At first glance, Dexter looks like any other puppy.
The black Labrador Retriever is extremely cute, playful with a capital ‘P’and bursting with energy.
But Dexter’s destiny is different than most dogs because when he grows up, he’s going to serve as a visually-impaired person’s eyes.
Until he’s ready to take on that awesome responsibility, Dexter’s happily living in Oxford with the Lyon family.
Since the late 1990s, the Lyons have been raising puppies for the Rochester Hills-based Leader Dogs for the Blind, a nonprofit organization that provides these special canines to the visually-impaired community free of charge thanks to donations from Lions and Lioness clubs and other sponsors.
‘We really enjoyed doing it,? said Doug Lyon, a captain and 31-year veteran of the Detroit Fire Department. ‘They’re like having kids.?
Dexter, who came to live here in early August when he was only seven weeks old, is the Lyon family’s seventh Leader Dog puppy.
Years ago, Doug read an ad in a newspaper seeking volunteers to raise puppies for the blind. At the time, his daughter, Emily, who’s now a sophomore at Oxford High School, wanted a puppy, so it seemed like a perfect fit for the family.
There are nearly 400 volunteer puppy raisers in 22 states and Canada. Seventy percent of them raise more than one puppy in their lifetime.
As puppy raisers, the Lyons will serve a very important function in the first 12 to 15 months of Dexter’s life.
It’s up to the Lyons to teach Dexter basic obedience, house manners (such as staying off the furniture) and good etiquette (such as laying quietly during meal time and not begging).
‘Mostly what we do is socialize them,? Doug said. ‘Getting them out in a lot of different environments is the most important thing. I take him with me almost everywhere I go in town.?
As a future Leader Dog, Dexter, who’s named for the cartoon series ‘Dexter’s Laboratory,? must become accustomed to different types of people, all kinds of places from churches to grocery stores to sporting events, and potential obstacles such as staircases and various kinds of floor surfaces.
Leader Dogs must also gets used to other animals, both domestic and wild, loud sirens, busy sidewalks, traffic and bicycles.
Puppies that see and experience a large variety of environments during the first year of their lives will be more confident when exposed to future experiences, according to Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Teaching a dog to get used to food smells is ‘one of the hardest ones? in Doug’s opinion.
And it’s not easy when everyone he meets wants to give Dexter something to eat, even though it’s not allowed.
‘For some reason, people always want to feed him, especially at restaurants or the movies,? Doug said. ‘That’s a big no-no.?
Whenever Dexter’s out in public, he always wears his ‘Future Leader Dog? bandanna or jacket to let people know he’s in training.
Doug said people are allowed to pet Dexter, but only if they ask permission first.
Just about everywhere Doug goes, Dexter goes.
‘There’s plenty of places he can go,? he said. ‘He especially likes Meijer and the pet food store.?
But Doug won’t bring Dexter without permission. ‘I never take him anywhere without asking first,? he said. ‘Most people are really good about letting us bring him in.?
Like all puppy raisers for Leader Dog, the Lyons meet at least once a month with a puppy counselor to monitor the dog’s progress.
‘They like to see you so they can keep track of how your puppy’s doing,? Doug explained. ‘They’re very patient. They don’t expect you to have a perfect dog because they’re puppies and you’re not a professional trainer.?
The counselors also organize obedience lessons and exposure opportunities for the puppies.
So what’s it like to raise a puppy, then give it away after it’s left little paw-prints on your heart?
‘It’s hard to give them up,? Doug said. ‘You get really attached.?
When the Lyons took their first Leader Dog puppy, Sunny, a yellow lab, back to the facility in Rochester Hills, Doug said the whole family piled in the car for the last ride together.
‘And then the crying started,? he said, referring to his daughter, who was 6 or 7 years old at the time. ‘She cried for 45 minutes all the way there. I always call it the road of tears.?
Now, the policy is to say all the good-byes at home, then let Doug take the puppy back by himself.
Knowing the puppy they’ve raised is going to help a visually-impaired person lead a more independent and safer life makes the separation a lot more bearable.
‘When you know you’re doing something good for somebody else that helps when you’re taking them back,? Doug said.
The Lyons have had the opportunity to meet three of the people their puppies ended up with.
‘When you get to meet the people they end up with and see how it changes their life, it’s pretty rewarding,? Doug said. ‘It may seem like all we’re doing is raising puppies, but they’re really helping somebody else.?
From Mexico City to the Canary Islands to Indiana, the Leader Dog puppies the Lyons raised over the years are helping wherever they’re needed.
‘They go all over the world,? Doug said.
For more information about Leader Dogs for the Blind call 1-(888)-777-5332 or visit www.leaderdog.org.