Assistance Dogs Flashcards
What is the Seeing Eye?
Also known as guide dogs, pilot dogs, etc
Can be considered the ultimate companion animal
10 million North Americans are blind or visually impaired
* Dependence on others
* Loss of mobility
History of Guide Dogs
- Origin: 100 BC Germanic King was said to have a guide dog
- In 1916 German Shepherd Society opened the first training school. Dogs were intended to lead Germany’s blind war veterans after WW1
Guide Dog Schools
There are approximately 17 guide dog schools in the US
There are approximately 1,500 new dog graduates each year
Who pays for guide dog training?
- All schools are non-profit and run from donations, grants, wills, trusts, memorial and honor donations
- No input from medicare, government, or social services
- The actual cost to breed, raise, train, and place a guide dog is about $40-50,000
- Most schools charge nothing (or a very nominal fee) for their dogs
Breeding Program
Seeing Eye breeds Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers at their own facility
* Boxers, Golden/lab mixes, Doberamns have also known to be used
* Easy to groom
Dogs are bred for intelligence, temperament, and natural working attitudes
Currently, school obtain 95% of their dogs from their own breeding programs or contract breeding - genetic selection for these guide dog traits
Raising the Puppies
- At 7-8 weeks puppies are given to families (often through 4H, Jaycees, FFA, etc)
- During the next year and half puppies learn basic obedience and good manners
- Most important is that puppies are exposed to social situations: restaurants, schools, buses, cars, doctor’s offices, pedestrian traffic, environmental sounds - don’t want them to be afraid of things when they are older
Start of Formal Training
During the first few weeks the dogs are:
* neutered/spayed
* Introduced to an unusual kennel experience
Most schools have vets on staff:
* X-rays the dogs to detect hip dysplasia
* Eye checks
* General soundness
Dogs are turned loose in groups
* Testing process for temperament and degree that the dogs are socialized
* Another form of socialization
From the first day of formal training dogs are introduced to harness
Preliminary training
Introduction to distractions
New commands “forward”, “halt”, “Hop Up”, “steady”
Most of training done on campus and quiet residential areas
Later training
- Harness training in busier areas of town
- New commands: “Right”, “Left, “Over here”
- Curb checks and street crossing introduced
- Dog can’t distinguish walk signs or traffic lights!
- Exposure to more difficult social settings
Even Later Training
- Harness training in more challenging environments: pedestrian traffic, stairs
- Introduction to “intelligent disobedience”
- Preliminary blind fold and obedience test
Advanced Training
Harness training in urban areas
Training on buses, trains, and subways
Introduction to low overhead clearances
Advanced off leash
Final test
Final Test
Lead instructor blindfolded
Dog obedience
Reaction to distractions
Training with a Blind Person
If a dog passes the final test and passes all medical exams, it is matched w a blind person
Who is eligible for a seeing eye dog
You are legally blind
Physically and mentally health
Over 16 years of age
Physically able to walk several miles at a brisk pace every day
Be able to provide a safe, stable, loving, and healthy home for your dog
Adoption
Seeing Eye dogs serve for 8-10 years before they retire
Once they retire they can be kept as a pet or given back to the school for adoption
During training a dog may be rejected for temperament, inability to keep up, medical problems
