Southeastern Guide Dogs unveils new puppy program

The bad news is that Palmetto’s Southeastern Guide Dogs is suspending its popular puppy hugging sessions, but the good news is the public is invited to participate in an all new puppy experience.

The new Puppy Kindergarten Adventure is the brainchild of Samantha Theobald, guest experience coordinator.

“This is a total transition to a new program,” said Theobald.

The puppies at Southeastern have always had a “kindergarten” program, which begins introducing the future service dogs to sights, smells, sounds and experiences from just a couple of days old through six weeks when the puppies go home with volunteer puppy raisers.

The difference, Theobald said, is that now guests get to elevate their puppy experience from puppy hugging to assisting in actual training exercises. And don’t worry, there is still plenty of puppy hugging going on during the training.

“When you can expose the puppies to as many things as possible at a young age, you build up a library of memories,” said Theobald, who noted that a puppy’s brain development is already at 80 percent at six weeks old and fully functioning at eight weeks.

Building the “library of memories” is crucial during the puppy’s short stay at Southeastern. The experiences gives puppy raisers valuable information in what to address during the 12-14 months the future service dogs stay with them before returning to Southeastern for more training.

The program consists of a variety of curriculum, including music, health care, physical education and more. The puppies are exposed to different surfaces, music types, mock health exams and even a device that simulates thunder.

Theobald said the new program gives the public the interaction time with the puppies they enjoy, but furthers the educational mission of Southeastern by aiding individuals to better understand what Southeastern does for both animals and humans.

“We felt this would make the program we already have even better,” said Theobald. “Our guests learn about what we do and what the puppies go through from start to finish that makes them the superheroes that they are.”

Theobald said guests still get to play with the puppies, “but now they play with a purpose. The one thing I feel strongly about is that our guests understand each aspect of what they are seeing through the experience.”

Ashley Crowe participated in Friday’s class with her 9-year-old son Evan. An actual kindergarten teacher herself who has taken special needs children to the puppy-hugging experience in the past, said, “It’s a different experience. Rather than just sitting in a circle, this is a really good educational experience, especially for elementary-aged children.”

Prior to the puppies entering “class,” those participating in the program are given presentations on several things, including how to recognize the body language of a puppy.

“It was interesting to see the information on the disposition of the puppy and then how to react to it,” said Crowe. “The idea on positive behavioral reinforcement is so essential and can be translated to humans. My son has a baby sister at home that he could this information in how to better interact.”

If Evan Crowe was interested in how to better understand his sister, he wasn’t showing it. He was too busy being tackled by a couple of tail-wagging puppies. His smile was broad and his laughter genuine. While there may be a more educational component to the new program, “It’s still just fun to me,” said Evan.

To sign up for the new program, which is available Monday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., visit guidedogs.org.

This story was originally published August 12, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Southeastern Guide Dogs unveils new puppy program."