TRAINING AND BREEDING:
Training
Apprenticeship
Breeds and Matching Process
In-For-Training
Adoption
Retiring
Veterinary
Kennels
TRAINING: GUIDE DOG DEFINED:A guide dog is a specially trained dog that acts as a mobility tool to aid blind and visually impaired individuals. They provide mobility without stress in the form of a loving companion. With the increased mobility and independence gained through the use of a guide dog, the confidence of the human partner of the guide team soars. Guide dogs must be intelligent, alert, and willing to serve.
ABOUT OUR TRAINERS: In the state of California, Guide Dog Instructors are licensed by the California State Board of Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Instructors must complete a 3 year apprenticeship under a licensed instructor at a certified guide dog school. This program of instruction was formulated in compliance with the California State Guide Dog Act, from California administrative code, title 16, chapter 22, article 2, section 2266.
Upon completing the apprenticeship, one is eligible to take a written, practical, or oral exam to obtain a license per the California State Board of Guide Dogs. California is one of the only states to have a Guide Dog Instructor license requirement.
All of Guide Dogs of America's trainers are licensed, dedicated individuals who have a strong commitment to serving the blind community through providing the best guide dogs possible.
APPRENTICESHIP: Guide Dog Trainers are employed by the individual Guide Dog School that they were hired by. Each Guide Dog School runs independently of one another.
Guide Dog Trainers major responsibilities include, but are not limited to, evaluation, care, and training of dogs for guide work, training with students and their guide dogs, any graduate follow-up services needed, and public relations for the school.
Prior to acceptance to Guide Dogs of America's apprentice program, one must have a minimum of a high school diploma, a valid California drivers license, and at least one year experience working with dogs. The 3 year apprenticeship is designed to provide hands-on experience training dogs and working with students.
Guide Dog Instructors must be dedicated, reliable, honest, compassionate, responsible and hard working. One must also have excellent communication skills (both written and verbal), a natural ability to work with animals and people, and an excellent ability to deal with stress. It is also important to be able to problem solve, work independently, and be able to accept enormous responsibility. One must also have a good driving record and be willing to travel.
Potential advancement opportunities for Guide Dog Trainers include Senior Guide Dog Instructor, Training Manager, and Director of Training. Licensed trainers begin their salaries at levels comparable to an average school teacher's salary. Salary increases continue after that with experience. Salary ranges differ at each Guide Dog School.
The job market for Guide Dog Trainers is rather limited as this profession serves only a percentage of the population. Many people like the idea of being a guide dog instructor and so they pursue the career saturating the market with potential applicants. However, there there are few job openings in this field. Only dedicated individuals who are willing to make sacrifices and have the best qualities for this field actualize their dreams of becoming a Guide Dog Trainer. Also worth mentioning are the possibilities of serving as another form of animal assistance trainer, such as a Hearing Dog Trainer or Mobility Dog Trainer. Looking into these possibilities may provide applicants with additional choices.
My advice to those who may be interested in becoming a Guide Dog Trainer would be to get as much experience with dogs and people as you can. Going to be a general dog trainer is a good start. Also, I suggest you read dog books, groom dogs, work for a veterinarian, etc. Spend time working or volunteering with people with disabilities. The people aspect is very important.
Guide Dogs of America generally hires its apprentice trainers from existing staff members who have shown great potential and interest in moving up into the position. We are interested in speaking to individuals who are experienced in the training of guide dogs. If you wish to apply for a position, send your resume to the attention of: "Director of Operations" and we will keep it on file for any future openings.
BREEDS: BREEDS USED: We use 70% Labrador Retrievers, 15% Golden Retrievers, and 15% German Shepherds. The Labrador Retrievers make up the majority of our dogs because we have found them to be the most successful breed used for guide dogs. In fact, the Labrador Retriever is the dog most often used for guide dog programs throughout the world.
THE MATCHING PROCESS: Upon completion of formal training, the dogs are carefully matched with blind students by our licensed trainers, taking into consideration their lifestyles and environments. In addition, the personalities of both student and guide dog, size, strength, pace of walk and energy levels of each are also matched to ensure a harmonious relationship.
Before it is time to match the guide dog, the guide dog recipients have gone through an extensive application and review process that has allowed our trainers to know a great deal about the needs of that individual in a guide dog. The trainers by this time have a good idea of what dog would be best for the each applicant. Students are additionally evaluated during the first few days of instruction providing our trainers with even a better idea about the pace, strength, personality, and needs of the student. With the trainer's extensive working knowledge of their dogs, they are able to match up the best guide dog for each individual.
When the dog is issued, the student is provided with the dog's name, breed, and information about the dog's personality. The overall deciding factor is the individual student's ability to control and develop a good working relationship with the dog.
IN-FOR-TRAINING: When the puppies are 22 to 26 months old, their foster families Puppy Raisers bring them back to Guide Dogs of America to come In-For-Training.
An In-For-Training Barbecue is held for the class of puppies being called In-For-Training. The Puppy Raisers take this time to share with their fellow puppy raisers one last fun event as they say good bye to their puppies and send them off to school. It has the joyful, sadness similar to when parents send their children off to college. When their dog is given to a blind individual and graduates, it will be the ultimate reward.
Once in for training, the dogs are put through an extensive evaluation process. They are checked both medically, including a thorough orthopedic exam and an eye exam with an ophthalmologist. A stress test is given along with several other tests that will evaluate if the dog should continue on to formal training. Dogs that we decide are not able to continue on into formal training become Career Change dogs, and are moved into the Adoption Program to become a family pet.
Dogs that continue on into formal training spend the next 4 to 6 months with the trainers learning how to be a guide dog. They practice in all types of environments: including, city sidewalk areas, construction areas, beaches, rural sidewalkless areas, malls & shopping centers, subways and trains, campuses, and heavy traffic down town areas. When ready, the dog will be matched with a blind man or woman that has been accepted into class.
ADOPTION PROGRAM: To be a successful guide dog, many factors including health and willingness to work come into play. If a dog in our program does not meet all the proper criteria necessary to be a guide dog, they must be removed from the program.
All dogs that are removed from the program for any reason we call Career Change dogs. If a dog in our program becomes a Career Change dog, the volunteer puppy raiser is given the option to keep the animal or to give them up for adoption. Also, when a guide dog is retired, the guide dog user has the option to keep the dog or give it back to Guide Dogs of America for adoption. If the retired guide dog is returned to Guide Dogs of America, we give the dog's original volunteer puppy raiser the first option to adopt the retired guide dog. If the puppy raiser prefers not to adopt that retired guide dog, once again the dog is put up for adoption.
Currently we have such a long list of people waiting to adopt a dog (over a 6 year wait at this time) that we are no longer taking new applications to adopt a dog. You can always inquire about it in a years time.
Rescue organizations are another good option for acquiring a nice purebred pet without such a long wait. Most rescue organizations are "no-kill" and do a thorough examination of the dogs so that they are able to tell you if the dog is house broken, good with children, energetic, and other traits of that dog. Often breeders with extra dogs or families moving who cannot have a pet at their new home leave their pets with rescue organizations.
Below is some contact information to make inquiries into the adoption programs of Rescue Organizations. All links will open in a new window.
GENERAL RESCUE INFO (USA):
www.rescuers.com
RESCUE LIST FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
GOLDEN RETRIEVER:
(310) 679-3435
(South Bay Only) (661) 270-0570
(661) 270-3295
www.rescuers.com/barc/
www.friendsforpets.org
www.golden-rescue.com
LABRADOR:
(888) 554-2522
www.io.com/~sclrr/
GERMAN SHEPHERD:
(818) 558-7560
(619) 576-1016
www.gsrescue.org
RETIRING A GUIDE DOG: A guide dog's working life is about 6 to 8 years (they begin working at about 2 1/2 years old.) When it is time to retire a guide dog, the guide dog user has the choice to keep the dog as a pet, give it to a family member, or return the dog to Guide Dogs of America. Sometimes it is difficult on the retired guide dog to keep it as a pet because it may become jealous or depressed over the new guide dog partner.
Retired guide dogs returned to Guide Dogs of America are put into our Adoption Program. We first contact the dog's original Puppy Raisers and ask if they wish to adopt the dog. If they do not, the guide dog is given to a prescreened individual from our adoption waiting list who wishes to adopt the dog. Currently there is a 4-6 year wait to adopt a 'career change' dog or retired guide dog.
VETERINARY DEPARTMENT:
The Veterinary Department at GDA is here to assist and coordinate vet care for our breeding dogs/puppies/dogs in training and working guides. We have two veterinarians who are available by appointment to do routine examinations, treatments and surgeries here at our facility. Referral care by veterinary specialists in orthopedics, internal medicine, dermatology, surgery and opthamology is also arranged through the vet department.
The vet department is responsible for conducting pre-training medical evaluations. In addition, all dogs entering training go through extensive medical screening to assure our graduates the healthiest working dogs possible.
24-hour assistance is available for canine emergencies.
Please call (818) 362-5834 for assistance.
KENNELS:
Our Kennel building has the ability to house over 100 dogs at one time (with 2 dogs per kennel). Generally we have about ½ of that, but it does fluctuate with the season and the training schedule. One half of the building is designated for the dogs currently in Training. The other half is for boarding dogs. Dogs come in for Boarding for a variety of reasons. We house dogs here requiring medical attention such as spaying or neutering. We also keep dogs that are in Heat in this area, provided they are not needing in the Breeding Facility. Occasionally a Guide Dog will need to be boarded for a short time. It is also important for the puppies to become accustom to the kennel environment before coming in for Training. This makes the adjustment a bit easier for them.
Dogs truly enjoy coming here. In face a number of our Puppy Raisers refer to us as "Camp G.D.A."! Our dogs enjoy regular walks, grooming sessions and group play time. Each of our Kennel Techs is dedicated to providing the dogs with quality care and attention. The dogs are carefully monitored each day for potential medical problems or behavioral issues that the Trainers may need to be aware of.
For Boarding Reservations of Vet Appointments (G.D.A. puppies and dogs only please) call 818-362-0358.
Our kennels are open to Puppy Raisers from 9am - 12 pm and from 1pm - 4 pm Monday through Saturday. All other visitors are requested to contact the front desk or visit the Tours page for more information.