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MMeunier

Dawn and Gussie

Meet Graduate Dawn

Dawn and German Shepherd guide dog Gussie sit for team portrait with festive holiday tree behind their heads.Graduate Team: Dawn and Gussie
About the Team: Gussie: female Black & Tan German Shepherd; Dawn’s 5th Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Training: December 2024 On-Campus

Dawn and her husband, Matt, moved from snowy Michigan to the warm climate of Sierra Vista, Arizona. Both are long-time graduates of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and they share their home with two German Shepherd guide dogs. Dawn has just graduated with her fifth guide dog, Gussie, while Matt is partnered with his guide dog, Bing. Their household also includes three cats: Zeus, Marz, and Mortis. In her free time, Dawn enjoys reading and taking long walks with Gussie. She and her husband love exploring new places and seeking unique experiences during their vacations and cruises. Dawn is particularly excited about taking Gussie on an upcoming cruise to the Florida Keys in 2026.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “She’s a character, extremely intelligent, very funny, and exceptionally loyal! She’s like my little black & tan shadow. She always makes me laugh! She has boundless energy but in a manageable way. She loves to work, run, and play, but if you need her to settle, she will. I live in an area where there are no defined crosswalks. None. My regional instructor and I were working to find random spots within the sidewalks as a place for us to cross. In one minute, Gussie figured out where to cross and with barely any physical indicators. She’s just so smart! She sleeps like a queen in a Beautyrest bolstered bed right next to mine. She has a little blanket she likes to sleep under and brings her favorite toys to sleep with. She loves to snuggle her toys. It’s just so cute!”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I have loved my previous guides. They all met my needs at those particular times in my life and Gussie is proceeding with that tradition. She is exactly what I need right now at this time in my life. I like the school because I’ve been there before, and I’ve always been welcomed and appreciated for who I am. I also love how they love and care for their dogs and it makes me want to come back for my next dog, but many, many, many years in the future.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a dog gives me the ability and inclination to go out and explore and engage in more social activities. I’m a fairly introverted soul, but with a dog, I have no choice but to step out of myself. It forces me to communicate with people, get out into the world and explore. Also, a guide dog enables me to get out and explore the neighborhood, walk down that hiking path, or go on that cruise and not be afraid of getting lost or turned around. A guide dog makes me a better person.”

Were there any training highlights? “The first thing is that I had a birthday during training. The chef made me a birthday cake, everyone sang “Happy Birthday,” and the whole day was just warm, friendly, and happy. Everyone treated me so well, and I felt like I was Queen for the day, like when you’re a kid. I really enjoyed that! Another thing was that Michelle, my instructor, was just so warm and caring and she made training fun. She wasn’t rigid about our daily schedule. We would walk around our route and if we saw something interesting along the way we’d go in and check it out. It was always a good time. There was nothing negative about training. That’s the highlight! Really, the highlight is that it was constant highlights. There were no negative moments. Class was just a joy from beginning to end! Learning about Gussie was always fun and exciting too!”

Meet Guide Dog Gussie

DOB:  1/10/2023
Litter ID: S-4G23
Color/Breed:  Black & Tan/German Shepherd
Gender: Female
Brood: Mittzy
Stud: Flynn
Littermates: Gwen, Dondie, Glenna, Gentry, Gretel
Region:  Cleveland West
Regional Puppy Instructor: Macy Nauman
Puppy Raiser:  The Nesbitt Family
Facebook: Ohio Puppy Raisers

Special Recognition: Gussie was special named by Tom Stilp in honor of his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Polly Stilp. Gussie was named after one of their first pets and continues their legacy of caring. 

From the Puppy Raiser…

Gussie is a sweet, intelligent, attentive and independent pup. Her eagerness to please made training a breeze. I tell people she’s so smart I think she’s training us. She loves going places and meeting new people. Her joyful energy and confidence is infectious. She will do anything you ask for a treat or belly rub. She is so loving and affectionate we joke that she wants to grow up to be a lap dog as well as a Guide Dog. Gussie never met a ball she didn’t love and obsess over. Don’t start a game of fetch unless you have time to kill. At first I thought she spent so much time with Labrador puppies that she thought she was a retriever until she discovered the herding ball. She would happily yip and chase it around the yard endlessly. Gussie loves to work and Gussie loves to love!  ~LeRae & Wade Nesbitt 

Photos of the Team…