How did your job with guide dogs start?

When I was eleven, me and my friend used to volunteer in a abandoned dogs asylum where we walked the dogs and similar things. This experience made me eventually get my own dog and I started to train him too. Then we participated together in different kinds of competitions. It was there where I accidentaly met a lady who was interested in guide dog training. She made me inspired so I started looking up information in the press and on the Internet, more and more, I wanted to become a real part of this. One day I noticed, in the underpass by the main station in Brno, an ad of Milan Dvorak's guide dog training school . The next day I was calling them asking to be a puppy caretaker.

Could you describe your first experience in the guide dog training school?

I became a puppy caretaker even though at that time I was still at secondary school and our flat was quite small. The puppy even joined me at school, where, from time to time, it caused some minor turmoil. Gradually I got to know both the training school and the people who work there, regular employees and caretakers. After some time a colleague, who was leaving the school, recommended me to take her position as a head of the caretakers and I happily accepted. Recently I take care of both the dogs' training and constantly growing group of caretakers.

What was the hardest part at the beginning?

To gain respect with people who I used to share the same status with, especially those who had been working for the school for a long time.

How did you get over that?

I am strict concerning work-related activities. I never try to act like I know everything, I give way to innovations and constructive discussion. But I stick to my priorities as to what a puppy is supposed to know, what it is supposed to be ready for. I also insist on the caretakers being consistent in case something is going wrong. Now I have to be able to differenciate between work and private matters. Eventually I am able to be honest and sometimes tough with somebody, but still retain a friendly relationship with the person otherwise.

What specifics do puppies have?

I can mostly tell quite easily if there's something wrong with the up-bringing. At the beginning it may be very individual though. I inspect thoroughly what the puppy-caretaker relationship is like, if they are consistent and have feeling for the dog. You can also see how puppies lose their initial anxiety and are getting used to people, axiety being replaced by trust and mutual understanding. Sometimes a puppy looks like it won't pass but surprises you eventually. That's why I am really careful about hasty evaluations, always leave space for improvement.

How does work with puppies influence your life, on personal level I mean?

I really like the feeling of a dog being in a harness. I mean, when you are walking a dog on a leash it is basically under your control. When a dog is in a harness it is something completely different. You teach the dog to make some important decisions on his own, you let him lead the way and let him know you trust him and rely on him. Many times I have just closed my eyes walking a dog in a harness, relaxed and let the dog take all the responsibility.

How long does it take until such trust has been developed? How do you know the right time has come?

That's quite individual, after two moths of common work at the soonest. You start to notice how much the dog is devoted to its mission, if he tries hard and how much he concentrates. You can also tell how often he makes mistakes and thus is/isn't getting better.

Let's now have a look at the training school as such. How does this work make your life better, what is the most positive aspect for you?

Definitely the chance to do a job I like and find very interesting.

How about Milan – what kind of boss, and teacher, is he?

All the time since I met Milan for the first time, I have longed to get to know him better. He had this special kind of approach which let you know you didn't have to worry, you could just relax. He won me quite easily and that's not what everybody can do.

How about workwise?

I have gained a lot of experience. I've had Milan's support from the beginning and I've grown much more confident tanks to him, which has a positive impact over my life.

Does he let you use your initiative or simply tells you what to do?

He gives me quite a lot of freedom. We rather share experience and discuss about individual dogs, how they work with each of us, where problems may arrise. It's more likely cooperation than leadership. Then of course he would give me advice in case I'm not sure what to do. Milan prefers explaining things patiently, making you discover your own mistakes rather than stating things directly.

What is the most exhausting part of your job?

Not all people are nice, some of them treat their dogs like things, compensatory aids. I really feel sorry about this. Aswell, I am always disappointed when a dog doesn't want to cooperate or runs away and doesn't come back when being called for. Obviously all dogs have to learn these things but some of them are just not ready to accept that. It makes no sence to force them into something they do not want to do. They could get trained as guide dogs I suppose, but they wouldn't like it, they wouldn't be happy.

Who decides what happens then, is it up to Milan?

Milan decides and I trust him. Even if he asks me whether I want to continue working with the dog, I think it is all the same – it's no good to force them if they do not want to or simply can't.

What is your biggest achievement?

That might be a puppy, golden retriever called Jasminka, who now lives with her new owner in Holland. I used to see her quite often when she was still a puppy and then I gave her a lot of effort during training. She was one of my first guide dogs and I guess it's her I remember best. We went through all of the training together and she sometimes gave me pretty hard times. However, I found a way to understand her and today she's a great guide dog and cooperates quite well.

Back to: Our people