Puppy minders

By Paul Pickering
FOR many people, the trauma of having to watch an adorable puppy walk out of their life would place an unbearable strain on the heart strings.
But The Basin resident Todd Chaudhry says the satisfaction of grooming 12-month-old Labrador Tarryn for his role as a working guide dog will easily eclipse the sadness of an imminent farewell.
Mr Chaudhry and his partner Karen Cooper have been taking care of Tarryn for the past year as part of Guide Dogs Victoria’s Puppy Raiser program.
While he is not looking forward to introducing his four-legged best friend to a new owner next month, Mr Chaudhry is philosophical about the break-up.
“I think it’s better to have raised a guide dog puppy and lost than never to have raised a guide dog puppy at all,” he said.
Indeed, the union between Mr Chaudhry and Tarryn seems to have been a perfect fit.
With both Mr Chaudhry and Ms Cooper working frantically on their PhD studies from home, they decided that they would be the ideal couple to provide the love and attention required by a budding canine professional.
“I was just starting to write my thesis, so I knew that I’d have to be home at my laptop for the next year,” Mr Chaudhry explained.
“So my personal situation enabled me the flexibility to be able to stay at home and look after Tarryn.
“Being students, we didn’t really want to make the long term commitment to having our own pet, but this was perfect.”
The role of the puppy raiser is to ensure that the pups are toilet trained and able to walk on a lead, as well as introducing them to the sights, sounds and smells that they are likely to encounter as a working guide dog.
Guide Dogs Victoria restrictions state that the puppies should not be left alone for more than three hours at a time and they must be able to sleep inside overnight.
The puppy raisers are fully supported by professional supervisors and all costs are picked up by Guide Dogs Victoria.
“I’ve found it to be a really fulfilling experience,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“You really learn how to raise a dog properly.”
When the puppies reach 12 months of age, they are put through a series of tests to identify whether they have what it takes to become a guide dog.
Those that make the grade undergo another six months of training while the rest are reassigned into pets as therapy or companion dogs programs.
While Mr Chaudhry acknowledges that the time constraints of the program dictate that it is not for everyone, he is keen to encourage more people to get involved.
“I’d definitely be interested in doing it again – for people who love puppies it’s like having a perpetual source of grandkids,” he laughs.
Anyone interested in becoming a puppy raiser can contact Guide Dogs Victoria on 9854 4444.