Guide dog

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"Guide Dogs" redirects here. For the British charity, see The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association

A blind man is led by his guide dog in Brasília, Brazil.

Labrador Retriever guide dogs resting.

Guide dog training.

Guide dogs are assistance dogs trained to lead blind or visually impaired people around obstacles. The name of one of the more popular training schools for such dogs, Seeing Eye, has entered the popular vernacular as a genericized term for guide dogs.

Although the dogs can be trained to navigate various obstacles, they are partially (red-green) color blind and are not capable of interpreting street signs. The human half of the guide dog team does the directing, based upon skills acquired through previous mobility training. The handler might be likened to an aircraft's navigator, who must know how to get from one place to another, and the dog is the pilot, who gets them there safely.

In several countries, guide dogs, along with most service and hearing dogs, are exempt from regulations against the presence of animals in places such as restaurants and public transportation.

1 History
2 Breeds
3 Guide dog training
4 Guide dog accessibility
5 References
6 See also
7 External links
- 7.1 Guide dog training schools

[edit] History

The first guide dog training schools were established in Germany during the First World War, to enhance the mobility of returning veterans who were blinded in combat. The United States followed suit in 1929 with the Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey.

The first guide dogs in Britain were German Shepherds. Three of these first were Judy, Meta and Folly who were handed over to their new owners, veterans blinded in World War I, on 6 October 1931 [1]. This was followed, in 1934, by the start of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Great Britain.

[edit] Breeds

Early on, trainers began to recognize which breeds produced dogs most appropriate for guide work; today, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds are most likely to be chosen, though by no means does this mean other breeds, such as Collies, Vizslas, and Dobermanns, are not. Crosses such as Golden Retriever/Labrador, which are popular due to both breeds' known intelligence, work-ethic, and early maturation, and Labradoodles, Labrador/Poodles bred in an attempt to provide dogs suitable for those with hair or dander allergies, are also common.

[edit] Guide dog training

Potential guide dogs come from various sources. Some organizations breed and raise their own puppies, while some rely on "foster families" to raise the puppies until they are ready for formal training. Also, some dogs are rescued from shelters, although any dog heading for a career as a guide dog must be sound and desensitized to most public situations.

When dogs become old enough to start training, most guide dog schools will conduct a test to analyze the dog's potential for guide dog work. If the dog passes this test, they continue on to harness training, where they learn to help a person move around safely, including such achievements as navigating curbs and avoiding overhead obstacles. The dogs may be taught additional skills, such as retrieving items for their handler.

At the end of approximately two to three months of individual training, visually impaired students that have applied and are accepted begin to work with their own guide dog under the instruction of the school or an individual instructor. When the newly-created team has finished their training, they are certified and released on their own. Depending on the organization, follow-up training to ensure the dog is still doing its job correctly may or may not be required.

[edit] Guide dog accessibility

Despite regulations or rules that deny access to animals in restaurants and other public places, in many countries, guide dogs and other types of assistance dogs are protected by law, and therefore may accompany their handlers most places that are open to the public. Laws and regulations vary worldwide:

In the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits any business, government agency, or other organization that provides access to the general public from barring guide dogs. However, religious organizations are not required to provide such access. The Fair Housing Act requires that landlords allow tenants to have guide dogs in residences that normally have a No Pets policy and no extra fees may be charged for such tenants. Whether guide dogs in training have the same rights or not usually falls on each individual state government.

In South American countries and Mexico, guide dog access depends solely upon the goodwill of the owner or manager. In more tourist-heavy areas, guide dogs are generally welcomed without problems.

In Europe, the situation varies. Some countries have laws that govern the entire country and sometimes the decision is left up to the respective regions.

In Israel, it is considered an insult if any transportation operator or business owner or manager refuses entry to a guide dog.

In Australia, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 protects guide dog handlers. Each state and territory has its own laws, which may differ slightly.

In Canada, guide dogs are allowed anywhere that the general public is allowed.

Because Islam considers dogs to be unclean, many Muslim taxi drivers and store owners have refused to accommodate customers who have guide dogs. This has resulted in controversy in a number of cities in North America, Europe, and Australia, especially as Muslim drivers become an increasing percentage of the taxi business. Some critics have accused Muslims who refuse to accommodate people with their guide dogs of trying to impose Sharia on non-Muslims [2]. On the other hand, those Muslims who hold that they are forbidden to come into contact with dogs even when used by people with disabilities see this as a religious liberty issue.