What to Consider Before Getting a Guide Dog
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portraits of four wsb staff & clients with their guide dogs with blue background underneath and text “things to consider when getting a guide dog - by world services for the blind
What to Consider Before Getting a Guide Dog
Deciding to get a guide dog is a big and life-altering decision. We wanted to share a few things to consider before you decide to get a guide dog.
To preface, we want to mention WSB is completely tolerant of guide dogs. We accept anyone with a guide dog and will tailor our O&M instruction to you and your guide! In this post, we interviewed several WSB staff members and clients with guide dogs, all with different experiences and dogs from different guide dog schools.
Why a Guide Dog instead of a cane?
Before you even consider applying for a school, it is imperative that you have good cane skills. If you have some difficulty with Orientation and Mobility, a dog can’t fix all of those problems.
The main reason everyone interviewed said they wanted a guide dog was for the independence and freedom a guide dog can bring. Unlike a cane where you have to use tactile cues to navigate through a crowd for example, a guide dog views people as obstacles, so they are able to maneuver through the crowd without bumping into people.
We wanted to mention why specifically those we interviewed decided to get a guide dog.
Eric Yarberry, our Director of Education and Training, has had his guide dog for just over a year now. He decided on a guide dog because he knew with his position at WSB that he would be traveling more, and he wanted to feel more independent and approachable. At an airport, he is more approachable with his dog and is able to weave through crowds much easier than with a cane. Rebecca Reid, Director of Recruiting at WSB, also wanted the freedom a guide dog could provide. She doesn’t love using a cane but loves the freedom of traveling with a dog!
Jerri-Ann Morrow, our Assistive Technology Instructor, was unsure if a dog was right for her but once she finished the training, she came home with a wonderful dog.
Jen Morsch, a WSB graduate, has had several guide dogs. Jen always had dogs growing up and loved them so she knew working with a guide would be a good choice for her.
What are the Pros?
All of those interviewed mentioned the freedom they experienced once they worked with their dog. Everyone mentioned the speed at which you can travel is unparalleled. Jen specifically mentioned the confidence and safety she feels when working with a dog.
Jen mentioned, “For me, guide dog travel is akin to receiving very focused, streamlined information. With a cane I feel like you often have to filter through extraneous environmental information while navigating a space that you don’t always need.”
Eric loves that with his guide dog, he can easily go into a store and navigate freely and much faster by relying on his hearing and his guide rather than tactile clues. Rebecca also feels she has much more freedom working with a guide dog than a cane. It feels “more natural and relaxed” to do things she used to do before losing her sight. With a dog, she can lead her most independent life as a person with low vision.
Both Eric and Jen love the approachability a dog brings to their life and workplace. People are much more eager to approach you and talk to you with a dog than a cane, which can be a blessing or a curse!
One major pro of a guide dog is Safety Disobedience. Jen gives a perfect example of what this means:
“This occurs when you are about to or in the process of crossing a street. You give your dog the command to cross and say an electric or hybrid vehicle approaches that you do not hear or someone drives erratically. If you have not stepped off the curb, the dog has been trained to ignore your command, thereby, disobeying you for your safety. If you have in fact stepped off said curb, the dog is trained to either push or pull you out of harm’s way. I have had more than one guide of mine do this. Thor, my current guide, did this several months ago during WSB’s walking/running club twice within the same intersection. The third time we had to cross, he guided me across like nothing had ever happened. I was so proud of him!”
Another pro is the general companionship a dog can bring. After all, at the end of the day, they are dogs and can provide great love and support!
What are the Cons?
With everything, there are some cons to getting a guide dog.
Everyone said a con is the cost of a guide dog. Rebecca mentioned that her previous guide dog, Shaggy, had to have prescription food, which can cost upwards of $150 a month. You want to give your dog the best care because they are out all the time working with you. Jerri-Ann’s guide has had unexpected health issues, which have cost a lot. Guide dogs also have to be groomed frequently, which can be another added cost.
Another con is that a guide dog does not last forever. They all have to retire at some point or have unexpected health problems. And it is devastating to lose them as they are not only a pet, but a tool and you are trusting your life in their paws every single day.
Jerri-Ann mentioned that at times, she can feel as a target for other dogs attacking her and her guide. This may not be a common occurrence or one that happens to everyone, but it is definitely something to consider when getting a guide.
Rideshares can also be a hassle, but it is also an occurrence that depends. Eric said he has only been denied a ride once while Jerri-Ann has mentioned it happening several times.
How to Choose a School:
The most important factor when choosing a school is to do your research.
Eric stressed the importance of choosing a school that is in a similar environment to your own. For him, he chose Leader Dogs because where they train and are located is similar to Little Rock whereas someone else might need a bigger city feel to receive training.
Jen has had several dogs, the most recent from Occu-Paws out of WI. Occu-paws offers home training, which Jen mentioned she preferred to away training now that she had several guides already. Jen appreciates that with home training, “The fact that the dog is familiarized with their new home and work environments from the word go. You can also still keep working on some level during the training process. In-home training is also very individualized: it’s you, the dog and your trainer”.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider before getting a guide dog! It is a very personal choice, but we hope this blog post gave you some insight into why getting a guide dog may or may not be for you!