'Pick of the Litter' Episode 4: Only the smartest dogs will graduate, but the training is truly heartwarming
Over the last three weeks, we met and followed six dogs from the same litter who had been selected as possible candidates for the Guide School for the Blind the Disney+ show 'Pick of the Litter'.
The evaluation process asks a lot out of these cute, playful dogs, but it is harder still on the dog raisers and trainers, who are pouring their heart and soul into the emotionally taxing process of making sure their assigned dogs can pass the final evaluation. And the path to graduating school is not easy—it's strewn with challenging tests and pitfalls along the way.
One single mistake could make or break a guide dog's career path, but the final payoff will come in the form of boundless satisfaction and joy for the dog raisers and trainers (plus their families)—in knowing that the adorable dog they invested so much time, love and resources into will eventually make a positive impact on the lives of their visually impaired owners.
Here are our biggest takeaways from 'Pick of the Litter' Episode 4, 'Next Level Training'.
The ante has been raised
The dogs who made it through basic training after passing the demanding blindfolded trainer test will now have to up their game even further in the advanced training section. From Phase 4 onwards of the eight-phase program, the student guide dogs are expected to start their indoor work, which entails being able to successfully and gracefully navigate around escalators, chairs, traffic, and train platforms while wearing their new dog-booties (custom shoes). This is when the discipline, calmness, and maturity of these pooches come into play, and their poise will be further tested as they advance through the latter stages of the punishing program - which includes "intelligent disobedience" or overriding their blind owner's commands if their safety is at risk. Once they have proven that they have what it takes to make the grade, the exacting and complicated match-making process of picking the best suitable candidates for their potential owners on the waitlist can begin.
Compromise and comfort is key
Although these hardworking, well-disciplined dogs are subjected to a lot of intense training and scrutiny, in the larger scheme of things, it's only so that they can serve the Guide School program to the best of their abilities. So if a clumsy or frisky canine isn't able to keep pace with the demanding training regimen, adjustments are made to allow that dog to stay in their comfort zone, while still being utilized for what they are ideally suited for. So sometimes second chances can lead to better opportunities for the dogs, whether it is being selected for breeding purposes, or being recalled to the 8-phase training program after an initial rejection and subsequent work with a master instructor. After all, not every car is destined to be a Formula 1 Ferrari, sometimes even a sleek Porsche or a stately Bentley will do the job just as well.
The emotional stakes are high
The dogs' human handlers are heavily invested in the dogs' progress. And understandably so. The doting dog raisers and their families took on the role of parenting and caring for the dogs while they were still adorable puppies, before passing them on to the passionate dog trainers, who showered them with treats and attention. All this time, every human involved has been disciplining and patiently guiding them on the path to being a mature, obedient, independent guide dog. So when the student dogs don't make it through the school program or have to be "career changed," it's incredibly tough news to digest, and can take an emotional toll on anyone who had a hand in the dog's progress—these dogs are like their beloved children. But while this can be heartwrenching to watch, it's also incredibly heartwarming to see the joy on these people's faces when their faithful pupils manage to make it through the advanced training phases of the program—that's what makes the challenging journey worth it at the end of the day, and worth the watch for us as viewers!
'Pick of the Litter' is a weekly Disney+ series that focuses on the development of guide dogs for the blind. With just two more episodes to go, we can't wait to see what happens next!