excited about this program and eternally grateful to those
puppy raisers who have been receptive to allowing their career change dog to enter this program.
We assure you that Ambassador dogs will only be placed in carefully selected, loving, secure
homes. The benefits of this new program are just being realized and we promise to keep you
posted on its progress. We thank you sincerely for all you do.