A constant companion for the blind, seeing-eye dogs have existed since the 1930s when the first training centers were opened in Great Britain.One third of the breeds used are German Shepherds; the rest are Golden Retrievers and Labradors, again chosen because of their obedience and ability to learn. The puppies come from a special breeder, since puppies from traditional breeders do not have all of the necessary qualities. Breeders have developed breeds specifically with seeing-eye dogs in mind and often provide the dogs for seeing-eye dog schools. These centers of study work on the genetic selection of the dogs, trying to suppress character flaws or bone and joint malformations (such as hip dysplasia). The puppies are placed in breeding families after weaning, then distributed amount different schools. The females return to the center regularly to give birth since in most cases they ensure the continued reproduction of the line.
The training
Training takes four months, spread out over several periods, during which the dog first learns obedience. This consists of simple exercises during which the dog must hold specific positions, fetch objects, become accustomed to wearing its harness, and walk correctly beside its master. This period lasts a week and is taught exclusively by the instructor. Then comes the stage during which the dog learns to avoid all types of obstacles and to warn its master. This is the most crucial stage of learning. The instructor will play a major role in this respect for the first month. The dog is then turned over to a blind person who must get used to the dog and become accustomed to being led through various courses. A very close bond develops between the person and the dog since they live in constant contact with each other. The instructor is their common bond and must also "train" the blind person to use the dog.
After four months in the seeing-eye dog school, the master/dog pair is ready to face daily life together for the first time and for many years to come. The animal's role as the "eyes" of the blind person is truly essential. It allows the person to return to a more active social life and to have a job that is compatible with his handicap. Having a seeing-eye dog is an invaluable step towards independence for a blind person.
Such associations continue to develop around the world in order to provide as many handicapped and vision-impaired people as possible with ever more well-trained dogs.
It hasn't been very long that dogs have been trained to help physically handicapped people re-enter society.
These dogs belong to two different breeds: the Labrador and the Golden Retriever. They are even-tempered, docile and quick to learn commands. Training is done in two stages. The first involves introducing the puppy to a family, in much the same way as for a seeing-eye dog. Secondly the dog is trained by a non-profit association to respond to about fifty different commands.
The role of the "host family" is essential and conditions the dog for the actual training period. From the age of three months, puppies are "pre-trained" or socialized as the family teaches them obedience. Every three weeks, the dogs and their temporary masters come together in a center for follow-up on their training, advice, and even discarting dogs with character flaws that would prevent future work in assisting the handicapped. After this "pre-training" stage, which lasts until the dog is 18 months old, the dog is trained to help a person with limited mobility. During this period, which generally lasts about six months, the dog lives in the center full time and meets its future master there during the last two weeks of its training. At this point, masters and dogs are paired off based on their respective needs and abilities. Training takes place on a daily basis and a monitor looks after the dog for about half an hour each day. After 2 years, about a third of the dogs must be discarted for physical reasons (hip problems, for example) or behavioral reasons (the dog must be sociable, calm, and obedient). The main goal is to establish a working harmony between master and dog. They must have a mutual understanding and the person must be able to use the dog well. To do this, candidates who want to adopt dogs to assist them participate in a fairly demanding two-week training period during which they learn to take care of the dog and how to give it commands. Complete training for the dog costs about 10,000 C (approx. 10,000 $), which limits the number of trainees and especially the number of dogs being trained.
At the end of the training period, the dogs are able to respond to about fifty different commands such as: picking up an object that has been dropped, bring objects (telephone), open and close doors, turn lights on and off, help move chairs into areas that are difficult to access, etc.
Dogs that assist the handicapped can indeed accomplish numerous tasks for their masters, making a human assistant unnecessary. They also play an important therapeutic role for people, particularly children, who suffer from illnesses that can cause them to be physically or emotionally withdrawn from society. In addition to the tasks for which they have been trained, there are many ways in which dogs stimulate handicapped children. Kids are truly comforted by their dog companions, which in turn allows them to open up more to people and to trust those around them. Children accomplish movements they never would have dreamed possible. Dogs push them to go "beyond their limits." Research has been done on this therapeutic phenomena, especially in relation to autism, an illness for which the cause is unknown and for which there is currently no treatment.
These dogs also break down perceived social barriers in public, making it easier for some people to strike up a conversation with a handicapped person.
Being deaf or hearing impaired can prove such a significant handicap that it quickly leads to isolation from society. Dogs can quite successfully be used to make life easier in such situations.
There are several centers for such dogs throughout the world, for example in the United States, England, and Holland. The Soho Foundation was formed in Herpen, near Nimegues, Holland in 1984 and is in charge of purchasing and training dogs for people who are handicapped or hearing impaired. The Soho Foundation works in conjunction with England where most of the dogs are purchased. The breeds used are primarily Golden Retrievers, but there are also Welsh Corgis and Bearded Collies.
At eight weeks old, the dogs are placed with Dutch families, preferably those with children, where they receive a basic education and adapt to a wide variety of environments (city life, the supermarket, the woods, etc.) until they turn one year old. They then return to the Foundation and really begin to learn their actual functions. They will need to learn more than 70 oral commands and 20 gestures. It should also be noted that a deaf or hearing impaired person's voice is quite different in intonation and diction from that of a hearing person. This requires additional effort and adaptation.
The dog's training consists of learning to react to certain noises and to alert its master, such as: jumping on the bed when the alarm clock goes on, tugging on the master's pant leg when someone is at the door, or carefully taking the master's hand to alert him to the presence of an unexpected guest.
The dog will also certainly serve as a companion to its master, making him feel less isolated from society.
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