Surf dog Daisy set for life of service with the blind

19.05.2010

Trainee guide dog Daisy is leading
the way in more ways than one.
Last year, the labrador puppy
became the first canine honorary
member of the Mullaloo Surf Life
Saving Club.
About to celebrate her first
birthday, Daisy has now become a
regular on the beach, keeping an eye
on surf and swimmers from the
patrol shelter.
Daisy's lifesaving duties began last
year, after the West family in
Hillarys responded to an
advertisement calling for guide dog
raisers. Raisers are given an
eight-week-old puppy to look after
until the dog starts full-time training
at the age of two.
The West family, all keen
volunteer surf lifesavers, said they
began taking Daisy to the beach
during patrols last July.
Mother-of-three Katrina West,
50, said the puppy was now a
favourite on the beach.
"Seeing-eye puppies need to be
well-socialised and exposed to as
many different situations and
environments as possible, in
preparation for when they become a
working guide dog," she said.
"The whole family is involved in
surf lifesaving. So when we took
Daisy on we asked if she could do it
with us. The head trainer (for the
Association for the Blind of WA)
said it would be great for her
socialising skills.
"I think everybody's used to
seeing Daisy down at the beach now
and they are all behind her and
welcome her and hope she goes on to
become a guide dog."
Phil Stanley, senior instructor at
the WA Association for the Blind,
said the beach could help make
Daisy a good guide dog, providing
she was judged suitable and for the
job at the end of her training.