Getting a New Guide Dog

Listen - Getting a Guide Dog

2:47

Growing up, I've heard my fair share of the heroic guide dog incidents, such as Michael Hingson, who's guide dog took him out of the World Trade Center during 9/11, or about Bill Irwin, who hiked the Appalaichan trail with his guide dog. Due to incidents like these, many people just assume that all visually impaired people should have a guide dog. However, a guide dog is not for everyone. As a matter of fact, guide dog schools are picky about who they select to be guide dog handlers. This is because having a guide dog requires the responsibility and commitment to treat it properly, not just as a guide dog, but as a pet also. However, having just received my second guide dog, I can safely say that the experience is worth exploring.

Deciding To Get A Guide Dog

If you or a person that you know is trying to decide whether a guide dog is right for them, I would recommend doing research first. YouTube is a good resource, as well as looking at websites of various guide dog schools. Also, think about what your lifestyle involves, and how a guide dog could potentially fit. When I was debating whether or not to get a guide dog, I wrote a pros and cons list, and that helped me to make the decision.

The Application Process

Again, research is key here. I chose Dogs Inc, formerly known as Southeastern Guide Dogs, because of the location and the financial benefits that they offer. But every school is different, and have different requirements for their application process. So make sure that the requirements for the school is something that works for you.

For the application itself, the schools usually require medical paperwork indicating the need for a guide dog, either from your eye doctor or your primary care doctor. In addition, a written application with your contact info, answers to questions such as why you need a guide dog, paperwork from an orientation and mobility specialist indcating your ability to navigate your environment and cross streets, and character references are often required.

The next step is the home visit. This varies with each school. With Dogs Inc, they come and inspect the home, as well as meeting the other pets in the house. In addition, they watched how I navigated with my cane on a familiar route. Then, we did what's called a Juno walk, where they use an actual harness and leash. The trainer holds the end where the dog would be, and I held the other end. This is to assess my pace, and how much pull I would like from a dog in order to feel the direction it is trying to guide me.

After the home visit, I had to wait for a call, and lucky for me, I was accepted. Then, I had the opportunity to walk with a few dogs to see what would be a good match.

Training

The training process requires a lot of patience and commitment. The goal is to continue to bond with your dog, and keep up with the consistency of training the dog has had throughout its life.