Interview to our New Students at the School for Guide Dog Trainers

Staff A: When I was working at a Council of Social Welfare, I happened to see the job offer. Since I went to a college of social welfare, I have always wanted to work in the field of welfare.

Staff B: I first found out about guide dogs on TV and thought that being a guide dog trainer was a wonderful job. After I graduated from university and started working, I suddenly remembered it, and I looked up the JGDA website and found the job offer.

Staff C: A guide dog user came to our school as part of our class when I was in elementary school. After that, I visited Japan Guide Dog Center "Fuji Harness" and saw a demonstration of guide dogs working. Since then, it has been my dream to become a guide dog trainer.

Staff D: I got interested in guide dogs after reading a book about it in elementary school. My mother found the job offer and told me about it.

Staff B: We study many things, such as using the leash, harness, making dogs relieve, dog training theories, and the difference between walking with a long cane and a guide dog. We do not study just about dogs, but we study communication skills such as English too.

Staff A: We don't have to worry about the money because we are paid.

Staff D: Yeah, it's true. I wouldn't have taken the chance to come here if I had to be a student.

Staff B: As a difference of being an employee, we have other work besides studying, such as taking phone calls and doing clerical work. It's nice that we have a chance to talk to other staff as colleagues from the beginning.

Staff C: We're not students, so I feel more responsible for being involved as an employee.

Staff A: Compared to my previous work, I use my body so much more, and I simply enjoy moving around.

Staff B: I had an image of strict training and making dogs obey, but actually, training is fun for dogs, so I enjoy it too!

Staff C: I love having dogs around all the time. The hard thing is that I have to observe the dogs well and think about how to move by myself. Changing the way to make it suit each dog is very difficult for me.

Staff D: It's fun to have dogs and use my body. There are so many things to think about with no answers and manuals, but I enjoy the difficulty.

Staff A: I want to enjoy my career as a guide dog trainer. In the future, I want to be involved in disaster prevention and recovery assistance for people with vision impairment.

Staff B: A trainer that dogs enjoy training with. Since I learned about guide dogs on TV, I'm interested in public relations that make people think they want to support guide dogs.

Staff C: I want to be able to bring out the best in dogs and be proud of my job as a trainer. Public promotion such as educating kids seems nice, just like how I got interested in guide dogs. I'm also interested in breeding and puppy raising.

Staff D: I want to keep doing the positive and fun training for dogs. My dream is to become a guide dog mobility instructor and get involved with many people.