BRED TO LEAD GUIDE DOGS ARE INSTANT BEST FRIENDS.

Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer

SYLMAR - Paul Jordan's guide dog, Rawhide, is special in more ways than one.

Rawhide, a black Labrador, was trained by John Barletta, who served as one of former President Ronald Reagan's Secret Service officials for 17 years. The dog also bears the name of Reagan's Secret Service code name.

Rawhide, Jordan and Barletta were reunited Saturday at the Guide Dogs of America Open House at 13445 Glenoaks Boulevard in Sylmar.

About 1,000 people and 200 guide dogs and puppies-in-training attended the open house, which featured a silent auction, GDA merchandise, a ``puppy kisses'' booth, and an obstacle course for the puppies to navigate, said Debbie Sands, sponsor program coordinator.

For Jordan, 67, of Valencia, Rawhide has been ``like a light shining in the darkness.''

``I put the harness on him and he turns into a warrior,'' Jordan said, as the sleek dog sat patiently at his feet, waiting his master's next command. ``I take it off, and he wants to play Frisbee.''

``He never lets me out of his sight; when I take a shower, he lies by the shower,'' said Jordan, who has only limited vision in his left eye, and lost the vision in his right eye three years ago from a stroke in the eye.

Rawhide is the third guide dog Barletta, 59, Santa Barbara, has trained.

``I get so much out of it,'' Barletta said, smiling. ``You give to receive. God wants me to do this.''

One day, while preparing to give a speech, Barletta heard a radio program talking about Guide Dogs of America.

Later that same day, he found a newspaper he didn't subscribe to at his front door. On the front page was a photo of a blind person with a guide dog. Barletta got the message.

People can lose their vision at any age, from a myriad causes, from congenital conditions to accidents or other medical conditions.

Cari Shields, 28, of Temecula started losing her vision to macular degeneration when she was 9 years old. Her yellow Lab, Denver ``has given me a lot of independence,'' she said.

Encino resident Lorri Bernson, 42, lost her sight to diabetes 8 years ago. She now relies on Nigel, her golden retriever guide dog, to get her where she needs to go.

``I'm not alone anymore if I go somewhere by myself,'' said Bernson, who was also celebrating her birthday Saturday. ``It's easier with the dog helping you. You've got another brain working with you.''

Amber McLain, 20, of Van Nuys, who lost her vision at birth, said getting around is just faster and easier with a guide dog than using a cane.

Using a cane, she encountered every bump and pothole in her path, she said, but her German shepherd, Zest, just steers her around them, creating a ``world without obstacles.''

``It's been a miracle in my life,'' McLain said.

GDA, which was founded in 1948, is one of only 10 guide-dog training facilities in the country. The not-for-profit organization breeds, trains and provides about 50 guide dogs a year to people with vision impairment, Sands said.

It costs about $38,000 to train a guide dog, which are all raised by volunteers.

Private donations cover the costs so that the dogs can be provided to the visually impaired for free. Only five out of 10 puppies-in-training are deemed suitable after the 18-month training period to become a full-fledged guide dog.

Guide dogs have traditionally been German shepherds, golden retrievers or Labrador retrievers, but GDA has recently started raising standard poodles because they are hypo-allergenic, an option for the visually impaired who with allergies to other dog breeds.

For more information, call [phone] or visit the Web site at www.guidedogsofamerica.org.

Lisa M. Sodders, [phone]

lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(1 -- 2) At left, Cathy Makshanoff wears her love for her dogs on a headband Saturday at the annual Guide Dogs of America open house in Sylmar. Helene Diamond, above, collects a kiss from a 9-month-old black Lab named Halle. Guide Dogs of America is a nonprofit group that breeds, trains and provides some 50 guide dogs a year to people with impaired vision.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer