Geelong High School welcomes a new furry staff member.

As of Term 3 2022, Geelong HS will be welcoming its newest staff member. A furry, black, four-legged Labrador puppy named ‘Ryker’. Like our most recent puppies (Jade, Vonnie and Hank), Ryker will be another Guide Dog Victoria puppy in training to hopefully one day pursue a career in guiding someone who is blind or vision impaired.

From all reports, Ryker is progressing well with his training in the care of his current Puppy Raiser. He is learning the basics of sit, stay, down, stand, wait and leave it. Ryker has been observing his local high school at his current location to warm into the idea of being in a busy environment with the many sounds and smells that go along with a school. Our new puppy will be approximately 5 months old when entering school for the first time, so we do ask from our school community to approach Ryker in a calm and respectful way when greeting him. This may look like asking his handler before touching, allowing Ryker to sniff before approaching you, and giving the puppy space to learn patience and tolerance as well as catering for rest time in his working environment.

In the workplace there is an expectation a Guide Dog Puppy is learning to be calm, quiet and clean. In order to help the handler to train the Guide Dog pup in the correct workplace behaviour, we ask that these easy steps are followed. Your patience and understanding in the early days of this team’s partnership is greatly appreciated. – Guide Dogs.

From what I gather, Ryker is an outgoing pup who is well socialized with both people and other dogs. He doesn’t shy away from a game of tug-of-war with the big dogs so I have no doubt he will thrive at school with us.

Madi Dillon