There are a few things I’d like people to know about guide dogs since I will be heading home with my new guide dog in a couple weeks.
1. Guide dogs love to work.
Many dogs in guide dog training don’t make the cut. If they’re not interested in, and even excited about, working as a guide dog, they are adopted out and live the life of a pet instead.
2. Guide dogs keep their dog/handler team safe.
While they also guide people where they need to go, the primary job of a guide dog is to keep their team safe. Low hanging branches, curbs, poles and traffic are just a few examples of the obstacles a guide dog will help it’s handler to navigate.
3. It’s crucial to not distract a working guide dog.
Distracting a working guide dog is like grabbing the steering wheel away from a driver. It’s just unsafe. Following are some of the most common distractions:
Petting. Yes, they’re adorable, but they need to pay attention to their work.
Eye contact. It’s a surefire way to engage a dog.
The dogs name. Since it’s an easy way to grab a dog’s attention, many handlers will give their guide dog a pseudonym to share with the public.
Kids. They are naturally impulsive so it’s important to educate them to not pet or talk to the guide dogs.
Other dogs. It’s almost impossible for a guide dog to focus on work when approached by another dog. It’s best to keep them under control and away from the guide dog.
Food. A guide dogs diet is closely regulated for its health and to keep it regular. A stealthily given treat will certainly distract the dog and may even make it sick.
4. Talk to the guide dog’s handler, not the dog.
Some people are just uncomfortable addressing a blind person and it’s even more tempting to address a cute dog. As a blind person, though, I can say it’s just weird when someone will talk to my son about me and not talk to me directly. Besides, the dog needs to stay focused.
5. Typically, guide dogs are extremely well cared for.
They get lots of attention and affection from their human rather than being left alone while the person goes to work all day. Handlers are also trained to groom their dog daily and take it to the vet twice a year.
6. They still get to be regular dogs and part of a family.
Guide dogs don’t work 24 hours a day, they have plenty of time off, too. When the harness comes off, they romp, play and cuddle just like any other dog.
7. Most people are simply unaware of how to behave around guide dogs.
Please feel free to share this information. Educating other people about guide dogs is very helpful to each guide dog team out there.
