Since 2021, Ascham has enjoyed a unique partnership that has brought boarders and dogs together in a mutually beneficial and very affectionate relationship.
When she joined Ascham four years ago, Head of Boarding Allysia Heness-Pugh brought with her a partnership with Guide Dogs Australia (GDA) that has continued with great success for both our boarders and the service dogs that begin life here.
Each year in NSW, as part of the broader GDA national program, around 150 puppies at eight weeks of age go to live with volunteer ‘Puppy Raiser’ families (or in our case, Ascham Boarding) for the first 12 months of their life. The role involves fostering an adorable Labrador puppy for a year, giving them love, socialisation and some training. Service animals need to be confident, adaptive and robust to handle any situation. Living in a Boarding House for their first year means they are exposed to a variety of personalities, noise and general merriment. Socialisation is an essential component of training for young pups and there is no better place than the hustle and bustle of a busy Boarding House!
After their 12 months with us, the pups move away to enter their formal Guide Dog training. The expectations for becoming a full-service Guide Dog are extremely high and not all dogs are successful in this pursuit. However, GDA also trains dogs to become Therapy Dogs and Court Dogs for a range of situations and individuals with specific emotional and psychological needs.
Through our partnership with GDA, our boarders are changing lives. They know that what seems like a simple act of loving and socialising a puppy is actually a very meaningful act of community service. A Guide Dog provides independence and equality for people with vision impairment. The boarders themselves benefit immensely from having dogs to cuddle after their school day. Boarders often miss their animals back home, so taking our Guide Dog pup for walks, playing with them on the lawn, or just having quiet snuggle time is enormously beneficial for our students. Our Guide Dog pups also help provide a positive and welcoming atmosphere in the Health Care Centre, where our School Counsellors and Head of Wellbeing are located and provide support for our boarders.
In raising a Guide Dog pup, Ascham Boarding is unique. While providing our students and staff an impactful community service opportunity, being Puppy Raisers every day brings our whole community so much joy.
