Puppy caring as a teacher - Leisha Watson

0:10S1

On Vision Australia Radio, you're listening to the Seeing Eye Dogs Show with me, your host, Harriet Moffat. Today I'm joined by Lisa Watson, a puppy carer and teacher. We are going to be talking a little bit about the life of a puppy carer, as well as a singer, the puppy being raised in a school. So we're going to be talking about the experiences that Lisa has with her volunteering, and she is kind of coming on to talk to us a little bit about, I guess, what school life is like with a young Labrador in tow. This is one of our kind of spotlights on volunteers, in particular around National Volunteer Week. We just wanted to, I guess, share some of the experiences and stories of our wonderful volunteer community, as well as thanking them for the amazing work that they do. And you can really hear Lisa's passion for volunteering and puppy caring in this interview. 

If you would like to find out more about puppy caring as well, don't forget to head to our website. But in the meantime, keep listening and I hope you enjoy Lisa's story. Leisha - thank you for joining me on the show today.

01:24S2

Thank you for inviting me. I'm always happy to talk about dogs.

01:28S1

Could you please start by introducing yourself and tell us what your role is at [seeing eye?] dogs.

01:33S2

I work as a teacher in a primary school setting, and I've been a puppy carer for... I'm going into my sixth year this year and I usually don't have a break in between puppies. I usually see one puppy through and then start straight away with another, because I just find that it's really addictive and some carers like to have a little break in between. But I just love it so much and I feel really privileged to have the opportunity to be a puppy carer, because I just think it's such an important job and it's just something that brings about a lot of happiness to me personally.

02:06S1

What made you decide to get involved?

02:08S2

I actually got a letter, sent to my school. It was actually just addressed to the school asking whether anyone on staff would be interested in being a puppy carer, and it was just coincidental that I had shared my interest with other office staff before. And when they opened up the mail and found this letter, somebody pigeonholed it to me for my attention and I rang up seeing eye Dogs and I thought, oh, maybe being a full time worker, maybe that would rule me out. But I thought I would ring up and ask all about it. And when I found out in my position, I was still eligible to be able to take on a puppy full time whilst at work. I was just so excited and I couldn't wait to get involved. So that's I guess, how it came about. I didn't really know much about seeing eye dogs, to be really honest, until I followed through with the flyer that had been dropped off at school, so I felt like it was meant to be.

03:01S1

I was going to say it sounds a little bit like... fate.

03:04S2

Yeah, well, I think it was because I've. Yeah, I've just loved it so much. And to be really honest, I look back. I mean, it's only been, like I said, this is my sixth year of being involved. But sometimes I think, what did I ever do before I did this? Because I feel like I feel like this has really become a big part of my own identity. Like I feel as though, you know, I love it so much, and I feel like a lot of conversations I have with people and people that are now a big part of my life, like my friendship groups and things like that. I think as you get older, you know, you still always have friends in different facets. But I think the friends that I've made through seeing eye dogs, I probably have more, more of an involvement with now. And that's probably because we arrange dates to take our pups out and things like that. 

So yeah, I feel I feel like it's definitely become a really big part of, you know, who I am... and I don't think prior to getting involved with seeing eye dogs, I ever really had a hobby or a really big interest personally. Like, I sort of, I think, you know, as you know, a wife or a mum or, you know, the different roles you have, you do things for other people and your days are filled with other things. But yeah, I don't think I ever really did anything for myself like this until getting involved with seeing eye dogs. So definitely a big passion for me.

04:24S1

So what do you like the most about caring?

04:28S2

I think everything really. I mean, I sort of look at, you know, I love animals, I've always loved, I've always been a dog lover, and I've always had had a really soft spot for Labradors and retrievers. I think basically just I love the training, I love, I love learning from the puppy development trainers, watching them work with the puppies, and then having time to practice that with the puppy in my own home or my own workplace. I feel like having a puppy makes you a lot more sociable. I think it helps to develop your own confidence as well. Like I think when I started out, I used to, you know, worry about, oh, what if I take the pup out and it has an accident and, and you know, as you go along, you just think, Oh, it's all part of it, you know? 

Okay. It's a bit unfortunate sometimes if you take a young puppy out and they have an accident, but it doesn't bother me now. I'm not, you know, I'm not embarrassed about that. I realize that's part of what puppies do. And I feel as though, you know, the interactions that you have with people, with members of the community. I mean, all the time I went to the supermarket, I probably never chat really too much with the people in the supermarket. But I go in and, you know, to be honest, they don't know my name. But I walk in and I always know my pup's name and I hear hi Eagle, hi, Eagle yelling out to my latest puppy. 

And I just feel as though, I don't know, I feel like it brings happiness around you. You know, the with the people in the community, with the interactions that you have, I feel like everybody loves the puppy. Everybody's interested, um, in, you know, what I do? And they want to ask questions about it, um, puppy caring and about the training. I guess I just enjoy the interactions that I have. And of course, the fact that you get to take, you know, the pup everywhere you go, that it's such a big part of your life going out for dinner and taking the pup with you and going to the supermarket and day to day life. Yeah, I find it just such a pleasant, positive experience, always having a four legged friend by his side. 

And obviously it's if you had a pet dog, you wouldn't be doing that. You wouldn't be able to take them everywhere with you. But it is really quite nice being able to have them become such a big part of your life. But yeah, the training, I just enjoy it so much. I just enjoy going places with other carers and just learning more about dogs and being able to read their behaviours and know what they're telling you. And it's really a big learning curve I think is a big thing. It's really quite interesting meeting, meeting each pup, getting to know them and finding out you know, what their needs are and just working really hard, just practising really, really good behaviour. That's... really a fun thing, I think.

07:05S1

So you've mentioned a little bit about your current puppy, but could you please introduce him if there's anything that, yeah, that's quintessentially Igor.

07:15S2

Yes. So Igor is my first yellow lab. I've had eight black labs before, so, yes, he's... it was quite...

07:26S1

So he's your first.

07:26S2

Quite exciting. Getting a different color just because I've always loved my black labs, but I think, you know, the kids at school would always say to me, When are you getting a different colour one? Are they all black? And so...

07:39S1

And that was just completely random. Each one was black.

07:42S2

Yes. Yeah. I mean, obviously black is the dominant color. So, but yeah. So I, you know, it's just the way that it's always worked out that, you know, that I've always just had, you know, a black lab, but yeah. No, Igor was my first yellow lab. And... he settled in really well to school. He had we had school photos last week at school, and he was quite the little poser. I think he really likes the camera. So sometimes I'm looking forward to seeing the school photos, because I know with the black Labrador, they're not always very easy to photograph. I think even with the lighting, sometimes it's really hard to see their special features. They don't always photograph as well... indoors. So, yeah, he turned his head and he, I think he was really enjoying... in fact, the photographer, I think, I think he took about seven individual shots of him. So I'm looking forward to seeing what comes out of that.

But, yeah, he's turned five months and he walks nicely. And he loves meeting people. Loved children. I think working in a primary school, even when I'm out, if you hear his kids voices, the tail starts wagging and he's looking around as if, you know, do I know that child? So, yeah, he's, he's a really happy boy. And,in my classroom, he sleeps on a trampoline bed. Usually he sort of gets up when the kids walk into the room and goes over and greets them, and then he lies on his bed and he's... a bit of a snorer. So the kids really quite like,well, quite like his sleep time, because usually it's quite noisy with his snoring and there's often giggles in the classroom listening to him, or if he's having, you know, a bad dream. And we hear the puppy crying. So he's quite entertaining, but very well-behaved in the classroom. And, definitely, very, very sociable and loves children. So it's been fun.

09:46S1

So I mean, that sounds like a quite positive experience. And for the kind of, school community, I guess.

09:54S2

It is actually, the whole school community, um, have always embrace the puppies that I've had. And to be honest, I have had some children in my classes over the years that have been afraid of dogs, and I find that by the end of the year, those kids are now, you know, much more confident in engaging with the pup. And I never, I never sort of push the pup on kids. If they don't want the pup to come near them, I make sure that they, you know, don't, you know, I want kids to feel comfortable, but if they want to come up and have a pet when, when the coat's not on, and if they want to engage with the pup, that's okay. 

And I actually had a family come up to me at the end of a school year and thank me because they said they'd always wanted to get a dog in their family. But the child that I taught was afraid of dogs. And, you know, by the end of the year, the child, you know, was quite confident with the pup. And the following year they got their own puppy. So they were really excited that, you know, they can see the benefits that, you know, and you also have to teach kids too, that obviously these dogs are in schools because, you know, they are friendly and, and of course, you watch all the interactions with them and you have to teach kids, you know, about being gentle in the way that they pat and, you know, not pulling tails and things like that. 

And, you know,but I think, yeah, I think it's also about educating them that you can't just go up to any dog and pat them. And that's part of the education process as well, about the way you approach dogs. And, knowing how to pat the dog and that sort of thing. So I think, I think it's great for the kids to learn that. And, and I think the whole school community have always been so welcoming, and I feel like the morale amongst staff is lifted. You know, everybody can be feeling a bit overwhelmed or having a bad day, and then all of a sudden they see this pup and I feel like the pups really lift the mood of everybody around them. 

And... actually my, the very first seeing eye dog puppy that I raised, he didn't pass his training and he was... adopted out to a family. And at the time, I was teaching five year olds and, at the... so when we had to say goodbye to the pup, they all wrote letters to the new owners to let them know a little bit about the puppy. You know what he likes, what he doesn't like. You know, I think every letter from the five year old's sort of said that, you know, he loves carrots, he doesn't like cats. 

And I remember the lady that adopted the dog Tex, on the way home. She was reading all the letters that the kids had written, and she told me she cried all the way home from the adoption centre, reading the letters because she she said, I just felt so privileged to have this dog that was so loved and had made such a big impact on these kids, and she'd actually come out to the school about six months later, she made contact with me and said, would it be okay if I bring him out? So that the kids, you know, can can see him and see and I can talk to him about his new life. So we did that. It was it was a really nice closure for the kids as well to, you know, yeah, they could see he was happy and he's got this new life and it was great. 

So yeah, I think it really does impact on everybody in the school community. And I feel as though, um, everybody's really, you know, welcoming and accepting of the dogs. And sometimes I know, you know, some people are a little fearful of dogs or there might be cultural sensitivities, but I feel as though, you know, there's opportunities to engage with the pup without a cord on. But at the same time, we can maintain distance for people that are a little nervous about that as well.

13:55S1

Do you also, I guess, talk to the kids at all about the role or, you know, do you get the impression that some of them start to understand what, you know, what we're working towards, if that makes sense?

14:08S2

Oh, most definitely. They have there are always questions from kids about, you know, about the training. In fact, sometimes I might say, well, actually, I don't know about that. I'll have to find out. And I wish I could take them all to the, um, to the training center where we go, um, for some of our training sessions. Because to be really honest, as a first time carer, I was absolutely blown away when I went into the training centre and I could see the way it was set up. You know, having a train carriage in there for trainers to take their pups into to practice and, and, you know, learning about how to use traffic lights and escalators and, different types of steps, open and closed steps and things like that. 

And, you know, sometimes the kids ask me, you know, well, how is it that the dog knows how to take this person home? And... sometimes I might not know and I might go off and, you know, next training session, I might ask because I think it's I often wonder things like that, too, like through that process, the training is so involved. And you just think about how intelligent these dogs are that they're able to, you know, be able to learn routines and to be able to be able to identify hazards and things like that, when they're guiding someone. So I think, you know, they're genuinely interested. 

And... I think, I laugh sometimes because, you know, there might be a new student come to school and they might want to come up and pat, and then you'll hear other kids say, no, you can't Pat. You can't pat the dog while the coat's on because they're working. They're concentrating, you know? So I love that they really start to understand what the code is all about. And, you know, to identify that, you know, they do have an important role. And,  you know, just just realising that we've got to do what we can to make it easy for the puppy to be able to learn without distraction. So, you know, accepting those times for interactions and knowing also that there's times when we ignore, when the coat's on so that the pup can focus on, on walking and, you know, checking in with the carer rather than being distracted by [indistinct]... there's a time and a place for all of that as well. So yeah. 

So yeah, absolutely. They asked lots of questions. Parents do too. And I just think it's, it's it's great because the more people are informed that really starts, you know, because often sometimes, you know, even when you're out in the supermarket, somebody might, um, you know, lean forward to pat the dog. And they just they're not doing it,you know, to distract the dog. They're not trying to be offensive, but sometimes they just don't understand. Or maybe they haven't come across a seeing eye dog pup in training, and they just don't recognise that when that coat's on that we ask that they, you know, not not touch the dog or, you know, do things that that are going to excite the dog and take the focus away from the dog. 

So I think sometimes it's just, being able to educate the community. And of course those things are ongoing. But, you know, sometimes you just have to, you know, say, I'm really sorry, but, when the coat's on, if you could please not touch the dog because the dog's focusing and people often say, oh, really? Sorry, I didn't realise that. So, yeah, I think I think just, everybody is aware of, what those expectations are, I guess.

17:46S1

So I feel like we've spoken quite a bit about, I guess, raising a puppy in a school, but is there anything that maybe I've missed that's kind of particularly interesting or special about? Either raising the puppet school and or would you recommend other teachers and families get involved?

18:03S2

Most definitely. Like, I just feel as though, there are a lot of other carers involved with seeing eye dogs that that work in schools, and it may not be just teaching staff, you know, it might be a teacher, aides or office staff that work in a school environment. I think it's a great place to raise a puppy because it's such a busy environment. And I know from my point of view, you know, schools are very routine places. Being a classroom teacher, my day starts with the kids at 10 to 9 and then a break time. Is it 10 to 11? The pups learn very quickly, okay. Once the kids come into the class, then it's time for them to have a rest. It's almost like like with the kids. That bell goes and the puppy's head goes up. The puppy learns, oh, okay, the bell's gone. The kids are now going to get up and go outside. And that's also their their break time as well. 

That's when I might take the pup. Or walk around the block, or if I'm on yard duty, take the pup outside for a little walk and to toilet. So I think the routine really helps pups. And I think, you know, a lot of people, regardless of what sort of industry they're in, are really in a routine with their work. And I think these pups really do learn routines very well. And I think that that helps because obviously, a visually impaired person that's going to work, you know, would have a set routine each day, whether it's getting public transport to work at a particular time and being in an office or wherever they may work, and having break times and things like that. So I think these dogs adapt really, really well. I think it's puppy development. 

Trainers are amazing. Like when I first got started out with my first pup, the puppy Development trainer, and it came out to my classroom and talked to me about where would be a good place to put the puppy crate. So I find the puppy is I only really crate the puppy in my classroom when I need to leave the room? And I can't watch the pup otherwise. I find I've got like a trampoline bed in the classroom that the puppy rests on, and the pup just knows that's where they need to stay, and I can walk around the room and engage with the kids in different spots, and the puppy will just lie down and sleep until its break time. 

So I feel like the trainers are great in helping to find the best place to set up beds, to make sure that the dogs are comfortable and relaxed and settle into routines, and I just feel like it's a real asset to be able to have the dog at work. I mean, I always laugh because at the end of a school year, when the kids come to meet their teacher for next year, you know, often I find that, you know, when they're announcing, you know, whatever year level I'm in and the kids that are going to be my grade for next year, you know, there might be a lot of fist pumps and a lot of yeses, I hear. But it's actually I know it's not about me. It's about I'm the teacher with the puppy. You know, they all want to be in the class with the teacher, with the puppy. 

So I feel like, you know, you feel very popular. You know, when you're standing up there as they're announcing who's who's, uh, nd you get, you know, I find kids will come up to me and say, I really wanted to be in your grade. You know, I, and parents say to me, oh, they're so excited to be in your grade next year because they really love puppies. So I feel as though it brings there brings about a lot of... positivity and, yeah. And... I've actually had one little girl who has walked with me. She's now she's now in year four, but she's from her very first year of school. Until now, every single yard she's walked with me because of loving the pup so much. And it's great because now she's a little bit older. Sometimes, you know, I might, you know, give her the doggy to hold and just to have a little walk with the dog just to engage. 

But it's great. I think it's it's a lot of fun. There's a lot of support. Like I said, there are a lot of other carers that are in, working in schools. So I feel like if you were starting out and, you know, as a teacher and you had a pup in school, you could always check in with other teachers to troubleshoot anything. And the the puppy development trainers are just so good, in ensuring that the pups are well settled in the classroom. So definitely a positive. I've really, I've definitely seen the look. If it was, if it was too hard, I wouldn't be doing it. So, you know, it just works. It works really well for me as a teacher to have a puppy settled in the classroom. And I can still concentrate on my job, concentrate on the on the students, but know that, you know, there is a a pup there that when it's break time, that pup will come out with the kids as well and, and have a little bit of a walk and that sort of thing. So yeah, it works really well.

22:40S1

There's definitely no more recommendation than having people come back year after year and just kind of cycle through pups. Absolutely.

22:47S2

Absolutely. Yeah. That's right. And like I said earlier, I mean, um, you know, some people have a break in between because, you know, look, it is it is a big commitment. But, um, I just think that for me, look, you know, a lot of people say, oh, you know, I couldn't do what you do. I couldn't say goodbye, at the end. And, you know, to be really honest. Yeah, it's hard. You love them. Of course you do. You you give them your everything, your time, your love, everything for that, that first 12 months. But then once you say goodbye... and it is hard and I think, I think I've cried saying goodbye to every one of my pups. But, you crying because of the happiness that you've had, you know... obviously it's, you wish them well, and it's always sad when you think, oh, I'm not going to see this pup again. But, you know, maybe you might get some updates. You might get some photos to hear how how the pup is, and they're not your dogs. 

That's that's the whole thing. You love them wholeheartedly, but they're not your dogs. And you take it on knowing that there's a time that you have to say goodbye. But I think the best way to, you know, be able to, I don't know, I guess get get on with things too is to start again with another, another... little bundle of joy that also wants your love and attention. And it's just so rewarding. And I think the positive aspects most definitely outweigh, you know, a negative of having to say goodbye one day because, you know, that's just the way it is. You know, that going into it. And I think it gets I think it gets easier as you go along as well. I think I think, you I don't know, maybe you harden up a little bit too. You still love them wholeheartedly, but I think I think the goodbyes, you know, um, probably do become easier over time as well. 

But yeah, I, you know, you can do it. People say, I couldn't do that, but you can. It's part of it. And you know that going into it. So, you know, yeah. But I wouldn't take anything back. I think, I've absolutely loved it. And I actually feel really honoured to be able to do this. The fact that Vision, Vision Australia entrust me with one of these pups, to do everything I can to support them with their training, to provide a safe home for them, you know, to give them the love and support as they're growing up. I find that to be, I've always felt privileged to be able to do that, and I'm grateful that I've had the opportunities to be involved. So I do highly recommend it. 

And I think, you know, if people have the time, and, and are interested, I absolutely think that they should give it a go because like I said, I feel like it's changed my life and I feel like it's just really become... such a big part of who I am now. And, it's something I don't ever want to have to walk away from because I just love it so much. So yeah, 100%. I'd say go for it, get involved. And we need, you know, we need puppy carers. We need people to to give their time and to be committed to the training and, to provide homes for these dogs, in the hope that one day they're going to go out and be able to support someone that really needs them. So I feel like it's just such an important thing. So. Yeah, I'm just so, so happy I've been involved.

26:18S1

Well, thank you so much for joining me on the show and as always, caring for so many wonderful dogs as well. Your hard work and effort is just amazing to kind of hear about. So much appreciated and thank you.

26:30S2

Oh, I'm always happy to talk about dogs. Love it so much. And yeah, thank you, Harriet, for asking me to to chat about being a puppy carer. Yeah. It's terrific. It's so good. So thank you. I've enjoyed reflecting on my journey and yeah, I really hope other people consider joining the team because it's a really friendly bunch of carers. Oh, and you know, every two months we go off and we have Paw Pals events which are picnics for carers, and we take our puppies along and we have a great walk together and we come back and we have a picnic lunch. So, you know, the support as a carer that's out there is just, it's great, it's fun, it's sociable and yeah, it just is so fulfilling. So thanks, Harriet. I really enjoyed chatting to you this afternoon.

27:26S1

You've been listening to the Seeing Eye Dogs Show on Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with seeing eye puppy carer Leisha Watson about her story as a volunteer and her kind of role raising a puppy in a school. We would love to thank all of our volunteers and particularly obviously, for joining us on the show. But just recognise our really amazing community of very dedicated volunteers. If you'd like to find out more about singing artists, the work we do, or how you can help, head to our website at Seeing Eye Dogs  Dot Vision Australia dot org. 

We are looking for puppy carers as well as other types of dog carers in select regions around Australia. Puppy Caring is available in parts of Queensland including Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and parts of the Gold Coast region. In New South Wales, we're looking for people in Central Coast and parts of northern Sydney and Victoria.... quite a lot of kind of greater Melbourne region as well as Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong regions, you know, as well as across kind of to the Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula regions. And we, you know, are really keen to have wonderful new people, raising pups for us. 

And you can be a teacher, work full time in an office as long as you're able to bring them in with you. And you can have kids. You don't have to work. You can be retired, you know, we're after a very large range of amazing people with different lifestyles,kind of hobbies and interests to join. Join us and give those lovely experiences to your puppies and help them on their journey to become kadok's. So that's my little bit of a shout out. And we just could not do the work that we do, matching single dogs without our range of lovely and diverse puppy carers. 

So, thank you for listening to the Seeing Eye Dogs Show. And if you would like to tune in to next week's episode, that will be on Vision Australia Radio same time next week. Or at your preferred podcast platform. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoyed.