As a rule does anyone know how Guide dogs for the blind are selected.Twice in the last six months I have seen GSD's used that had severe angulation.Now I am not knowledgable with the breed but this over angulation looked to me like they both may have been from show lines.Surely you need very good nerves for this type of work.I know these were two different dogs as they were differently marked.I asked the one owner but he didn't seemed to have any knowledge of the lines.
As I understand it, Guide Dogs For the Blind has their own breeding program. All go back to working dogs. The dogs are in foster homes for the first year, under close supervision, and then selection and training begins. I have a good book (The New Knowledge of Dog Behaviour) that goes into detail on the selection process. It is not unlike the selection for other working dogs. They are just looking for slightly different responses.
It's interesting how a guide dog is taught willful disobedience, meaning they wont
J-walk or cross against a stop light regardless of the owners commands. That's a well proofed dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Most guide dog schools have thier own breeding programs... Fidelco uses only german bred dogs.. the foundation is from herding lines.. and east german lines.. from there you throw in a bit of working/schutzhund lines for a bit of hardness.. and also use some conformation lines to take the drive down a bit. It isn't quite that simple <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> but a very broad overview. The drives have to be extinquishable... you can't have super high prey drive dogs leading blind people around! You also need a dog that takes little correction.. that your voice will work with. You need health.. solid temperment..and a good work ethic.
It seems to me that area of training is ideal when seeing how they socialize puppies. I bet they have very good formulas on how do to so. I think there's some sites around the net on all the procedures they do.
I would think it would work with any dog, especially the ones that work. Guide dogs I'm sure have to be socialized more than any other type of dog seeing how it would probably be the hardest job to perform. I mean that it would be the greatest mistake if a seeing eye dog didn't work correctly at the right moment. I bet many trainers who've studied there have learned a lot.
David Morris Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2002
Posts: 570
Loc: North Carolina
Offline
Actually Ive helped in obedience training with someone who fosters these dogs and have done some assistance dog training myself.They do have their own breeding dog programs and they immediately wash some pups out that dont pass the puppy test.The breeding program is very important.Actually the fosterhomes dont do anything extraordinay they do what everybody should do with their pup. They pay attention to it and take it lots of places ,meet lots of people,keep it people oriented and not "dog language" oriented.When teaching obedience they dont make eye contact with it.When its like a year old they take it back and turn it in and thats when the real training begins.The type of drives and temperments are somewhat bred into the dogs. Cant have a working dog shootin out after a ball.
Stop making excuses for your dog and start training it!
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Top
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
.jpg)
.jpg)
