About Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. (GDB)
What is Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.?
A nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to providing skilled guide dogs and training in their use to visually impaired men and women in the U.S. and Canada. It was founded in 1942 to serve blind World War II veterans.
Where is it located?
GDB has two locations: San Rafael, California (20 miles north of San Francisco) and Boring, Oregon (25 miles east of Portland). Both campuses include an administration building, student dormitory, kennels, and veterinary clinic.
ABOUT THE DOGS
Who do I contact about raising a puppy? You could go to Guide Dogs Web site at WWW.Guidedogs.com or Contact Guide Dogs at 800-295-4050
Can you have another dog in the house while you are socializing the guide dog puppy?
Yes, you may have another dog in the house while training your puppy; however, it is a challenge. While it is good for the puppy to be exposed to other animals, it will be within a controlled and supervised environment.
Where does GDB get its dogs?
German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers , and Golden Retrievers are bred from the school's own specially selected purebred stock. All breeding stock dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club and are selected for their excellent temperament, intelligence, and health. The organization has recently instituted a pilot study of crossbreeding Labrador Retrievers with Golden Retrievers. This has been done successfully by other dog guide schools in the U.S. and Great Britain. No crossbred dogs will be used for the breeding program.
I have a puppy that I would like to donate; whom do I contact?
Guide Dogs for the Blind maintains its own breeding stock and does not accept puppies.
What happens to the puppies before they're placed in the raisers' home?
All the dogs are born and live in kennels until they are two months old. From 6-8 weeks of age, they are tested each week by a group of skilled volunteer puppy testers who examine them for sharp eyes and ears, general intelligence, and willingness to work.
Who names the puppies?
The puppies are named at the San Rafael, California, facility by trainers, volunteers, staff, etc. Because of the need to carefully monitor and track the breeding stock, all litter mates have names that start with the same letter of the alphabet, i.e., Gumdrop, Gary, Glaze, Glover, etc. Raisers whose dog becomes a breeder are given the opportunity to submit names for the first litter.
Who do I contact to get one of the dogs that do not make it through the training program?
Contact Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., (800) 295- 4050, or visit their web site at http://www.guidedogs.com.
Are the females spayed while they are living with you?
Generally, females are not spayed until they are evaluated for breeding potential when they are recalled for formal training. However, a female Lab/Golden cross is spayed while in the home because she will not be used for breeding. A male cross is neutered while in the home, also.
Who pays for a guide dog puppy's food and other expenses?
The raiser pays for the puppy's food, toys, incidental equipment (food bowls, grooming utensils), and a kennel (if needed).
Guide Dogs for the Blind supplies leashes, puppy identification jackets, collars, and other training equipment (if needed). GDB also provides a $200 veterinary care stipend in addition to the costs of vaccinations, fecal checks, hip X-rays, and any spay/neuter costs (raisers are instructed by GDB if they are to spay or neuter the puppy). GDB will also pay boarding costs for females when they are in season.
How old are the dogs when their formal training begins?
From 12 to 18 months old they are recalled to either San Rafael or Boring.
How long can a guide dog work?
About eight years. But the longevity of a guide dog varies with the dog and the life it leads.
RAISING AND SOCIALIZING THE PUPPY
This puppy is so well behaved! How did you do this?
It takes a tremendous amount of time and patience to train a puppy. It involves hours of training sessions (without the use of food as a reward), weekly group meetings with other guide dogs, socialization outings with the group, trial and error, and patience, patience, patience!
Can I pet the puppy?
Yes, you may pet the puppy, but the puppy raiser will want to put the puppy in a sit-stay position. Please do not let the puppy lick, mouth, or bite you. If this occurs, please stop petting because the puppy needs to know that it is inappropriate behavior. The puppy will lose the privilege of being petted by displaying improper behavior. We really appreciate people asking before reaching at or touching the puppy; that helps us insure the puppy is calm and exhibits appropriate behavior when interacting with people.
Do the puppies ever get to be just puppies at home?
A guide dog puppy is treated like a member of the family at home. However, guide dog puppies are different from regular pet dogs. They are special partners for people with special needs. For that reason, they must be taught differently than other dogs. We must always think about how the puppy's actions will affect his future partner.
The reward for teaching our puppy how to have fun in the guide dog way is seeing him grow to become a responsible dog that willingly and happily helps his new partner. His reward is becoming the partner of someone who will love him dearly and take him everywhere.
Do the puppies ever get to run without being on a leash?
Puppies are allowed off leash outside only in fenced areas. If the area is not fenced, puppies must always be on the leash.
What kind of toys do the puppies get to play with?
Cressite rings for tug toys, Cressite figure 8 tug toy, Nylabones, Kong toys, and commercial sterilized bones.
Why don't you want them to lick? It doesn't bother me!
Many people find it offensive to have a dog lick them, and GDB finds it inappropriate and unhealthy behavior. A blind partner needs to feel confident that the working dog is exhibiting appropriate behavior at all times.
Why is your puppy wearing a muzzle? Does he bite?
Here is a wonderful description of the halti:
A halti is a nylon halter that goes loosely around the dog's muzzle and snaps behind the ears. The leash attaches below the dog's chin and is also snapped to a nylon or chain slip collar. Although the halti may look like a muzzle at first, it is fit loose enough for the dog to open its mouth fully. A dog can eat, drink, and even yawn comfortably while wearing a halti.
A halti acts like a halter for the dog. It follows the principle that the dog's body must go where the head goes. It allows the trainer to control where the dog's head points with minimal pressure, and thus, control where the dog goes without having to give strong leash corrections. It's important that all dogs returned for formal training have a neck that is sensitive so that they respond to leash corrections promptly. A dog in a halti does not receive direct leash corrections on their necks so this preserves neck sensitivity. (Cathy Sheeter, group leader for the Canines in Coats 4-H group in Burns, Oregon.)
Where are guide dogs allowed in public?
The Americans with Disabilities Act states that dog guides are allowed everywhere the general public is allowed. This includes stores, restaurants, office buildings, and all areas of public accommodation and transport.
What happens if the puppy does not make it through the training?
The raiser has first priority to keep the puppy. If the raiser is unable or chooses not to, GDB maintains a Career Change Department that acts as an adoption agency. Be aware, though, that these puppies are in such high demand that it could take up to five years before you would get one!
Is it hard to give up the puppy?
Yes, it is hard to say goodbye after training, socializing, and loving the puppy for a year. But we are comforted knowing that the dog will provide independence and companionship to a blind or visually impaired partner. At special graduation ceremonies, all puppy raisers are invited to formally present their dogs as guides, share their puppy raising experiences, and develop friendships with their dogs' new partners.
TRAINING:
Who supervises the training?
Each class is assigned three instructors, one of whom must be licensed. These instructors are the ones who have trained the dogs, and they will work with the students for the entire four-week course. The instructors select the dogs for the students, being careful to match the dog and person according to each person's individual needs. In addition to the three instructors, each class has a supervisor.
Where do students stay while they are training?
The students and their dogs live in the student dormitory at GDB. There are accommodations for 24 students at one time, in the form of double bedrooms each with its own bath and enclosed outside run for the dogs. The person and dog live, eat, and work together for the four-week training period.
How does a guide dog know where its partner wants to go?
The dog doesn't. It is the blind partner who must know how to reach a destination by knowing how many blocks to go, in which direction to turn, etc. The person gives the dog the commands that will enable the dog to guide them safely to their destination.
How does the blind partner know when there is a curb ahead?
The dog is trained to stop at all curbs and wait for its partner's command to go forward or turn.
Can guide dogs tell red lights from green lights in traffic?
No. The blind partner listens to the flow of traffic, determines when it is safe to cross, and then signals the dog to go forward. However, if a car is coming, the dog is taught to refuse to obey the command. This is called "intelligent disobedience."
What other duties must the dog perform?
A guide dog must learn to sit, stay, turn right or left on command. It must learn to automatically retrieve any object which its partner drops and to ignore any distractions, including other animals, while working. It must guide the blind partner safely around pedestrians and obstacles, including overhead obstacles.
Is it all right to pet a guide dog?
Petting is a distraction to the dog when it is working; therefore, it is important to always ask the blind person's permission before touching a guide dog.
WORKING PARTNERS
How are the students matched with the dogs?
The instructors who have first trained the dogs also later train the students with whom those dogs will be paired. Great care goes into matching the dog and partner according to each student's individual needs.
How long is the training period?
Generally, 28 days for first-time trainees. Student getting a replacement dog may complete training in a shorter period if their work with their new dogs is satisfactory.
How does the training begin?
At first, the instructor acts the part of the dog, teaching the student the commands needed to work with a guide dog. Lectures are given on the care and feeding of the dog, as well as instruction in the use of the harness. Then training begins in residential and business areas, and finally, busy downtown San Francisco or Portland.
How long does it take a person and dog to function as
a coordinated team? The dog and blind partner can operate safely after the 28-day training course. However, the dog must adjust to its new home and to its partner's routine. It takes about six months before the pair can operate smoothly as a team.
How should the guide dog be treated by members of the family?
While the dog is in harness, family members should not interfere with the dog's work in any way. When the dog is out of harness, it should be treated like any other pet dog. However, the blind partner should always be the one to feed and care for the dog in order to reinforce their bond.
Are the graduates ever visited in their homes by a representative of Guide Dogs, for the Blind, Inc.?
Yes, the school maintains a unique follow-up service for its graduates. Instructors are sent periodically to call on the graduates at their homes or places of employment. In this way, any problems that may have developed in a blind partner's guide work can be resolved in the home area.
NOTE:
Much of the information for this page was taken directly from:
~ "A Guide to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.", Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., San Rafael, CA
~ "Answers to Your Questions About Guide Dogs for the Blind."
~ Other websites.
Any question please e-mail us!
