Not all Guide Dog puppies actually go on to become working guides. They have to be evaluated and undergo intensive training. The dog must learn basic obedience, commands for left and right turns, how to walk in a straight line when in harness, how to cross streets, stop at curbs, how to go up and down stairs and to avoid all sort of obstacles. One of the most crucial skills a Guide Dog must learn is selective disobedience. The dog must not move forward into unsafe traffic, no matter how many times he is commanded to do so.
Standards are very high.
Dogs who do not pass all the tests are usually first offered to their puppy raisers and then to families on waiting lists. Petie had the wonderful opportunity to have a female retired Guide Dog come live with him. Her named was Rainy and had started her life out as a stray until Joanna Walker discovered Rainy in a pound and thought she had potential. Rainey was saved and began her training for a seeing eye dog at Pilot Dogs in Ohio . Rainy completed her training successfully and was places as a guide dog with a young man.