September 21st to 29th, 2024: Guide dog teams on the St. James Way of the Camino Inglés
Guide dogs for the blind and the people they guide walk together, 15km per day, along the Camino from A Coruña to Santiago de Compostela. The teams come from Austria, Germany and Spain, an international cooperation for the first time. This is made possible by the charitable organization “Independence Dogs Austria” and the generosity of sponsors such as Purina Austria and individuals like you.
The end of this seminar adventure will be marked by a concert in Santiago de Compostela, in which local and international musicians participate.
In ORF 2 on 21.8.2024, 18:30, in the show “Konkret”, there will be a segment on this incredible adventure!
We need you: Would you like to support this project? Please get in touch with us! office@hillfshunde.at or donate directly:
Account Name: Independence Dogs Austria
IBAN: AT16 4477 0217 7021 0000
BIC: VBOEATWWGRA
2023 Seminar Adventure from September 10th to September 16th in the Salzkammergut, Austria
Beautiful 6 days in the Salzkammergut with the group of guide dog teams. Fun and exhausting. A truly beautiful harmonious experience.
Outreach with 2nd graders of the primary school in Gmunden
2022 Seminar Adventure from October 2nd -October 5th in Innsbruck and Wattens, Austria
Blessed with sunshine for the days the seminar was held, mostly in public spaces and outdoors.
The guided tour afforded us in the Castle by the head curator, Dr. Seidl, was superb.
During the days we spent together from 7am until 8pm in the evening, it was wonderful to see all the teams master real life in completely different environments.
The Swarovski Crystal Worlds were a big challenge for the dogs and their handlers. Many rooms were dark, floors and walls often studded with crystals and reflective The acoustics, sizes, experiences and soundscapes different in every space. One room called “The Forest”, was a maze of metal trees in the dark which the dogs had to navigate through individually. Here on the group photo, we are in the snowscape of “Silent Night”, it is quite chilly but the 8 people and the 4 visible guide dogs are relaxed and laughing.
Public Presentation of “Independence Dogs Austria” and a multi-day seminar adventure for assistance dog handlers and their service dogs
2021 Seminar Adventure from September 8th to September 12th
It was a great couple of days. Luckily the weather was with us all the way and our local township was supportive as well, ready to provide shelter if needed. The opening was cheerful and the service dogs highly impressed the police dog trainer that attended with their excellent discipline.
Getting ready to enter the train station in Gleisdorf with all the teams lined up indicating the sidewalk. A half hour train ride to the city at Graz main train station followed.
There is no video here, but here is the description: There was a lorry trailer on the field, which the teams entered via a staircase made of pallets. The teams went to the end of the trailer one by one and turned back as there was no way further. However, the entrance wing was then closed towards the stairs, while the other side with the abyss was open. The guide dog refuses to go any further as he realises that there is a precipice in front of the team and the actual exit is now blocked. The guide dog handler perceives so well what the dog is communicating to him through the harness that he can now use the mobility cane to find the problem that the dog is indicating to him.
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Our training area was lined by tents for those adventurous enough to camp out. And of course we had had a camp fire and roasted marshmallows, an amazing schnapps tasting and even sang some songs and listened to some fiddle playing..
The last day, several teams ventured through the nearby picturesque ravine to a pop-up water hole at the end of the trek.