Personal Narrative: My Flash Seminar

My Flash Seminar is a training exercise for dogs and people. I am going to train you to train puppies to

become Guiding Eyes for the Blind service dogs. These puppies demand your undivided attention at all

times, so it’s a full time job taking care of them. They have so much energy that they need to let loose

every day. Although they are puppies, they are not pets—they are service dogs. They will eventually be

given to a blind person in need. If you have a pet dog, it will most likely have a different set of rules

compared to service dogs, and they can understand that. If your dog is allowed on the couch, the

service dog is not. Don’t worry, it will not feel left out. It will understand. You need to have a fanny

pack of treats always
ready for service dogs as rewards for following rules, from a simple sit command to

not eating food that has fallen to the floor. Hold treats with your thumb and pinched fingers. You are

the one to give the food; you do not allow the dog to take it from you. These are not crate dogs. They

must be exercised constantly. Becoming a trainer for Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a great commitment

of time and energy, but the rewards are monumental. Not only are you interacting with highly

intelligent, adorable puppies, you are helping someone in need gain a valuable companion, assistant and

friend. These dogs can accomplish tasks you could never imagine, but they need great trainers. You can

do it.