Many students and teachers have already given a warm welcome to the newest member of the Berkeley family, Dewey. Dewey, named after the Dewey Decimal System, was sponsored by the Student Library Proctors and is the fifth guide dog UD Librarian C. D. McLean has trained.

McLean serves as Dewey’s puppy trainer, the first stage in the rigorous and competitive process of guide dog training. For about a year, puppy trainers teach their dogs basic commands, manners, and expose them to the real world. After this time is up, the puppies are returned back to the facilities where they stay for intensive training with certified trainers. From there, only 38% of the dogs make the cut into serving visually impaired people in the real world.

McLean has certainly enjoyed training guide dogs, and she has learned a few lessons along the way. She said, “I have finally realized after training multiple dogs that dogs are much like people; they all have different issues.” Being a puppy trainer means one has to figure out each individual dog’s obstacles and help him or her overcome these obstacles. In Dewey’s case, although he is extremely sweet and adoring, he can be a bit stubborn and shy.

In order to help him out, McLean has been using publicity tools such as Instagram (follow him- @berkeleypuppy) and has taken him around campus to meet as many new people as possible. If you haven’t already, stop by the library to meet Dewey, take pictures with him, and wish him the best of success.