Graduate Team: James and Orlando
About the Team: Orlando, a male black Labrador; Jim’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Austin, Texas
Training: February 2026 On-Campus
Jim works for Apple’s AI/ML Siri Data Operations team in Austin, Texas, having relocated from Ohio. Blind since birth, he recently received his second Guiding Eyes dog, a male black Labrador named Orlando. His wife, Chloe, is also a Guiding Eyes graduate and is partnered with her guide dog, Odette. They have a young son, Jamie, who, unable to pronounce “Orlando,” affectionately calls his new friend “Nando.” Their busy household also includes Jim’s previous guide dog, Irwin, another black Lab who retired in February 2025.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Orlando can be crazy with a mix of seriousness. He is going to be 3 yrs old in June. When I first came into the room at Guiding Eyes, Orlando came right up to me and jumped into my arms. The trainer’s response was ‘Well then! Would you like to know his name?’ There was an immediate connection. Orlando can shift from goofy and playful to serious. He learns so fast. Orlando likes to keep close to the wall when we walk into the cubicle area at work, and walks away from the wall when there’s an obstruction along the way.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Guiding Eyes is such a wonderful organization. When I was 16 yrs. old, I thought about applying to another school, but didn’t. It wasn’t until 2014 that I applied to Guiding Eyes and got my first guide dog in Jan 2015. All my friends went there, and I was especially impressed that they addressed the needs of people with special needs, as well. I will come back to Guiding Eyes again in another 10 years.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “I wouldn’t be living in Austin today had I not gotten a guide dog. It has opened a world of opportunity and independence for me. With a guide dog, I’m able to walk like a normal person, knowing my dog will see things for me. It’s a completely different experience than walking with a cane.”
Were there any training highlights? “The food, both mine and Orlando’s!! Seriously, at first, I wasn’t sure about the 2-week training, as with Irwin, the training was for 3 weeks, but it went well. There was something about being in a busy place like New York and learning the familiarity of the trainers in their own environment that was so helpful. We took Metro-North from Peekskill to Beacon, NY, to focus on platform work training. Orlando likes to body block when the train pulls into the station until the train stops, and he can guide me to the train door. He’s so intuitive. I look forward to coming back to NY one day as a tourist.”
DOB: 6/27/2023
Litter ID: 1OO23
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Lark
Stud: Champ
Littermates: Odyssey, Mitchell, Oceanna, Ozark, Orchard, Ocala, Oberon, Omaha
Region: Catoctin
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser: The Smith Family, Sabrina Wade
Facebook: Catoctin Puppy Raisers
Orlando is confident, loving, and bursting with energy. He’s always ready for the day’s adventures — whether it’s training, running errands, or going for long walks. He loves to play fetch and run with the family dogs, then come inside and snuggle at your feet. It’s been such a joy to watch this once “go, go, go” puppy mature into a dog who can channel that enthusiasm into his guide work. We’re so excited for Orlando’s next adventures and wish him and his partner all the very best as they begin their journey together as a team! ~ Sara Smith
