The man and his dog stride quickly across campus, maneuvering through and past the students who are strolling at a leisurely pace.

Obviously, Gabriel Griffith and his yellow Lab, Kenzie, know where they’re going and how to get there. Their pace suggests purpose and a clear view of their destination.

But Griffith’s vision is unlike most. It’s more the figurative sort, more the imaginative kind; but it’s still clear and very real.

Griffith was diagnosed with optic neuritis in kindergarten and is legally blind. He can only make out some colors and shapes.

Kenzie is his new guide dog. The proud pair recently graduated from Guide Dogs for the Blind training center in Marin County.

Observing this pair is a study in teamwork, trust and compassion. It also says a lot about family – the human and canine kind.

This is Griffith’s seventh year at Sacramento State. He’s getting his master’s in organizational communication and has received his bachelor’s degree in public relations at Sac State.

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organization that pairs trained dogs with visually-impaired women and men.

“When you apply, they match you up (with a dog) based on your lifestyle, how fast you are, your schedule and what kind of pull you want,” he says.

Griffith and Kenzie are obviously an ideal match. The two graduated on Aug. 30 on the San Rafael campus and have been leading one another for a month and a half now.

“It’s been wonderful. She’s a great worker and really smart,” he said.

Considering his relationship with his dogs, she’s becoming family too.Griffith recently retired his first guide dog, 6-year-old Torey, whom he had for three and a half years. “He was getting old and slowing down. It was really hard for him to keep up with my pace and schedule,” Griffith said.

But Torey didn’t go far – he now lives with Griffith’s father.

Griffith started planning for Kenzie before he retired Torey. “My preference was a yellow Lab retriever, and I was lucky enough to have it work out the second time. I like their color and they’re great as far as temperament,” he said.

Griffith and Kenzie work as a team physically and mentally. He holds on to her tight harness as they read each other’s moves. After a while, it’s more like reading each other’s minds.

“You feel the pride in the job that they do through the harness,” he says. Griffith must know how to reach his destination, such as where to turn, and where he is in reference to where he wants to go. Then he gives commands to the dog to direct him to his destination.

“One misconception that people have is that guide dogs can read street lights and traffic signals,” he says. Griffith can’t simply say, “student union” and have the dog take him there, though it seems like that kind of communication happens all the time.

Griffith needs to know where he is, and give the commands to the dog, such as guiding him left or right, or turning him around. “When I feel her make her way around an obstacle, it’s important to praise her; it reinforces the idea of what she’s supposed to do,” he said.

People have told Griffith that they know they’re not supposed to pet the guide dog while she’s “working,” but they can’t help themselves because she’s just so lovable.

Others have told Griffith that he’s mean for not giving his guide dog treats.

“It’s important to keep them on a steady diet,” he said. “If there are health issues, it could lead to ultimately having to retire them earlier.”

Griffith plans on having Kenzie aid him for the next four to six years.

Training begins for guide dogs when they’re puppies. They work between six and eight weeks with a skilled group of volunteers to observe their temperaments and how willing they are to learn.

Then they are placed in homes of puppy raisers between eight and nine weeks to learn basic training skills and obedience.

When they’re 14 to 18 months old, they are returned to Guide Dogs for the Blind school, where they are trained with licensed instructors, and then matched up with their partner.

“As great workers they are, they are still dogs, and do get distracted by chickens, roosters, squirrels and other dogs on campus,” said Griffith.

Griffith uses a method known as “correction and affection,” where the dog is corrected and given praise, depending on its behavior. Sometimes they’ll go off the curb or run into a pole.

“If you let them get away with running into something, it becomes a habit, and they need to know it’s not OK to run into it again.”

Correcting the dog lets it know what they did wrong, and giving them a pat on the back or verbal praise is positive reinforcement.

“As soon as she does it correctly the next time, she goes, “Hey that’s what I’m supposed to do,” tail wagging and bouncing across the street,” said Griffith.

Off the job, the two make time for quality fun, relaxation, and time to unwind.

“When we’re at home and the harness if off, it’s playtime and she’s kind of a pet. But when it’s time to go, she knows it’s time to work,” Griffith said.

Griffith keeps Kenzie with him almost always, on and off the job. “She’s still new enough to the whole situation that I keep her with me most of the time.”

They pace off quickly into the crowd of students, side by side, as if they belong together. “They become an extension of you,” he said.