Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU)

“Opening Doors to Independence and Opportunity”

 

September 2026 Monthly News Update

 

Welcome to the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users Monthly News Update, a nationally recognized publication for guide dog handlers and others interested in the guide dog movement. Read the archives at www.PineTreeGuideDogUsers.org/monthly-news-updates

 

Community Connect

This section features community updates and more

  • Ready to hit the road—or the friendly skies? Join us on November 4 at our annual fall membership meeting for an engaging presentation by Lynn Jensen, author of Best Kept Secrets for Travelers With Sight Loss. Lynn will share practical tips and clever travel hacks to make getting there, and getting around, a whole lot easier. Read Lynn’s book in advance on BARD or visit BlindTravelTips.com to purchase your own copy. Watch for more details.
  • Let’s party. September is National Guide Dog Month, a chance to celebrate our extraordinary dogs who turn teamwork into an everyday art. From navigating busy sidewalks and crowded spaces to locating doors, stairs, and destinations, guide dogs bring skill, focus, and plenty of love and personality to the job. Here’s to our dogs working beside us today—and all those who have guided the way before them!
  • Lights, camera, action! PTGDU member Jim Kutsch and his Seeing Eye dog, Easton, made their documentary debut in The A-Word: The Future of Aging, which premiered last month. The film features local Maine residents sharing their experiences and perspectives on aging, along with researchers exploring the science of aging and what may help dogs, and people live longer, healthier lives.
  • Don’t Forget Your Four-Legged Family Members. Your estate plan shouldn’t stop at the humans—make sure there’s a plan for your dog too. Naming a caregiver, setting aside funds, and spelling out your wishes can help ensure your best friend is cared for by the right person, no matter what happens to you.
  • AI may be the newest member of the team, but the guide dog still leads the way. In a recent news article, PTGDU member and Seeing Eye graduate Kyle Street shares his perspective on The Seeing Eye’s exploration of Meta smart glasses. Guide dogs remain responsible for safe, reliable navigation, while the glasses can complement their work by reading menus, identifying products, and providing information about the surroundings. As Kyle explains, guide dogs get their handlers safely from point A to point B, while AI can enrich the experience along the way and after the team reaches its destination.
  • Playtime may be more than just fun and games! New research shows that dogs who regularly enjoy interactive activities with their owners—such as fetch, tug-of-war, or training—show fewer signs of cognitive decline. Even a little one-on-one play at least once a week may help keep canine minds sharp as they age. Learn more about the benefits of playtime from the Morris Animal Foundation.
  • Get the scoop. Have you checked out the latest Paws for GDUI: News You Can Use? It’s packed with updates, resources, and news for the guide dog community—and now there’s an audio version, too! Take a look and see what’s new.
  • More than a pet! Tune in to learn how a guide dog named Harry from Guide Dogs for the Blind makes all the difference in his partner’s life. Their story offers a wonderful glimpse into the teamwork and trust that make a guide dog partnership so special.
  • Preventive pet care made easy. ShotVet brings low-cost vaccinations, heartworm and Lyme testing, and discounted flea, tick, and heartworm medications right to pop-up clinics in your community. ShotVet veterinary clinics are held in more than 30 states at select PetSmart, CVS, Rite Aid, and other locations.

Advocacy Matters

This section features news on access and legislative issues.

  • Canine courtesy. September is AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Month—a great time for us to remind friends and neighbors that keeping dogs under good control helps make communities safer for guide dog teams. Share PTGDU’s Pet Owners’ Guide on your social media or with neighbors to promote safe, respectful interactions when encountering a guide dog team.
  • Heading off to college with a guide dog? Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s Conquering College with a Guide Dog offers practical tips for making campus life go more smoothly. From class schedules, housing, and relief areas to classroom seating and self-advocacy, this resource can help guide dog teams start off the semester right.

Submissions from Members & Friends

This section features contributions shared by PTGDU members and friends.

From One Partnership to the Next: Keeping Your Retired Guide

By PTGDU member and book author Sue W. Martin

You’ve decided to keep your guide dog after he retires. And you’ll be bringing home a new dog. Hang on, how, exactly, is that going to work?

In my experience of keeping three retired dogs, I very quickly learned that each case is different. Preparation is helpful but flexibility is key. There’s no, “One size fits all,” scenario. You can ask 20 handlers what to expect and get 20 different answers. Even if you’ve done this before, you can trust that it’s going to be different this time. A lot depends on the personalities of the two dogs. You’re going to need to be flexible and make adjustments as you go.

Trust that you will not have all the answers before you bring your new dog home.

Before You Go

Before you leave to train with Young Pup, establish who will be responsible for Old Boy’s care. It could be a partner, a relative, a friend, or someone you hire for this purpose. Depending on your situation, it might be a combination. That person should feed, groom, and exercise Old Boy. While you are away and in training with Young Pup, Old Boy will begin to bond with his new person. This same person, or people, should continue to care for Old Boy when you bring Young Pup home.

Coming Home

Upon your arrival with Young Pup, remove her harness and stay outside with her. Have Old Boy’s new person bring him out on leash and introduce the dogs to each other. Following the introduction, take everyone inside. Have Old Boy’s new person keep him on leash and praise him while you walk Young Pup about the house so she can get used to her new surroundings.

Most schools suggest keeping a new dog on leash or otherwise restrained for at least two weeks. During this time, consider similarly restraining Old Boy. This will help you begin to set boundaries for Young Pup and expectations for Old Boy. Having both dogs restrained ensures you know where each dog is at all times during those crucial early days.

Divide your interactions between the two dogs. With Old Boy restrained, you are free to interact with Young Pup without Old Boy inserting himself into the mix. Old Boy will begin to learn that he will now be sharing your affection and attention.

When you begin to let both dogs loose in the house, it’s a good idea for each dog to have his or her place. Some dogs will figure this out naturally while others may need some direction. Pay close attention to the dogs’ interactions. In my first experience of having a retired dog and a new dog together, the older dog would approach the young dog and growl softly. The old dog was a gentle soul while the new dog was quite assertive. I chose to ignore this behavior in this case and both dogs soon settled into acceptance of living together in harmony. It was quite different the next time around. In that case, both dogs were quite assertive so, I chose to discourage the vocalization and redirect both dogs to prevent any potential escalation.

Getting Out and About

When you leave the house with Young Pup, Old Boy’s new person should remain with Old Boy and make the time fun or interesting. If you go for walks in your neighborhood, leave Old Boy at home. Eventually, he’ll be able to come with you, on leash, with his new person or another member of the family or a friend. Ensure that Old Boy stays behind Young Pup and out of her way.

Stay Focused

It’s gratifying to have a beloved retired dog and a new dog living together in harmony. In all three situations when I had both a retired and a new dog, there was nothing more heart-warming than sitting on the floor with both dogs and sharing affection and love. Some of my fondest memories came when we were all interacting together.

Those early days with a new dog are a transition for all of you. Always keep in mind that you’ve just brought this new dog home to a new environment. Keep your focus on giving that dog the best chance of success you can. It takes patience and effort but watching both dogs settle in to love, play, and work as your new partnership grows makes it all worthwhile.

PTGDU Recipe of the Month

This section features a favorite recipe from the guide dog community.

Banana Muffins

Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Packed with banana and warmly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, these delicious muffins are a favorite on the Guiding Eyes campus.

Ingredients

2 oz butter

4 bananas

1 egg

1/8 cup brown sugar

1/8 cup milk

1 ½ cups Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

  1. Melt the butter and set aside.
  2. Combine bananas, eggs, brown sugar, and milk and mix thoroughly.
  3. Add the melted butter to the other ingredients and stir to combine.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and mix thoroughly.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the other mixture in a mixer or thoroughly stir by hand.
  6. Grease muffin tins or use muffin liners
  7. Scoop out and divide the mixture evenly into muffin tin
  8. Bake at 325 degrees in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the muffins are golden brown, firm to the touch, and/or a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.

 

About Us

This monthly news update is a publication of Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU), an independent, nonprofit membership organization serving blind and low vision residents of Maine and beyond. Founded in 1997, PTGDU works to promote the equality and inclusion of guide dog teams in all aspects of life. Visit us on the web or follow us on Facebook.