Recall

At Guide Dogs for the Blind, "Recall" can mean two things: 

1. A dog's response when cued to return to their handler. Puppy raisers work on a pup's recall response using a training exercise called Juno Come! Skill Building for a Reliable Recall.  
2. For the purposes of this page however, "Recall" refers to when a guide dog puppy is "recalled" back to one of our campuses. When a pup is recalled, it essentially signals the end of the puppy raising portion of the pup's journey. 

A puppy raising field manager (PFM) determines when each dog is recalled to a GDB campus for breeding evaluation, guide dog training, or K9 Buddy evaluation based on a variety of factors including the dog’s temperament and behavior, the age of other dogs being recalled, transportation logistics, and more. Generally, this happens when the dog is between 13-18 months old and meets the recall ready measures covered in the Ready for Recall section of this Guidebook. On rare occasions, a dog still working through one or more behavioral goals may be brought to campus for a Puppy Raising Training Evaluation to give them an opportunity to work in a professional training environment prior to being formally recalled.

Recalls generally occur monthly on both the California and Oregon campuses. Puppy raisers will receive communication regarding their puppy’s recall from their puppy raising support team (puppy club leader, puppy raising field manager, or other), along with a detailed email. Puppies may be recalled to either the California or Oregon campus regardless of where they were raised. Those who live within driving distance from the dog’s recall campus are asked to transport dogs to campus. If further away, GDB staff may arrange for a ride on the GDB puppy truck or for a flight. If a puppy raiser is having any issues with arranging transportation, they should alert their support team as soon as possible.

Occasionally, a dog will have a behavioral or medical issue (e.g., fear of traffic, breed-specific cataracts, etc.) that will rule them out of formal guidework or breeding. After evaluation by the PFM, some dogs may be recalled to the K9 Buddy Program directly from puppy raising. See the K9 Buddy section of this Guidebook for more information about the program and evaluation process.

You will receive notification of your pup's recall in an email that will include instructions for submitting records to GDB including all veterinary files (including Rabies and Alter certificates, and vaccination records). Those documents should be submitted to the GDB Puppy Raising team via email ([email protected]). This streamlines the process for the dog's preliminary medical screenings at our campus and prevents unnecessary vaccinations.

On Campus
Once on campus, GDB staff help each dog settle into the kennel routine. Canine welfare training technicians (CWTTs) care for and provide kennel enrichment for the dogs.

Activities on Campus

• Walks on campus and playtime in enclosed paddocks
• Matching dogs together as “roommates”
• Weekly grooming
• Medication administration, as needed
• Human and dog interactive play and cuddle sessions
• Introduction to community run playtime
• Kennel enrichment activities such as:
  • Bones and chewable toys; food stuffed Kongs; and ice cubes
  • Hanging toys with or without food in them
  • Interactive toys
  • Baby pools filled with water or toys and/or playground equipment
  • Bubbles, mirrors, wind catchers, sound machines, music
  • T-Touch, Pilates, massage, and Reiki
  • And more! Our CWTTs are always looking for more ways to provide enrichment and fun!

Medical Examinations
During the first week on campus, all dogs will have their initial health screenings that include:

• A physical exam by a GDB veterinarian
• Orthopedic x-rays and exams
• An eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmology specialist
• A weigh-in to determine a dog's accurate weight
• Giving any vaccinations needed

Sometimes health concerns are identified that impact a dog’s eligibility for a career as a breeder, guide dog, or K9 Buddy. See Common Medical Career Change Conditions for more information.