Graduate Team: Dishon and Rogue
About the Team Rogue, a female black & tan German Shepherd, is Shon’s 4th guide but 1st from Guiding Eyes
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Training: August 2025 On-Campus
Shon recently graduated with a degree in business administration and hopes to start a nonprofit organization to help offset the costs of services for individuals with disabilities. He currently works at the Colorado Center for the Blind, assisting seniors who are losing their vision with travel, Braille, technology, and home management skills. In his (limited!) free time, he enjoys spending time with family, attending car shows with his son, and listening to music and podcasts. Shon has had three guide dogs since 2000, but he is also very adept at using a cane and enjoys the versatility of being able to rely on either, depending on the situation. Rogue, a female black and tan German Shepherd, is Shon’s fourth guide dog but first from Guiding Eyes.
How would you describe your guide dog? “Rogue is my first female guide dog. I wanted to get a female dog this time so I could see if there would be any differences in temperament. So far, she is a lot less barky than the males! Like my previous German Shepherds, when she’s not working, she will alert if she hears someone outside, but once they’re in the house, she’s totally fine. Rogue loves to chew on her Benebone. In the morning, we go out for a walk, and then we walk to work together. Sometimes we walk home in the afternoon, as well. We both love walking!”
What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes? “I first realized a guide dog would be helpful when I was living in New Mexico years ago with a friend who had a guide dog. I was doing the Police Citizens Academy there. The classes took place at night, and when we were walking home, some guys were following behind us. My friend was up ahead walking with his guide dog, but with my eye condition, it was hard to keep up. This made me feel less safe, and I realized I could benefit from having a guide dog, since I was not seeing as well at night. Rogue is now my 4th guide dog. My other guide dogs were from another school, but Guiding Eyes was able to accommodate me more quickly. I’ve been without a guide dog for two years now, so I really needed to get another one as soon as I could. Guiding Eyes was able to step up and come through on this! I also wanted to try a different school to see what their training and teaching style is like. At the time, I had a coworker who was a graduate of Guiding Eyes and spoke very highly of the program.”
How has having a guide dog impacted your life? “It is totally different traveling with a cane vs. traveling with a dog. A cane is going to show me what’s there, whereas a guide dog is going to take me around it. I love having the flexibility of being able to use either. If I want to take Rogue out for a walk somewhere, I can; or, if I want to leave her at home and use my cane, I can do that. At the Colorado Center for the Blind, I work with older blind senior citizens, and I’ve taken Rogue to some of my home visits and to some of my group support meetings that I host. At the meetings, I talk about what she does for me. Everyone loves to hear that, and one of my newest support groups was particularly interested in hearing all about her and what is involved. It’s nice to be able to share this experience with others.”
Were there any training highlights? “I loved it when a classmate and I got to work our dogs together. Her dog, Dusty, and Rogue just ended up being great friends. We would go through neighborhoods, switching off who was leading, and it was a really positive experience for both us and the dogs. Visiting Starbucks, we would be sitting drinking coffee, and Rogue and Dusty would be under the table, sometimes pawing each other as play like little kids. They did the same thing at graduation! Also, the trainers were fantastic. I really liked my trainer, Kat. She was so inspirational and allowed me to let her know what I needed and what would work best for me. I really appreciated that.”
DOB: 3/21/2022
Litter ID: 4R22
Color/Breed: Black & Tan/German Shepherd
Gender: Female
Brood: Xena
Stud: Hobie
Littermates: Renegade, Rookie, Royal
Region: Southern Tier NY
Regional Puppy Instructor: Cassie Houghton
Puppy Raiser: The Houghton Family
Facebook: Southern Tier NY Puppy Raisers
Rogue amazed me from the first day she came home! She has always been ready and willing for any and all adventures and never let anything get to her. I wish her and her partner Dishon all the best on their new adventures! ~ Cassie Houghton
