WELCOME
Welcome to Leader Dogs for the Blind. We are excited to have you as a client and hope you are excited about the opportunity to increase your ability to travel independently.
When you arrive at Leader Dog’s campus, we will review this material, provide additional information, sign needed paperwork, and give you a tour of the residence center.
We encourage you to ask questions at any time. Please remember to keep an open mind and a positive attitude, for you are about to begin a great journey—learning to live and travel with a Leader Dog.
Training
If you are a new client, you’ll be with us for 26 days. Clients returning for a successor Leader Dog are usually here for 20 days.
Although 26 days may seem like a long time to be at our campus, it is a relatively short time to learn all the skills needed to work with a dog, and empower yourself to travel with greater independence.
Your training starts the morning after you arrive. The first few training sessions with your guide dog mobility instructor are called “Juno” training. This is when your instructor plays the role of a dog, referred to as “Juno.” “Juno” helps your instructor learn more about you so they can select the best dog match. Your instructor will lead you by the harness as you begin to learn the instructions and gestures necessary to properly work with a dog. During these “Juno” sessions, it is important for you to act as natural as possible. This will give your instructors accurate information about your travel situations, orientation mobility skills, walking pace and lifestyle. “Juno” training is just as important for seasoned Leader Dog users as it is for first time clients. Two days after your arrival is “Issue Day,” when you receive your new Leader Dog.
Our instructors spend four months training class-ready dogs and are now here to teach you to be a successful Leader Dog handler. Ultimately, your success depends on the effort you put toward your training during class and after your return home.
Please keep an open mind and be willing to try new ideas during training. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be ready to learn new skills during every training session. View each training session as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your Leader Dog.
We expect you to progress to a level that ensures safety for both you and your Leader Dog. There are no tests that decide whether you pass or fail; instead, your instructor will expect you to work at your own pace and abilities, and to improve your skills during training.
You will receive detailed information on what to expect when you return home with your Leader Dog. Your dog will need time to adjust to its new home environment, and it will be important for you to refer back to your training to assist your dog during the transition. In general, it takes six months to a year for you and your Leader Dog to become an effective team.
You have challenged yourself by deciding to get a guide dog and we are here to help you meet your goals. There will be days when you will wonder why you came, and possibly wish you hadn’t attended training. During these times it is helpful to reach out to the Leader Dog team and your classmates. There will be other days when you know exactly why you came to Leader Dog, and are very glad you did.
Daily Routine
Your daily routine is a busy one! It is posted in large print and Braille inside the closet in your room. It is also available as a recorded message on our phone system. Other than meal times, the times listed below may vary depending on class size, the weather and the day’s activity.
The basic routine, which applies Monday through Saturday, is:
6:30 am Park and water dogs
(”park” refers to the dog’s relief time)
7:30 am Breakfast
Morning feed time as agreed with your instructor
8:15 am Park dog
8:30 am Depart for training session
11:15 am Return from training (park and water dog)
12:00 pm Lunch
12:45 pm Park dog
1:00 pm Depart for training session
4:15 pm Return from training (park and water dog)
5:00 pm Feed dog
5:30 pm Dinner (water dog after dinner)
6:30 pm Theory lessons and/or obedience session
8:00 pm Park dog (no more water after this park)
8:15 pm Free time (park dog as needed)
11:00 pm Quiet time
Evening activities may include lectures, obedience sessions, night time training sessions, and an opportunity to meet puppy raisers.
Illness
Please inform your instructor immediately if you feel ill. It is better to lose a half-day or full-day of training than to push yourself too far and lose more time later.
Transition for Return Clients
Coming for a new dog may be a difficult and emotional time for return clients. To assist during this time, we offer a transition/grief session on the first Monday evening of training for all returning clients.
We respect the firsthand knowledge and accomplishments of our returning clients. Please remember that your new dog requires you to recognize its needs and to keep an open mind (and heart) as you progress through training. Your new dog will be different than your previous dog, but over time you will build your relationship together. If you need additional support during class, please let your instructor know.
Return clients are role models for new clients and will have some valuable stories and memories to share about dog guide mobility. If you are a return client, please help to support the new clients through their first experience with a Leader Dog.
Your Room
Our residence facility includes non-smoking private rooms with private bathroom for all clients. Amenities includes:
• Full bed with linens and pillows
· Bath towels
• Desk with chair
• Dresser with three drawers
• Small lock box (for valuables)
• Small refrigerator
• Talking alarm clock
• Television with cable
• Phone (No long distance service)
• Closet with hangers
• Dog bed
• High speed Internet access –wireless (WIFI) and network cable available if needed.
• Vibrating alarm clock, vibrating fire alarm and FM Loop are available and can be requested through your instructor
Please keep your room neat for both you and your dog’s safety, and to allow us to clean the room more efficiently.
Please do not allow your dog on the bed or chairs. Your dog should be on tie-down (leash attached to the wall) before taking any medication.
Emergency pull cords are located in your bathroom between the toilet and the sink, and above the headboard of the bed. In case of emergency, pull the cord for assistance.
Telephone
Friends and family may contact you directly by dialing 248-651-9011, followed by your extension. If you are in rooms 1-9, your extension is 200 plus your room number. For example, room 6 extension is “2006.” If you are in rooms 10 to 30, your extension is 20 plus your room number. Room 16 would be extension “2016.” Please do not use our toll-free number for personal calls. Room-to-room calls are made by dialing the room extension.
Phone cards are required for outgoing long distance calls. You can bring your own or purchase one from a residence assistant. Prices and minutes may vary due to availability.
Local, regional, and 911 emergency calls can be made from any phone on our property without a phone card.
Linens
Bed linens are changed weekly; they can be changed more often if necessary. To conserve water and save the environment, towels are changed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you would like your towels replaced, leave them under the bathroom sink. Do not put them in your laundry bags. Additional blankets and pillows are available upon request.
Free Time
Facility Activities
Our lounges are equipped with radios, televisions, VCRs, DVD players, talking books, guitars and an electric piano. We also have a multimedia center with large print and voice computers that can access the Leader Dog electronic bulletin board. For those who can read large print, we have a CCTV and large print materials.
We offer social activities such as Bingo and pizza nights. Participants receive snacks, soda and prizes.
Going Off Campus
Our off campus policy takes effect after you have completed ten days of training. You are allowed to leave the campus; however, your dog must stay in your room, because training is not considered complete until the end of class. Please notify an instructor or a residence assistant before leaving the building. Please let them know where you are going and when you will be back. This request is for your safety and so we can find you if needed. We can provide you with phone numbers for local transportation and a contact number to call if you cannot return on time. Our safety gate closes at 10:00 pm. If a client returns to campus intoxicated, they may be terminated from the program.
Your dog is solely your responsibility. You must be here for feeding, “park” times and all scheduled class activities. Please take this into consideration when planning time off campus.
Worship Services
You may attend worship services while in training, though we discourage attending services during the first week of training because this is an important time for bonding with your dog. We can supply you with a list of places of worship; you are responsible for making your own transportation arrangements. Please contact a resident assistant with any questions regarding this policy.
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours are on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you would like someone to visit at a different time, please make arrangements with your instructor. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Exercise Room
Exercise equipment is located in the gym in the basement. You can request assistance to become familiar with the equipment before using it. You must sign a waiver before using this equipment. Tie-downs for your dog are located in the gym. If you would like to use the gym facility or walk around campus, you must sign out and wear an emergency pendant for your safety.
Computer Rooms
There are two computer rooms with several shared computers that include high-speed Internet access. These desktop PCs are installed with JAWS, Microsoft Office 2010, and Windows 7. Alva Braille is also available.
Use and rules of the computers:
• Residence assistants can provide the password for the shared computers.
• Be considerate of others and leave the room as you find it. Leave cables plugged in for the Braille display, monitor, keyboard and mouse. Please leave JAWS configured the way it was when you logged on.
• Do not install any software without permission from the Leader Dogs for the Blind IT department (this includes instant messaging, games, Google Toolbar, etc.). Upon logoff all settings and software are reset to the original configuration.
• Notify the residence assistants or instructors immediately if equipment has been damaged so that it can be repaired as soon as possible.
• Inform a residence assistant if there is a problem with the equipment or if you need help with the wireless internet connection on a laptop. They will contact a Leader Dog team member to help you as soon as possible.
• Do not take any food or beverages near the computers.
Personal Computers
You may bring your own laptop to access the internet in your room. Make sure your laptop is in good working condition and virus-free before coming to Leader Dog, because our IT department only supports Leader Dog owned equipment.
You may need to change the Internet Explorer settings on your computer to access the internet. Follow these steps to change the settings:
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click on “Tools”->”Internet Options”->
3. Click the “Connections” tab->
4. Select “Never Dial a Connection”->
5. Click the “LAN Settings” button->
6. Make sure the "Automatically Detect Settings" is checked
7. Make sure that “use a proxy server” and “use an automatic configuration script” are both unchecked.
Additional things to know:
• Wireless internet is available for public use. You must agree to the terms of use each time you connect and be a “good citizen” of the internet while using the shared, public wireless.
• We do not support client owned equipment, we support the internet connection and can help you with internet connection settings only.
You will need your own web-based email account such as Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo to access email. Outlook, Outlook Express or other email applications may only be able to receive mail, not send mail. If you bring a laptop, you will also need a wireless adapter (most laptops have these built in).
Security and Safety
Campus Security
Leader Dog has a system of closed circuit cameras in hallways, office facilities, and kennels. You will be issued a key card (similar to major hotels) upon your arrival to access your room and exterior doors. If you go outside and forget your key card, main entrances are equipped with doorbells.
Our alarms are activated between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. An alarm will sound if any door leading outside is opened. Alarms are responded to by a residence assistant and are recorded within the system.
Smoking Policy
All Leader Dog facilities and vehicles are non-smoking. Smoking is only allowed outside. Please do not discard smoking materials outside because the dogs may ingest them. Extinguish your smoking material outside and bring the butts inside to deposit in ashtrays.