Once a dog has been through about four months of Early Training and passed various assessments, the dog becomes eligible for 'Pick-up'. Pick-up is like an interview day for the dogs.  Guide Dog Trainers from the Early Training Unit (ETU) present their dogs to the Advanced Training Unit's Instructors, doing a walk to show the level of achievement reached.  Each dog is then assessed and if ready, gets to go onto the Advanced Training Class. 

Each ETU Trainer is hoping that their dog performs to its full ability on the day. It's performance is a reflection of the time and effort invested in the dog up until that point.  From its Volunteer Breeder who helped to bring it safely into the world to it's Volunteer Puppy Walker who fostered the dog for the first 10 months or so.  Added to this is the support provided by our Kennel Staff and training time invested by our ETU Guide Dog Trainers. Much rides on this interview, so we're all a little nervous as we really want to see our dogs do well.  

Fortunately, most of the time, all goes well and there's much cause for celebration - although not necessary 'time' to celebrate.  No sooner have we finalised whose moving from Early Training on to Advanced, and we have to clear out and make room for a whole new intake of dogs ready to start their Early Training.  It gets very busy as we move dogs from one block to another and organised our schedules accordingly.  The hussle and bustle is what its about though.  The more dogs trained and qualified, the more available for people to benefit from!

Pictured are some of the 'newbies' who joined us last month in Early Training. On the right we have yellow Labrador x Golden Retriever, Olwen and Labrador, Larkin.  Olwen is featured in our 2011 Calendar.  She was Puppy Walked by Catherine Cardiff and was approximately 8 months old when the picture below was taken.  She's featured in the March spread of the Calendar!