This helps Guiding Eyes evaluate its breeding lines, identify issues that raisers should address and determine when puppies are mature enough for formal training. See Boone's Page to follow one puppy through this process. This test evaluates the aspects of temperament essential to good guide dogs, such as confidence. Dogs that pass the test and that are in good health are trained for a minimum of five months by Guiding Eyes's training staff. This training teaches the dogs the skills they need to be guides.
People often ask if it is hard to let go.
The sorrow of missing the dog is tempered by pride in how you have helped it realize its potential and understanding the mobility and companionship it will provide if it succeeds as a guide dog. Dogs that successfully complete the training are carefully matched with a blind person. The person and dog train together for three weeks to develop the teamwork required for them to navigate the world together. Raisers are invited to a graduation ceremony at the end of class and have the opportunity to meet their puppy's new partner and to celebrate in the accomplishment of having helped make this possible. For many raisers, this completes the circle that started when they first met the small bundle of joy that eventually grew into someone's Guiding Eyes.