Hollywood Burbank Airport welcomed 25 puppies on Jan. 25 at their first pre-flight drill learning how to guide their future owners in a busy airport.
These soon-to-be guide dogs range from seven months to 1 1/2 years old and have been in training since 8 weeks of age with their volunteer raisers, Alex Gregory from Guide Dogs for the Blind told The Epoch Times.
“In preparation for their ... careers, they’re going to do socialization experiences, they’re going to learn how to behave in a home, and part of that is also learning how to travel safely and appropriately.”
The organization was founded in 1942, aiming to help veterans that lost their vision in World War II. Currently, it’s the largest guide dog school in North America and has trained more than 16,000 guide dog teams.
The puppies were trained to pass through the security check, remain calm when an alarm goes off, and wait for their trainers to pick up their personal belongings.
After passing the security, all trainees lined up in front of the gate, waiting to board a plane provided by Alaska Airlines, as the training ground.
According to Gregory, a mature guide dog can differentiate various sounds—such as flight attendants’ announcements and the closing of overhead cabinets. On top of that, it needs to navigate through the aisle and help its owner find his or her assigned seat and the restroom.
Dogs That Love to Fly
Of course, not every puppy has the potential to become a guide dog. According to a trainer with the organization, such dogs need to master basic skills, such as quietly standing, sitting, staying at home, and going to the restroom outside alone.They also need to be able to make occasional decisions for the owner and maintain self-control—which includes restraining their barks in public, not getting lured by the smell of food, and staying calm in street noises.
Mindy Wulff, a guide dog owner, told reporters that Moto, whom she received in March 2020, had brought so much wonder to her life.
“If I think it’s safe to cross [at an intersection] and he doesn’t, he will go in front of me and block me and will not move. Then I'll know that it’s not safe to travel,” she said. “We work together as a team.”
She said Moto has accompanied her on flights to many places.
“He’s really good at following command. When we get on the plane ... [and] find a seat he’ll back into the row and sit down and pedal under,” Wulff said, noting that Moto loves going to the airport and that he also enjoys flying.
