ABOUT Guide Dogs of the Desert
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GENERAL OVERVIEW

Guide Dogs of the Desert (GDD) was founded in 1972 by Lion Bud Maynard.  Our mission is to improve the lives of the blind by creating opportunities for life-changing independence, and by conducting community outreach and education programs.  Since our inception, we have graduated more than 1,000 student/dog teams.  We offer safe mobility, loving companionship and the “miracle of independence” through the use of a guide dog.   

Guide Dogs of the Desert is a member of the International Guide Dog Federation—An overseeing body that reviews best practices and ensures that high operational standards are maintained. 

There are five phases to the guide dog program:  breeding, puppy raising, formal training, on-campus training and post graduate support. 

Breeding—We breed our own dogs at our facility to ensure the highest quality dogs.  We have a whelping facility on campus that houses mom and the pups until they are ready to go our puppy raiser homes.  We have trained staff who monitor both the health and welfare of the mother dog and her babies.  We produce about 80 puppies per year to be part of the guide dog program. 

Puppy raising—At approximately three months of age, the puppies are placed in volunteer homes until they are about 15 months of age.  With help from our training, kennel and puppy raising departments, puppy raisers are taught the skills needed to train their dog and expose their dog to the many elements that a blind person will encounter during its travels.  Our puppies wear a jacket with our logo that identifies them as a puppy in training.   

Formal training—After the puppies pass a thorough medical evaluation they then begin their formal training with our licensed instructors.  Meanwhile, prospective students undergo a thorough assessment to determine their exact needs and the demands that will be placed on the guide dog.  Each dog is hand-selected for the specific student with which it will be teamed.  Each dog is then finish-trained for any special requirements a student might have prior to the student arriving for class at the school.

On-campus training (class)—The training involves an intensive 28 – day program where every team lives and works together at the GDD campus. They are taught to work safely through structured activities.  GDD is the only school that includes in its training an opportunity for students to receive air and hotel travel, including airport security screening.  The program's objective is to expose each team to every possible situation or environment that they might encounter once they return to their home community.    

In addition, for some of our retrain students we offer in-home training that could be anywhere throughout the United States and Canada.  We pride ourselves in the fact that we are a very small school where family environment, small class size and individualized attention is a priority.

Post graduate support—Our licensed instructors provide follow-up assistance for the life of the working team. 

All of the above services are provided free of charge to the blind.  We would not be able to continue our vital work if not for the generosity of friends in the private sector. 

GDD is a 50l (c)(3) non-profit corporation -  Federal Tax ID # 23-7296531.  To learn more about how you can apply for a dog, make a donation, become a puppy raiser, or volunteer your time, please call 888-883-0022.