HAWKESBURY High School’s partnership with Guide Dogs Australia could be used as a blueprint in other countries following an international conference in Sydney this week.
More than 100 delegates were impressed by a demonstration of Hawkesbury High’s Positive Paws Project at the local guide dog training facility in Glossodia.
Last weekend, Hawkesbury High Principal, Jenny Linklater explained the program at the International Guide Dog Federation Seminar.
Ms Linklater said there had been an enthusiastic response to the Positive Paws Project following her address and the demonstration.
“Guide Dogs delegates from around the world are now considering how they might develop similar partnerships with local high schools in their home country,” Ms Linklater said.
“It was great to watch the students listening to instructions and seeing them engage with the puppies in a calm manner.
“The international visitors commended our school and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT for developing this program.
“Students have all said how much working with puppies required learning patience. The program also built their confidence which helped them back at school.”
Ms Linklater was enormously proud of her students as they went through their paces at the demonstration for delegates.
“Students showed the visitors how they familiarise Guide Dog puppies to different surfaces and obstacles using various handling techniques,” Ms Linklater said.
“The puppies were all well behaved and responded to students using tone of voice, signals and rewards.
“Students demonstrated leadership and were exemplary role models and excellent representatives of our school and Australia.”
NSW Governor David Hurley paid a visit to the Hawkesbury last September to promote the early socialisation of puppies at the Guide Dogs Centre in Glossodia.
While there, he met with Hawkesbury High School students who had been visiting the puppies on a regular basis to interact and play with them between the ages of five and seven weeks old, to help the puppies socialise and develop confidence.
