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Guide Dogs - Working Dogs that Make Life Easier for the DisabledThe typical pet dog doesn't have a lot to do. From babyhood to old age, they eat, sleep, and play, without having to work for any of it. This is not true of the working dog, however. These animals earn there keep, and few do as much for their owners as guide dogs.
Guide dogs are specially trained to lead and care for their owners. They are divided into two categories - those who provide guide services for the blind and visually impaired, and those who work with the deaf and
hearing impaired. Each disability requires different things from a guide dog.
It is vitally important that the guide dog's training be rigorous and seamless. Guide dogs must be able to maintain a direct route, going against their instincts to stop and smell new things, investigate people, and chase prey. They must also maintain a steady page. No guide dog should move faster than its handler, and guide dogs must also always remain to the left. If the dog crosses in front of its master, that person could trip and fall.
Guide dogs are also trained to stop at all curbs, to allow the handler to know that they are there, and to make left and right turns. They can recognize obstacles that they can fit through but their handler cannot, and will avoid them. Guide dogs will also stop at the top or bottom of stairs to keep their owners from tripping or falling down them.
Guide dogs are trained to recognize elevator buttons and bring their handlers to them, to lie down calmly when their handler is sitting or resting, and to help their handlers to do tasks like board buses and trains. Many guide dogs have been trained to navigate all kinds of public transportation. They can obey a number of different verbal commands, such as the one to proceed forward.
An even temperament, trainability, and intelligence are important in a guide dog. Because of this, there are several different breeds which are commonly used as guide dogs. One of the most common is the Labrador, but there are also others used as well. Gentleness and the ability to learn are the most important factors in all guide dogs. These wonderful animals provide a much needed service for millions of disabled people every day, and ask little more than affection. They navigate difficult areas, alert their handlers of danger, and assist in many day to day tasks. Definitely more than just pets, guide dogs exemplify just what it means to work like a dog. |
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