Training Process is Hard for Dogs

The training process is sometimes very hard for dogs but thanks to intensive working guide-dogs perform automatically. Like any other dog, guide-dogs need human care, daily walks, games and love.

Getting a guide-dog in Russia is as difficult as adopting a baby. A dog trainer at the above-mentioned school says that some people have been on a waiting list for getting a dog since 2000.

When dogs arrives at the training school (the school presumably trains Labradors and sheep dogs), it first of all gets sterilized and gelded to destroy the sex instinct that may frustrate the training process.

It takes about six months in general to train a guide-dog. First goes general training which is applied to all types of dogs not only guide-dogs. Then there is a special training for guide-dogs that must be performed in presence of the dog's future master so that both could get used to each other and the dog could know all habits of its master.

It is important for dog trainers not only to train guide-dogs but also help masters and dogs establish close contacts. Blind people come to the Republican School for Training Guide-Dogs from various parts of the country.

Unfortunately, today not every blind man can afford a guide-dog: dog food costs over $30 a month and another $25 must be paid for vaccinations every year.

Dog trainers say they seldom train mongrels because blind people usually prefer having sheep dogs and Labradors.

The school would have trained all mongrels from dog shelters of the Moscow Region if the dog breed were of no importance for those who come to the school to take guide-dogs.

It is important that dog trainers will never work with severe and fearful dogs with unstable psyche. Clever guide-dogs remember up to 40 routes that their blind masters regularly follow and may lead the masters there just upon one command word.