Graduate Team: Rachel and Odyssey
About the Team Odyssey, a female black Lab, is Rachel’s 1st guide dog
Location: Bonaire, Georgia
Training: June 2025 On-Campus
Rachel works as a Systems Engineer for the United States Air Force, and in this role, she ensures the successful development and deployment of complex engineering systems. Her first guide dog, Odyssey, has successfully integrated into Rachel’s professional life, accompanying her on work travel, navigating airports, settling on planes, and experiencing meetings in conference rooms. In addition to her busy day job, Rachel is also the mother of an active four-year-old, who has become good friends with Odyssey. They have been known to romp happily around the house when Odyssey is out of harness, playing and tiring each other out. In her valuable spare time, Rachel enjoys hiking and various outdoor activities.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Odyssey is very smart and friendly. She tries to outsmart me at times, usually when there’s food around, as she veers closer and closer. She’s also very loving. She has a stuffed pig she loves, and she plays so nicely with my four-year-old, just trotting around. After our graduation, we hit the ground running, as I returned to work the first week I was back. We’ve even been on a few work trips, and she did well. Sometimes in meetings, she will act bored or dramatically sigh, and even snore! She enjoyed it when we closed the door in the conference room, and I took her off harness so she could greet everyone!”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “My vision has been progressively getting worse, but I didn’t start using a cane all the time until a few years ago. Since canes are more object detectors and dogs are more object avoiders, I was interested in object avoidance, as well as being able to independently find doorways. I first applied to Guiding Eyes because of the Home Training program, since I have a young child, but ultimately I ended up doing the 2-week on-campus training program. Two weeks worked perfectly with my schedule. I compared programs and liked how Guiding Eyes has a lot of post-graduate support. Although they advertise traditional guide dog training, I love how open they are to making adjustments if necessary. I completed my application in late August, and then I got a call in May. For me, the turnaround time was quick!”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog gives me more independence to go places. A guide dog helps as an identifier. There have been fewer confusing interactions with people who were not able to tell that I can’t see well. Having a guide dog also makes it so much easier to get through the airports and to meetings. It’s been nice to be able to be more independent in my work setting. I had not used a cane for very long before getting a guide dog, so the transition wasn’t as challenging, although the first month was a little hard adjusting to the extra time it took for us to figure out our routine. It’s only my 4-year-old and me, so my day is pretty much booked! We had to take some extra time for logistics, but we have a great routine now.”
Were there any training highlights? “I loved the trainers, as well as the small group setting. There were four of us: two who were around the same age and getting our first guide dogs, and two who’d each had multiple guide dogs. It was great being with a group of people with varied levels of experience. On the one hand, I had someone to relate to as a first-time guide dog recipient, but on the other hand, I could get advice and support from the people who had a lot of experience. I enjoyed when the dogs got to go off-leash and play together in the play yard. Odyssey kept bringing toys and trying to get the other dogs to play. She was the most food-motivated of all the dogs, and we had to work hard at first to be well-mannered at the dinner table. If the food came, her head would pop right up! Everyone I interacted with at Guiding Eyes seemed very passionate about what they did. I don’t think I met anyone there who didn’t thoroughly enjoy their job. This really provided a very warm and welcoming experience for all of us.”
DOB: 6/27/2023
Litter ID: 2OO23
Color/Breed: Black/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Lark
Stud: Champ
Littermates: Orlando, Mitchell, Oceanna, Ozark, Orchard, Ocala, Oberon, Omaha
Region: Erie NY
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cassie Houghton
Puppy Raiser: Lynn Stas, Laura & Bob Marth
Facebook: Erie NY Puppy Raisers
Odyssey woke up each day with a zest for life. She often would look like she was smiling and in turn her smile was infectious. May she and her new partner enjoy many special adventures and special moments together! ~ Laura Marth
Odyssey was a puppy that I started until she was 5 months old. She was so fun and eager to learn. She liked to watch and learn about the world. She visited the nursing home where my Mom lives twice a week with me and was loved by my Mom and the staff. There she learned about all kinds of equipment and noises and how to work on patience with people around doing their jobs. We also did a meet up with other raisers and their dogs and she loved it. Loved starting her such a fun puppy. ! ~ Lynn Stas
