Guide Dogs in WA
Guide Dogs WA is an accredited member of the International Guide Dog Federation who set the standards for the training of Guide Dogs all over the world.
1. Puppy Raising
The first stage of training is Puppy Raising, which provides basic social skills and obedience. Our young recruits are carefully selected by our Guide Dog Instructors. They must be confident, responsive and healthy - the qualities of a successful Guide Dog. The Labrador is ideally suited in Guide Dog training because it has a placid temperament, requires little maintenance, comes in a variety of sizes and is highly trainable. It is also a responsive, intelligent dog that is always willing to please. Puppies vary in colour, from black to cream, and stay with their mother for approximately eight weeks before commencing training as a Guide Dog. Puppy Raising is the very important first stage of this long process.
Over twelve months, these puppies visit places they will later encounter as Guide Dogs, visiting the sights, hearing the sounds and - most importantly for any dog – learning the smells that often surround them. Socialisation is one of the most important parts of training given to the puppy and involves taking the puppy to shopping centres, railway stations, city centres and a range of other places it is likely to encounter during its training and subsequent work as a Guide Dog.
2. Guide Dog Training
When the pups are about 14 months old the Instructors carefully assess every puppy on several long walks. Prospective Guide Dogs must be eager to work, with good concentration and initiative, and must control the temptation to be distracted by other animals. With such stringent standards, not all puppies are suitable for the responsibility of being a Guide Dog. Puppies who are unsuitable for the program go to loving homes.
Puppies that are selected to become Guide Dogs undergo an intensive five month program to learn the complex skills required for their new job. Guide Dogs start their training on the leash; the harness is introduced after a couple of months. The Guide Dog trainer adopts the role of the “pack leader,” this is a position of trust and leadership. A young dog will naturally seek out the pack leader for guidance.
The dogs are trained through positive reinforcement, that is, they are praised every time they make the correct choice or produce the desired behaviour. Being dogs that want to please, they soon learn what is wanted from the trainer and will happily demonstrate their newly learnt skills. Praise must be consistent to reinforce the behaviour. Occasionally a persistent non-desirable behaviour will be disciplined with a leash correction, however inappropriate or over use of this technique will destroy the dog’s willingness to please.
Guide Dog Trainers begin with simple commands and progress to more challenging tasks. These skills include:
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Walking in a straight line without sniffing;
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Walking on the left-hand side slightly ahead of the trainer;
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Stopping at all kerbs;
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Waiting for a command before crossing roads;
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Stopping at the top and bottom of stairs;
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Avoiding obstacles at head height;
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Avoiding spaces too narrow for a person and a dog to walk through side by side;
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Boarding and travelling on all forms of public transport;
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Taking the trainer to a lift;
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Laying quietly for some time, particularly at work or in restaurant;s
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Refuse commands that may lead the trainer into danger, for example, if the trainer instructs the Guide Dog to walk them into a hole, the dog may refuse to walk forward when commanded.
Some tasks, like stopping at all kerbs and staircases, are taught through repetition. Other tasks require intensive training, like safely crossing the road. And it takes a well-trained dog to handle the unexpected, like a car reversing from a driveway. As training progresses, Guide Dogs learn to travel through confusing and crowded areas, such as shopping centres and busy city streets. In fact, experienced Guide Dogs can lead their users to a list of destinations under the person's direction.
As you can imagine, this requires careful teaching so the dog learns each command in a complex sequence of events. Half way through its training the dog is introduced to the guiding harness, and all techniques are now reinforced using the harness. The dog quickly learns that when it has its harness on it is working and must concentrate on its guiding work. When not in harness the dog behaves like any other well-behaved dog.
Despite the hard work involved, Guide Dogs have a rewarding job indeed. These intelligent dogs lead an interesting life - and they certainly demonstrate that they enjoy the challenge.
3. Training for the Guide Dog Owner
Training with a Guide Dog takes place in and from the person’s home. The training occurs on the actual travel routes the person will use and takes a minimum of four weeks before reaching a minimum standard of safe independent travel. During the training program the new Guide Dog team gradually learn all the skills they need to travel safely through different types of environments. The person also learns how to care for the dog and, very importantly, how it thinks.
Each training program is individually managed to cater for the individual needs of each person and dog. The training programs consist of theoretical lectures as well as practical training sessions. The training begins in quiet residential areas where the person learns to follow the dog’s guiding movements. By the completion of training the new Guide Dog team is working in busy city conditions and are using all types of public transport.
The training is completed when the new Guide Dog team can travel safely and independently on all the travel routes they require. Most people who have trained with a Guide Dog report their confidence and independence are enhanced when travelling with their dog. They also report on the additional security and companionship an intelligent and devoted dog can give.
" I still don't like being licked, but the little lick I receive when I hold out my hand and call" Where's my dog?" is a special joy of me." The Pathfinder- by Elsie. R. Mead
Because these dogs are so highly regarded by members of the public, Guide Dog owners often have increased social contact with people interested in their lifestyle and their dog. The Association’s Guide Dog staff continue to support and work with the newly trained Guide Dog team through out its working life, which is approximately eight to ten years. This ensures that on going safety is maintained.
If you are interested in finding out more about training with a Guide Dog please call our reception on Ph: 9311 8202.
4. Applying for a Guide Dog
When a Guide Dog completes its basic training it is matched to a person who is blind or vision impaired who has applied for and been accepted for training with a Guide Dog. Anyone with a significant vision loss can apply for a Guide Dog. All applicants are assessed using an internationally recognised assessment criteria, where then The Association's Guide Dog Instructor assesses each applicant to determine their suitability and readiness for training with a Guide Dog. The assessment also ensures whether or not the person would also be successful with a dog and achieve their mobility goals. The assessment is conducted at the persons home or work place, and places where they would visit or habit during a normal day with their Guide Dog.
Applicants must be motivated to work consistently and be capable of achieving the pack leadership role. As Guide Dogs require regular work to maintain their guiding skills the applicant must have sufficient purposeful work to warrant a dog. As Guide Dogs also need exercise the applicant should be walking approximately two to three kilometres a day. The applicant therefore needs to be healthy and have good exercise tolerance, strength, reflexes and balance.
It is also important that the applicant is a confident independent traveller, as these necessary skills will be transferred to their Guide Dog training and mobility over a short period of time. When matching Guide Dogs to applicants, individual lifestyles, personality (person and dog), mobility needs and physical attributes are considered. Guide Dogs are only given to people who can care for the dog and have the mobility that warrant its need.
There are eight basic assessment areas, and interestingly it is these areas that go into making up a successful Guide Dog unit. Without these areas a Guide Dog unit will never reach its potential and problems can be common. The first area considers the applicants motivation about being an independent traveller with a Guide Dog. The assessment establishes this through checking how much the applicant actually travels independently.
The second and third areas involve looking at the applicants’ ability to work and control a dog and also achieve the leadership role required. The forth and fifth areas consider how much work the applicant has for a dog and how well the applicant knows the routes they travel on. As Guide Dogs require regular work to maintain their guiding skills the applicant must have sufficient purposeful work to warrant a dog. It’s very important that you know where you are going in order to monitor the dogs decisions. We also consider the applicants’ ability to safely cross the road as it their decision when to cross and not the dogs. These areas are all assessed through discussion and by observing the applicant when they travel from A to B in a number of different areas.
The last two areas consider the applicants level of vision loss and legal blindness. We assess the applicants’ ability to home the dog in a safe environment, including work place situations. Guide Dogs are affectionate animals who develop a really strong relationship with their owners. It is important that the applicant is a confident independent traveller, as these necessary skills will be utilised and transferred into their Guide Dog training and mobility.
If a Guide Dog owner is anxious or fearful whilst traveling, their anxiety can be transferred to the dog causing it some concern. This in turn can cause the handler additional stress which will affect its guiding performance. Handlers who are confident encourage their dog in its guiding work through strong leadership. Applicants should also consider the cost of ongoing dog maintenance. Applicants are advised that it costs approximately $10 - $20 per week to maintain a Guide Dog and that this cost will continue through out the dogs life (10 -12 years). Costs include: food, veterinary expenses, bedding, and husbandry items. Additional unexpected costs such as specialised veterinary care are also quite common and can be very expensive.
5. FAQ's
How long does it take to train a Guide Dog?
The dogs spend twelve months in the Puppy Raising Program, and are then assessed for their suitability for training as a Guide Dog. During a two week period they are assessed for their reactions to other dogs, cats, trains, buses and other situations they are likely to encounter as a working Guide Dog. If chosen, this is followed by five months of intensive training with a Guide Dog Instructor, then one month to train the Guide Dog with the client so they can travel together safely and independently.
Where do you source Guide Dogs?
We are proud to be working closely with Western Australia’s leading Labrador breeding programs at our Guide Dog Kennels and our success rates now meet international best practice standards. We use Labrador Retrievers which are the most popular breed used as Guide Dogs throughout the world. Our breeding program uses proven breeding lines which reduce the incidence of inherited conditions.
What happens to dogs that are unsuitable as Guide Dogs?
Most dogs that are unsuitable to be Guide Dogs are given to loving families, or may either be trained as companion dogs for people who have a disability. They may even be offered for sale, placed back with their Puppy Raisers, or offered to other members of the public as normal house pets.
What age do you have to be to in order to be eligible for a Guide Dog?
You usually have to be at least 18 years of age to be considered for a Guide Dog. A child who is blind or vision impaired would use a white cane or have a family member or friend guide them around (sighted guide).
Can the dog judge width and height?
The Guide Dog is taught to judge the width it has to allow in order for the vision impaired person to avoid bumping into things such as other people, prams and bicycles. The dog is also taught to judge heights, which enable it to avoid overhead obstacles such as overhanging branches. It is not the dog that makes the decision about when to cross the road. In general, the owner knows whether traffic is moving, or whether cars have stopped.
What is the average working life of a Guide Dog?
Guide Dogs usually begin work with their clients at about 20 months old, with a well-earned retirement about 8 to 10 years later. When a guide dog retires it usually stays with the Guide Dog user and enjoys a normal home life.
Where are Guide Dogs allowed?
By law, Guide Dogs are permitted to travel in taxis and on public transport, and are allowed in all public places such as restaurants, shopping centres, hospitals, theatres etc. It is an offence to refuse entry to a person accompanied by a registered Guide Dog.
How much does it cost to train a Guide Dog?
The actual cost of training each Guide Dog varies between $25,000 and $35,000
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