Volunteers prepare to clean kennels at the China Guide Dog Training Center, the nation's first nonprofit institute of its kind, in Dalian, Liaoning Province. (Wang Jing/China Daily)
Despite efforts to train more puppies, the nation faces an acute shortage of canine 'Seeing Eye angels'.
Bubble, a yellow Labrador, is spending the first year of her life with a foster family in Dalian, Liaoning province, as preparation for guide dog training.
"She used to be a naughty girl. She often broke flowerpots and stained her fur with soil. Ripping up slippers with her teeth was also a favorite activity," said Zhao Qiyi, a volunteer puppy raiser who is caring for the 9-month-old bitch.
"Who would have thought that this 'troublemaker' would grow into an intelligent little puppy and will possibly become a guide dog," the 38-year-old said.
"She learned the toilet routine by the time she was just 4 months old, and can now follow simple commands, such as 'Sit' and 'Wait'."
Zhao said Bubble, who was born at the China Guide Dog Training Center in Dalian, has become the family's alarm clock, waking her and her husband at 4 am every day to follow the toilet routine they have taught her.
"We can't sleep late, even at weekends, because of the whimpering sounds Bubble makes at the side of the bed every morning. When we open our eyes, we see her pleading to be taken outside. It's adorable and funny," she said, with a laugh.
This year, more than 30 families in Dalian are caring for prospective guide dogs under the supervision of coordinators from the training center. The puppies spend 12 months with the families being prepared for the official training program.
Selection bonus
Raising prospective guide dogs in foster families is vital to the selection process because being exposed to strict, but affectionate, discipline helps the puppies grow into well-behaved, socialized animals, according to Wang Jingyu, director of the Laboratory Animal Center at Dalian Medical University and founder of the China Guide Dog Training Center.
The center, the nation's first nonprofit guide dog training institute to be licensed by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, has used the services of puppy raisers since it was founded in 2006.
The puppies return to the training center after their first birthday, but during the time they are with the families they are exposed to many different environments, such as stores, supermarkets, parks and public transport, so they become accustomed to general life.
"The puppies learn how to love and how to get on well with humans in a closely connected environment. It's necessary for them to understand companionship because their purpose is to be a friend and guide to a blind person," Wang said.
Those sentiments were echoed by Wang Lin, a handler at the center, who said the training program's success rate has risen to about 70 percent from about 40 percent a few years ago as a result of the care and regular instruction the puppies receive from their foster families.
"We assess the puppies soon after they return from their raisers. Those who are aggressive when they want to be fed are quickly eliminated from the training program. Those who display caution around traffic and are sensitive to people's needs stay on the course, but can be phased out at any time if they fail certain tests," she said.
"Puppies who spend their first year with foster families usually display a high degree of self-discipline in areas such as toilet training. They understand the family relationship and know the places they are allowed to enter and those forbidden to them."
Selection standards for volunteer families are high to ensure that the puppies will be cared for in a safe, happy environment.
"Families with children younger than 5 and those with members who are allergic to fur are not allowed to become involved," said Han Fang, a coordinator of the center's puppy-raising program.
"The coordinators visit the volunteer families every month to offer help communicating with the dogs, preparing their food and modifying their behavior."
The foster families bear the lion's share of the cost of raising the puppy, including food and dietary supplements, which usually comes to 500 to 600 yuan ($75 to $90) a month, but the training center covers medical checkups, treatment and immunization, Han said.
