Q: How long does it take to train a guide dog?
A: From start to finish it is normally a period of
24 months. Usually the dog will spend the first 16 - 18 months with the
Puppy Raiser, then it takes four to six months of training with the
instructor and then an additional three to four weeks in class training
with its new blind master.
Q: What breeds of dogs are used and why?
A: Most Guide Dog schools use both genders of three
breeds: Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds.
These particular dogs have proven equally success as guide dogs because
they meet the three basic requirements of willingness, health and
temperament. The three breeds also provide an ample variety of sizes to
ensure proper matching with the blind master. Other breeds that have
also been used in the guide dog program are the Australian Shepherd,
Doberman, and the Golden Retriever/Labrador mix.
Q: Are Guide Dogs allowed in stores and
restaurants?
A: A blind individual accompanied by a guide dog has
the right to go anywhere the general public is allowed. This includes
restaurants, medical centers, stores of all kinds, taxicabs and
airplanes, to name a few places. These rights are guaranteed by both
Federal and State Laws.
Q: How Does a Guide Dog know where to go?
A: The Blind individual directs them to where he or
she wants to go. Dogs are colorblind and can not read traffic signals.
It is the responsibility of the human member of the team to listen for
the movement of traffic and other sounds in the environment to determine
whether it is safe to proceed. If the guide dog judges that it is
unsafe, it will refuse the command. This is called "intelligent
disobedience".
Q: Can the dog judge width and height?
A: The guide dog is constantly judging width as he
or she walks through streets avoiding obstacles and people, skateboards,
bicycles and so on. Heights are more difficult for the dog to judge but,
in fact, all guide dogs are trained to avoid overhead obstacles.
Q: When does the dog/person unit know when to
proceed across a street?
A: The vision impaired person has been given tuition
in assessing, through hearing, the flow of traffic. When, in the
person's opinion, the road is clear or they have the right of way (as
with traffic lights), they will give the command "forward" to
the dog. Should there be a vehicle moving around the corner or if
perhaps the person does not hear the approach of the vehicle, the dog
may refuse the command but will proceed without further instruction when
the road is clear.
Q: What is the average working life of a guide
dog?
A: Guide dogs are normally about 18 - 24 months old
when they go to their owners and should have about 8 to 10 working years
ahead of them.
Q: Are the dogs allowed to travel on public
transportation?
A: Unlike ordinary domestic pets, guide dogs are
allowed to accompany their owners into all public places and onto any
form of public transport. This includes shops, hotels, motels,
restaurants as well as taxis, buses, trains and planes. (These rights do
not apply to ordinary pets or companion animals).
Q: How does the dog know where its owner wants to
go?
A: in the dog and owner partnership the owner
directs the dog and must, therefore, know how many streets there are to
be crossed, and when to turn left or right to get to a particular
destination. The dog will lead safely and locate doorways, steps, etc.
and after visiting a place once or twice, guide dogs will usually
remember the route and the place in the future. There are many cases
where guide dog owners have reported that their dogs have remembered a
particular doorway or house, even when they have not visited the place
for twelve months or so.
Q: Does the dog ever go out as an ordinary pet,
and can anyone take it out?
A: The guide dog is taught that it is on duty when
in harness. When out of harness, it behaves just like any ordinary dog
and has complete relaxation. Usually when the dog is not actually at
work, it is treated as a family dog and other members of the family can
handle it. Normally, only the guide dog owner takes the dog out and then
it is practically always in harness and working. However, the guide dog
owner could go walking with a partner or friend so that he/she holds
his/her companion with the right hand and has the dog on the leash in
the left hand. Within limitations, this does not damage the training of
the dog in any way.
Q: How long usually does an applicant have to
wait before getting a guide dog?
A: The processing of an applicant (application, home
interview, agency and personal references, medical report) usually
requires 4-6 weeks to accomplish. Placement in class following final
acceptance by the school could take as long as 4-6 months. Usually
graduates who are returning to train with another dog are given
priority, as such replacement because it is vital to them in order to
continue with their lifestyle. Class size is is usually limited to 10 to
20 students per class depending on the guide dog school.
Q: Do the schools get financial assistance from
the government?
A: We would say that we know of no school that
receives any State or Federal money. These organizations rely solely
upon voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations and
foundations. Ways that you can help support a guide dog school are
through individual donations, payroll deduction, workplace giving,
sponsorship, or even participation in fund raising events. For more
information on what schools you could give to please go to The Puppy
Place's "Guide Dog Schools Pages"
where you will finding the listings of most of these organizations
through out the United States.
Q: Can persons of any age have a guide dog?
A: Most guide dog schools will consider for training
any legally blind adult who can use a guide dog safely and effectively,
but usually the minimum age is around fifteen. There is no upper age
limit.
Q: What happens to those dogs and puppies that
are found to be unsuitable for Guide Dog training at any of their
various stages?
A: These dogs that are removed from the Guide Dog
program for any reason are called "Career Change Dogs". Their
Puppy Raiser Volunteer is given the first option to adopt the Career
Change Dog, but if the Puppy Raiser does not wish to keep the dog, it is
then put up for adoption. If you need more details on the guide dog
adoption program, please visit our "Guide
Dog Schools" pages, and contact the organization closest to your
home. Please do not ask us to help you as we cannot speak for these
various organizations or do we know what their individual policies are
concerning adoption.
Q: Do Guide Dog schools accept dog donations?
A: The majority of guide dog schools have their own
very selective breeding program, but on occasion some do accept outside
purebred puppies or adult dogs. If you think your dog/puppy might be a
good candidate for the guide dog program, then you will need to contact
the school of your choice directly, and again not us, as we cannot help
you, nor do we know of the schools that accept donated dogs.
Q: Can the public visit a guide dog school
training center?
A: Yes. Most schools have tours available and also
have a volunteer speaker come out and speak to various groups. Both
tours and speakers are provided to the public free of charge. Public
education is a important part of the guide dogs program. For more
information about this, please contact the guide dog school of your
choice.
|
