Guide Dogs for the Blind

Guide Dogs for the Blind is a guide dog school located in the United States, with campuses in San Rafael, California, and Boring, Oregon. It was founded in 1942 to help veterans who had been blinded in World War II.

History

Guide Dogs for the Blind was the first guide dog training school on the West Coast. Its creation was a dream shared by Lois Merrihew and Don Donaldson, who recognized the need to help wounded servicemen who would return from World War II without their sight. They believed in the potential of dogs to serve as guides for the blind. A German Shepherd named "Blondie" was one of the first dogs trained; she was paired with Sgt. Leonard Foulk, the first serviceman to graduate from the new school.

In 1947, Guide Dogs moved to its present location in San Rafael, California, about 20 miles north of San Francisco. In order to meet the increasing demands for services, they opened a second campus in Boring, Oregon.

Dogs and Their Guidework Training

Guide Dogs for the Blind breeds most of the dogs it trains as guide dogs in its breeding department located on its California campus. They use primarily Labrador Retrievers, but do occasionally use Golden Retrievers and Labrador/Golden Retriever crossbreeds. In early 2008, Guide Dogs stopped breeding and raising German Shepherd puppies and the last German Shepherds will go through training to be matched with handlers late 2008 or early 2009. Puppies are given to volunteer raisers at 8 to 12 weeks of age. The raisers have one of the most important jobs: they must train the dog in basic commands and socialize the dog in public areas. There are groups in 8 western states that raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, but most are raised by groups in California and Oregon. The dogs are recalled for formal training at one of Guide Dogs for the Blind's campuses at approximately 14 to 18 months old. Recalled dogs are first assessed for health and then proceed into a 10-stage program ("BEST -- Balanced Education System for Training Guide Dogs") [ cite web | url=http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_dog_guide_best | accessdate=2008-08-22 ] also known as formal training. The dogs are continuously assessed during the formal training and may be dropped from the program ("career changed") at any stage (including during their time with the puppy raisers if intractable health or behavior problems emerge). Trained dogs are then matched with appropriate visually impaired individuals who undergo two to four weeks of training or classes and then begin to officially work as a team. Dogs that are career changed out of the program are adopted as pets or are sent into other programs such as search and rescue or Dogs for Diabetics. During formal training, dogs may be selected as breeders. Breeders are normally kept by a "breeder keeper" who will look after the dog most of the time, with occasional visits to the kennels at Guide Dogs's campuses.

References

http://www.guidedogs.com/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_dog_guide_best

ee also

*List of Guide Dog Schools