Becoming a Puppy Raiser
Peter Lockhart initially decided to become a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs NI to satisfy his children's wish for a family dog. Six years on, his family is caring for their fourth puppy, with hopes that this dog will become a "life-changing" guide dog.
This week, the Duchess of Edinburgh marked 40 years of Guide Dogs NI by meeting some of the charity's newest puppies, including Peter's current puppy, Willa.
Willa, who is 19 months old, is currently with Peter to learn basic skills and socialisation. She will then advance to specialist training at the Guide Dogs NI centre in Belfast, expected to begin in May.
Willa joined Peter's family at around eight weeks old.
Peter reflected on the emotional challenge of parting with the dogs when they move on to advanced training but emphasised the vital role guide dogs play for people with sight loss.
"When you see the value of what you do then you realise - that's what it's about," Peter said.
"A guide dog gives someone their independence, freedom, a lot of reassurance, reduces their anxiety, it basically just gives them a life out and about that otherwise is somewhat restricted by the use of a white cane.
"It also gives them a companion that they may not otherwise have so they really they play a vital role in people's lives."
Peter explained that meeting the individuals who use the guide dogs he has raised is when the true impact becomes clear.
"When you meet those who use the guide dogs he raised as a puppy, that's when the penny really drops as to what the benefit of them actually is to people."
He has previously raised three other puppies, two of which successfully completed training to become guide dogs. One puppy did not complete the programme because it did not tolerate wearing the required training coat.
Peter described the puppy raising process as building the foundation for the dogs, with advanced trainers completing the development.
"If you see the dog as a house project, we're building the foundations for it - the advanced training people do the building.
"We basically do the ground work or making sure that everything is comfortable with them in terms of the outside world."
Role of Puppy Raisers
Puppy raisers are responsible for basic training, which includes acclimatising puppies to various environments and sounds, teaching them to walk on leads, socialising with people and other dogs, and developing reliable recall.
Peter noted that while Willa enjoys plenty of free play, she "loves to work," with clear distinctions made when she wears her 'puppy in training' coat.
In advanced training, guide dogs learn critical safety skills such as when and where to cross roads, how to navigate obstacles, and how to guide their owners effectively.
Peter expressed pride when the dogs he has raised complete advanced training.
"It gives me a proud parent moment."
Duchess of Edinburgh's Visit
On Tuesday, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Bloomfield Walkway Community Centre to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Guide Dogs NI.
During her visit, she spoke with youth workers, volunteers, and young people, and was introduced to several guide dogs, their owners, and trainers.
The Duchess, who is patron of the charity, took time to pet the dogs and learn about their progress.
Regarding the service Guide Dogs NI provides, she stated:
"People don't realise that having or training a guide dog is like having an additional member of the family - they are a companion in many ways.
They play an incredibly important role.
They provide companionship and act as the eyes for their owners, but when they are off duty, they are also a pet."
Encouraging New Puppy Raisers
Peter encourages anyone interested in becoming a puppy raiser to contact Guide Dogs NI to learn more about how they can contribute to this important work.
