Guide dogs and people who are blind or visually impaired, form a unique bond and partnership with each other.  Through specialized intensive training at schools, and with the help of volunteers, such as the 4H, people who are blind are able to have increased mobility, confidence, independence, safety and companionship.  The cost to train and give a blind or visually impaired person a guide dog is free.

Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and crosses of these breeds are usually chosen.  The dogs are specially bred at the individual schools, which number approximately 14 in the U.S. and Canada, must show that they have a willing and calm temperament, are intelligent, meet certain basic size and weight requirements and have coats, which are suitable for a variety of climates.

Adults and children volunteer to raise puppies to be guide dogs, starting when the puppies are about 2 months old. Puppies sleep in the house and are members of the family. The puppies are taken everywhere from grocery stores, busy streets, buses, restaurants, schools and shopping malls. It is important that the puppies learn to be social, behave and be used to noise and commotion.

When the puppies are about 12 - 18 months, they go to guide dog schools for about 4 - 6 months of formal training .  The guide dog is placed with a blind or visually impaired person once it completes this intensive training regime.  The dog and owner are matched according to size and personality so that they can become a good team . They train together, practicing crossing busy streets, using stairs, escalators, buses, etc.  The dogs are praised while they are working and doing a good job.  They enjoy there job, want to please and love to have praise.

Both dog and owner need many skills and work equally hard in this partnership. They have to have confidence in each other. A guide dog learns to lead a person in a straight line, stop for all changes such as steps or curbs, to lead there partner around obstacles on the ground as well as above. The person and dog are constantly working as a team. The owner must listen to the cues around them to hear traffic, etc. and judge when it is safe to move forward.

The owner then gives the verbal command. The dogs are trained to disobey if there is a danger. This is called "intelligent disobedience". The owner must sense what the dog is doing by the feeling that is transferred by the harness handle.  Some of the Commands that are used by these teams are: Down, Sit, Stay, Come, Stand, and Heel.

The dog while guiding, must not become distracted by smells, food, other animals or people. It is very important not to pet a guide dog unless you ask first. The dog is doing a job and must concentrate to keep their partner safe. Generally, while a dog is in harness they are working and off limits for petting by anyone but their owner.

Sometimes the guide dog will be attacked by other dogs that are running loose. They may  become sick or injured in some way. This is a very sad situation for dog and owner. The dog goes through the trauma, stress and pain. The owner must apply first aid, find a way  to transport the dog to a veterinarian, must pay expensive vet bills and may have to start again with a replacement dog if their partner does not survive. While the dog is recovering, his owner is hindered without the use the dog for mobility,

Click here for a link to the laws about guide dogs in different states

Click here for a list of Untied States Guide Dog Schools

Click here to see a video of a service dog trying help his person through a subway trip created by Washington Metro Area Transit Authority