Guiding Paws recently had the wonderful opportunity to visit Brandywine Hundred Fire Company. During our visit, the future guide dogs toured the facility. They rode an elevator between stories of the building. They also got up close and personal with a firefighter in full dress. The outing wrapped up with the exciting sounds of Ladder 11 fire truck.

Experiences with different settings and situations help the dogs build confidence navigating unfamiliar surroundings. The busy, startling sounds of a fire station can prepare the dog for a noisy city or suburban life. The experience teaches us about each dog’s preferences to noise and diverse environments. Finally, the puppies form a positive association with uniformed personnel. They will repeatedly see these individuals in their future service work.

Many thanks to the Brandywine Hundred Fire Company for being gracious hosts during our visit. We greatly appreciate their open doors and the unique enrichment experiences they provide to our club. Please visit their website and consider donating to your local volunteer firefighters.