As al dog-owners know, every breed of dog is different, and every dog is different-- some smart, some dumb, some obedient, etc. This is why I believe Guiding Eyes cannot take any old dog from the animal shelter. Its a refined set of requirements.

Hey Rob,
Guiding Eyes may indeed have their "refined set of requirements" but so do the AKC and lots of other fools. During my decades in open-admission shelters I placed (not without worry for the reasons raised in this interesting post about retirement and care for the dogs' interests!) with police departments, hearing-aide dog groups, search and rescue organizations, and yes, even groups that supplied partners to humans who are blind. The shelters are full of purebreds and mixed-breeds, and some of the latter are smarter than a lot of people who write "refined sets of requirements" including the stupid vet who thought that blind people should only have Dobermans with cropped ears because people "already give blind people a hard enough time without giving them a dog that doesn't meet standards."

I am outraged by the ridiculous comment by Ron Docters.

These organizations that breed dogs for canine assistance programs have a high rate of drop outs and failure. You simply cannot breed dogs that you know will fulfill the requirements for these programs! It's a crap shoot.

And these dogs that fail the programs then get dumped into the "homeless" pool, competing with all the other homeless dogs.

Not to mention, the purebreds getting bred for these programs have issues with genetic health problems, behavior problems, and all the other problems that affect inbred purebreds.

Every puppy is a cipher, no matter what breed.

You are much better off testing mixed breed adults for the required behavior and potential, and that is exactly what some programs are very successful at- for instance, dogs for the deaf programs that test shelter dogs.

These canine assistance programs that breed are irresponsible- in many ways!

Thanks for this blog! People always assume that whatever benefits people must be good without ever examining the impact on the animals.

In addition to dogs, dolphins, monkeys, fish, and other animals are made to perform unnaturally for therapy or other service without much consideration to how this "service" affects them. Unless we're aware of this and point it out, it goes unnoticed.

I am disappointed that someone can make such comments without looking into the subject more. I am disabled and I am training my own service dog (with some help). While I agree that there is really no reason that a service dog program has to have a breeding program, you still did not fully report on the subject. My service dog gets to play everyday. I use "play" in some of her training. If you are not disabled then you do not know that having a human aid is sometimes impossible due to costs and other issues. My service dog gets the best vet care, and she is cleared by the vet as healthy to be used as a working dog. She loves her job so much when her pack comees out she can hardly contain herself. Yes, there are service dog organizations out there that are in it for the wrong reasons, but you should not base your opinion on just those, which you seem to have done. Also, I made arrangements before I took on my dog in the event that she does not work out as a service dog. My Dad lives on ten acres and she would go there. As, for retirement she would stay wih me, or retire out there. Your lack of understanding and looking into this matter is disappointing top the truly disabled.

Heather, that is lovely that your situation is positive.

But I would hope that you would have compassion for the situations that AREN'T working out, the service dog organizations that AREN'T monitoring their dogs, the dogs that ARE getting dumped, the abuse that IS going on.

Painting everything with a rosy brush is inaccurate too.

The reason that Peta is here is to speak up for the animals that ARE suffering. Do you think they should remain silent because they might offend some people who want to ignore the problems? Do you think the problems should be swept under the rug and ignored?

I have disabled relatives who are as outraged at the failures in the service dog industry (and yes, it is an industry) as any non-disabled people, and would be very disappointed to hear that another disabled person is not concerned by these issues.

I think Kelly failed to read my whole email. I DID point out that there are problems with the industry. I was pointing out that you refused and apparently still do to point out the other sides. Maybe if you did that and tried to show a way that betters the industry, and shows that it can be done rather than bad mouthing and being one sided and then coming back and telling me that I refuse to see the whole picture and cover it up with a rosy what was that brush? MAYBE people would take you (and PETA) more seriously. Also, if you are going to write about sommething, you should be a little more accurate. While I commend PETA for being a voice for the animals, I am also a voice for the animals AS well as the disabled, so the statement that refers that I am unconcerned by these issues is inaccurate. For instance you wrote it without knowing that I am trying to get more knowledge out about service dogs and related issues and hopefully a website soon. The statement about there being nursing homes and in home care and nannies is very disrespectful to those of us who are trying to be independent contributing members of society the best that we can. I would not be suprised if you did not get much support on the issue and therfore fail at your goal if you continue to do it this way. Why not maybe take the stance that shows organizations and individuals doing it a more "correct" way and pointing out that it can be done and asking why other organizations need to do their own breeding etc. I guess I would not be suprised if this doesn't get posted either.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself. This seems like a nice place and I look forward to hanging out here :)

Pam

You say that people shouldn't have seeing eye dogs AND you compare Helen Keller to dogs? Seeing eye dogs can help a person live, and I think that it's a wonderful program. Dogs shouldn't be able to jump up on people or eat food scraps anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. It's sad that dogs won't be able to cuddle, but they'll be very important to someone. My mom's dog loves working when they're training for Schutzand, so why is this any different? Dogs are not the same as people, so why should they get the same or better treatment? And why is it that when I'm sarcastic you condemn me when someone who has the same views as you says something facetious you all congratulate them? Oh, and if you don't know what facetious means, it is a synonym for sarcastic pronounced fuh-see-shus. I'm a 12-year-old who loves vocab.:)

How much research did you do into this industry before writing this blog article?

How many AD users did you interview?

How many AD facilities/training centers did you visit?

Just curious

~SDS

>>>KP's Response:

Hi Service Dog Sawyer,
Since your questions are rhetorical, why do you ask?
KP

Hey KP! I bet you're sick of my 12 year old girl comments by now, but who said that Service Dog Sawyer's questions were rhetorical? I would like to know.

I would like to know the answers to Service Dog Sawyer's questions as well, in a non rhetorical manner. Looking at two articles(mentioned in the article) and going off of those is not a responsible way to write an article stating something like what this one does. Many times people who write these have limited space and much of the story gets left out.

>>>KP's Response:

What part of the story got left out, Heather? Please do let me know if there are any factual errors. I would appreciate it. The rest is my opinion about service dogs from everything that I've read and seen throughout my lifetime.
KP

i think blind people need to stop putting themselves first and think of the animals. oh wait, no i don't. i find this whole article laughable if not offensive.

I truly am interested in what research you did in the writing of this article. You mention one awful incident of a SD user harming her dog...yet you don't even know how the case ended? I could find one awful incident concerning any aspect of dog ownership...but I wouldn't base my beliefs on one occurrence that I knew of. So...my questions still stand...how many AD users did you talk to while writing this article? How many facilities did you visit? The program I volunteer for (I am a Service Dog as well as a Therapy Dog...wow, I can have more than one job...yet not be overworked) does not raise their own puppies...in fact two of the three brought in last year were RESCUES...only one was from a breeder. Sure, there might be issues with some organizations...but why paint them all with the same brush? How many programs did you visit? I truly am curious...because in my limited experience, most everyone cherishes their AD and even pampers them.

>>>KP's Response:

Hi SDS,
I'm afraid I don't see how visiting facilities would have any impact on my opinion, given that it wouldn't change the basic facts of service-dog usage: They're on call 24/7, they get shunted into a new home at a relatively advanced age when they can no longer do the work (IF they're lucky), they don't have any choice in the matter (i.e., they are forced to do the work), and SOME service-dog organizations breed dogs in order to create their own custom-made new recruits. (I believe I did make the distinction that some organizations, such as Dogs for the Deaf, do use rescued dogs.) I gave the example of the service dog whose skin was being picked apart by his owner just to illustrate how easily dogs in this situation can be exploited--that's certainly not the only example I know of. I've also heard and read about service dogs being killed by their owners, etc. But blogging is not about doing comprehensive reports and surveys. If I wanted to do that, I would submit an article to a scientific journal. This particular blog post simply expresses my opinion about the way service dogs are treated, from birth to death, based on everything that I've seen, heard, read, and experienced in my lifetime.
And by the way, "pampered" is a very relative term. I've often heard it used inappropriately--such as in conjunction with dogs who never even get to go for a walk.
KP

I can't help but think that you didn't bother to talk to a single blind person about the life they share with their dogs. That would've been a smart thing to do. For one thing, service dogs don't work 24/7. Inside houses, for example, it's easier for many blind people to use a cane or simply their own knowledge of their house to move around. Dogs are given time to play and romp. The vast majority of them are well loved and cared for, as well as respected.

I agree with some of yours points, but your assumptions are ridiculous...

>>>KP's Response:

Hi Konner,
"Well loved, cared for, and respected" cannot possibly be applied to a dog who gets the boot upon turning too old to work. That's just dishonest--or a bad case of denial.
KP

All of the retired Assistance Dogs that I know have stayed in the home where they worked...many of them have become therapy dogs and started on a new career of giving love to many people. That's why I'm confused by your generalizations and insistence that things are bad in the AD industry.

I personally replaced an aging smooth collie that was my human partner's first SD. He just stopped wanting to work one day...and John just agreed with him. So he became a family pet...and I worked with him there, living in the house with me. He basically laid around all day, chewing on bones or playing with toys...whatever he wanted to do.

I know, so tragic! The poor retired dog living a life of ease!

>>>KP's Response:

That sounds great. So John didn't get any more assistance dogs?
KP

I'm sawyer's dad. In answer to your last post, yes, Sawyer my second service dog. I've had a Service dog for the last 12 years and have been involved in the indusrty forj ust as long. I don't know of any Service Dog group that just puts their washouts into shelters and I'd like to know if I'm wrong so I can help fix that problem. The programs that breed dogs for this are responsible enough to place their washouts in very loving homes(not shelters). As far as the 24/7 thing goes, you can think that all you want, but it is completely and utterly wrong in most cases. Both my dogs were and are treated better than most people treat their children. In fact Sawyer has been sleeping on the couch next to me for the last 2 hours because wants to be with me. As for having Human help, that is just not possible or feesible. Not feesible because it's cost prohibitive and most health insurance companies won't cover it unless you are dying and even then it's iffy. Since slavery was abolished in 1865 you cannot have a human stay with you 24/7, they have right too. Since you have no idea what it's like to have an assistance dog, you don't know what the dogs life is like. Yes, there are bad seeds in the assistance dog industry just as there are bad seeds within PETA.

>>>KP's Response:

Hi SDS's Dad,
OK, now I get it. I didn't realize that SDS was a dog. (I thought that was a typo!) So what kind of service dogs do you have?
It sounds like there may be some big discrepancies depending on what type of service the dog performs. For example, obviously, every dog is going to be allowed to sleep--that's a biological necessity--but how could a dog for the deaf ever not be on call? And I think seeing-eye dogs are the ones who get booted out when they can no longer work.
When I suggested that humans should replace these dogs and be paid for their work, I meant that our society should pay for them--either health insurance should cover them or nonprofits should pay their salaries instead of creating new service dogs or the government should subsidize them. Obviously, not everyone with a disability is going to be able to afford it, but they shouldn't have to. Just as our government now provides Medicaid and Medicare, etc., if our society were more just, it would cover human assistance people to aid the blind, deaf, etc., as well.
KP

I've wondered about the assistance animals I see. Inside I always felt that they don't look happy. I'm glad to know others think its basically wrong as well. I saw a young man who was in a wheel chair (as a result of some accident, and the chair was NOT permanent for him) he had an assistance dog who I actually feard for the dog's well being. This young man seemed 'bent' cause he was in an accident - he never smiled - and he always reaked of smoke. I assume the dog had to live in the smoke filled house because the dog also smelled like smoke. And I feared that the guy was frankly - mean- and maybe abusive to the dog behinde closed doors. I could not help thinking how much this young man did NOT deserve this beautiful animal, and I hated that becuase if his human error or situation, this dog had to endure his emotional immaturity.

Oh, boy...the use of the words "dumb" (Rob Docters) and "washout" (Service Dog Sawyer's Dad)in reference to these wonderful animals just goes to show how very valid the points that KP makes are.

Yes, there are assistance dogs who are treasured more than anything in the world and who are treated extremely well by the human that they help - but that doesn't negate the problems that KP has talked about here.

There is no excuse for these organizations breeding dogs. Don't forget, for every so-called "washout" puppy (or in show-dog terms, "pet quality" puppy) that is brought into the world as a byproduct of the quest for the perfect dog, that is one less home that would be available for a wonderful dog who already exists.

By the way Rob, FYI there is NO SUCH THING as a "dumb" dog. I would suggest that anyone who would refer to a dog as such doesn't deserve the privilege of having dogs in their life.

Service dog sawyer's posts would be laughable if not so darn pitiful.

He gives the entire problem- too much of service dog work is an INDUSTRY. A BUSINESS. People make money, earn salaries, get cushy benefits, and tax cuts through breeding and "training" dogs for service work.

Too many of these dogs then get forgotten about once the product gets transferred.

And wherever there is a BUSINESS, there are always unethical people taking advantage of animals.

Of course, just as our pretend 12-year-old breeder friend here exhibits, the power of denial among the service dog industry people is enormous.

They sure don't want anyone uncovering the ugliness in their business.

I used to belong to PETA when I was in high school & I really believed in it. I still support much of the work PETA does & am always logging on to work on the next "mission." I hope we can branch off from angry conversations to ones of persuasive communication that isn't degrading. I work for a guide dog school in CT & I have always been an avid animal lover & supporter. I have never seen one of our dogs go to a shelter or remain in a poor situation. Our co-founder has a huge book of every dog we have & where it currently is. We have a staff that constantly remains in touch with all of our guide dog teams & our retired dogs are treated like kings. I would like to be allowed to try to answer some of your questions. I do not speak for all guide dog schools, but I know well the one that I support and whether it is understood or not, at least we can get some factual information down here, the good & the bad.

Some shelter rescues do wind up making good service dogs. Unfortunately very few shelter animals meet the requirements due to health issues, poor socialization, abuse and poor temperament. The availability of suitable candidates from shelters has declined in recent years.

A study by Paws with a Cause shows that fewer than 1 in 400 dogs surrendered to shelters are suitable for service work, whereas 7 in 8 dogs specifically bred for the work are capable of it. http://www.pawswithacause.org/history.asp

Dogs bred for service work benefit not only from the genetics of their breeding, but from the socialization and early neurological stimulation of being raised by experts in canine development. The average pet owner who produces a litter knows very little about development and does little or nothing to prepare neonates for working lives.

A dog with a quirk like fear of thunder storms or an obsession with squirrels can still be a wonderful pet. However he will never be reliable as a service dog and may actually put his disabled handler in danger if such an issue prevents him from performing his work when needed.

For the vast majority of shelter dogs, who have been abused or neglected, what they need most is a loving pet home. Not a working home which can be very stressful for dogs not temperamentally suited to the work. There are many more pet homes available than assistance dog placements.

Yes, there are too many unwanted dogs being bred, but the real problem isn't the responsible breeders who take responsibility for their dogs for the dogs' lifetime, but the irresponsible breeders who permit their pets to roam unaltered, who breed to make a few bucks, who breed for the novelty or because their dog is special to them.

>>>KP's Response:

Hi Kirsten,

I have to take issue with you. There is no such thing as a "responsible breeder," no matter what the reason is for breeding. Not all of those purposely bred guide dogs are going to end up as service dogs, and the ones who don't are stealing homes from shelter dogs, plain and simple.

I simply don't believe you when you say that fewer than 1 in 400 shelter dogs are suited to service work (not that I think that any dog should be used for it). What kind of criteria were used? Obviously, if they were tested in the stressful shelter environment, the cards were stacked against them. And besides, a dog with a quirk like thunderstorm anxiety or the desire to chase squirrels can be trained out of those things. Or are service dog trainers not that competent to deal with behavior issues? Or just lazy?

I also have to say that all your talk of "neurological stimulation" and the "genetics of their breeding" sounds eerily familiar. Weren't the Nazis into that sort of thing too?

KP

The Paws with a Cause study was based on reviewing data over more than a decade on several thousand dogs. According to data they received from the Humane society, only one dog in 4 surrendered was even adoptable. Of those, only 6% could pass temperament testing of the 1000 or so dogs they tested annually for more than a decade. Three-quarters of those who passed temperament testing failed on health screening. Others failed in training.

Temperament testing in a shelter environment, with the dog under stress would actually be a benefit in identifying those dogs capable of handling stress. A dog who couldn't handle it wouldn't be suited to the work. Some dogs aren't stressed by chaotic environments, while others are. It would be grossly unfair to the dog to put it in a job it couldn't handle comfortably.

The Nazi reference is amusing, but obviously used to insert inflamatory language into the discussion and not as a legitimate argument.

Early neurological stimulation simply means making a point of giving the pups sensory experiences that promote brain development to its maximum potential. Human babies locked away in cribs suffer cognitive deficits the same as dogs locked away in a back yard. Perhaps a more familiar term for a lay person would be "nurturing," despite the fact it is less descriptive.

Any organism, human or animal is a product of its genetic potential developed by its environmental opportunities. "Nature vs Nurture." Genetics is the Nature part of the equation. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to herd, others to retrieve. Some are genetically predisposed to assistance work.

I am not genetically predisposed to be a basketball player, but I am to be a scientist. I'm happier as a scientist than as a basketball player because of this.

Training has its limits. As an extreme example, a dog cannot be trained to be a human being. While it is possible to change the outward behavior of the dog, that won't necessarily change the emotional motivations of the dog. Training a fearful dog to act as if he is not fearful and then putting it in stressful situations is cruel.

Assistance dogs can learn to perform very complex behaviors. You can see video clips of some examples on my site. They learn these behaviors from their trainers, some of the best in the world. I don't think you can consider people who volunteer their time and talents to train these dogs lazy.

Few dogs are equipped for assistance work. It isn't the kind of thing a dog can be made to do. Either they want to do it, or they don't. The dog ultimately chooses for himself by expressing his bidability and work ethic.

I realize many in PETA would prefer that domesticated dogs cease to exist and this is the underlying cause of your statement about responsible breeders. I for one happen to like dogs and would be greatly saddened not to share my life with them.

It seems contradictory to me to on one hand appear to worry about their plight and on the other wish them to cease to exist. But then it is also contradictory to claim on one hand that assistance work is abusive, yet push that more shelter dogs go into those careers.

>>>KP's Response:

Hi Kirsten,
I was perfectly serious about the Nazi reference. The way you talk about dogs and manipulating them reveals a very unfeeling, cold point of view. You even call them "it," as if they were inanimate objects. You want service dogs to act like little robots--no wonder so few dogs qualify. But that's just as well. I would not wish the life of a service dog on any dog. Their needs are always going to be secondary to the disabled person's.
Where on Earth did you read that "many at PETA would prefer that domesticated dogs cease to exist"? I have not read that anywhere, and I've worked at PETA for 21 years. Probably half of PETA's many employees share their lives with dogs. You shouldn't attempt to spread falsehoods that you picked up from some unreliable source. That's not very scientific.
KP

Hi Kirsten,
You seem to be very knowledgable about dog behavior. That's why I think it's sad that you're using your powers for evil instead of good. You've obviously soaked up a lot of information, I just wish you would realize there is a lot more out there for you to learn, and the conclusions you have drawn are neither absolute nor accurate.
You might also want to read a little more carefully before you start throwing accusations around. KP has clearly stated that she doesn't think any dogs should have to be service animals, so it's very clear she isn't "pushing" that more shelter dogs should be in that line of work.
Last thing: Any good scientist should know that data from one study does not provide enough information to draw a factual conclusion.

If one study/article does not make a conclusion why is KP basing her story on on basically the same pretext? She even stated she is not interested into looking into they issue any further! Just wondering.

HK:
I understand your question, but it comes down to a comparison of apples to oranges. This blog entry reflects KP's opinion about the service animal industry. The article she references inspired her to discuss the issue, a far cry from claiming to draw definitive conclusions about animal psychology without an appropriate amount of accurate data. There is simply a fundamental difference in the nature of facts vs. opinions (though for the record I agree 100% with KP's opinion on this).
My dog is the greatest dog ever=opinion.
My dog is a 23 pound beagle mix=fact.
Make sense?

Hi again Kirsten,
I looked at your Paws/Cause link. That program sounds exactly like factory farmers who adjust the animal to meet human needs because they are too lazy and selfish to think outside the box and do anything but what's most convenient for them. It also sounds like they're trying really hard to justify their breeding program to the public when the good and successful work of groups like Dogs for the Deaf have proven that it is not necessary or justifiable. The problem really is ALL breeders, not just the ones you've arbitrarily decided are irresponsible.
I really hope you continue to reflect on this issue, either here or privately. You have a really decent knowledge base that I hope you'll cultivate with an open mind. For example, some of your ideas about nature vs. nurture are spot on; however you were dead wrong when you said that some dogs are genetically predisposed to do assistance work. That is simply not true, as assistance work is in no way a natural behavior for a dog and can only be a product of training. While some dogs may certainly be more open to doing the work, assisting humans is not a natural, biological dog behavior like tracking, herding, retrieving, etc.
And just FYI, the Paws/Cause study you quoted was based on statistics from one humane society and covered a period of one fiscal year, not ten. I can't find a reference on that page to any study taking place over a period of ten years or more.

The use of human assistants is troublesome because of the privacy and dignity factor that you don't have with an animal. You don't have to tell your dog that you need a moment (or an hour or two) of privacy, could s/he please make him/herself scarce? I would think this is an issue for disabled folks.

The ignorance in this article and the comments that follow is astonishing.
Do some research. Guide Dog puppies might not be allowed on furniture to cuddle, but that doesn't mean that the puppy raisers don't get down on the floor and cuddle with them there. It doesn't mean that they don't get held and cuddled when they're little enough for it.
Did you know that Guiding Eyes for the Blind teaches it's Puppy raisers and graduates dog massage? Or that Guide Dogs for the Blind teaches T touch during class?
Guide Dogs may be on call a lot of the time but that doesn't mean that they don't get chances to just be dogs. Guide Dogs for the Blind issues toys to graduates, as well as grooming equipment. It is stressed at both of the schools that I have mentioned teach students the importance of praise, including treat based training methods. It is stressed also that the dogs need their "paycheck" and need to be played with and cuddled and praised. I know many people who have kept their retired guide dog from an organization. The Seeing Eye as well as Guide Dogs of America give full ownership at graduation from the program but will assist the graduate with rehoming if it is necessary. The main reasons that people do not keep their retired guides is that they cannot have pets in their home because it is a rental that doesn't allow them (service dogs are not pets and there are laws to that effect). A lot of people who cannot keep their retired dog will place them with a close friend or family member that the dog knows and is comfortable with.
I know all this because I am a blind person who works with a guide dog. My dog is spoiled, he has toys all over the place, he gets bananas and other fruit as treats in addition to eating EVO. He plays with other dogs on a regular basis, and is allowed on the bed. I pet him and scratch his ears while he's working. Yes there are rare but shocking cases of abuse of service animals. But as someone who has one, and someone who knows many many people with service animals both in real life, and also through email lists and internet forums what I described is really what happens.

Actually not all people with disabilities get their dogs from programs like Guiding Eyes. I train my dogs myself and they are taken from shelters. I completely agree with you about the irresponsibility of breeding more and more pure bred dogs for the service dog programs and that is one of the reasons I adopt from shelters and train my own.

My dogs do get to sleep on the bed with me and they get plenty of time to be a dog. However just like with people they need to learn the rules for their own safety. They need to learn that they can't run where ever they please for their own safety, for example. They may not eat table scraps because of allergies.

Also my dog is happy to work. She comes running over to me when the harness comes out. Most pet dogs are left in the backyard for hours at a stretch while their humans go off without them, where as my dog gets to go where ever I go. And finally, not all retired dogs are given to other homes once they are not able to work. I live with my 10 year old retired dog and she is wonderful with my young working dogs. I would never dream of giving her away, that would be cruel and very thankless of me. She is loved and spoiled and snuggled and played with and everyone in our home loves her to distraction.

"Which brings up another ethical issue: Is it right to force a dog to bounce from breeding facility to puppy-raiser's home to training school to a home with a blind person and then to yet another home (if the dog is lucky) after becoming old or infirm? And it's my understanding that the "retired" dogs are never given the opportunity to stay in the same home with a brand-new, young guide dog―no, that would be too confusing. Even if these organizations can find new homes for all the "retired" working dogs (and I wonder), it's still a huge adjustment for an older dog to change homes. "

Wrong. I don't know if you could be any more uninformed, or if your little asides are just to cast doubt for doubt's sake. As a former puppy raiser, two of my dogs remained with their blind owner's family after they retired. My first dog was retired when her owner entered a nursing home and she lived out her retirement with me.

As for the other retired dogs that don't stay with owners and don't go back to their puppy raisers? There is a waiting list a mile long of people waiting to adopt them. My parents adopted two retired guide dogs and guess what, they adjusted to a new home just fine.

Oh, and your little piece on how terrible it is for GEB to be strict on things like sleeping on the bed? Not every person wants their dog on the bed. Some blind people do, and it's easy to train a dog that it's okay to be on the bed. Not so easy when you try to train a dog that was raised sleeping on the bed that it needs to be on the floor, or even on a dogbed.

KP,
You may want to check your information. I am a two-time owner of guide dogs. My first dog lived with me after his retirement; he was spoiled rotten the entire time. He was even (shockingly!!) present in my home while my second dog was around. I think you'll find, if you do a bit more research, that most guide dog programs want their graduates to keep their dogs.
Also, you mention a story about a child abusing his/her assistance dog. That is one story. Try reading the countless other articles about dogs that keep their owners from being hit by cars, or enjoy their work.
You mention, in a tone that suggests sorrow, how dogs being raised for SD programs are not allowed to jump up on people, eat table scraps, or relax on the sofas. Some of these rules may be for the dog's own good. Also, I cannot help but wonder if you're aware these dogs accompany their owners everywhere they go. nd, I wonder, would you be pleased if a service dog sampled your salad or fetuccini al fraedo at a dinner party? Would you be pleased if one hundred pounds of German shepherd jumped on you while you were casually strolling through the mall?
I feel I've made my point; it's time for me to take my guide dog for a run around my backyard.

HI:

I found this post somewhat offensive, if not fully researched. I am totally blind and have a guide dog from Guiding Eyes, and while some people might not agree with such programs for training service dogs, others do, and that's why they're there. If people don't like to go into the programs, they have the option to train service dogs on their own, as many do. I was slightly put off by the comment that the needs of the guide dog would come second to those of a disable person. I don't necessarily see this as the case at all. When you've decided to be partnered with a guide dog, you have also decided to take on the necessary responsibilities associated with caring for the dog. I wouldn't say that my needs come before my dog's; on the contrary, I feel that what my dog does for me is just as important as what I do for my dog.

From this post, I can clearly see that this subject matter wasn't researched out well at all before anything was written on it. It also occurs to me that its author probably hasn't spent too much time, if any, in the company of handlers and their service animals to see the communication and companionship that exists between them.

One last comment that I found quite insensitive was "why don't we have a service industry dedicated to helping blind, deaf, and otherwise disabled people get along?" What are we, helpless? If we have such a service industry for the "disabled", why not have one for the sighted as well?

How many of you on this blog are actually blind? Have you actually done any research!? I have a guide dog right now. At this moment, she is curled up asleep in her crate with a toy. In a few minutes, she'll be downstairs jumping on me and playing with her toy. Later tonight, she'll be guiding me all the while with her head in the air and her tail wagging.
As for retirement, you couldn't be more naive. I have several friends who have new guides and keep their retired guides. Our dogs are kept healthy. I feed my girl nothing less than natural food unlike other pet owners who feed their dogs crap and let them get fat because that'll "make them happy." If there are genetic problems or other reasons why dogs can't guide, they're placed with families, not thrown into some shelter.
Get your facts straight before you start degrading a service which finally allows people with disabilities to be independent. And having a human assistant is stupid. Damn stupid!

Hi, I'm a blind adult adult who works a guide dog. Yes, she was bred just for that purpose. The task of guiding a blind person takes a special kind of dog. Through years of training the schools have develop bloodlines that have the best of physical and tempramental requirements. Yes, some dogs still don't make it as guides. There are many reasons for this to many to go in to. But I can assure you these dogs are not left homeless. There are waiting lists that are in most cases years long to adopt one of these dogs. The schools work very hard screening these applicants to make sure dogs go to the best home for them. In my casxe I was granted ownership by my school of my first guide. When he became unsuitable due to overprotectiveness that developed as our bond I had to rehome. I did not make a choice of home casually and no other assistance dog owner that I know of does either. Many rescue dogs make wonderful asistance dogs and many programs use them spcificly or in conjuction with a breeding program. There are as you know many types of assistance dogs. Guide dogs require a lot of very highly developed skills. They must handle themselves in all kind of environments. They must make decissions for the blind person such as stopping them at curbs and other changes in terrain. They must display intelligint disobedience if an owners request is unsafe. They must make judgment about traffic. Several times my dog has pulled me sideways or backed me up out of the way of an approaching car I did not hear. There are some guide dog programs in the country that work with rescued dogs. They have a really low success rate. I don't know all the reasons why but I assume age of the dog and behaveor problems are a part of it.

My computer spazzed, so I'm back to finish my remarks. Puppyraiser havve the responsibility to make sure the dog learns appropriate manners both in the home and out in public. What the blind handler does when they get home is up to them. My dog sleeps on my bed and we cuddle on the couch, but if I didn't want her too and she'd been allowed too we would have some real problems. Since she is out in public and draws a lot of attention it is important that she sit quietly for petting. What if she jumped and knocked an elderly person petting her over? Or scratch someone with her nails while jumping. Good basic obedience should be a must for any dog, but especially those who serve. My dog is not on call 24/7. I have friends who work dogs who do retrieving work and or allerting work and they do put in more hours than my guide. The handlers I know are responsible and make sure the dogs gets down time and fun exercise. Many disabled people wait years for a dog and the bond is unexplainable. I don't know anyone who would harm a dog purposely. Most schools now have monitoring in place for grads. I would happily give my schools number to anyone who approached me with concerns about my dog. Most schools respond quickly to complaints. In cases where the dog belongs to a child it is the families responsible to make sure the dog was being cared for. Shame on them for not doing so! Yes, service dog schools should be monitored for adiquate or above care and standards of traaining and handlers must be held acountable But for every story of abuse, there are hundreds more stories of strong working partnerships.

Why don't you do a bit of research before writing such misinformed rubbish?

For one thing—puppies raised in puppy raising programs often get a better upbringing than pet dogs. Nowhere does it say not to cuddle with these dogs. Every dog loves and deserves cuddling. It says not to cuddle with the dogs on the furniture. Is this any different than teaching a child not to throw toys or jump on the couch? Are parents accused of being cruel for teaching children what is appropriate behaviour and what is not. Unlike a child, a dog cannot be told, "You are allowed on couches in this house but in no other." Let a dog on the couch or bed in the puppy raising home, and you'll have a dog that will likely try to jump on the bed in its new owner's home, or in a hotel room, or jump on a couch in a busy waiting room.

Secondly, guide dogs and other working dogs do not work 24/7. As soon as the dog and user get home the harness comes off and that dog is the same as a well-trained pet. Many guide dog users also let their dogs relax during work, school, or other activities where they are not actively guiding. No one, including dogs, should be expected to work 24/7.

Third, your proposition of using human assistants is ridiculous and offensive. A blind person does not need a nanny or a nurse; they need a way of getting around quickly and safely. The disabled community already faces a crisis in employment—what chance would a blind person have of getting a job if they walked into the interview on the arm of a sighted companion?

Fourth, guide dogs take a special kind of dog to work. A guide dog must be focused, attentive, confident, healthy, and willing to work. A dog that shows any degree of fear or aggressiveness is immediately removed from the program and placed in a home as a pet. And, just as dogs are carefully bred, blind applicants are carefully chosen and followed up on to ensure that they are working with their dog properly, and adoptive families are also screened to ensure they will provide a good home (they are not "added to the homeless pool" as someone said). And, while it imay be good for hearing dog programs and other service dog programs to use adult dogs, guide dog training is about more than obedience. A hearing dog does not have to make any judgement calls, nor does a search and rescue dog. They do what they are trained to do just as dogs in obedience competitions do. A guide dog, on the other hand, has to decide wehther it is safer to take their handler left around the pole or right around the pole, or whether the street is safe to cross when a "forward" command is given, or whether they need to indicate something such as a branching-off path or an entranceway to the blind person they are guiding. While some shelter dogs may meet these requirements, the truth is that even many of the dogs bred specifically for this purpose don't make it. I fail to see why you are even blaming guide dog programs for issues such as dog homelessness, when the real problem is irresponsible pet owners.

Finally, the majority of guide dogs remain with their owners when they retire. After working with a guide dog for eight years, with the kind of bond that this relationship builds, if a dog cannot remain with its owner, the transition is as hard on human as it is on dog. Usually dogs are only moved to a new home of the owner is unable to adequately care for them (for example, in the case of health problems) or if a living situation does not facilitate keeping the dog (such as living in an apartment).

Please, next time do a bit of homework before writing an article like this. There are already too many misconceptions about guide dogs floating around out there—and I am being very sarcastic when I say: Thank you for your contribution. If you think guide and service dog training programs are so inhumane why not visit some and check them out. Talk to some trainers and some guide dog users. Observe a guide dog team working for a few days and get an understanding of the incredible bond this team builds. This is not exploitation: this is one of the most amazing partnerships between human and canine that you will encounter in modern society.

Hi KP,

Since I'm currently partnered with my second guide dog, I thought I'd take a stab at addressing the "facts" about service animals you posted in response to someone else's comment:

They're on call 24/7,

Not true. As I respond to this post, my retired guide is sleeping next to me with her head on a pillow. My current guide is lying with her head across my leg. It's true that some people who work with service dogs don't allow them to sleep on the bed. This is because it can cause problems when your dog leaves hair in someone's house or at a hotel. But many of us think it's worth dealing with these problems. And it's just not true that SD's are never cuddled and pampered.

they get shunted into a new home at a relatively advanced age when they can no longer do the work (IF they're lucky),

If they're lucky? Excuse me? What do you think happens to them? And as I mentioned, my retired guide is lying right here next to me. It is true that some people decide the best thing they can do for their assistance dog is to find it a loving home, but these decisions are not made lightly, and quite a lot of guide-dog users do keep their retired guides.

they don't have any choice in the matter (i.e., they are forced to do the work),

Again, this is simply not true. My retired guide is nine and a half. She let me know she wanted to retire. She just wasn't as enthusiastic about wearing her harness as she had been when she was young. Now, she watches as I put the harness on my new guide, who often shoves her head through it because she's so excited when it's time to do her work. My retired guide makes it very clear that she doesn't want to be harnessed up herself. She still gets to go on fun walks, and she loves having a new dog here to play with. Both of my girls have indicated to me very clearly that they have/had pride in their work.

and SOME service-dog organizations breed dogs in order to create their own custom-made
new recruits.

This is true. Both of the organizations that trained guides for me ( Guide Dogs for the Blind and The Seeing Eye ) breed their own dogs. They have seen a higher success rate this way, and the incidence of hip dysplasia and other diseases is much lower in the dogs they breed. Your points that some mix breeds and dogs in shelters could do the job just as well as the purebreds are well taken. I can only say that the two programs I've attended are responsible breeders. GDB has chosen not to breed any more German Shepherds because the success rate for their dogs wasn't high enough. (My current guide is a German Shepherd who was trained by The Seeing Eye, which seems to be having a much higher success rate with GSD's.)

I hope that the next time you post on this subject, you'll have something to say other than "I think it's seeing-eye dogs are the ones who get booted out..." After all, if this situation is truly important to you, it makes sense that you'd do a bit more research before posting.

Best,

Mom of two guides

I find this article extremely offensive, very poorly researched and many of your ideas misinformed. I do not mean to disrespect anyone's opinions, so I
hope you can read my comments with this in mind. I am a blind guide dog handler -- I am working my first guide dog, whom I've been matched with for the
past five years. Most people who use guide dogs keep their dogs upon retirement -- Only in the case when this is not possible/practical is the dog placed in another loving home. Most guide dog facilities have an adoption program, and there is a lot of work put into placing those dogs
into appropriate homes. I am saddened by members of the sighted community who assume that just because my dog has a day job, she is unhappy. She gets
to interact with the public way more than any pet dog does when they are left at home alone all day. She gets an incredible amount of verbal praise - something
all the schools use and teach us to use on a daily basis. She is loved, and like other guide dog teams, the bond we share is extremely strong. It is difficult
to explain this if you've never had to rely on a dog for your safety, but you can tell that these animals truly love and care about you and their work.
Guide dogs, by the way, do not work 24/7. As soon as I get home, that harness comes off and she is a regular pet dog. This is the case for most people.
Also, when she is out, the work she does is not very strenuous. Keep in mind that these dogs accompany their handlers to work or school, so once they get
to their destination, they get to lay down, relax and have a great time. Your suggestion of having the government hire human helpers is misguided for
several reasons. Firstly, I strongly doubt the government will ever want to spend that much money on the disability community (do they even care about
anyone that much? lol). Secondly, most people with disabilities do not need that kind of constant human assistance and having someone around them all the
time would be extremely irritating and unnecessary. Imagine yourself in that position. Your comment about it being a form of exploitation to teach a dog not to jump up on the couch or bed
is also misinformed. Firstly, there is absolutely no rule that says you shouldn't cuddle with your dog. That wouldn't make any sense. What most guide dog
schools (and dog trainers, for that matter) suggest is to avoid having them jump onto furniture, so that they don't get into any bad habbits. After all,
you wouldn't want them doing that at someone else's home. But cuddling is certainly not off limits. lol And all the schools tell us to do what we think is best when we get home - And many of these suggestions are of particular importance only in puppyhood - As for the kennel, I am not sure where you did
your research on this either. Sometimes, puppy raisers and other dog owners use kennels for the first few months, until the dogs learn appropriate house
behavior and are house broken. You're absolutely not supposed to just keep your dog in there all day, and in fact most people just put them there at night (if anything - I don't even own one, and I don't know any handlers who do),
and even when they are in a kennel, there is always a good (and humaine, normal) reason for it.
I have been blind my whole life. I have known hundreds of guide dog teams. I have one myself.
I have seen many, many training facilities for guide dogs. I feel that I too, am in a very legitimate position to state that I know what I'm talking about.

 On the other hand - and this is to play devil's advocate - I definitely, agree and understand that not everyone does things correctly. There
are some schools (and certainly some dog owners in general) who take the wrong approach. There are animals abused, neglected, mistreated, left in kennels,
and the list goes on and on. And this is a reality that is particularly heart-breaking...but service animals are provided a much more fulfilling life than
many other dogs out there. There are follow up visits from most of the schools to make sure of that. And while there are sad stories (as there are in many
different situations), it is unfair to criticize a movement that has provided dogs with loving, caring homes and humans with loving, caring lifelong companions.
I can't speak for every program, so I also want to express that I realize not everyone is a good person. Not everyone is a good pet owner. Not every story
ends happily, but it costs over 50 thousand to train one guide dog, so you better believe that a school will ensure that their dogs are as well taken care
of as possible.
 
I also do not know where you heard that a retired dog should not be around a new guide dog. Some schools may discourage this, since the retired dog may
feel left out and confused when their handler leaves the house with another dog. But many people keep their retired dogs (or give them
to a close friend/family member), and there is no harmful affect. Keep in mind that after 10 years (less or more) of living, loving and being with your
dog, you want to make sure they are as happy as possible. Blind handlers don't just retire their dogs and return them to the school and say "well, you
take care of it". Some may, but this post is just generalizing way too much. The guide dog school I attended even continues to help pay for vet expenses and other things upon retirement of the dog.

The example of the child you shared definitely makes sense. You have to make sure that the dogs are going to people who can properly care for them and
treat
them well.
 
Right now my beautiful dog is sleeping by my side, looking as content as can be. I know that much of this comment seems angry and defensive, but I just
want you to understand that from my perspective (and the perspective of many other blind guide dog users everywhere), these generalizations are both inaccurate,
hurtful and frustrating. Every day we try to educate the public about all the misconceptions that exist about people who are blind, and about guide dogs.
If you want to see a dog that is mistreated, I can think of a million other places where dogs are much more unhappy. I would suggest that you speak to
people who have worked with and lived with these dogs - and not just a small sample - before formulating an opinion. I would also suggest that you do not
take information you read on the internet to heart, and that at the very least, you try to recognize the other perspective of an argument. hth

HI, I am a puppy raiser. I have so far trained one guide dog and am currently training my second. I am ashamed that people would think that they, guide dog trainers & puppy raisers, would FORCE dogs to not be dogs. They still get to play and run and eat food, from a bowl. If they did not love what they are doing, being guides, then we wouldn't want them to do something they don't want to do. I would ask you
what does your dog do while you aren't at home? in a crate or backyard? At least they are not left at home while we go to work, school, church, etc. From what I see and from the questions I have asked to blind people these dogs are a part of them and they wouldn't want anything bad to happen to them.

I'd be very curious to know why my first comment didn't make it.
Was I a bit too information. Did I make guide dog programs and the blind people who benefit from them look like caring human beings who don't just "exploit" their dogs?
I can see censoring comments for vulgar language or otherwise objectionable content but not letting people's comments who for other reasons brings to mind that statement about a certain radical group in Germany that was made earlier...

>>>KP's Response:

Hi Heather,
You don't have to be so paranoid. I got a large number of comments on this topic on the same day that were all very similar (as if they were all responding to the same e-mail message tellilng them to send in a comment and make the following points) and it just seemed boring to publish them all. Plus, I'm short-staffed at work and have been having a hard time keepiing up with everything. I wanted to publish some of the comments along with well-thought-out answers, but I didn't have time to do it right away. But since you insist, I'm going to publish all of them right now and write a blog post responding to them collectively on Tuesday (the person who posts my blogs is out on Monday). We can continue the conversation then.
Thanks!
KP

I am currently working with my second guide dog from the Guide Dog Foundation in Smithtown, NY. I am writing to correct some of the info you posted on this site, concerning guide dogs, and other types of assistance animals. My first dog still lives with me, even though she has been retired for almost three years. The school left it up to me, as to whether or not I would keep her with me, which I chose to do. Also, no guide dog that I've heard of works 24 hours a day. Blind people do not need to be guided around their houses, so, when the handlers are at home, the dogs are off-duty. You might want to research things a bit further, before posting such nonsense.

Before I start I would like to say that I am talking only about the Dog Guide programs for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Your report shows that you haev a very limited understanding of how dog Guides work.

Guide Dog schools have had to go into breeding because of the behavioural qualities necessary for dogs to perform the work. They have people look after their puppies because they need to know what experiences the dogs have been subjected to.

You think about the many different people that these dogs may end up with. From professional business people who wear expensive suits and dine out in fancy restuarants ranging to the older person who only goes down to the local shop each day to get bread and milk.

As a puppy you can't know who they are going to end up with so you can't have one rule for one dog and another for another.

I don't want a dog that is going to jump up on me or anyone else because that was ok in its past home. In my life a dog that jumped on people would be disasterous. I work around very young children and also elderly people. I also visit a lot of people in their homes and so my dogs are not allowed on furniture because it is hard for them to understand why the sofa at our house is ok to be on but not the one at my friends house.

There have been dogs used for guiding who have been given to guide dog programs but it is a much more riskt process. Dogs have to go into a variety of situations and without knowing their past history it can be difficult to ensure their reliability.

Dog training is not a factory processing line. Even with the breeding programs and puppy raising program, not all dogs make it out. There are long waiting lists for these dogs as they have had a lot of work put into them and come with good house manners - they just don't have the full array of skills necessary to make it as a guide dog.

Not all guide dog schools are created equal. There is an international governing body called the IGDF who will give accreditation to schools only when they meet certain strict standards.

If PETA want to get on the band wagon about something, get any schools who are not accredited with the IGDF to get accreditation.

The majority of Dog Guide schools nowadays have changed their approach to training and train their dogs through reward rather than punishment. Therefore the dogs that make it through are dogs who love doing what they are doing. Dogs that are used for Guide work are dogs who want to please their handlers. My first dog Vallie would see me pick up her harness and come galloping towards me knowing that we were going on an adventure. Her favourite thing to do (apart from eat) was to negotiate crowded streets. Her tail would wag furiously as we negotiated crowded city streets. I know it was time to hang up her harness when she was no longer excited about her work. Her pace slowed, she started being reluctant to "get dressed" in her harness in the mornings. So I made the decision to retire her. My school allows me to choose a retirement home for my dog, that can be with me, or I can find someone else or I can give her back to the school and they will find a place for them. Again there is a long waiting list of people who want a mature, well behaved dog. Fortunately for me, I had the decision taken out of my hands... my parents are so besotted with my dog that they would have kidnapped her should I have tried to give her to anyone else.

She is now living a comfortable life. She is still not allowed up on the furniture (her bed with doona, toys and pillow suits her fine) but she is allowed to snack between meals.
My new dog co-exists happily alongside her. Vallie, the reitred girl still visits my brother in the hospital, and comes on walks with Winter and I. I think Vallie misses her public who always told her how beautiful and clever she was.

I would also like to say that PETA should be saluting the work that Dog Guide schools do. They give people the skills necessary to produce wonderful members of the community - well behaved dogs. Many people go into puppy caring with the sole reason of gaining skills so they can train their own puppy to be a good member of the community.

One other thing is that different assistance dogs require different breed characteristics. The reason that Hearing dogs can successfully come fromt the pound is that that job needs them to be hyperactive with a tendency to alert to noises, usually through barking... these dogs typically end up in shelters because general members of the community don't want that annoying kind of dog.

Dog Guides on the other hand need to be laid back and not flustered or phased by the world. They need to be well socialised to children, dogs, cats, they need to be able to cope with loud noises... it is rare that this kind of dog is going to end up at the pound.

There may be rare occaisions where dogs may be on call 24/7 but it is rare - in fact I can't think of too many occaisions that that would happen. Mostly, in small spaces people get around indpendently... whether this be a familiar or unfamiliar environments. When a dog gets home they come out of harness and are off duty - they can run around, play with their toys or just chill out.

You learn in training that you need to exercise your dog both physically and mentally but in order to get the best work from your dog you also have to give them down time and allow them to be a dog. This means you have to play games with them, take them for a walk for pleasures sake and preferably find them a place where they can play with other dogs. This is the only way you get a really good working dog.

As for the stupid notion of having a human do my dogs job... even if it were paid... forget it. I love working with my dog, as a partnership and team. I love feeling the pleasure they get from doing their job. I love knowing that my dogs work for me because of the bond that we build together, between us.

I actually take pity on people who never get to know and appreciate this unique relationship.

I am angered by PETA's stance on this subject. Rather than looking at individual schools and organisations they are trying to only show the angles of the picture that suit them.

My final word on this subject is to pray that members of PETA never have to face having a disability and not being able to enter into a partnership with an animal as it is one of the most rewarding journies that you can take.

sadly i find your blog full of misinformation. Obviously you don't have the full story. Not all schools and assistance dog owners treat their dogs the same and have the same rules. Some may treat their dogs simply as working animals, i personally have seen this and am not impressed but the majority of us love and respect our dogs with all our hearts and treat them just like family. It is also obvious that you yourself have not seen or interacted directly with someone using an assistance animal If you had, you would definitely have a different point of view. personally i think you need to do a little more research before you go ranting and raving. First of all, the crating at night time is so that the puppies don't get into things or wet all over the house while people are sleeping, second, not jumping on furniture and not eating scraps is purely proper manners for a canine. These animals must have empecable behavior if they are going to out inn public.

I always get comments when I go out about how happy and healthy my dog looks, and my dog is never over-worked. She gets to play and relax for most of the day. She also gets lots of cuddles, even though she isn't allowed on the furniture. She's treated like a queen. She will retire when she doesn't want to work anymore, and she will be staying with me.
I know that not everyone looks after their SD very well. That's not the norm, though, and it happens with normal dog owners as well as SD owners.
As for getting dogs from shelters, I do think dogs should be gotten from shelters wherever possible. However, sometimes that isn't feasible. Guide dogs for example need to be a very specific type of dog. Most shelter dogs aren't right for the job. That's why most schools breed dogs.
I think you should talk to the different SD schools and people who have service dogs before you make assumptions about SDs.

You said, "Hi Heather,
I got a large number of comments on this topic on the same day that were all very similar (as if they were all responding to the same e-mail message tellilng them to send in a comment and make the following points) and it just seemed boring to publish them all ..."

I doubt this was the case. The LINK to your blog post did make its way around the 'net on various mailing lists, discussion forums, and by word of mouth, but I have never seen anyone advocating for a particular response. The fact that you received so many similar responses echoing the same sentiments is, perhaps, an indication of the solidarity which exists in the community, and a hint that maybe - just maybe - there is more to the story than you might have first believed.

>>>KP's Response:

Well, be that as it may, the uncanny similarity among all the comments made it a lot easier for me to write a response to all of them at the same time, which is going to be posted tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. Take a peek at it, and see what you think.
Thanks.
KP