Bagel is a seven-and-a-half-month-old guide dog in training. Throughout training, guide dogs learn many tasks, including learning how to walk centrally along the pavement, whilst avoiding obstacles along the route, as well as finding crossings, doors and places that are visited regularly. Bagel was sponsored by 92-year-old holocaust survivor Harry, who cycled 900 miles during covid to raise money for Bagel to be trained, hence the Jewish name Bagel. Harry is still cycling and still visits Bagel and his trainer Karine.
Bagel is the 26th guide Dog to be trained by Karine, who has trained guide dogs for 22 years. Karine started training guide dog puppies after someone she knew asked her to train one and she hasn’t stopped since.
Karine believes that it is important to bring her guide dog puppies in training to Scout and Guide camps, as it allows Karine to better prepare the puppies to support their owners. The interactions that happen at a camp are different from any other experience – it allows the puppies to experience different noises and stimulations such as tents moving in the wind, loud noises, and walking through a busy crowd. Training a guide dog is hard work, but incredibly rewarding as you are giving someone the opportunity to be independent, which can make a huge positive impact on their lives. Karine is also working towards access for all, to ensure that everyone makes conscious decisions to make everywhere accessible.
Karine will be walking 1,000 miles to Lands’ End to raise money for Guide Dogs UK.
The beautiful Bagel will be on site all week to experience the fun. Please be respectful to her when you approach her and always remember to ask Karine if she is on duty before you stroke her, as she is a working dog training to help people.