Training Seeing Eye Dogs

Training seeing eye dogs is a difficult task and should start at a very early age. Seeing eye dogs are very helpful for people that are vision problems or are sightless. There are certain dog breeds that are more suitable to be seeing eye dogs and these will be easier to train (i.e. Labradors).

Starting the Training

The training process of a seeing eye dog should start as early as the age of 2 or 3 months. There are special trainers that will handle seeing eye dogs, as the dog training will be different from the regular training of other canines.

It is important to establish if the dog is a good fit for seeing eye dog. Certain dog breeds such as Labradors can be ideal for vision impaired persons, while other breeds are simply not suitable for the job.

However, even if the dog is of a suitable breed, his personality and behavior have to be assessed as well, as not all Labrador dogs are suitable to be guiding dogs for the vision impaired. A skilled dog trainer can establish if the dog can be trained to be a seeing eye dog. The main characteristics of the dog should include:

  • Dependability
  • Adaptability
  • Gentle behavior

Training Seeing Eye Dogs Basics

A seeing eye dog has great instincts and will be able to react in a threatening situation. However, the dog should also be able to follow the commands of the owner and take the lead when needed.

The training of a seeing eye dog is also known as bomb proofing, as the dog needs to be calm when accompanying a person that is vision impaired.

Firstly, the dog should be taught to cope with fear. Puppies are not afraid and start developing this feeling after the age of 14 weeks. The dog can cope with fear if he is exposed to various noises and situations that may trigger fear. The dog should learn that these are normal and he should not respond to these in a negative manner. Consequently, when the dog will be accompanying a vision impaired person in heavy traffic, he will not fear; the guided person should be always guided with confidence and the dog should be calm at all times.

After the dog is trained to cope with fear, he may also be taken outside on streets, public transport and public places.

At the same time, the dog will be potty trained and house broken, so that the future owner will have a well behaved dog.

The entire training may take up to 6 months.

Training the Owner

The owner should be trained as well, so that he will be able to control the dog. The dog will respond to certain verbal commands, uttered in a particular tone of voice and the vision impaired person needs to learn these commands. The dog can also respond to a number of gestures, such as pulling the leash.

In time, the dog will learn a few regular routes and the routines of the owner, so the training will continue.

 

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