- The breeds recommended for this type of help are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Akita Inus, Flat Coated Retrievers and German Shepherds.
This note was originally published on April 26, 2023
Guide dogs are a fundamental aid for people with visual disabilities. These dogs are trained to help their owners to avoid obstacles and dangers, thus becoming the eyes of those who cannot see.
These animals facilitate mobility and independence for patients with vision limitations. Their tasks include alerting their owner to a sound; helping with balance; reminding them to take a medication; pressing the elevator button; picking things up from the floor or pushing a wheelchair.
Guide dogs.
The last Wednesday of April of each year is celebrated as International Guide Dog or Working Dog Day.
For a dog to be classified as a guide or service animal, it must be trained and certified by an organization and must have a badge, chain, harness or collar to certify it.
“The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the person’s disability,” the Guide Dog School states on its website, the first organization in Latin America dedicated to training these animals along with training them and their owners.
How is a guide dog certified?
In order for a dog to be certified as a guide or service animal, it must undergo training that lasts between 2 and 5 years.
Certificates are issued by guide dog training schools, which must not only train the animal but also the owner.
One of the recommendations offered by organizations such as the Guide Dog School of Mexico is to train them from when they are puppies, starting at four weeks of age.
“The puppies are selected in their first months of life following a series of protocols that indicate to the trainer the animal’s social response to humans and the stimuli to which it is likely to be exposed as a service dog,” explains the NGO.
What was the first guide dog school in the world?
Records of the first guide dog school are in Germany. According to the German Museum of History, German soldiers taught dogs to track war veterans. The German Shepherd was the first breed to be used for this military practice.
Once this stage has been completed, the dog will begin basic obedience training in which it will learn to give a paw, walk on a leash, lie down on the floor, bark and relieve itself in the appropriate places.
When the dog turns one year old, it will begin specific individual training in which it will learn the forms of assistance depending on the needs of the disabled person. It will respond to specific commands, learn to walk on the left side of its owner and wear a special harness that facilitates communication between it and the person.
Guide dogs must also learn “intelligent disobedience,” which means not obeying their owners’ commands if they are in danger. Other skills they acquire as adults include finding emergency exits, opening doors, and getting on and off buses.
Once all the commands have been learned, the training center graduates the dog by granting it a certificate and giving it to a person who needs its services. In the case of humans, they also receive joint training to optimize the integration of the dog and the dog.
What steps should I follow to apply for a guide dog?
Visually impaired people who wish to regain independence and mobility outside their homes can apply for a guide dog as long as they meet several requirements, including completing a socioeconomic study form and undergoing a medical evaluation.
The person must take an orientation and mobility course and must also use a white cane, a specialized tool for people with visual disabilities.
The last requirement is to complete a several-week training course for handling a guide dog. This begins first at the dog school facilities and then at the applicant’s home.
Do not touch guide dogs
Guide or service dogs are animals that are actively caring for their owner and being distracted by some external stimulus might cause an accident to the visually impaired person. For this reason, it is recommended not to touch or pet guide dogs.
What are the recommended dog breeds for serving as guides?
For an animal to qualify as a guide dog, it must meet certain physical and psychological characteristics. Candidate dogs must have a high level of socialization, intelligence, and be a large breed.
According to the Guide Dog School, the recommended breeds for service dogs are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Akita Inus, Flat Coated Retrievers and German Shepherds, thanks to their motor skills and their way of relating to humans.
Dogs must be social with people and other animals, have the ability to follow commands and instructions, and be agile, docile and easy to train.
“When looking for a service dog, we must focus on the characteristics that define it as a good assistant, which in this case would be a high tolerance to external stimuli,” the organization stated on its website.
Guide dogs should not be protective, as this might complicate the relationship or development of the disabled person and their environment.
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2024-07-21 16:29:53
