Gifted Canines

Selective breeding is the first step toward success with our dogs. We breed primarily Labrador retrievers, as well as golden retrievers,Australian shepherds, smooth coat collies, and Hungarian vizslas. At two months, the puppies are placed in the homes of volunteer puppy raisers, where they receive love and guidance for a little over a year before returning for training at Southeastern for formal training.

All Southeastern, guide dog candidates must pass an extensive medical checkup, be friendly, and show a willingness to learn and accept responsibility. Over 40 commands are taught during four to six months of training. Learning intelligent disobedience, the refusal to obey any command that would put the blind master and dog in danger, is essential for the making of a guide dog. If the guide candidate does not meet all the necessary requirements then the dog is evaluated for service work in an alternative career.

A perfect alternative career for some of our dogs that are not selected as guide dogs is to become a working pet therapy/ambassador dog. This is a job in which the dog can continue to provide unconditional love and brighten someone’s day. Southeastern will provide training to prepare the dog to be comfortable working in the setting of hospitals, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. Volunteers will be trained in the handling of the dogs for pet therapy work and will be asked to commit a number to hours for therapy visit with the elderly and ill.

Joining the fire department as an accelerant detection canine, the police department for narcotic detection, or doing search and rescue work are all possibilities for those dogs that exhibit the special traits and abilities necessary for these careers. Southeastern has developed relationships with many different law enforcement agencies that are seeking quality dogs for various jobs. Southeastern will handle the evaluation, preliminary training and placement of the dog with these agencies.