Guide dog services are beneficial for senior people or vision impaired people. Guide dogs are specially trained to be able to offer help to their owners, and can make the life of the owner much easier.
Guide Dog Training
Guide dog training is different from the training of other dogs. Not all canines are suitable to be guide dogs. There are a number of dog breeds that can be more suitable as guide dogs, such as golden retrievers or Labradors. The dog should also be non-aggressive, adaptable, intelligent and have a personality that will be suitable to a person that needs a guide dog.
The training of a guide dog will start when the dog is a puppy, because he will have to be taught to avoid fear. Fear develops only when the dog is 14 weeks old, and if the training starts before this age, the dog will be able to cope with fear. The dog will be exposed to various stimuli that can cause fear in other dogs, and the trainee dog will be taught to react as if these stimuli are normal. This type of training is also known as bomb proofing and is essential. A person that is sightless needs to rely on the dog 100 percent, and a dog that is fearful will not be suitable as a guide dog.
Choosing a Guide Dog
When you decide to get a guide dog for a vision impaired or senior person you know, you will have to consider a few factors. You will have to choose a dog that is suitable for the person's lifestyle and is properly trained. You may be able to test a few dogs and determine which one is the most suitable, judging by the reaction of the person and the dog. There are many guide dog services available and you should look for one in your area.
A guide dog will be there for the disabled person day in, day out and he will be able to help him get around in the home or in numerous public places. A guide dog is similar to having a person guiding at all times.
Adapting to Life with a Guide Dog
Even though the guide dog has been trained to offer the support needed by a vision impaired person, the dog will have to be trained to adapt to his life, his frequent routes and routines.
The vision impaired person will also have to get used to the dog; there are certain commands that will have to be learned. These commands are the ones the dog recognizes and responds to. The future owner will have to take part in a number of training sessions along with the dog's trainer to be able to learn and practice these commands.
As soon as the person learns how to handle the dog, he will be able to rely on him 100 percent.