Guide dogs also called seeing-eye dogs, are working animals that are specially trained to help people who are blind or have low vision to travel safely around their community and become more independent. Guide dogs are a special type of assistance dog.
Research suggests that the benefits of a Guide Dog range from psychological, social and physiological. Also known as service dogs or seeing-eye dogs, Guide Dogs are specially trained to offer mobility assistance to people with low vision or blindness.
These dogs help visually impaired people stop at curbs, recognise potential hazards locate where to cross and move safely through busy crowds. Anyone experiencing difficulty moving independently and safely through the community can benefit from having a guide dog.
Which breeds are suitable for service?
Early on, German Shepherds were the most utilized breed for service positions, but today many breeds fill these spots. Trainers recognize that Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Standard Poodles, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Boxers, Airedales, Collies, Dobermans, and other appropriately-sized breeds work quite well as guide dogs. Size is important because the height of the dog at the shoulder, plus the length of the harness, must fit comfortably with the height of the handler.
The most popular service dog breed today is the Labrador Retriever due to its size range, short hair coat, and mild temperament; however, a lofty pedigree is not a job requirement for canine assistance animals. Crossbreeds, like Golden Retriever/Labrador mixes, work well. Standard Poodles mixed with Labradors or Golden Retrievers do not shed much, making them good choices for people with allergies.
Although there is no perfect guide dog, research and selective breeding have helped refine characteristics such as temperament, energy level, size, and walking stride to improve the overall quality and compatibility of service dogs. This work helps create a good dog-handler match.
Guide dogs are taught to:
- Obey instructions from their owners on which direction to go
- Find a suitable path
- Locate doors and steps
- Lead owners to key destinations, such as their place of work, school or university, bus stop or train station, shops and sports facilities
- Guide owners on foot through traffic, including stopping at kerbs and finding pedestrian crossings
- Avoid obstacles, such as other people or bicycles, and low overhead objects, such as branches
What training do guide dogs get?
Specially bred puppies are trained for around 18 months to become guide dogs. The puppies are from large working dog breeds, usually labradors and golden retrievers. They spend a year with a volunteer puppy raiser who socialises them and takes them to puppy pre-school, where they learn key commands such as ‘sit’, ‘drop’ and ‘stay’. They then start around 6 months of guide dog training and learn various skills, including how to manage distractions in busy, noisy places. New owners are given free training in how to manage the guide dog.
Dog lovers fully realize the benefits of having a canine family member. Medical studies confirm that dogs impact the health of their human companions. Canines have a positive psychological effect making their owners feel more confident and secure. Blind people with guide dogs are better equipped to set out into the world with their trusted friends.
Benefits of guide dogs
Dog lovers fully realize the benefits of having a canine family member. Medical studies confirm that dogs impact the health of their human companions. Canines have a positive psychological effect making their owners feel more confident and secure. Blind people with guide dogs are better equipped to set out into the world with their trusted friends.
1. Intelligent Disobedience
A guide dog will always stop at a crosswalk or intersection. The owner must then listen to the traffic and determine when it is safe to cross because the dog can’t tell when a light is green or red. The owner will then instruct the dog to walk. But, if the guide dog believes that walking would put the owner in harm’s way it will purposely disobey the instruction.
2. Overhead Awareness
Many guide dogs can recognise overhead obstructions for their owner. A guide dog can identify obstacles at head height that a cane would not be able to identify. For example, if there is a low hanging tree branch, a guide dog will guide their handler around the obstacle.
3. Different Breeds and Personality Traits
The most popular breed of a guide dog is a Labrador. However, other breeds of dogs are also used including, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds. The breed is used often depending on the individual training school. Sometimes certain dog breeds are crossed to create a dog that has the desirable personality traits of each breed. Labradoodles (a cross between a Labrador and a poodle) are a common crossbreed to provide guide dogs with less shedding for people who have allergies.
4. Guide Dogs are allowed almost anywhere
Despite several regulations and rules prohibiting animals in restaurants and other public places, in many countries, guide dogs are allowed almost everywhere with their owner. However, there are a few exceptions to this. For example, if an assistance dog owner wanted to visit someone who was in an Intensive Care Unit at a hospital it would be reasonable for the guide dog to be denied access due to hygiene and infection control policies.
5. Guide Dogs are different on and off harnesses.
Young Labrador puppy in training to become a guide dog. When guide dogs are wearing their harness, they know they need to work and be well behaved. However, a guide dog can be very different when its harness is off. They can play, socialise and relax just like any other family dog. It’s also very important to never pat someone’s guide dog when it is wearing its harness as a distracted guide dog can be a safety risk for its handler who is relying on them.
Conclusion: Guide Dogs Retire
Guide dogs will usually retire from work at around the age of 10 or 11. Just like any dog at this age, they will often be showing signs of ageing, such as arthritis. Sometimes a guide dog will begin to show signs it needs to be retired. Most guide dogs are very excited when they hear their harness. But if they begin to avoid their harness and do not want to put it on, it is often a sign that they are no longer up to full working life and need to be retired.
When a guide dog retires, it will often stay with its owner, family or friends, but if this is not possible, the dog is re-homed to new owners, where the dogs can enjoy their hard-earned retirement. Sometimes the dog is even able to be re-homed with the original people who raised it during its puppy years before guide dog school.
