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Yale Update

By Phil Vigil

After training Yale for 16 months, I had to take him back to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. for testing. The testing by Guide Dogs, Inc. consists of 10 phases. Yale is currently in phase three. He passed phase one, which is just a physical exam. He then continued through phase two, which consists of distractions and basic training. Now he is being trained in shopping malls, on obstacle courses, and with new training commands. After phase three he will continue to be tested with sidewalks, busy streets, and different types of surfaces. In the final phases he will be working with an instructor, who will be wearing a blindfold.
Part of me hopes Yale gets to phase 10 and passes, but even a small detail could cause him to fail. I would love to have him back, so I am kind of hoping he fails. Yale was one of my best dogs. He had a great personality. He was calm and rarely distracted by other dogs or inanimate objects. He loved people and followed us everywhere. Sadly, I probably won't be able to raise another guide dog because I am getting more and more busy with school and 4-H All Stars.
Raising guide dogs has been fun and rewarding. I encourage anyone to do this, and you might get a free dog!