Kanahooka High School language teacher Allison Shoebridge thinks all her students are special, but one stands out more than most. Sancho, a male six-month-old Labrador is training to be a guide dog and as his puppy raiser, Mrs Shoebridge takes him to school with her to help develop his social skills.
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The first guide dog pup to train at an Illawarra school, Sancho spends the day in class with Year 8, 9 and 11 students studying Italian and Japanese. At lunchtime he plays footy with his student friends, and when he’s had enough, takes a nap on the classroom floor while the students study. A puppy raiser’s role includes teaching obedience, social skills, toilet training, daily walks and introducing puppies to the sights, sounds and smells its likely to encounter as a working guide dog. Mrs Shoebridge said Sancho had a calming effect on students in class and had helped them understand the role of guide dogs. “The students have really benefited from having him here,” she said. “They’ve learned how to train and interact with a working dog.” Students recently raised $500 for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
