German Shepherd Guide Dogs For The Blind

Through its groundbreaking home to harness and life training programs.
German shepherd guide dogs for the blind. Clients receive their dogs free of charge. Wonderful dogs the reasons for using each breed varies. Igd trains and places the highest quality german shepherd guide dogs in the u s. Long gone are the days when only german shepherds were used as seeing eye dogs for the blind.
She was the first guide dog for the blind. A german shepherd named blondie who had been rescued from a pasadena dog pound was one of the first dogs trained. Our german shepherd dogs have been assisting blind individuals all over the world with their daily. Ever since that time it has been dedicated to giving guide dogs to the blind and the visually impaired at absolutely no cost to them.
Originally guide dogs were primarily german shepherds. Other times the trainers needed skills and traits that other breeds could better offer. Eye dog foundation was organized as a non profit corporation in 1952. Merrihew and donaldson incorporated our school in may of 1942 and began instruction of students in a rented home in los gatos california south of san jose.
Thought she was only famous for rin tin tin. Established in december 2011 independence guide dogs igd is a 501 c 3 organization. Independence guide dogs is dedicated to increasing independence for blind individuals. A female german shepherd called buddy was the first guide dog in 1928 after training for a month in switzerland she came back to the u s.
According to the uk based guide dogs for the blind association historically the golden retriever crossed with the labrador has produced the most successful guide dog of all combining many of the great traits of both breeds 4. Sometimes it has been difficult for schools to find german shepherds that were temperamentally and physically sound. With her blind owner morris frank. Guide dogs for the blind gdb is a guide dog school located in the united states with campuses in san rafael california and boring oregon it was founded in 1942 by lois merrihew and don donaldson to help veterans who had been blinded in world war ii guide dogs for the blind has about 2100 guide dog teams across the united states and canada.
Also called seeing eye dogs these assistance dogs also provide the important services as a loving companion to its master german shepherd guide dogs are among the oldest known assistance dogs to date. The main purpose of a gsd guide dog is to provide both mobility and independence to it s visually impaired owner. This article will explore the best guide dog breeds used today along with some general information about how guide dogs are selected and ways to get involved in training these hard working canines. Eye dog foundation for the blind inc.