It is a partnership in which you give the dog what he needs so he can then help you get to your destination. Good orientation and mobility skills are an important foundation to successfully working with a dog guide. They are also taught to determine if a vehicle is approaching dangerously close and will refuse a direct instruction from their handler in this situation. A dog guide can help a person travel faster, but does not offer the same tactile information that a cane would. People who use dog guides must realize this is a team effort, the dog depends on the handler just as the handler depends on the dog.
Dogs require a good amount of care and attention.
A person who is deaf-blind and is interested in obtaining a Leader Dog, should have very good orientation skills, and should have developed a method of crossing streets before applying for a Leader Dog. Examples of methods previously used include message cards, taped message device, assistance from the public, and relying on remaining vision to assist with some rural crossings. A Leader Dog can not determine the traffic pattern or understand the traffic lights, therefore it is the person's responsibility to choose the best method of crossing streets for themselves. It is also the person that should determine their destination. This is not the dog's responsibility.