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iPhone Puppy Raisers, There’s An App For That

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Are you an iPhone user?  If you’ve seen the commercials then you probably know there’s an iPhone app for just about anything you can think of.  Guess what?  There’s now even a free app for Puppy Raisers.  Guide Dogs of Texas Inc. has released a silly iPhone app for Guide Dog puppy raisers.  It’s very simple and probably meant to promote their program.  The app is called Pocket Puppy Raiser Lite and as far as I can tell all the app allows you to do is rub your puppy’s belly while he’s sleeping.

Pocket Puppy Raiser

Here are the instructions on how to play Pocket Puppy Raiser:

  • Tap the Guide Dog Logo for more info about guide dogs!
  • If the puppy is asleep, try rubbing its belly!
  • If the puppy is looking at you, with its big puppy eyes, try touching his nose for some kisses!  Wipe the drool away by rubbing the screen!
  • If the puppy has its toy out, play with it by dragging the toy back and forth!

As I mentioned my puppy only sleeps and all I can do is rub his belly. I have the lite version of the app. However, for an additional 99 cents you can get the full version which allows you to do more than just rub the belly.

For more information about Guide Dogs of Texas visit their website at http://www.guidedogsoftexas.org

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How Would You Advertise Guide Dogs?

August 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Dog Telephone Pole AdsHow about Street Pole Ads?  It wasn’t my first choice either, but then again I can’t say that I would know the best way to market and advertise a business in South Africa.  Once again sifting through my RSS feed I came across an interesting article on Street Pole ads highlights SA Guide Dogs plight.  I seemed kind of odd to me because when I think of advertising and Street Poles I think of Lost Dogs and Cats or maybe the odd local band playing their upcoming gig.

The street pole ads are a major part of their marketing campaign, but not the only component.  There are two campaigns which aim to maintain the profile of South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind (SAGA) as well as raise funding for the organization. Here’s a little clip from their website:

Together the two campaign elements comprise a national media campaign that synergises across radio, television, print, cinema, Street Pole Ads and billboards – all of which have been sponsored by various players in SA’s media arena.

As I mentioned earlier street pole advertising would probably not be the cornerstone of my marketing campaign.  However, maybe this is the best way to advertise in South Africa.

What about you?  How would you advertise a Guide Dog program?

By the way, link building is a good way to build traffic to your website.  Press releases and articles are a great way to generate links back to your website thus creating more traffic to a website like the South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind.

Photo by Benimoto

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Guide Dogs of America Open House 2009

June 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

One of our favorite events of the year is coming up next weekend: the Guide Dogs of America Open House 2009.  We’ve attended the last two GDA open houses held in Sylmar, CA.  Two years ago Stetson participated, but didn’t place in the puppy trials.  Last year Stetson was “in for training” and Derby was only a few weeks old (I didn’t even know that I was going to have Derby at that time).  Once again I’m without puppy at this years open house so I’ll be a non-participant at the puppy trials.  However, there are many other fun activities going on at the open house.

GDA Open House 2009

GDA Open HouseWhat: Guide Dogs of America Open House 2009
Where: GDA Campus, 13445 Glenoaks Boulevard Sylmar, CA 91342
When: Saturday, June 14th, 2008, 10:45am – 4:00pm

Here’s some info from the GDA website:

For more than 60 years Guide Dogs of America has offered blind and visually impaired people independence, confidence, and companionship in the form of a furry best friend- for free.  Once a year, visitors are invited to tour the 7.5 acre GDA facility, see a guide dog demonstration, and observe puppies-in-training as they maneuver through and obstacle course of distractions.

Admission and parking are free!  You might want to bring some extra cash just in case you find something you’d like to bid on at the auction.

Try to get there early especially if you’re coming from Orange County like me.  Last year we caught a ton of traffic and ended up missing the Guide Dog demonstration and later found out that the Guide Dog used during the demo was our pal Dustin.  Also, the main events start to wind down around 2:30pm.

Guide Dog Line UpHere’s a schedule of events:

  • 11:30 – 2pm – Puppy Trials
  • 1pm – Guide Dog Demonstration
  • 2:30pm – Silent Auction Closes
  • Tours (every 30 min), Raffles, Food, Merchandise
  • All proceeds go to GDA.

Tuesday is our Orange County GDA group meeting and we’ll be practing for this weekend puppy trials.  If you’re interested in joining us our meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at:

Peralta Recreation Building
115 Pinney Dr
Anaheim Hills, CA 92807

We plan on heading up to GDA bright in early and hopefully we win one of the baskets at the auction.

Have you been to GDA open house before?  Are you going this year?

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Guide Dog Surprise For American Idol’s Scott MacIntyre

May 14, 2009 By 2 Comments

I saw this article early in the week on Paula Abdul Surprises Idol’s Scott MacIntyre with Guide Dog, but I’m just finally getting a chance to post a short article.  Actually throughout the week my RSS reader has been filling up with other articles and commentary about Paula Abdul’s Surprise Guide Dog.

American Idol Star to Get Guide Dog

Actually the main thing that caught my attention was the Guide Dog organization that will supply Scott MacIntrye with a guide dog: Guide Dogs of America!   Yep, isn’t that exciting!

If you haven’t already take a look at the article on Eonline.  Check out the video from the article…if you’re a GDA puppy raiser I’m sure you’ll recognize the GDA campus in the video footage.

Guide Dogs of America Puppies

After reading the article headline, I thought he was in the last graduating class with our friend Jamaica.  After reading the entire article the press conference was on Friday, not Sunday (GDA graduation day) and Scott won’t start training at GDA until after the America Idol tour ends on September 15th.

Now a few things started racing through my mind after I saw this news.  First, what graduating class is Scott going to graduate from and will he get one of the dogs from our Orange County group.  Now I’m speculating, but if he is really serious about getting a Guide Dog then the earliest he’d be able to start training is after the American Idol tour ended.  That means he’d have a shot at graduating in the October 25th, 2009 graduation.  I’m going to guess it’s fairly unlikely he would graduate on that date, but just in case I took a look at the OCGDA website to see what dogs were in for training.  Lex, a black lab and Egan a black and tan labrador retriever are both at GDA and could potentially graduate on that date.

The next two graduation dates after that are January 31st 2010 and May 2nd 2010.  That means Dexter and Dutch could have a chance at being on a celebrity guide dog team.

Anyways, I’m glad Guide Dogs of America is getting publicity and hopefully it’s helping with donations during this recession.

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Japanese Guide Dogs

January 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment

I was reading through my RSS feed today and came across this funny quote from Twitter about Japanese Guide Dogs.

Japanese guide dogs are taught commands in English. I guess “sit” is easier than “suwaranasai”. Especially if you’re a dog

It gave me a good chuckle and since I’m Japanese-American (unfortunately I know very little Japanese) I googled “suwaranasai” to see the Japanese translation.  The literal translation(as mentioned on about.com) for “suwaranasai” in Japanese is “sit down”.

I’ll have to agree with the tweet above…”suwaranasai” is much more difficult to say then “sit”.

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Seeing Eye Dog Helps Ring Opening Bell

January 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

How did I miss this one? I know I was late on reporting puppy in training, Grace ringing the NASDAQ closing bell.

Today one of my co-workers walked in and asked me if I saw the Guide Dog ringing the bell yesterday. I said “Oh sure, I heard about the puppy in training ringing the closing bell for the NASDAQ.” He said he thought of me because the dog’s name was Colby. Huhhhh? I thought Grace rang the closing bell for the NASDAQ.

So, I hopped online and started doing some research and what do you know…Colby a Seeing Eye dog was at the New York Stock Exchange yesterday to help ring the opening bell.  Here’s a short clip of the story I found:

But among the dozen or so officials from The Seeing Eye in Morris County was Nancy, a 9-week-old golden retriever puppy, trying hard not to squirm.

She was there to accompany Jim Kutsch, chief executive officer of The Seeing Eye, as he rang the bell in celebration of the organization’s 80th anniversary.

“The opening bell is watched (on TV). It gives us an opportunity to increase visibility and awareness of what we do,” said Kutsch, who is visually impaired and a graduate of The Seeing Eye. “Even though we’re in New Jersey, we draw students from everywhere.”

Kutsch and his wife, Ginger, attended with their Seeing Eye dogs, Colby and Payton

Yay for two reasons…first that The Seeing Eye got exposure on national tv and second my namesake was there to help ring the opening bell.  Here’s a link to the full story I read: Puppy from Morris County’s The Seeing Eye rings opening bell on NY Stock Exchange

So, what’s next…maybe I should keep my eye on wall street for the next couple days to see if any other puppies in training make an appearance on national tv.

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Grace A Puppy In Training For The Guide Dog Foundation Rings NASDAQ Closing Bell

January 5, 2009 By 2 Comments

I’m a little late on this one, but earlier today I saw that Grace, a Puppy In Training for the Guide Dog Foundation was going to ring the NASDAQ closing bell today.  Unfortunately, I was to slow to post my article or even witness the NASDAQ closing today.

I did find some links to the site including these picture and a short write up:  http://www.nasdaq.com/reference/200901/market_close_010509.stm

Here’s some information about Guide Dog Foundation For The Blind, Inc.

About The Guide Dog Foundation:

GDF LogoSince 1946, The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. has provided guide dogs free of charge to blind people who seek enhanced mobility and independence.

Our students come to us from all over the United States and many foreign countries for the quality of our dogs and our innovative training techniques. Every future guide or service dog gets its start in a puppy walker home. Puppy walkers raise Guide Dog Foundation puppies for about a year, teaching basic obedience and social skills, before the dogs return for formal training to become assistance dogs for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have other disabilities.

We are supported entirely by donations from generous individuals,corporations and foundations. We receive no government funding.

Thanks Johann!  We received this information through your RSS feed this morning.  If you want to learn more about Johann and his adventures as an agility dog please visit his site: The Days of Johann, an agility dog.

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Sylmar Fire Causes Guide Dog Evacuation

November 19, 2008 By 1 Comment

Over the weekend the fire in Sylmar, CA came very close to the Guide Dogs of America headquarters. Here’s the story that Fox News reported a couple days ago:

One of the many places threatened by the fires this weekend was the California headquarters of the Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, but thanks to numerous dedicated volunteers about a hundred Guide Dogs of America were evacuated safely. Christina Gonzalez was in Sylmar with the amazing story.

Here’s a link to the video clip on the story: Several Guide Dogs Evacuated During Fire in Sylmar.

I first heard about the fire and evacuation this past Saturday and was told that the dogs were safely evacuated. By the time I actually spoke to anyone in our Guide Dog group to offer assistance I was told that hundreds of volunteers already went to help GDA and all the dogs were doing just fine.

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