What is the Role of a Guide Dog?

By Anna W

Guide dogs also known as assistance dogs or seeing eye dogs are trained to help people who are blind or partially blind around obstacles. The dog must learn how to be physically sound and desensitized to most public situations. Most seeing eye dogs are primarily medium to big size dogs such as German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and boxers. Occasionally, rescued dogs from shelters start their career as a guide dog. Some mixed breeds such as labradoodles are especially good for people with allergy. Also, puppies are raised by volunteers, who train basic obedience training and socialization until the puppies are eighteen months old. The seeing eye dog training last from three to four months. Most schools for guide dogs conduct physical exam to see if the dog is fit to be a guide dog.

The dogs learn advanced obedience skills such as pulling in harness, stopping at curbs, and know how to protect the handler and itself from danger. Due to the dogs color blindness of not seeing red or green, the owner must make judgment from movement of traffic by its sound and command his/ her dog to move forward. The dog only carries out the command if it is safe to do so. After the training, the dog spends a month at the community, school, or an individual instructor with visually impaired people who are accepted to begin work with their new dog. After the dog finish training with the new owner, they are certified and released.

Despite strict restriction for prohibiting dogs to enter certain places, seeing eye dogs have special permission to escort their owners in places like government agency and general public areas. Visually impaired people can lead their lives with a guide dog for assistance.

They know their own community very well and can direct their dogs to lead them to places by giving basic commands as "forward," "right," and "left." When they go to a new place, the blind person always ask people for assistance for directions.

Guide dogs usually work for seven to eight years before retiring. After their retirement, they can be used as family pet, given to family or friends, or returned back to the Seeing Eye Center.

Anna W http://www.kipgus.info