Seeing Eye Guide Dogs: How Do They Become So Smart?

It is a common misconception that guide dogs guide their owner and keep them out of harm’s way. People see their neighbor, Mr. Jones, with his guide dog and assume that the morning started like this: “Rex, take me to the bus stop, we have to go to the pharmacy today.” People think, “If I go blind, I’ll get a dog to take me where I need to go.”

While it’s true that a potential lead dog must display intelligence as a puppy to be selected for this important job, and these vital working dogs often keep their owners from running into a trash can or falling off the sidewalk, they actually the dog is being instructed by his master where to go. In fact, a blind person may not even request one of these highly trained dogs, until they can travel safely on their own.

To learn this important skill, a person who is blind or severely visually impaired must first receive training from an Orientation and Mobility teacher. These trained professionals teach a person with a disability how to get around the house, use public transportation, navigate the local grocery store, educational setting or workplace, or anywhere you like. that you need to go.

The main device used for orientation and mobility is the white cane. It is white and often has red reflective tape wrapped around it. It may include a large, round golf ball-sized spike on the end. The Orientation and Mobility teacher instructs the blind in the use of the cane to orient him in his environment. Typically, the baton is maneuvered in a side-to-side sweep that allows the user to “see” that the path ahead is clear. There are also new electronic devices, one of those devices is the mini guide which is considered a secondary aid because, what is more important, it does not detect curbs or unevenness.

Only once a person is proficient at traveling alone will they be eligible to apply for a guide dog. Guide dog schools match each person with the perfect dog, and the individual has to attend. guide dog school for several weeks to learn how to become a good owner.

A guide dog is a working dog.. Learn like a puppy when the harness is on, it’s time to work. You take your job very seriously, and you should know that you must never touch or talk to a working dog, unless you have the owner’s permission. Usually, if you ask, the owner will drop the harness and grab the leash, which is a signal to the dog that he is out of order and can socialize. But if the person doesn’t, don’t feel bad or rejected, it’s important to follow the guide dog owner’s wishes. Most guide dogs are very friendly and are not guard dogs. We’ve all heard those romantic TV movie stories about how a guide dog saved its owner’s life. We imagined that each guide dog would be some kind of Lassie, but as you know, Lassie was just a well-trained dog actor and didn’t really tell Grandpa that Timmy fell down a well.

The guide dog must be kept on a strict feeding schedule. It’s not always easy to find a place for the dog to relieve itself while traveling, so keeping the dog on a strict schedule will allow the owner to have an idea of ​​when he will need to relieve himself.

A guide dog should also recognize you as the leader of the pack. A goofy dog ​​without a pack leader could end up chasing a cat down the street while dragging its owner right in front of a car. While attending guide dog school with the dog, the new owner will receive instruction in these important areas.

Going back to our first impression of a guide dog, you now know that Mr. Jones did not tell Rex to take him to the bus stop. While it’s true that Rex will eventually learn his way to the pharmacy and one day Mr. Jones will be able to tell him that, for the most part, Mr. Jones will always be the one to travel with. I hope to have a better understanding of how guide dogs work, and remember, never, ever touch or talk to a guide dog while you are working!