How to Train a Guide Dog for the Blind

Hello Tyane, Typically the first year of a guide dog's life is spent teaching the dog high levels of obedience, and socializing the dog as much as humanly possible. Not all dogs are genetically fit to be guide dogs also. It takes a certain level of intelligence, human focus, train-ability, and a temperament that can handle strange things like unexpected kids or dogs running up, loud noises, strange movements, and other things that would distract or scare many dogs. A guide dog program usually starts with a breeding program where pups are born from parents who have shown the necessary traits to be guide dogs, and are more likely to pass those traits on to puppies, then the puppies are raised with puppy handlers for a year who take them to puppy classes, socialize them all the time, get them used to being handled, and teach routine obedience during the first year. Around a year, if the puppy shows promise as a future guide dog, the dog is then formally trained for at least 4 months with a trainer at the guide dog school, where they learn all the specific tasks necessary to do their job - such as stopping at curbs, listening, leading, ect...Many dogs don't make it past this point because even with wonderful socialization and training, they don't have the inherit temperament to be dependable enough to lead a blind person - perhaps they are afraid of loud noises, too hyper, aggressive toward other dogs, fearful of people, prey driven, ect...A number of things can disqualify a dog, even though they would otherwise make a fantastic pet. At the end of their formal training if they pass, they are set up with someone blind who has been waiting for a dog and the dog and person both stay at the school for a few days or weeks to learn to work together as a team, before the new dog is sent home with the person. To train your own dog, you would follow a similar process, although you would be both puppy raiser, formal trainer of the dog, and the one teaching your brother and the dog how to work as a team at the end. First, pup should be honestly evaluated to see if they may have what it takes to become a guide dog. Are they intelligent, people focused, shy, fearful, aggressive, ect...? Certain traits will not be obvious until later so their is no guarantee, but if a puppy is already showing characteristics not fit for the role like a lot of fearfulness, they may never be suited for the job. If pup seems to have the right temperament, do research online or check out books meant for guide dog puppy raisers and work on what you learn there with pup. Once pup has been raised in a way that facilitates becoming a guide dog, begin the formal task training through online resources that demonstrate how guide dog trainers teach tasks - youtube and guide dogs for the blind website are a couple of resources to learn that. Finally, read up on the process of the dog and blind recipient becoming a team, or talk to someone who has experienced or taught it first hand. Another option is for your brother to apply to receive a dog from a non-profit organization that raises and trains guide dogs, and allow your current dog to be a pet. Some organizations charge very little for their dogs if you qualify, but do expect to wait a while for a dog. https://www.seeingeye.org/about-us/faq.html Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello, I would think that Ebby Sue is at a good age for this challenge. I have not trained a guide dog before but I do know that the basic commands are a must and need to be like second nature. So, it is good that Ebby Sue has her basic training. This has to be worked on daily (10-20 minutes a day and at every opportunity for commands like sit and come). You can help with this by taking Ebby Sue out for walks and working with her. As for the guide dog training, I suggest you and your mother contact a certification organization for direction and to learn how to go about it. https://www.supportdogcertification.org/article/guide-dogs-for-the-blind, This article may help. You will have to do research to find an organization near you to help you get Ebby Sue into a training program. You may get some direction here: https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/about-us/contact-us/ All the best and good luck!

Hello Elliot, Check out the video series linked below on barking and reactivity. Pay special attention to the videos on "Barking at dogs behind a fence", "barking at scary objects", and "stop barking on a walk". https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXtcKXk-QWojGYcl1NCg5UA5geEnmpx4a There are other ways to address reactivity, but I recommend trying desensitization methods first, since pup will need to overcome their fear for service work, opposed to only stopping the behavior externally. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello! While we don't refer trainers out on this platform, I can suggest that you can do a search in your area for exactly what you're looking for. There may even be non profit organizations in your area who can help get you set up.