How To Train a Seeing Eye Dog

Perhaps you know some people who is blind or visually impaired. They may find it really impossible to walk around and visit their friends or relatives, and they are slowly finding their life too limiting. Imagine, just staying inside your house all day, every day.

Good thing there are clever dogs that you can train as their new pair of eyes. The dog won't let you down, and will always keep its owner safe. And for your friend to have a great pair of extra eyes, you are going to need a great, intelligent, “trainable” dog, and a great guide like this to further assist you on how to train a perfect seeing eye dog. If you want your blind relatives or friends to know the joy of traveling, then by all means, read on.

Not all dogs are fit for service. Several breeds are best for duty as seeing eye dogs. Namely, these breeds are: Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Golden Retrievers. These dogs are excellent when it comes to caring for their masters.

1. Train them early. A lot of dogs begin training at an early age of three years. Sometimes they even train seeing eye dogs as early as seven or eight weeks of age.
2. To start things off, teach them the basics. These dogs will need a trainer that can see clearly first, for the trainer has to teach them some basics. You need to train them on how to move forward, or to turn right and left. The trainer usually holds a stick that could be used as a guide for the dog. Whenever the trainer taps the stick in a desired direction, then that will be the direction where the dog should go. And also they train the dog with verbal and leash cues.
3. Move on to intermediate skills. Intermediate skills include how to manage curbs, being able to distinguish traffic, and also understanding clearance. The dog should be trained to sit down with its paws resting at the curb so that the master will be able to distinguish it as a curb. Clearance includes how the dog manages to get past obstacles and through populated areas, and how to move in between them safely. The dog should also be aware of the traffic and how and when to pass – together with his master safely.
4. Now, let him work with his visually impaired master. You can now pair the dog with a blind or visually impaired individual. Through this they will acquire a good relationship with one another.

A seeing eye dog requires extensive, careful training. Be sure you take care of the dog and don’t stress them too much for they will learn eventually.