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Leading the Way: Guide Dogs at Work for the BlindGuide dogs are trained to aid the visually impaired. Guide dogs for the blind are usually raised from birth to perform their jobs effectively and with confidence. The National Association of Guide Dog Users caters to the needs of the blind facilitating the pairing of individuals and guide dogs.Breeds commonly used as guide dogs include German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Golden Retrievers. Of the three, Labrador Retrievers are the most popular, representing roughly 70% of the working guide dogs in the world. How are Guide Dogs TrainedIf you want and answer to the question, "How are guide dogs trained," ask for permission to attend a training session offered by the National Federation of the Blind. Founded in 1940, the organization is the oldest of its type in America and pioneered the use of assistance dogs for the visually impaired.Today, more than a dozen dog schools conduct guide dog training program all over the United States. These dogs start their training while still puppies and are raised and socialized with foster families. As puppies, guide dogs are trained to acquire basic social skills as well as core obedience skills. The host family familiarizes the dog with public places and gets it used to being in noisy, crowded spaces. At fourteen months of age, animals that have good potential to become guide dogs are selected to continue their training. (Those animals that are not good candidates are placed in loving homes.) Next the animals are taught, among other things, to walk in a straight line without sniffing, to avoid obstacles at head height, and to wait for a command before crossing a road. After passing that last phase of training, the dogs are then carefully matched with the lifestyle of their potential masters as well as with the individual's travel requirements. Dogs that are energetic and alert are given to blind people who will best benefit from those traits. The guide dog professionals are experienced in considering the special needs of the client and matching them to the special abilities of a given dog. Some schools have a residential living program for the blind person to be trained with the dog. Others are trained in the home. Guide dog training courses are mostly free, but some schools do require a minimal fee, usually to cover breeding costs. Continue to: Ideal Information on Guide Dog Training Related ArticlesHealing Hearts, Therapy Dogs in ActionAssistance Dogs: Bred to Help Intro to the World of Guard Dogs Outstanding Canine Heroes: Search and Rescue Dogs Best Tips for Training Hunting Dogs Best of the Best: Show Dogs |
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