For anyone who knows me, you know that my love for dogs runs deeper than my love for humans. Sorry, two legged friends! That said I could not imagine not having a blog entry dedicated to the amazing companionship between guide dogs and their owners.
I had always wishes that my Grandpa had a guide dog, if for nothing else I would have loved to have had another dog in my life growing up. He did have a guide dog in his younger years, but after Major (his guide dog) died tragically, I don’t think he could take getting another to replace him. Grandpa relied mainly on his cane to navigate as well as his insanely good sense of direction. If the man had been somewhere before, he knew where he was going- it was the unexpected obstacles that sometimes got in the way.
Anyway, back to the dogs. Guide dogs are phenomenal animals! They are bred and educated and specially selected for their humans, according to their temperament and the human’s needs. While a cane serves as a object detector for the blind, a dog assists their handler in avoiding obstacles all together. Guide dogs provide an independence beyond the cane.
I had always wishes that my Grandpa had a guide dog, if for nothing else I would have loved to have had another dog in my life growing up. He did have a guide dog in his younger years, but after Major (his guide dog) died tragically, I don’t think he could take getting another to replace him. Grandpa relied mainly on his cane to navigate as well as his insanely good sense of direction. If the man had been somewhere before, he knew where he was going- it was the unexpected obstacles that sometimes got in the way.
Anyway, back to the dogs. Guide dogs are phenomenal animals! They are bred and educated and specially selected for their humans, according to their temperament and the human’s needs. While a cane serves as a object detector for the blind, a dog assists their handler in avoiding obstacles all together. Guide dogs provide an independence beyond the cane.
(photo above of man walking throught a crowded mall with a guide dog)
Check out this link which tells the story of Jenny, and how her experience with a guide dog changed her life. Once limited by the thought of crowded places and chaos in public, Jenny is now open to explore any terrain with her dog, Fleming. http://www.livingblind.com/guide-dogs-for-the-blind.html
Just as the dog is groomed from 8 weeks old to respond accordingly in any setting, the handlers are also trained on how to control the dog. It is commmonly thought that guide dogs are leading their masters, however, the master is really doing the leading through their commands. Nonetheless, the partnership between the human and the guide dog allows for mobility barriers to be broken.
Here is an amazing video that provides an in-depth view into the relationship between the blind and their seeing eye dogs. The experience of adopting a guide dog is empowering and beautiful.
Check out this link which tells the story of Jenny, and how her experience with a guide dog changed her life. Once limited by the thought of crowded places and chaos in public, Jenny is now open to explore any terrain with her dog, Fleming. http://www.livingblind.com/guide-dogs-for-the-blind.html
The bond that develops between each dog and their owner is remarkable. They are more than a dog, more than a leader, they are a lifeline. When I am out and I see a dog assisting anyone who has any type of disability, I am always amazed at the focus of the dog and the obvious trust between the owner and the dog. Most dogs you see in public are too frisky and easily distracted by every passing car to imagine them with any type of real responsibility.
Just as the dog is groomed from 8 weeks old to respond accordingly in any setting, the handlers are also trained on how to control the dog. It is commmonly thought that guide dogs are leading their masters, however, the master is really doing the leading through their commands. Nonetheless, the partnership between the human and the guide dog allows for mobility barriers to be broken.Here is an amazing video that provides an in-depth view into the relationship between the blind and their seeing eye dogs. The experience of adopting a guide dog is empowering and beautiful.
What a great post. I had a neighbor in Washington who trained future service dogs. Like you, this couple had a passion for animals and helping blind people find the freedom that has eluded them for years. The incredible thing about this couple was that they were both blind. They amaze me still to this day when I think about them.
ReplyDeleteThe bond between guide dogs and their owners is amazing! Thanks for including the link to Jenny's story... I never had a dog growing up and couldn't understand the bond people had with them until I got my own. It's amazing the love that can be shared between furry children & their parents!
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