Millions of Americans with disabilities rely on hope to get them through each day; hope for a breakthrough; hope for gaining or reclaiming independence; and hope for a friend. Each year, hundreds of them find hope at a handful of organizations across the country that train assistance dogs for people with disabilities. The new primetime PBS documentary, “Through a Dog’s Eyes”, follows the life-changing journey of recipients as they go through the heartwarming and sometimes difficult process of receiving and being matched with a service dog. Jennifer Arnold, founder of one of the nation’s largest service dog organizations, Canine Assistants, shows her unique teaching methods and lets viewers have an intimate look at the canine-recipient matching process. Based on the book of the same name by Jennifer Arnold, “Through a Dog’s Eyes” will explore the science behind Jennifer Arnold’s teaching methods and follow the stories of recipients as their lives begin to change with the help of some very special dogs. Produced by TPT National Productions, in association with Partisan Pictures, “Through a Dog’s Eyes” offers inspiring, hopeful stories that show how dogs can affect everyone’s life. “This film will change the way people think about their own dogs,” said Naomi S. Boak, executive producer, who also produced the critically acclaimed and Primetime Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary “The Forgetting: A Portrait of Alzheimer’s.” “Through a Dog’s Eyes” shows the importance of the human-canine bond and how, when fostered, that bond can grow into a beautiful, life-changing relationship.” “Through a Dog’s Eyes” is an optimistic, buoyant documentary that follows the journey that a handful of recipients go through as they meet their new best friend—a Canine Assistants’ dog. “Through a Dog’s Eyes” also follows the drama as recipients are matched with their canine companions and as they learn how to work with their new partners. It’s an inspiring family journey. Arnold describes her teaching methods and discusses the life-changing impact these dogs have on recipients. In addition, the world’s foremost dog expert, Dr. Ádám Miklósi, head of the Department of Ethology at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, and founder of the Family Dog Research Project, takes a role in “Through a Dog’s Eyes” by analyzing the organization’s training methods and discussing how science supports the training philosophy. Jennifer Arnold’s teaching methods will be the subject of a memoir, slated to be released in early September. The book, also titled “Through a Dog’s Eyes,” is being published by Spiegel & Grau, a division of Random House. “Through a Dog’s Eyes”, premiers April 21, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT (check local listings). The documentary is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and funded by Milk-Bone® brand.
