my Mom was just told that she has glaucoma, and will be blind within a few years. I want to train our dog Sampson (APBT/Bloodhound mix) to be her seeing-eye-dog, because they have a special bond.
He came to us with a few problems, he used to hate motors, and he used to hate his nails done. I can now vacuum around him with no issues, and I am able to clip his nails. So he is a good learner and I know he can do it.
I was hoping someone could give me more information on it, and give me some credible websites (some websites are bullshit) and if you have done anything like that, your experiencesthanks for any advice that you can offer me
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I asked a question kind of relating to this a few months ago.
Maybe some of the responses will help: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…
Overview of Dog Training
- I would consider contacting the societies that provide the Service dogs to people who need them. I am unaware where you are located but you should be able to find out. I believe you need some certification anyway to get your dog recognised as a service dog.
- Training seeing eye dogs is a complicated procedure. I doubt anyone who has no experience in training these dogs would know how to go about it.
Why not contact a group that trains these dogs and ask their advice. - theres a thing called "operant conditioning" in which you can shape a human (and to certain degree dogs) behavior by using reinforcers...they can be positive or negative...so you can sort of get the dog to do basic things for your mom and you can use the process of operant conditioning to make it realize that what its doing is a good job...so he will continue that behavior. I would suggest that you do research on what types of dogs are best as service dogs, because if your dogs breed doesnt fall in that...well than you might need to get another dog.
- First, they are guide dogs. Seeing eye dogs are dogs from the school, "The Seeing Eye".
I have an owner trained medical alert, medical response, and mobility dog. Even having successfully trained my own service dog, I absolutely would not attempt to train a guide dog. It takes 18 mo - 2 years to train a SD and most that enter training do not make it though.
I know several people with a great deal of dog training experience who have attempted to train their own guide dog and not one has been successful. Most, if not all, guide dog programs place their dogs at no charge because they have a large donation base. It will cost you thousands to train on your own (average cost is $25K - $30K) with the odds being against you being successful.
Think about it, this dog will be your mom's eyes! This dog will be responsible for keeping her safe. Don't you want the best trained dog possible? I have a great deal of experience in the service dog world and no way would I even attempt it. If you don't have years and years of advanced dog training, including other types of service dogs, you will not be successful unless you hire a private trainer that does know what they are doing. - I think you should find a trainer to first evaluate the dog and determine if he has the right drive and temperment for the job. Having a bond with your mother will not be enough.
Also to consider is his age. Most dogs start training around 1-2 years of age. Dogs older than that are not typically used.. this is because it can take around a year to train the dog. You want to be able to "employ" the dog for as long as possible before he gets to "retirement" age. If he's already an older dog, then your mom may not get to use him more than a few short years anyways.
A trainer who is experienced with service dogs can also assist with the training. - Good for you to want to help. But there are very experienced agencies that are quite well equipped with both staff and sound dogs that can help your Mother. It takes at least a 3 year apprenticeship to learn how to train guide dogs and later, a dog and person team. That's hundreds of dogs.
The dogs must pass soundness and temperament tests. They must be able to work past distractions - food, cat, squirrel, birds, etc. They must be able to respond to handler commands in any environment, with our without distraction. They must be able to disobey those commands if it will endanger the handler. They must be able to make that decision! They must be able to confidently push and pull right and left to get their person safely around obstacles, both stationary and moving. They must be able to go and keep going, but stop for curbs, or work to identified targets. Dogs bred for guide work wash out at a 50% rate - they are evaluated during puppyhood and training, and deemed not suitable to safely, confidently guide a person. And these are dogs that have years of breeding behind them.
But, before any reputable guide dog school will accept a newly blind or visually impaired person, they must learn Orientation and Mobility skills and be able to travel independently with a cane. She needs to learn how to know where she is, read traffic noise, and learn how to process information that way. She needs to learn how to navigate the world as a blind/visually person. It's hard, and takes training, but so much easier once you know how to do it.
So ... Again, good for you to want to help your Mom. The best way to do it is to get to look up agencies to help her with O&M. And then let HER decide if she wants a dog. Even then, she might not be the right type of person to have a dog. If she does go that route, leave it to the pros. Her life will depend on the dog.
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