Graduate Team: Robert and Fawn
About the Team: Fawn, a yellow female Lab; Robby’s 1st guide dog
Location: Manalapan, New Jersey and Hoboken, New Jersey
Training: August 2025 On-Campus
Robby grew up in Manalapan, NJ. He attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, where he majored in Finance. He has since returned to pursue his Master of Science in Finance. Robby loves the school, and has found the staff to be incredibly supportive. He is lucky to have a dorm room that overlooks the Manhattan skyline. Robby serves on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board for the School of Business. He enjoys visiting NYC, and after graduation, he hopes to work in finance and investment banking. Robby also enjoys fishing with his dad. Although he dislikes eating fish, he is happy to share his catch with family and friends.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Fawn is very much a people dog, very social. She enjoys working and loves food, so this makes her easy to train. Her favorite thing to do is find a target. She is not a huge fan of toys, but she loves her sleep. Occasionally, she will snore loudly or bark in her sleep while dreaming. My professors and fellow students find it amusing if it happens in class. She accompanies me to all my meetings and classes on campus, and she is very popular. The school recently got a therapy dog whom she enjoys meeting.”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “My mom is blind, and she had two guide dogs, so I was very aware of how wonderful a guide dog can be. I looked at a few different guide schools, but wanted to stay local and felt it was important to pick a school that would allow me to visit NYC as part of the training. It was clear to me that Guiding Eyes is very modern and innovative in the way they do their classes. I have some friends who have amazing dogs from Guiding Eyes. The student-to-trainer ratio is low, and it is easy to keep in touch after graduating. They are very accommodating when it comes to helping students adjust to new environments. The staff are all very friendly and professional.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “Having a guide dog has had a huge positive effect on my life. I can walk much faster. I feel safer and am no longer risking tripping on curbs. With Fawn, I can avoid all obstacles without slowing down. It is also fun to have a companion. As a lifelong dog lover, it is a bonus to be able to take my dog wherever I go.”
Were there any training highlights? “My classmates were amazing, and we had a lot of fun throughout training. The biggest highlight for me was when we went into New York City. That is where I realized I had the perfect match. Fawn is a good dog in every environment, but she shines in NYC. It was the hottest day of our training and yet she was confident and happy. Even down in the subway, which is so unpleasant, she was great. I was so happy to get to practice with her, as I hope to eventually work in NYC. My trainers have been amazing, checking in with me after I got home. They visited me on campus after I moved back, and this was very helpful in teaching Fawn some of the routes around the school.”
DOB: 5/8/2023
Litter ID: 1FF23
Color/Breed: Yellow/Labrador Retriever
Gender: Female
Brood: Dawn
Stud: Ralphie
Littermates: Floral, Filbert, Finesse, Future, Fable, Fudge, Fenlon, Fran, Finnegan
Region: Cleveland East
Regional Puppy Instructor: Macy Nauman
Puppy Raiser: Karen Skinder
Facebook: Ohio Puppy Raisers
