Danny and Tank

Meet Graduate Danny

Graduate Team: Danny and Tank
About the Team: Tank, a male black lab, is Danny’s 1st guide dog
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Training: July 2024 On-Campus

Danny is a fourth-year psychology graduate student at the University of Alabama. He spends most of his time working on his research, publications, and dissertation. Danny also received his undergraduate degree in psychology from UA and plans to pursue his PhD. In addition to his studies, he will be teaching his first class this semester and is a member of the psychology graduate student government. Danny enjoys staying active, whether running with his Running Guide, Tank, or doing weight training at the gym. In addition to working out, he enjoys hanging out with friends, Alabama football games, drinking coffee, audiobooks, educational YouTube videos, and playing accessible video games. Danny and his family try to do as much as they can together, whether it’s watching football games or hosting cookouts. Outside of the academic year, he and his brother live with their parents in Maryland. Their older brother and sister-in-law live in the area. As a child, his family used to organize an annual golf tournament to raise money for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and he volunteered at a cancer center during his undergraduate years.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “I can tell that he thrives being around people and is a social butterfly. Tank will greet any human who gets on his level like they’re his friend from years ago and he hasn’t seen them in forever. He wants to be friends with everyone he meets and he’s the same with dogs. On harness, he’s completely different. When someone is trying to interact with him when they shouldn’t, he does this tail wag where he’s like, ‘I want to say hi to you, but I know I can’t.’ He’s also a chewer and loves his Nylabones. He has several and he’ll chew on a different one every day, perfectly content. He has endless energy but knows when to be hyper and when to be chill.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I did a lot of research on a lot of different schools. The Running Guides Program was initially the hook, and my choice was further reinforced when I got there. I like that Guiding Eyes is innovative, not just with the Running Guides, but I found out they were the first school to train guide dogs on escalators. I like that they’re trailblazers and know their niche. They do their own thing with their own identity and confidence in the guide dogs they produce. The support is amazing with great testimonials and it’s easy to see how great their work is.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life?  “A classic example of Tank using intelligent disobedience is when I was crossing the street near my dorm and told him to go but he didn’t move. I stopped and there were about 20 people on bikes who went by that I didn’t hear coming. I feel so much safer and more confident and social because everyone wants to talk about him. For the first time, I feel like I can go places without feeling anxious. I used to hate walking to the gym at night with my cane and it would be miserable, but recently I went to and from the gym in complete darkness and was like ‘Wow this is fine.’”

Were there any training highlights?  “Halfway through training, we did the night walk, which is when my vision is the worst. I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this dog is amazing.’ It was impactful and opened my eyes to how skilled these guide dogs are, how safe I felt, and how confident I can be in the dark when not familiar with the area. I was also impressed by how awesome all the staff were, not just the trainers, but the culinary staff and nurses too. I’ve never been surrounded by so many friendly people at once.  It was a breath of fresh air to be around such great and kind people. As tired as the training makes you, the fact that everyone is so nice makes it all worth it.”

Meet Guide Dog Tank

DOB:  4/2/2022
Litter ID: 10T22
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador
Gender: Male
Brood: Felicia
Stud: Dover
Littermates: Tux, Ten, Tootsie, Trilla, Tarzan, Tahiti, Trinket, Tangee, Treasure
Region:  Southern CT, Northern CT
Regional Puppy Instructor: Maureen Hollis
Puppy Raiser:  Brianna Hammond, Jonathan Shweky
Facebook: Southern CT Puppy Raisers
Facebook: Northern CT Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Tank was a gentle giant, always ready for an adventure. He listened well and was easy to train, making every outing fun. Tank loved long walks, whether in the busy streets of NYC or on the beach. His love for water was obvious—he’d run through puddles and lie on his stomach to drink. Tank had a cute habit of doing somersaults and loved icy treats, fish, and strawberries. He adapted easily to most environments and liked to rest on his back, paws in air. Tank’s vibrant spirit and affectionate nature made every moment unforgettable.  ~Jonathan Shweky and Christine Cookman 

Photos of the Team…