Antoinette and Orleans

Meet Graduate Antoinette

Graduate Team:  Antoinette and Orleans
About the Team:  Orleans: a female yellow Lab; Antoinette’s 2nd Guiding Eyes dog
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
Training:  February 2025 Home Training

Antoinette is a busy college student at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, where she is studying for her bachelor’s in Communication and Public Relations. Her plans include pursuing her Master’s in English or Journalism. She’s active in student life on campus as a mentor at UNCG. She supports incoming freshmen on campus by helping them join clubs and providing essential resources as they transition into college life, ensuring they receive the support they need. She lives on campus and shares her suite with fellow Guiding Eyes graduate Sarah and her guide dog, Heron. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with Sarah and their friend Jaden, listening to music, exploring, and going for walks. Orleans and Heron love to play together, especially when they get to run up and down the dorm hallway! When not at school, Antoinette lives at home with her parents and their dog, Bella She has four siblings, all of whom live away from home. She graduates in January 2026 and is excited to embark on the next chapter with Orleans at her side!

How would you describe your guide dog? “She’s so quiet and relaxed and very well-mannered. She’s very focused and loves to work. She likes to play with toys, especially chewing on her Nylabones, more so than her squeaky toys. She sleeps in her kennel, but I also got her a little pink carpet to lay on, and she enjoys that, too!  She loves to be close to me and climbs into my lap. Every move you make, she’s with you! She loves to cross her paws when she lies down. She’s a queen!”

What made you decide to apply for a guide dog from Guiding Eyes?  “I had always heard a lot of good things. Most of the people I know went to Guiding Eyes, so when I was ready to apply, my mind went straight to Guiding Eyes. It is also closer to North Carolina. I heard good things about the school and how they accommodate their students. They were so welcoming, making you feel like, ‘We welcome you here, and we want you here.’ Everyone is so nice!”

How has having a guide dog impacted your life?  “Orleans loves to work. She loves to please, she loves to do her job, and she’s always focused. That has helped me a lot. I feel like that alone has really helped my journey. I put on my shoes, and she’s in my face or already standing at the door and ready to go. She loves her work. You can tell, which is a good thing! That makes it more enjoyable than stressful to go out with Orleans. She’s like, ‘I’m sticking by your side, I know what I’m supposed to do, I know what I’m not supposed to do.’ Her puppy raisers did an amazing job with Orleans, I can tell you that! She’s very aware of her surroundings.”

Were there any training highlights?  “I can definitely say my highlight was that the trainer I had, Miss Kathy, was so amazing. She would say, ‘I’m here to help you, and if you need anything, let me know.’ I got to know my instructor on a deeper level. It was a great bond for us! We spent 10 days together, so the day she left, I was happy and sad. We would see each other at 8 o’clock every day. The whole experience was a good experience!”

Meet Guide Dog Orleans

DOB:  2/14/2023
Litter ID: 6O23
Color/Breed:  Yellow/Labrador
Gender: Female
Brood: Jane
Stud: Loki
Littermates: Orson, Orion, Odyssey, Omaha, Ohio, Othello, Ozark, Okie, Odette
Region:  Central NY
Regional Puppy Instructor: MeKalea Chambliss
Puppy Raiser:  Ruth & Larry McConnelee
Facebook: Central NY Puppy Raisers

Photos of the Team…