In the 30 years since its founding, the Kyushu Guide Dog Association has trained more than 200 seeing eye dogs at its Itoshima-based training center. Volunteers called “Happy Walkers” care for puppies, mostly labradors and other good-natured breeds, until they turn one, after which time the Association’s trainers train them for a year. According to Hideo Kojima, the head of trainee development at the Association president, the trick to training the dogs is to be patient and not scold them. There are currently 1,000 seeing-eye dogs in service in Japan. It costs an estimated ¥5 million to train one dog, but they are provided free of charge to visually impaired persons who want them. There are 10 training centers throughout Japan that rely on donations to cover 90% of their running costs. Tours of the Kyushu Guide Dog Association’s training center in Itoshima are offered to the first 50 applicants every fourth Saturday from 13:30 to 14:30 (except in December). Call 092-324-3169 for more details. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 7/25
