Lindsay and Posy

Meet Graduate Lindsay

Graduate Team:  Lindsay and Posy       
About the Team:  Posy, a female black Lab, is Lindsay’s 1^st Guiding Eyes dog
Location:  Albuquerque, New Mexico
Training:  July 2023 On-Campus Class

Lindsay graduated from Colorado Christian University in 2009 with a degree in Psychology.  She was born with optic nerve hypoplasia and went on to become an advocate for those with disabilities. After college she volunteered for, then became an employee of, the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Council. Her job includes attending conferences and traveling throughout the state doing presentations, teaching people with disabilities leadership and advocacy skills, self-confidence, and self-awareness. Her talks often take place in schools, spreading the message to young people with disabilities that they can achieve their goals and it’s fine to accept help along the way. She also worked on creating a Disability Awareness Curriculum, written for grades 1-5 and intended for distribution to all school districts in the state.

How would you describe your guide dog?  “Posy is a pocket rocket. She is small, fast, and full of life. She is both serious and incredibly snuggly. She’s the best traveler. I’ve ever had. She settles well in all environments. I love that. I live in the city and have to cross 6 lanes of very fast traffic, and she gets me across safely. She guides me down narrow sidewalks, past businesses with awnings and café tables out front. Her intelligence is incredible, as we’ve had to learn to work as a team with her on the right side. For 17 years my guide dogs worked to my left side, which is typical, but a shoulder injury necessitated that Posy be retrained on the right, and she is nailing it.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Some of my friends have guide dogs from Guiding Eyes and they had been encouraging me to apply there. Guiding Eyes would offer multiple types of harnesses, which could accommodate my shoulder issues. When early on in our partnership it was determined Posy also needed to switch sides, the Training Department and my remote instructor were very supportive in making that happen. With Posy’s right side retraining and the use of different harnesses, I’m able to look forward to hiking and many other adventures.”

How has a guide dog impacted your life? “I’m enjoying the independence, confidence, speed, and fluidity of navigating with my guide. I can move faster and more effortlessly in my environment, and I’m more willing to explore unfamiliar areas with my dog. It’s great having a travel buddy, especially when traveling to visit family. There’s also improved interaction with the public when working with my dog rather than a cane. I am fortunate to have friends with guide dogs who live nearby, and we enjoy getting together with our dogs so they can run and play.”

Were there any training highlights? “Class was hilarious! We were laughing all the time. Classmates and trainers were incredible in keeping everything fun and light. When my trainer and I went with her into stores, Posy would get out of the van, in through the doors and drop to the floor, lying with her back legs stretched out.  It must have felt cool on a hot day!”

Meet Guide Dog Posy

DOB:  5/14/2021
Litter ID: 7P21
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Flora
Stud: Dasher
Littermates: Prince, Poppy, Peony
Region:  SWCT
Regional Puppy Instructor: Maureen Hollis
Puppy Raiser:  Hugh & Paula Wiles Sigmon
Facebook: Southwest CT Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

At the beginning, little Posy terrorized her GEB big sister Kathryn by relentlessly chasing, biting her neck and ears, and leading us to call her “the Posy Project.” Months later, the tables turned when Posy became the patient big sister to GEB Visa, who tormented her with similar puppy tactics! Posy enjoyed outdoor activities like hiking on trails near home, splashing in a back yard kiddie pool, and sharing puppy kisses with young and old alike at kissing booths at concerts and fairs. A small but feisty dog, she became known as Peanut Posy to her trainers, as the class clown to her graduating class and to all who saw her in her favorite Posy pose, as the Queen of Sploot. Best wishes to Posy and partner Lindsay!  ~Hugh Sigmon & Paula Wiles Sigmon, Puppy Raisers

Photos of the Team…