**[Guide Dogs - A Viable Option for Blind Veterans]{.underline}**

**Purpose:**

The purpose of this document is to familiarize Visual Impairment
Services Team (VIST), Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialist (BROS),
and Blind Rehabilitation Center (BRC) staff with changes in the guide
dog industry. These changes have resulted in guide dogs being a more
viable option for many older blind veterans who have not previously
considered this possibility and for the soldiers injured in the
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
conflicts who have special needs in addition to blindness. We will look
at some of the issues that should be examined in choosing a guide dog
program. We will also review some of the considerations in determining
whether a person is a good candidate for a guide dog.

**History:**

Since 1929 guide dogs have provided a mobility option for blind
individuals in the United States. A number of programs have been
established to provide guide dogs. Some programs breed, raise and train
their dogs; others obtain dog stock from breeders; and some use dogs
that have been obtained from animal shelters. Some programs have used
portions of each of these scenarios at different times in their
histories. Some blind individuals have obtained their own dogs either
through private dog trainers, self-training their dog, or a combination
of the two.

The Seeing Eye, located in Morristown, New Jersey, is recognized as the
first school in the United States. Several other schools were
established in the 1940s with war blinded veterans as one of their
primary service populations.

**Rights of Access:** Since the establishment of the schools, ongoing
efforts were made to enact laws providing access rights for blind
individuals using guide dogs. Federal rights were achieved with the
passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act in 1990, providing an
alternate course for pursuing a grievance when discrimination is
encountered.

**Changing Demographics:** In the early days of guide dog use, a
majority of people obtaining guides were relatively young. As time
passed, seasoned guide dog users continued to return for successor dogs.
While returning guide dog users were getting older, the dogs were still
young, fast, strong and playful. Programs addressed this situation
differently. Some discouraged older returning applicants and did not
consider new applicants who were seen as too old to keep up with a
young, vigorous dog. Programs also reacted in varying ways to returning
and new applicants with disabilities in addition to their impaired
vision. A number of programs undertook strategic planning initiatives
designed to respond to this changing population with dramatic
modifications in traditional programs. Training methods were reviewed
and breeding requirements were modified to produce dogs more suited to
working with an aging blind population with possible multiple
disabilities. These modifications would also be appropriate for younger
applicants, such as OIF/OEF veterans.

Not long ago, only legally blind individuals were accepted for guide dog
training. Many programs did not even accept legally blind people with
conditions such as retinitis-pigmentosa, believing that the
individual\'s high central acuity would distract them from relying on
the dog\'s guiding. Today most programs consider candidates who have
travel deficits that can be overcome with a guide dog's assistance
regardless of their legal blindness status.

In summary, the scene has changed dramatically over the past 75 years.
Today\'s aging or multiply disabled blind person, guide dog user or
prospect, can contemplate this mobility option in a much friendlier
environment. Since there are variations among programs, interested
individuals should select programs that best meet their needs.

In the next section, we will address some of the considerations in the
identification of appropriate guide dog candidates and the selection of
the best source for a guide dog.

**Who should apply for a guide dog?**

> **Q.** What are the minimum requirements for a Guide Dog Applicant?
>
> **A.** The general requirements are:

-   Legally blind or impaired travel vision.

-   At least 16 years of age, with no maximum.

-   Able to assume responsibility for care of a guide dog including:
    routine vet care, grooming, quality food, parasite control,
    medications, etc.

-   Has completed O & M training.

-   Is an independent traveler.

> **Q.** What additional characteristics should a candidate possess to
> be a successful guide dog user?
>
> **A.** The candidate should:

-   Be an active person able to give the dog the exercise and work
    challenges to maintain its health and training.

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-   Display safe orientation and mobility skills.

-   Know when the dog requires unusual treatment as a result of an
    accident or hazardous situation.

-   Have family support that accepts the guide dog into the home.

-   Be aware that a dog's average work life is eight years.

**What to Look for in Choosing a Program?**

> **Q.** Should I choose an established school program or a privately
> trained guide dog?
>
> **A.** The vast majority of individuals choose to go to an established
> guide dog program. Ensuring a successful private training outcome is
> challenging, especially for those considering their first guide dog. A
> person considering a private trainer should verify the trainer's
> credentials:

-   How many successful guide dog teams has he trained?

-   What is the total cost of the training?

-   Is the dog specifically bred for guide work?

-   What veterinary checks and inoculations are done on the dog?

-   Can the trainer provide any form of aftercare over the working life
    of the dog? Is there any cost for this?

-   Will the applicant need financial support if major veterinary bills
    occur in the future?

> **Q.** Do all schools offer ownership of the guide dog?
>
> **A.** No. Some programs automatically transfer title to the
> successful graduate. Others offer an option of ownership or school
> retention of title. A few schools retain ownership of the dog. For
> many people this is not a major consideration, but for some, it is an
> important matter. In some cases, even the schools that offer transfer
> of ownership will include provisions in the contract for reclaiming a
> dog under specific and drastic circumstances.
>
> **Q.** What training options are available in most programs?
>
> **A.** This varies dramatically from school to school. Options
> include:

-   Campus-based training, where the student lives on the campus during
    the entire training period. Advantages to this approach are exposure
    to and support from other students, group lectures on shared
    information, and the ability to concentrate exclusively on training.

-   Home-based training, where the team is trained in the student's home
    community. Advantages to this approach are avoidance of travel, and
    the opportunity to work on the routes they will use.

-   Combination of campus and home-based, which allows for beginning
    training on campus, with completion in the home community. This
    provides most of the advantages of both approaches.

-   Classes at a remote site - For example one school conducts guide dog
    training at, and in partnership with, the West Palm Beach BRC, in a
    pilot program.

> **Q.** Do all schools offer campus-based training?
>
> **A.** No. Although most do, a couple of programs offer only
> home-based training.
>
> **Q.** Do all programs have dormitory facilities?
>
> **A.** No. While many have dormitory facilities, some smaller programs
> use local motel or hotel facilities. Even among the programs offering
> dormitory facilities, the staffing and amenities differ widely. If a
> student has need for ongoing medical attention or monitoring, they
> should determine if the program has the necessary medical and nursing
> support.
>
> **Q.** Do all programs offer the same size classes?
>
> **A.** No. Classes at various schools can range from two to
> twenty-four students. Student to training staff ratios can range from
> two to six students per trainer.
>
> **Q.** What types of dogs are used for guide dog work?
>
> **A.** A variety of breeds are used. At this time, the vast majority
> of guide dogs are Labrador and Golden Retrievers. Some programs use
> German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Labrador/Golden crosses,
> Labrador/Poodle crosses, and Collies. A few programs have used Boxers
> and Doberman Pincers. Many consumers have strong breed, gender and
> even color preferences which some schools will address to enhance the
> compatibility of the match.
>
> **Q.** How long does a student and guide dog train together?
>
> **A.** For first-time guide dog users, a campus-based program averages
> 3.5 to 4 weeks. For individuals receiving a successor dog, the
> training period can be anywhere from ten days to four weeks.
> Home-based programs average about two weeks of training but this can
> include everything from ten partial days to fourteen full days.
> Combination training will be composed of a period of time at the
> school, followed by a period of individualized training in the
> person\'s home environment. Again, the length of each part of this
> program varies widely.
>
> **Q.** Is there any cost for a guide dog?
>
> **A.** Almost all of the programs in the United States provide
> transportation, room & board, training, basic equipment, follow-up
> services, and, of course, the dog, at no charge to the individual.
> Each school should be questioned regarding their policy. . Privately
> trained guide dogs can range from hundreds of dollars to tens of
> thousands, depending on a variety of elements such as the trainer\'s
> cost, the cost of the dog, the length of training, living
> accommodations during training, etc.
>
> **Q.** Can I refer a prospective candidate to any of the schools on
> the list of programs?
>
> **A.** Because of the significant differences among programs and the
> unique needs of clients, careful research should be undertaken to
> produce a good match for the veteran.
>
> **Q.** Can a person apply to more than one school at a time?
>
> **A.** Yes. A school may ask if you have any other active applications
> on file. From the consumer\'s point of view, having multiple
> applications under consideration may quicken the waiting time. From
> the program\'s perspective, multiple applications inflate waiting
> times, and waste staff resources dedicated to identifying a good match
> for each person on the waiting list. Generally, an individual is best
> served by focusing on the school which best meets his needs, and
> giving the process a chance to work.
>
> **Q.** Will a student have a roommate in the dormitory?
>
> **A.** Perhaps. Some programs have renovated or built new dormitory
> facilities that offer individual rooms with private baths. Other
> programs still offer shared rooms and a few use nearby motel or hotel
> facilities.
>
> **Q.** Can family members accompany the student?
>
> **A.** In most cases, no provision is made for family members. In
> those cases the programs feel that the individual must give full
> attention to the bonding process with the new guide dog partner and
> all distractions should be avoided. A few programs, especially those
> using off-site housing, do allow family member presence as long as it
> does not interfere with the training process. In home-based and
> combination training programs, the dog will be naturally worked into
> the home setting and family members will be encouraged to maintain
> their normal routines.
>
> **Q.** Do all schools offer aftercare?
>
> **A.** Aftercare is assistance to a guide dog user throughout the
> working life of the guide dog. Most schools provide some type of
> aftercare, through telephone, e-mail, or other correspondence, and
> on-site visitation by a certified Instructor. However, each school's
> offerings differ, and may be affected by the distance from the school.
> An applicant should verify a school's policy on aftercare.
>
> **Q.** Is Veterinary Assistance available?
>
> **A.** Some guide dog programs will also assist their graduates with
> veterinary expenses. You can verify this with each school.
>
> **Q.** If I am working with someone retiring a guide dog and returning
> for a successor dog, what should be done with the retiring dog?
>
> **A.** This is a question that has many answers depending on the
> program, the person and the dog. Most guide dog users either retain
> their former guide as a pet, or place it with a family member or
> friend. Most schools will assist in finding a retirement home for the
> dog.
>
> **Conclusion:**

Guide dog programs have improved their capacity to serve elderly and
multi-impaired veterans. Policies and program characteristics vary among
guide dog programs. Blind Rehabilitation Service professional staff
should carefully consider whether guide dogs would be appropriate for
their veteran clients and which programs would best meet the needs of
those clients.

Currently there are approximately 3 million severely visually impaired
persons age 65 or older in the U.S. With the predicted increase in the
number of elderly persons in the U.S. by 2030, there will be somewhere
in the neighborhood of 7 million or more people afflicted with severe
visual impairment (NEI, 2001). Moreover, the population of veterans
experiencing blindness concomitant with other disabilities is expected
to grow more rapidly than the general population. The vast majority of
these cases will be from age-related causes of blindness. Within the VA
system, we continue to see this trend as we serve more and more veterans
from the Vietnam era. We may even see a significant number of OIF/OEF
veterans who require guide dogs that can also accommodate additional
disabilities.

Lasfargues, John E. (1993). SCI in the United States, 1993-2025.
*Paraplegia News*, 47(8), 50-53.

National Eye Institute (NEI). 2001. Vision Research: A National Plan
1999-2003. Office of Science Policy and Legislation, National Eye
Institute, National Institutes for Health. Bethesda, MD: Government
Printing Office.

**U. S. Guide Dog Schools which are accredited by the International
Guide Dog Federation (alphabetical order)**

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc.

P. O. Box 142

Bloomfield, CT 06002

860 243 5200

Fax: 860 243 7215

E Mail: info@fidelco.org

Website: [[http://www.fidelco.org]{.underline}](http://www.fidelco.org/)

Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind

1210 Hardscrabble Road

Cassville, NY 13318

315 822 5132

Fax: 315 822 5132 (call before faxing)

E Mail: freedomdog@a-znet.com

www.freedomguidedogs.org

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.

371 East Jericho Turnpike

Smithtown, NY 11787 2976

631 930-9000, 1 800 548 4337

FAX: 631 930-9009

E Mail: info@guidedog.org

Website:
[[http://www.guidedog.org]{.underline}](http://www.guidedog.org/)

Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.

P. O. Box 151200

San Rafael, CA 94915 1200

415 499 4000 1 800 295 4050

Fax: 415 499 4035

E Mail: iadmissions@guidedogs.com

Website:
[[http://www.guidedogs.com]{.underline}](http://www.guidedogs.com/)

Guide Dogs for the Blind (Oregon Campus)

32901 S.E. Kelso Road

Boring, OR 97009

503 668 2100

FAX: 503 668 2141

Guide Dogs of America

13445 Glenoaks Blvd.

Sylmar, CA 91342

818 362 5834 1 800 459 4843

FAX: 818 362 6870

E Mail: mail@guidedogsofamerica.org

Website:
[[http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org]{.underline}](http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/)

Guide Dogs of the Desert, Inc.

P. O. Box 1692

Palm Springs, CA 92263

760 329 6257

Fax: 760 329 2127

E Mail: klaidlaw@guidedogsofthedesert.org

Website:
[[http://www.guidedogsofthedesert.com]{.underline}](http://www.guidedogsofthedesert.com/)

Guide Dogs of Texas Inc

11825 West Avenue, Ste 104

San Antonio, TX 78216

United States

210 366 4081

Fax: 210 366 4082

E-mail: mikemason@guidedogsoftexas.org

Website: http://www.guidedogsoftexas.org

Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc.

611 Granite Springs Road

Yorktown Heights, NY 10598

914 245 4024, 800 942 0149

Fax: 914 962 1403

E mail: info@guiding-eyes.org

Website:
[[http://www.guiding]{.underline}](http://www.guiding/)-eyes.org

Leader Dogs for the Blind, Inc.

1039 South Rochester Road

Rochester, MI 48307 3115

248 651 9011, 888 777 5332

FAX: 248 651 5812

E Mail: leaderdog@leaderdog.org

Website:
[[http://www.leaderdog.org]{.underline}](http://www.leaderdog.org/)

The Seeing Eye, Inc.

P. O. Box 375

Morristown, NJ 07963 0375

973 539 4425 1 800 539 4425

FAX: 973 539 0922

E Mail: semaster@seeingeye.org

Website:
[[http://www.seeingeye.org]{.underline}](http://www.seeingeye.org/)

Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.

4210 77th St. East

Palmetto, FL 34221

941 729 5665

Fax: 941 729 6646

E Mail: webmaster@guidedogs.org

Website:
[[http://www.guidedogs.org]{.underline}](http://www.guidedogs.org/)

Other U. S. Guide Dog Schools (alphabetical order)

Eye Dog Foundation For the Blind, Inc.

211 S. Montclair St., Suite A

Bakersfield, CA 93309 3165

661 831 1333 1 800 393 3641

Fax: 661 831 0681

E Mail: eyedog@lightspeed.net

Website:
[[http://www.eyedogfoundation.org]{.underline}](http://www.eyedogfoundation.org/)

EDF Training Center:

8252 South 15th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85041 7806

602 276 0051

Fax: 602 276 1046

E Mail: eyedogaz@uswest.net

Pilot Dogs, Inc.

625 W. Town St.

Columbus, OH 43215 4496

614 221 6367

Fax: 614 221 1577

Website:
[[http://www.pilotdogs.org]{.underline}](http://www.pilotdogs.org/)