What Guide Dogs for the Blind Are Taught to Do
If you have ever seen a guide dog helping a blind or partially sighted person navigate their way around the outside world, you were probably deeply impressed by the guide dog's behaviour, skills and apparently psychic ability to know what is coming next, and communicate with their handler or owner!
While the training for guide dogs is of course highly specialised and delivered to a very high level, with many potential guide dogs not making the grade and dropping out of training before they ever get to meet a potential blind handler, there is no magic employed in the training of guide dogs, and their training simply involves harnessing the innate abilities and intelligence of the dog and making it work within the remits of a specific role.
In this article, we'll explore guide dogs for the blind in detail, looking at what their training involves, the skills they are taught, and their limitations. Read on to learn more about these remarkable animals and the vital role they play.
Training Starts with the Right Dog
Not every dog can become a guide dog; they need a particular set of qualities before even being considered for training. High intelligence is essential, but so is a strong willingness to learn, a keen desire to please, and the ability to maintain focus amidst distractions.
Some breeds commonly possess these traits, including the Golden retriever puppies, Labrador retriever puppies, and certain hybrids like the Labradoodle and Cockapoo. Most guide dogs today are specially bred for this purpose by organisations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind, though occasionally, the association assesses outside candidates for potential.
Early Puppy Socialisation and Training
Potential guide dog puppies enter their training journey shortly after weaning and vaccinations. They are paired with volunteer puppy walkers who care for them during their first year, introducing them to a typical home environment and everyday experiences. During this phase, puppies wear a distinctive blue harness, signalling their training role.
Exposure includes socialisation classes, meeting people and other dogs, and acclimatisation to traffic and various stimuli. By one year old, pups should reliably obey core commands like sit and stay and be comfortable walking on a lead under control.
Intensive Guide Dog Training and Assessment
At one year, puppies return to the training centre to begin focused instruction. Their blue harness is replaced with a brown one to mark progression.
This stage teaches the dogs specific skills essential for assisting their handler safely around the environment:
- Leading the handler safely along a straight path while avoiding obstacles such as people, street furniture, or uneven terrain.
- Stopping at changes in elevation, including curbs and stairs, to prevent falls.
- Recognising and navigating around overhead dangers like low tree branches.
- Waiting at kerbs and obeying commands to turn, cross roads, or stop.
- Judging the dimensions of doorways and narrow passages, ensuring the handler does not bump their head.
- Toileting on command and cooperating with the owner for hygiene purposes.
Matching Dogs with Their Handlers
When a guide dog is ready to begin working, a careful matching process takes place. Compatibility is not just about whether the dog and handler get along; factors like the handler's height, walking stride, and lifestyle are considered to promote a successful, lifelong partnership.
New pairs undergo a trial period of four to six weeks before the match is made permanent. Upon graduation, the dog wears a white harness, signifying their working status.
What Guide Dogs Can and Cannot Do
Guide dogs are intelligent and skilled, but they have clear boundaries in their role. Key abilities include:
- Leading their owner on safe, direct routes while avoiding or alerting to obstacles and hazards.
- Stopping to signal low overhead obstacles which the dog judges by the handler's height.
- Exercising intelligent disobedience by refusing unsafe commands, such as moving into traffic, protecting their handler from harm.
- Working exclusively when wearing their harness, which signals to the dog and others that they are in professional mode and providing control for the handler.
However, guide dogs cannot read traffic lights or independently choose destinations. They rely on the handler to provide directions and make critical decisions. The dog assists with mobility and safety but is not a navigation device.
Why Is This Training So Essential?
The extensive training ensures guide dogs provide blind or partially sighted individuals with confidence, independence, and safety when navigating daily life. These dogs become trusted partners, greatly enhancing their handler's quality of life through mobility and companionship.