JANICE MARTIN
VOLUNTEER PUPPY FOSTER FOR THE LION’S FOUNDATION OF CANADA DOG GUIDES
Janice & Gerry (photo courtesy of Janice Martin)
When asked how she became involved with the program Janice responds
I got into fostering future dog guides because I LOVE DOGS!
I met a jacketed pup and their foster when out walking my dog (Chico the cockapoo) a couple of years ago, at a time when I was also thinking about retiring and what I might want to do with my time.
The process involved going online to complete an application. Janice’s application was approved, and a home visit and interview were arranged. Says Janice:
A few months later, I was retired and picking up a puppy!
The Lion’s Foundation provides: crate (a deposit is required from the foster), jacket, halti, training guide, hands-on training, vet care, and dog food.
Fosters provide: leash, collar, toys and treats (and are responsible for grooming if you have a poodle)
Gerry (photo courtesy of Janice Martin)
My role is basic training and socialization, explains Janice. I receive a training manual and about an hour a month of hands-on training from Lion’s professional trainers. The pups are placed with their foster people at seven weeks of age until they are approximately a year old. At that time, the Lion’s Foundation decides which program the dog will enter, based on current need. The professional trainers teach the dogs program-specific tasks to best meet the needs of their future handlers. Once the dogs have successfully completed the specific, six to eight-month training program, they are matched with a handler, and the new pair is trained together for one to two weeks.
The Lion’s Foundation of Canada has six distinct training programs. To follow are examples of tasks the dogs will be taught to perform within their program:
Canine Vision: navigating obstacles, curbs, crowds
Hearing Ear: alert their handler to doorbells, fire alarms, alarm clocks
Service: retrieve objects, open and close doors
Seizure Response: activate an alert system, bark for help
Autism Assistance: physical affection, anchoring
Diabetic Alert: detect sugar drops, activate an alert system, bark for help
After completion of their training, dogs are placed wherever they are required, throughout Canada.
Future Guide Dogs
What breed(s) of dogs do you work with?
LFC breed their dogs, about 90% of them are labs, and 10% are poodles.
As I am allergic to labs but not poodles, I request poodles.
How many dogs do you work with at a time?
One. There is sometimes an overlap of a couple of months when an almost mature dog is recalled into a training program, and a new pup is placed in the home. (I requested an overlap with my second and third foster).
Do they live with you? Or, are they kenneled?
Our role is basic training and socialization, so the pup lives with us, and we are encouraged to take them with us to malls, our office, restaurants, theatres, on buses, subways, escalators, elevators, etc.
What does the ‘at home’ training involve?
We only promote services that practice positive training methods – Sadie
The role of the foster is socialization, and basic commands such as sit, down, stay, wait, off, heel, gentle.
The methods of training include repetition, redirection, and reward (voice, touch or treat).
How many dogs have you worked with so far?
I’m now on my third foster pup. All have been standard poodles. My first, Vincent (white male poodle), was placed into the Autism training program but was disqualified after three months as he was deemed to be too easily distracted by other dogs/cats/squirrels. My second, Gerry (black male poodle), was placed into the Canine Vision training program just this month.
Vincent (photo courtesy of Janice Martin)
Hopefully, Gerry (black male poodle), will succeed and in 6-8 months, I’ll be invited to the Graduation for him and his new handler.
My third, Vanya (apricot female poodle) is almost four months old, and she is with me now.
Vanya after training (photo courtesy of Janice Martin)
What do you love the most about your work?
It makes me feel good to be doing something that I love, and something that makes a BIG difference in someone else’s life; increasing their independence and safety.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like work at all, but enjoying and having fun with an adorable puppy!
What are the biggest challenges?
Bonding with the pup/dog for a year and then having to say goodbye.
Please share one of your favourite success stories
I haven’t personally had an official success story/graduate yet. The first was disqualified, the second is in training, and third is too young yet). I have learned A LOT over the past two years about raising and training puppies and am getting better and faster at teaching them what The Lion’s Foundation is looking for. All the while loving them and them loving me (you can’t beat that!)
Click here to read The Lion’s Foundation success stories.
A note re disqualified dogs: Throughout the training period, some dogs are deemed by LFC trainers to be unsuitable as dog guides. There is a wide range of reasons such as eyesight, hip conditions, allergies, behavioural issues (distractibility, aggression, fear, etc.). Janice believes the disqualification rate is approximately 25%.
When a dog is considered unsuitable for the program, the foster usually has first option to purchase the dog. If the foster declines, LFC has a long list of people (one can submit an application on their website) who would like to purchase dogs who have been disqualified.
Due to an increasing demand for dog guides, Lion’s Foundation of Canada is planning to increase their programs, and are looking for more fosters. If you love dogs and are looking for a new and meaningful way to volunteer to work with them, this could be the perfect opportunity. Click here to learn more.
Thank you, Janice, for sharing your story.
Thanks Sadie, this is a great article!
What a great thing to do! And I imagine that fostering and bonding with them for a year is so hard to see them go. But they’re off to help someone, so it must also feel so rewarding.
I have always wondered what goes in to being a foster for these marvellous dogs. Thank you for this informative post and thank you Janice for all your dedication to these dogs that will hopefully go on to help those in need.
Wonderful article! Janice sounds like an amazing person! Great info and I love the pics! I grew up with Poodles, my Mom’s favorite dogs…super smart and just absoulte dolls!
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Janice is a great lady. I love Poodles too. I think at least one of mine is a poodle mix.
That’s wonderful! As a past service dog trainer, I can tell you how important foster families ar to the success of the program. Thanks for interviewing this wonderful woman.
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Thank you for the story. I admire people who can foster especially to almost a year old. I would have such a hard time saying goodbye even though it is avery noble reason. We were able to adopt a German Shepard that didn’t make the cut for a guide dog because he was just a little too nervous, and he was the greatest dog.
I love that the organizations that train the dogs are also responsible and find loving homes for the ones that, for whatever reason do not become guide dogs.
I would love to do this one day. And I’d prefer a poodle too! I hope she has success stories soon.
Tenacious Little Terrier recently posted…My Five Favorite Positive Training Tools for Dogs
We have a similar program here known as Domestic-Pups. Programs like these are so invaluable and the fosters are critical to their success. Thanks for sharing!
Indeed, the fosters make it possible.
Saying goodbye to a pup you helped train for a year must be tough but you know they are going on to do great things. It takes a special person to foster and conscientiously train the pup in the right comands.
We loved your picture of a pooped Vanya – what a treasure!!
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Such important work …. always admire this that can and do.
This is a great program and a lot of commitment. I went to a barbeque at someone’s house and one guest brought a dog they were training for this type of program. There were suppose to take it everywhere a person might go to get it used to being places. (The hosts didn’t know he was coming.) I liked him there, but maybe tell the hosts. Anyway, it looked like a rewarding but consuming effort.
What a great article as usual, this program is amazing and I understand how hard it would be to give the dog away after fostering for a year WOW, thanks for sharing this
How inspiring! Thanks to Janice for making a difference, even if Vincent didn’t become a service dog, I am sure he is a wonderful companion for someone.
I have always wanted to be a puppy foster/trainer for service dogs. I will have to look into it more seriously when I can have another dog. (3 is our family’s limit.) I know some organizations use purebreds and some use rescue pups.
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It’s such a beautiful thing to foster an animal, giving them a second chance at a happy life. Add to that fostering a dog that can, literally, change someone’s life and it’s even more special. Not everyone has what it takes to make that kind of commitment but I think you’re amazing. Not long ago I was in my local supermarket and I watched a foster dad and his guide dog pup learning how to navigate the supermarket. I wish I had the opportunity to tell him how amazing he is as well.
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These are the kind of stories that restore my faith in people. If everyone steps up like this to help, can you imagine how many animals can be saved? Love this!
How wonderful of you to be doing this! I have fostered dogs in my home, but never actual guide dogs in training. That must be extra rewarding, knowing that your training will enable a dog to assist a disabled person with daily life activities. Maybe one day I’ll be able to foster or train guide dogs as well, I’d love that.
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
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This would be something I’d be interested in pursuing
I hand it to these wonderfully selfless people, and groups like The Lions Foundation as I am not sure I could do what they do – matter-of-a-fact, I doubt many people could. Training and fostering these pups is such an important piece of work – and I would love to do this, but the challenge, as noted in your article, would be in saying goodbye. They must take great solace in knowing the importance of their work – bless their hearts!
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I used to do this in the Uk and it is so rewarding
What a great post! I didn’t know much about the process of preparing a dog for their future service roles, so I appreciate getting that background. I’m so glad that folks like Janice exist. Her willingness to dedicate time, energy, dedication, and care to socializing the dogs, even though she knows they won’t be with her long after the one year mark. So many people’s lives have been positively impacted because of her.
What a wonderful story and a wonderful human being. At my previous workplace, we sponsored a few charities including an assistance dogs program for the blind – it was really interesting learning about the dogs training and the difference they make once they are working with their assigned person.
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The idea of giving away the one we have fostering forever is hard to imagine. You are such a wonderful human being. Keep up the good work and hope all is well for you and for the animals. Love!
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Yes, this group and their fosterers make a difference.
Such a lovely article. Glad I stopped by 😉
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Thank you.