It is a common misconception that guide dogs guide their owner and keep him out of harm’s way. People see his neighbor, Mr. Jones, with his guide dog and assume the morning started like this: “Rex, take me to the bus stop, we have to go to the drug store 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 show intelligence as a puppy to be selected for this important job, and these vital working dogs usually keep their owners from running into a trash can or falling off the sidewalk, in reality the dog is being instructed by his master where to go. In fact, a blind person cannot even request one of these highly trained dogs until he can travel safely on his own.
To learn this important skill, a blind or severely visually impaired person 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, guide them in the local grocery store, in the educational or workplace setting, or anywhere that you need to go
The primary device used for orientation and mobility is the white cane. It is white and often has red reflective tape wrapped around it. You can include a large round tip about the size of a golf ball at the end. The Orientation and Mobility teacher instructs the blind in how to use the cane to orient him in his environment. Typically, the cane 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 them is the mini-guide that is considered a secondary aid because, most importantly, it does not detect curbs or unevenness.
Only once a person is adept at traveling alone will they be eligible to apply for a guide dog. Guide dog schools match each person with the perfect dog, and then 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. He takes his job very seriously, and you should know that you must never touching or talking to a working dog, unless you have permission from the owner. Usually, if you ask, the owner will drop the harness and grab the leash, which is a signal to the dog that he is off duty 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 watchdogs. We’ve all heard those romantic TV movie stories about how a guide dog saved his owner’s life. We imagine each guide dog would be some sort of Lassie, but as you know, Lassie was just a well-trained dog actor and didn’t really tell Grandpa that Timmy had fallen down a well.
The guide dog must be kept on a strict feeding schedule. It is not always easy to find a place for the dog to relieve himself 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 silly dog without a pack leader might end up chasing a cat down the street as he drags his 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 didn’t 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 ride. I hope I have a better understanding of how guide dogs work, and remember, never, ever touch or talk to a guide dog while on duty!