For many years, humans have been using dogs as tools to help mitigate disabilities and handicaps. Dogs can provide a number of invaluable services including medical alert, PTSD assistance, and mobility support. But the most prominent of these types of jobs is that of the ever important guide dog, raised and trained for the purpose of being a working partner to a blind or otherwise vision-impaired individual. These dogs are best known for being in a harness and striding ahead of their handler, keeping them out of danger and steering them clear of obstacles.
Guide dogs are often pulled from a few specific breeds for their temperament, trainability, and intelligence. These breeds include the Labrador and Golden retriever, as well as the German shepherd. While other breeds have been selected for guide dog work, it is rare, and organizations will typically have reputable breeders to choose their dogs from. Not every dog is suited to guide work, so the selection process can be stringent, and for good reason. The safety of the person needing the dog is always the most important thing!
Training a guide dog starts from puppyhood, once the eight-week mark has passed, and requires lifelong training. It’s not realistic to train an already adult dog with behavior issues to be a guide dog, as this can put both dog and handler at risk. Puppies must be calm and intelligent, must not be fearful or aggressive, and should display an eagerness to please. This temperament should be reinforced through their adult life in order to be an appropriate guide dog.
A guide dog will go through several iterations of training, including basic puppy obedience, public access training, and then proper obstacle avoidance and guidance with their chosen handler. This training can take months and even up to two years to really perfect, so be prepared for the long haul if you’re thinking about training a guide dog. It takes patience, knowledge, experience, and professionalism to develop a solid foundation for behavior.
To get started, you’ll want to ensure that you know where your puppy is coming from. Most organizations have reputable breeders that temperament test their dogs in a number of different ways. These puppies will also be health tested to ensure that they are well bred and healthy. Consider getting in contact with knowledgeable breeders who have worked with guide dog prospects before.
Guide dogs often train best with positive reinforcement. This means using things like clicker training with treats or toys as rewards to reinforce great obedience and fantastic behavior. You’ll want to find things that will encourage your dog to perform as needed. In addition, consider purchasing a vest or special harness to designate your puppy or dog as a guide dog in training. This will be crucial later on when the vest or harness is needed for the handler’s safety.
I love training dogs but I now want to train my dog how to help blind people by being a sight dog I have no clue how to start
Hello Maya, Check out the resources on training at this link below. https://www.guidedogs.com/explore-resources/alumni-resources/class-lecture-materials2 How is pup's adaptability and socialization currently. Often tasks can be taught at one and two years of age, but pup's overall temperament, adaptability to new situations, and socializations is age dependent, starting at just weeks of age. Puppy raising manual - so you can see what pup needed to have learned in the first year. Some things can be caught up, but other things age age dependent. https://www.guidedogs.com/support-gdb/volunteer/puppy-raising/puppy-raising-manual Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Blind man wants his dog trained for just obedience and wants to know how he will know if she is coming to him when she is outside off leash.
Hello Li, From close distances pup can wear a harness or collar outfitted with bells. For further distances I would look for a tracking device that has two components - one that the person (dog in this case) being tracked wears, and one that beeps faster or slower when the tracking device moves closer or further away. Unfortunately, I don't know of a brand I can reference off hand. I would look into some gear websites and dual component beeping tracking systems. If you happen to find one that's waterproof and small to clip to pup's collar more easily also, that would really be idea. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden
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Hi i havent got a dog yet wanting to get a golden retriever to train it for my guide dog is there any one that i can get to help me train it
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.
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My service dog has started to become reactive to other dogs and skateboards. Any advice on how to desensitize her? Thanks.
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
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My name is Kristi and my mother was training her puppy in Hope's of being her guide dog. She has been working with Ebby Sue since she was born and she has basic obedience training but before my mother completely lost her vision she wasn't sure how to train Ebby Sue has her guide dog. Can you help in any way?
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!
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