In this on‑site segment filmed in Elyria, Ohio, host Michael Schneider announces a new partnership between PTTR Top Dog and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. The collaboration’s goal is to air‑transport three guide‑dog puppies—Dove (a sable German Shepherd), and two Labrador retrievers named Bagel and Breeze—to their volunteer raiser, Mark, for the intensive two‑year training program that prepares them to become seeing‑eye dogs. Mark explains his 11‑year experience raising puppies, the obedience and IFT (in‑for‑training) phases, and the typical 12‑18‑month timeline before the dogs are matched with visually impaired individuals. The video contrasts the previous ground‑based, 8‑hour drives with the current flight, highlighting savings in time, gas, and stress. Emotional moments include the hand‑off of each puppy, remarks on the difficulty of parting with them, and a light‑hearted exchange about bagel lox. Influencer Mackenzie Zam and a donor are also featured, with Mackenzie urging viewers to donate. The segment serves both to document the logistical improvement and to raise public awareness and support for guide‑dog training.
Chapters
We're here in Elyria, Ohio, just west of Cleveland. Today we started a new partnership with Guiding Eyes for the Blind. Guiding Eyes is a great organization. They provide training for dogs which eventually become seeing eye dogs for the blind. And the mission that we did today was to transport 3 puppies that are going to go through extensive training for over a year. I'll let Mark talk a little bit about that. And today we have a donor who came on a flight with us who connected me with Guiding Eyes, as well as Mackenzie Zam, influencer, who will talk a little bit. So welcome. Appreciate your support. It's very cold up in here in Ohio. There is snow we saw in the air. I don't see any on the ground here, but this is not an easy airport to get into. You see that line of trees? That line of trees is just at the edge of the landing. So we had to drop it in. So first we'll talk with Mark. Mark, you don't mind talking a little bit about raising the puppies for Guiding Eyes? Tell our people what your duty is with the dogs we brought in.
So my wife and I have been raising for 11 years now, and we would get a puppy and Keep it for anywhere from 12 to 15 months, maybe 18, and there's been a little delay with COVID And then we basically teach it obedience commands, go to classes weekly, and get it all ready for its next step. And its next step would be, after we teach it all of its obedience commands, going for its IFT, which is in-for-training. And once it passes, it would go for another 6 months and work with other trainers and work with curbs and traffic stops and lights and all of that, and then be matched with a, um, seeing-impaired individual. And the rest is history.
And how did you normally transport these puppies before we did this flight? It was on the ground, right?
It was on the ground, yeah. I mean, you've got to drive, and sometimes it's a long drive from here, you know, to New York, uh, like a good 8 hours. Yes, absolutely. So this is fantastic, and I'm getting my puppy so quickly, and it's right in my hands. And I'm glad you had a safe flight, and this is perfect. So whenever my puppy has to travel, it's, you know, all set to go on a plane again. Right.
You're doing this as a volunteer, correct?
Yes, we're all volunteers.
Yeah, so it's a huge benefit not have to drive 16 hours round trip to pick up the puppy, right?
Absolutely. It saves on gas and headaches and everything.
Excellent. Well, we're looking forward to doing more for Guiding Eyes, and thanks for contributing.
Thank you very much for your service. We really appreciate it.
You got it. You got it. Andrea, you want to say anything?
Oh, I think we want to give him his puppy.
Oh yeah, let's do that. Yeah, we got 3 puppies. Which puppy is yours, Mark?
Mine is Dove, which is the Sable German Shepherd.
Dove.
She's a female.
All females. And the other 2 are Labradors, I think, right? Yeah, so let's see what's going on here. Here's McKenzie. McKenzie's trying to get one out, but no, no, no. Oh, here's Dove.
Here she is!
Look at those ears.
Look at her. Hi sweetie. Hi sweetie. Papa. Puppy breath, puppy breath.
It must be so hard to give these dogs up.
It's very hard. Um, the raisers, um, have an opportunity— or I'm sorry, the person we raise them, but the person who they go to has an opportunity to keep in touch with us, and many times they do. And so that's a really great feeling when you, you know, can see your puppy in action and working and keep in touch with them. Absolutely.
That's great.
Yeah.
So it's about a year to year and a half process?
So we'll keep— it's a 2-year process that the dogs go through. Yes.
Ah, well, have a great life, Dove. Dove's gonna provide some seeing eye services.
Yes, she is.
Yeah, I think she's ready to eat. She's hungry.
You hungry?
Yeah.
So who's next? Here's Bagel. Andrea's holding Bagel.
Bagel!
Who's got Bagel?
Here comes Bagel's foster.
I hope you have cream cheese because we got a shortage in New York.
We want some bagel lox and cream cheese.
Yeah, anything you want to say? I know you don't want to be on camera. Okay, well, Bagel, have a great life. Thank you.
Yeah, great.
And here's Breeze.
Yep, here's Breeze. Yeah, Breeze is going to her mama.
All right, so the 3 puppies arrived safely. Mackenzie, how was the flight?
I'm so lucky and so honored to be here. Thank you so much, and don't forget to donate, please.
Absolutely. Mackenzie is going to be documenting her experience on the flight, and she got to play with all 3 dogs back here. I mean, she really— you're basically in a puppy pen. Yeah, yeah, so excited. Great, thank you. You're welcome, you're welcome. Okay, well, very short live stream today. We're gonna get these puppies, uh, something to eat, and we're gonna head right back to New Jersey. Thank you for joining, and we'll see you on the next mission. I think it's this Sunday. Bye-bye. Thank you.
