Mason and Sonic

Meet Graduate Mason

Graduate Team: Mason and Sonic
About the Team: Sonic – male black Lab; Mason’s 1st guide dog
Location: Wilder, Kentucky
Training: August 2024 On-Campus

Mason works remotely as a systems technician, a role he has held since graduating from Northern Kentucky University in 2023. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer information technology with a minor in information security. In his job, he supports a wide range of technology, from computer networks and end user devices to servers and services in the cloud. He also enjoys writing computer programs in his spare time, reading, listening to music, cooking, exercising, working out, and going to church. Mason is a musical person who constantly seeks to fulfill his musical passion by playing just about any instrument he can get his hands on. He is primarily a drummer but also enjoys playing other instruments, such as the guitar and piano. Mason also loves to be in nature and enjoys spending time outdoors. After graduating from college, Mason settled in the greater Cincinnati area and purchased a house there. Although they’re spread out across different states, he maintains a close relationship with his family. 

How would you describe your guide dog? “He’s smart, and that was clear in class. He patterns so well. Out on routes, he’d know almost instinctively where I would need to go based on where we started. He is picking up on other routes that I’ve been teaching him well. He’s such a sharp dog, and he loves everybody. He’s eager to meet everybody who comes over to my house and always has so much energy all the time. He’s just a good dog.”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “Well, I’m a runner, and I say this because back in late 2020, I was talking with a friend of mine who runs as well. She applied for a guide dog at GEB and told me that they had a Running Guide Program, which I didn’t realize. I’d never been that interested in getting a guide dog before, but after she told me that, I looked into it a little more. I thought about it a while and talked it over with a few people and eventually decided, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ The Running Guide Program was a huge part of why I applied. I wanted to get off the treadmill, you know, and to be able to run outside, which you can’t really do unless you find a human guide.”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life?  “I haven’t been with him that long, but the immediate difference I’ve noticed is that I can finally live life at my speed. Sonic is incredibly fast, which is good because I tend to walk rather fast as well. I appreciate human assistance when I get it, but it’s good to be able to go at my speed. Sonic will find the clearest, most direct path through, so there’s no more using my cane, finding obstacles, slowing or stopping to get around them, and then speeding back up. Now, I can zoom right through and miss everything. It’s the coolest thing ever.”

Were there any training highlights?  “In class, I was able to get out and run with Sonic so I could get a feel for it, and the instructors could teach me about running with a dog. There’s a park not far from campus with a 2.8 mile loop. I just loved being out there in the cool early morning air, running totally independently!  Of course, I was pretty out of shape and couldn’t run the whole thing, but it was still so awesome to be able to do it! What an experience! That was a very big highlight.  Another came during instruction on teaching our guides new words for targeting things. So, I was teaching Sonic the word ‘chair’ and he caught on very quickly, by the way. To make sure your dog understands the word, you have to back up away from your target and tell them to take you there. I would back up, just about all the way across the room, and ask Sonic to take me to the chair, so he did and got a food reward. Then I turned him around to do it again. He did it and got rewarded again. Before I could have him do it another time, Sonic excitedly turned and rushed to the other side of the room, turned back towards the chair, and waited for me to tell him to go to it! It was like, ‘This is such a fun game! Let’s do it again!’ It was really pretty funny, and my instructor told me he’d never seen a dog do that before. Sonic is always making me laugh.”

Meet Guide Dog Sonic

DOB:  3/26/2022
Litter ID: 6S22
Color/Breed:  Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Male
Brood: Terri
Stud: Midnight
Littermates: Sierra, Sandra, Sherman, Suzanne, Stitch
Region:  Montgomery
Regional Puppy Instructor: Jeanyne Gembarski
Puppy Raiser:  Carson Pursifull & Jacob Tate
Facebook: Montgomery Puppy Raisers

From the Puppy Raiser…

Sonic was a lot of fun to raise, as a curious and high energy dog, he was always willing to go explore and learn. Sonic was lucky enough to get to come to work with me in an elementary school. He was beloved by all of the staff and students, always providing positive energy even in uncertain times. He was so appreciated that the community collected money to donate to Guiding Eyes to honor his return to the training school! It is no surprise that Sonic is going to make a great guide dog and we are grateful to be a part of his journey. ~ Carson Pursifull & Jake Tate 

Photos of the Team…