Guide Dogs work within environments where food is present and must learn to ignore food distractions. They are used as a communication tool to instruct the dogs to cease negative behaviors or actions. They are given only after the dogs have been shown what is expected of them, but fail to respond positively. Therefore, the dogs understand why they are being corrected. At the moment the negative actions stop, the dogs are given praise to communicate the desired action.
Corrections vary in severity with each individual dog and each individual situation.
Some dogs are sensitive to a mild correction, while others require firm corrections to gain a response. Corrections are given only as firmly as necessary to gain the response desired. Firm corrections are only given when dogs fully understand what is expected and repeatedly disobey. Normal training progress necessitates some correction, even with sensitive dogs. Dogs instinctively expect order to be demanded from a dominant character in their life, and in fact, welcome it.