On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by Puppy Development Manager Jane Bradley.

Jane shares some reflections on the transitions dog owners, handlers and carers face at the end of the journey of each dog, the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) and the 2025 IGDF conference coming up in June. You can find out more about IGDF at igdf.org.uk.

If you’d like to learn about Seeing Eye Dogs, the work we do, becoming a handler, or supporting us head to our website at sed.visionaustralia.org.

We’re looking for puppy carers in select regions across NSW, QLD and VIC. Head to our website for information about volunteering or attend our upcoming information session: online for all states (VIC, NSW, QLD on Wednesday, March 12, from 6pm to 7pm (AEDT) (5pm to 6pm QLD/AEST) register link via the website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/volunteer/information-sessions.

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, we have three segments to share.

Seeing Eye Dog Instructor Mikaela Smith shares an exciting announcement about the 2025 Seeing Eye Dogs Roadshow in regional NSW and ACT Canberra in March.

Puppy carer Phil Taylor shares his story and tells us about his life as a volunteer puppy carer. Phil is in his 80s and has been a puppy carer for 14 years showing many puppies the ropes through a busy and active retirement. Learn about puppy caring and other volunteer roles on our website.

Then we have vet tips from Dr Jacinta Millard from our vet team talking about arthritis in dogs.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

The NSW/ACT Roadshow will be held in March with our team touring across Regional New South Wales and to Canberra, ACT. These events are open to all and free to attend. Email us now at [email protected] to secure your spot or head to the NSW/ACT Roadshow article on SED website for more info. You can also email us at [email protected] or call on 1800 037 773 to chat about dog guide mobility, eligibility or assessment.

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by puppy carer Karen Anderson to share the story of her volunteering. Karen is a kindergarten teacher and experienced carer of over 15 years. We chat about her current dogs puppy in training Quiggly and breeding dog Mirring and the special significance of Mirring's name.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

We are looking for puppy carers now so if you're keen to raise a puppy to hopefully become a Seeing Eye Dog we'd like to hear from you! It's an incredibly rewarding experience, with training provided. Carers need time, patience and love to give to a puppy, so if you want to commit to a year of puppy raising, we would love your help. We're looking for carers now in parts of Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales listed on our website. Get in touch to find out about volunteering with us or apply now via our website.

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In this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by Chris Edwards General Manager of Corporate Affairs & Advocacy. Chris talks about Vision Australia’s advocacy wins and projects from 2024 Chris is also himself a Seeing Eye Dogs handler. He brings his lived experience as handler to Seeing Eye Dog Eva to his work advocating for dog guide handlers. We recorded this at the end of 2024 so please note this year said throughout the interview refers to 2024! Topics covered: the team’s work in rideshare and taxi advocacy, aviation and airline travel, electric cars and NDIS matters. For more information on the advocacy department you can visit the website at visionaustralia.org/about-us/advocacy.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

If you’re blind or have low vision and are interested in dog guide mobility, our friendly team is happy to chat with you about becoming a handler. You can email us at [email protected] or call 1800 037 773 to chat about dog guide mobility.

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show Harriet is joined by Seeing Eye Dogs volunteer breeder carer Beth McLeod talking about her life and story as a volunteer, and her and Kamahl's busy and active life on campus. Beth is a lecturer at ACU and carer to stud dog Kamahl.

Then we have a repeat of an interview with Chris Edwards General Manager of Corporate Affairs & Advocacy at Vision Australia with some quick advocacy and access tips for seeing eye dog and dog guide handlers.

We’re looking for more breeder carer volunteers in select regions of Melbourne listed on our website at sed.visionaustralia.org. Breeder carers care for the dogs in their homes full-time, and transport the dog to the Seeing Eye Dogs kennel facility in Kensington, VIC for breeding activities.  These dogs are over 1 year old accepted into the breeding colony selected for their lovely natures and maintain their manners during their time in the breeding program. Find out about breeder caring here: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/volunteer/breeding-dog

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show Harriet is joined by Seeing Eye Dogs handler Katy Beaton. Katy is matched with Golden Retriever Seeing Eye Dog Bowie and is going to share her story including her interesting PhD, archery, and her life and partnership with Bowie.

If you’re blind or have low vision and are interested in dog guide mobility, our friendly team is happy to chat with you about becoming a handler. You can email us at [email protected] or call 1800 037 773 to chat about dog guide mobility, eligibility or assessment. Please note the team will be on holiday break from December 20, 2024 returning on January 6, 2025 ready to chat.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show Harriet is joined by two of our excellent returning guests, sharing a topic from the perspective of both young puppies and older dogs. Abi Howes Puppy Development Trainer and Kylie Gersh Training Program Manager and Instructor will be talking about dogs settling both relaxing into new homes and environments and being settled out and about in public. As you may have dogs coming into your home, or bringing your dog to new places over the holiday season, I hope you find these tips helpful. We're going to chat about settling for dogs of all ages and how we can work with our baby 8-week-old dogs, up to adult working Seeing Eye Dogs and support them into new homes or out working.

These are some general tips, if you’re a Seeing Eye Dog handler, don’t forget you can reach out to your instructor, or to the team by emailing [email protected] for training support! If you’re a volunteer carer with us please reach our to your staff contact for assistance. Please note staff will be on leave between December 20, 2024 and January 6, 2025, so please bear with us and the team will be back in action in the new year.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by two excellent guests.

Puppy Development Trainer Paige Don joins us to chat free running with some great tips about keeping pups’ and dogs’ social time positive, happy and safe.

Chris Edwards, General Manager Corporate Affairs & Advocacy, shares some quick tips for dog guide handlers about advocacy, flying, booking accommodations, restaurant and taking taxis and rideshares so you and your SED can enjoy this holiday season out and about.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show Harriet is joined by two guests.

First we have Kim Ryan of Guide Dogs Tasmania and Western Australia and part of the Assistance Dogs International (ADI) training conference of Oceania organising committee joining us to talk about the exciting inaugural ADI conference for Oceania held at Seeing Eye Dogs in November 2024. This conference provided a stage for collaboration with other amazing schools world-wide to help bring the best outcomes to all assistance dog handlers.

Then we're joined by Oliver Fanshawe Seeing Eye Dogs handler to Sadie. Ollie was our youngest client ever when he was matched with Sadie at age 14. Ollie, an athlete of blind cricket and blind tennis, has just graduated high school and shares some of his story and chats with us about life working with SED Sadie.

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

If you’d like to learn about Assistance Dogs International and what it means for SED to be an ADI-accredited school you can head to their website at: assistancedogsinternational.org/

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On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, host Harriet is joined by Mornington Peninsula-based Puppy Development Trainer Claire Crewe who's going to share some tips and exercises you can do to enrich your dog or puppy to not only keep them occupied at home when it's too hot for street walks, but also prepare them for the upcoming holiday season. These exercises centre around skills that will help with guests visiting such as door manners and greeting behaviour, calming down your dog and helping them settle with training like cooperative care. Please reach out to your Seeing Eye Dog staff contact for any training support if you are a handler or volunteer carer.

If you want to hear some of our health tips for hot weather, stream our recent episode with Dr Ashe of Seeing Eye Dogs' vet team: https://omny.fm/shows/seeing-eye-dogs-show/heat-safety-tips-for-dogs-and-training-dog-care-vo

Stay safe, cool and keep calm this summer!

If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.