GDA Programs

GDA Program Overview

At Guide Dogs of America, we believe that a well-trained guide dog partner offers new opportunities for greater independence, enhanced mobility, and social interaction.  Our 7.5 acre campus in Southern California is home to all of our programs and our services are provided free of charge, including:

  • A professionally trained, highly qualified, expertly matched guide dog
  • Personalized instruction in how to care for and work with that dog as a team
  • Transportation to and from our school
  • Room and board during the 21-day in-residence training program
  • Veterinary care at our clinic
  • Extensive post-graduate support services

Finding the right partner, forming a strong bond, and maintaining a solid support system are the keys to a successful guide dog team. Guide Dogs of America’s program embraces all of these.   

The Right Partner

Our guide dogs are trained to work with their human partners as a team to safely and confidently navigate in a wide range of environments. Guide dog teams are taught the skills to proactively travel in a safe and confident manner.   

Our trainers are experts at pairing students with the right canine partner, with special consideration given to their personalities and unique characteristics, work and home environments, physical abilities, and a variety of other factors.  We call it the “Magic of the Match.”  

Personalized Instruction

Six times each year, a new group of up to 10 students arrives at our campus to receive their guide dogs and complete a 21-day in-residence training program. Students enjoy private rooms in our dormitory, three meals a day in our dining room, and other amenities including campus-wide Wi-Fi, computers, television, lounge, an off-leash dog play area and dog grooming facilities. Our program covers training in a wide variety of locations and environments including city, rural and sidewalk-less routes, malls, restaurants, escalators and elevators, and night travel. As the instructors train the teams to work together, they learn to trust and rely on one another and develop a relationship based on mutual respect and cooperation.   

A Lifetime of Support

Our objective is not only to provide excellent guide dogs and quality instruction, but also to strive to maintain the true success of a team – longevity. Thus, lifetime support services, including training follow-ups, veterinary care at our on-campus clinic, and boarding services are available for each graduated team, at no cost.

Please call Admissions at (818) 833-6428, you may also email us at admissions@guidedogsofamerica.org for more information, or click below to get started!

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