Four claws for a self-determined life

I can’t see anything. In the middle of Basel, in front of the main train station. I grab onto a kind of crossbar of a harness and pull through the crowd at an alien pace, slightly faster than mine. Without directing myself. While I know there are others watching around me, this feeling of being at your mercy is pretty scary.

The one that attracts me has two floppy ears, four claws, and black fur. His name is Kip and he is a patient, lovable Labrador male giant. Kip has come to the end of guide dog training for the blind, just one day after our visit to the guide dog school for the blind in Allschwil BL, he will be his new dog – what do you call that? Employer? – get to know leading people. To see if the two are compatible. And in four to five months, depending on the gentle black giant’s willingness to learn, he will move in with his “new” human and accompany him in his daily life.

Zookeepers prepare puppies for their future roles from the very beginning of their lives.

But first, let’s go back to the beginning, the school’s own breed of Labrador. Ten eight-week-old Labrador babies are currently running down the aisle specially made for them, eagerly letting themselves be cuddled, gnawing on their hands, fingers, trouser legs, handbags, and anything that hasn’t been nailed down with extremely sharp little nails. teeth and always inspects them in the company of two supervisors, wondering about all the different things in their hustle and bustle. For example, small steps with different surfaces. Or cell phones hanging over their heads. Coincidentally, these are not listed here: Guide dogs for the future blind should walk without hesitation over railings or glass stairs, and indicate when an obstacle at body or head height of the caretaker blocks a passage that the dog can easily cross on its own. . From the first day when puppies open their eyes and start walking, they prepare for their future duties. Thus, by the time they are ten weeks old and have been to godparents, families or individuals for almost a year and a half, they have explored as much of the world as they can. About eighty puppies come to light in Allschwil each year.

All want to be trained, all need transition places in their socialization. Media spokesperson Judith Bucher (59) said, “Please write that we are always looking for sponsors!” We’re going to visit a godmother. Lisa Rhyner* (47) is a mother of a grown daughter and is caring for her third dog temporarily. She explains her motivation: “Twenty years ago I fell ill with multiple sclerosis.” Work is still out of the question – but going for a half-hour to 45-minute walk twice a day is almost, he says, “I got a lot of help from the community. By accompanying future guide dogs in their first few months, I can give something back to the community within my limited means.”

With sponsors, the working dogs of the future can be found on trams, buses, cars, visitors, cats, etc. and then already familiar with everyday life with countless instructions to follow and fulfill. Everything is in Italian – because this language contains more vowels than German, it is easier for dogs to understand. A mentor accompanies families closely. After about 15 months, Rhyner has to give his “dog” back. It’s not easy for him: Tears fill his eyes when he tells her that his first dog was delivered at a cafe. However, dogs can see their sitters regularly after a few months and are always happy. “They’ll never forget you,” Rhyner says as he wipes away his tears and pats his current dog.

Only people with three years of training can train guide dogs for the visually impaired.

As much as it hurts “tween dog owners”: Dogs including Raica and Kip are ready to start their next learning step at about a year and a half. For about nine months, a person specially trained to train guide dogs for the visually impaired works with them every day and takes them home in the evenings and on weekends. Training for guide dog trainers takes three years – since 2010 this has been a higher specialized training with a federally recognized diploma. It is only open to people who have completed initial training. One of them is Stéphanie Ducret (43). He has been training guide dogs for the blind for two decades, now Kip and the young dog Raica, a lively little beige bitch. Your workday starts at seven in the morning. Then, like other trainers, he comes to the school in Allschwil with his two dogs. First, dogs are allowed to run together. Because playing together makes dogs comfortable and happy. Trainers then brush each dog individually, checking the teeth, eyes and ears, and checking for swelling, injury or ticks on the legs and body. As if dogs were top athletes, which in a way they are.

Dogs have to learn thirty commands

Next stop: jumping in the dog cage, going to the city, getting started on the serious side of life. In Basel, sometimes in the midst of turmoil, Ducret practices with each dog individually for months on end what a guide dog should be capable of. And it should be able to do a lot: for example, when commanded, look for the next pedestrian crossing and stand in front of it. Or go to the next stair with the command “Scala” and stand so that the person directed is standing in front of the first rung. “Porta” means to take people to the side door and stop there. And quite conspicuously: at a traffic light, place your head on a pole so that the blind person’s hand can move along the dog’s body and his head is just below the vibration box. At the end of the day, a trained dog can execute about thirty commands required for orientation. All this without being disturbed by unusual noises, people or leftovers that are often found on busy streets.

By the way, this was the first time Kip was referring a stranger to me. He wasn’t feeling any better about it than I was: He suddenly kept looking back to see who was behind him. Regardless, it did its job. It will initially be the same as the carefully chosen new human, Ducret says: “Every dog ​​makes mistakes in the beginning.” Therefore, intensive training is required for every new couple at the beginning, in which the trainer participates full-time. For Ducret, that means saying goodbye to Kip. Unlike Rhyner, she doesn’t cry: “I’m happy when the dog can do his thing – and I’m just a little sad,” he says as he says goodbye. And let Kip and Raica get back to the car. They deserved a completely normal walk now.

* Name known to editors