The Guide Dog Instructor

Guide dog instructors have two primary responsibilities. First, they train purebred dogs, which are the products of the Guide Dog breeding program, to become Guide Dogs. Second, they train blind people enrolled at the Guide Dog school to use those dogs safely and effectively. This specialized work requires a dedication to serving the blind and an understanding of the unique nature of the dog that makes it a suitable living mobility instrument.' Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc., in San Rafael, California, has developed its own program for the training and development of Guide Dog instructors in conjunction with the licensing requirements of the state of California. California is the only state which requires licensing of instructors and the Guide Dog organization operates under License #1 1 from the California State Guide Dog Board. Each Guide Dog Trainer must complete a three-year apprenticeship before becoming eligible for licensing. The duties of the apprentice are similar to those of a licensed instructor and include assisting in the care and training of potential Guide Dogs. The apprentice also helps with the teaching of blind people in the use of Guide Dogs while supervised by licensed instructors. To enable the apprentice to empathize with the blind students, the Guide Dog school requires that each apprentice live, under blindfold, with a class for a period of 10 days. The blindfolded apprentice is assigned a Guide Dog, shares a room with a blind person and experiences class training from the student's point of view. In addition to the practical training, the apprentice learns about the different types of mobility, causes of blindness and resources available for the blind. Toward the end of the apprenticeship period the apprentice trains a Guide Dog for use under blindfold as part of the state's rigorous licensing examination. The last step toward licensing occurs when the apprentice trainer appears before the California State Guide Dog Board of examiners. The apprentice must pass a two-part oral and practical examination which involves the apprentice's successful use, while blindfolded, of the Guide Dog he or she trained. This dog will be issued to a blind person at a later date. Other Functions of the Guide Dog instructor include visiting graduates of the Guide Dog program across the U.S. to follow up on their progress and to offer suggestions that may improve the person-dog working relationship. also instructors represent the Guide Dog organization at public functions as speakers before community groups, club and service organizations, The California State licensed Instructor is a symbol of the years of service the Guide Dog program has provided to qualified, legally blind people by teaching them the safe use of a highly-trained Guide Dog.

Return Home