Guide dogs are trained to assist legally blind handlers in navigating their physical environment forming a very unique partnership. There are an estimated 8,000 blind persons in the United States with guide dogs. Guide dog work is a two-way communication between dog and handler, with the dog communicating information to the handler through the guide dog harness and the handler uses voice commands to communicate to the dog. Guide dog careers last between 8 to 12 years. There are several schools in the U. S. that offer guide dogs to those who are legally blind. Go to our Links section and click on Guide Dog Schools for a list of schools and information.

Before dogs are ready to be tested to participate in an actual guide dog training course, they spend 12 to 18 months of their puppy life in the care of volunteer “puppy raisers.” These volunteers have the responsibility of giving the dog-guide-to-be a basic foundation of learning before they are tested to see if they can become a guide dog. They must have a good disposition, be able to work in traffic situations, and the ability to work around people. A veterinarian examines these dogs to ensure there are no health abnormalities to prevent them from performing their duties.

Training time at schools for those acquiring a guide dog varies depending whether it is a new or experienced blind student. Trained dogs are assigned to each student that matches his or her temperament. While these dogs are very skilled, they do not replace a blind student’s own mobility skills. Schools usually require their students to have been previously trained in cane mobility and have independent traveling experience before attending school for training with a guide dog.

Guide dog training may vary between schools with varying eligibility criteria for student admission such as:

Vision Loss: A person must be legally qualified as blind to apply to a dog guide school. Legally blind means having visual acuity of 20/200 in the better eye with the best correction or a visual field of no more than 20 degrees.

Physical Ability: A person must have enough strength and stamina to handle a large dog in a working situation. All guide dogs need physical interaction from time to time and especially when they are learning to work with a new handler.

Mobility Skills: A person must be an experienced independent traveler and have completed formal Orientation/Mobility training.

Motivation: The desire and commitment to work with a guide dog must be strong within each person. Training and working with a guide dog brings many challenges so a motivated handler will work diligently to create a successful team.

Leadership: Dogs look for authority and direction so the handler must be the leader of the team and direct their guide dog in a supportive and consistent manner.
Maturity: Schools establish minimal age requirements. Also important is the student’s ability to make sound, sensible decisions regarding the work and well being of the team.

Meaningful Work: A person must be active enough to provide sufficient work to keep a guide dog happy, healthy, and performing effectively.

If a person meets the qualifications for admission, most training programs provide dogs free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Americans With Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became effective in 1992 and is a comprehensive statute with broad implications for blind people. People with physical disabilities are protected by federal civil rights legislation. Since blindness is included within the definitions of disability, the interests of blind people are protected in employment throughout the United States including entitlement to local government services and unencumbered use of public accommodations that includes transportation.

State and local governments cannot disallow a person with a disability to participate in a service, program or activity just because the person has a disability. Access to equal housing also is assured and discrimination based on disability is prohibited. Requirements that screen out individuals with disabilities such as demanding a driver’s license as the only acceptable means of identification are prohibited.

ADA regulations give a blind person the right to be accompanied by a dog guide in places serving the public. Section 36.104 of Title 3 states that service animals including Guide Dogs are covered by the statute and defines the term, public accommodation.
Definition of public accommodation includes:

1) Hotels, inns, motels and other places of lodging except where the facility has five
available rooms or less and the owner lives on the premises
2) Restaurants, bars and other establishments serving food or drink
3) Motion picture houses, theaters, concert halls, stadiums and other places of public
gathering
4) Auditoriums, convention centers, lecture halls and other places of public gathering
5) Grocery, clothing or hardware stores, bakeries, shopping centers and other sales and
rental establishments
6) Laundromats, dry cleaners, banks, barber and beauty shops, travel services, shoe
repair, funeral parlors, gas stations, offices of accountants and lawyers, pharmacies,
insurance offices and professional offices of health care providers, hospitals, and any
other service establishments
7) Terminals, depots and other stations used for public transportation
8) Museums, libraries, galleries and other places of display or collection
9) Parks, amusement parks and other places of recreation
10) Nursery, elementary, secondary, undergraduate and post-graduate schools and places
of education
11) Day care centers, senior citizen centers, homeless shelters, food banks, adoption
agencies and any other social services
12) Gymnasiums, health spas, bowling alleys, golf courses and other place of exercise

Please note that facilities not mentioned that fall into these categories are intended for coverage.

WASHINGTON STATE LAW

Washington Statutes, White Cane Law, Chapter 70.84, Sections 70.84.010 through 70.84.900, last amended in 1997

Washington statutory law guarantees a blind person the legal right to be accompanied by a specially trained dog guide in harness in all places of public accommodation and on all public transportation. No extra charge can be levied because of the dog's presence. State policy also ensures equal employment opportunity in state service, in the service of its political subdivisions and public schools, and in employment supported in whole or part by public funds, except when the visual disability prevents performance of the work involved.

Public accommodations include hotels, restaurants, stores, public buildings, places of resort, amusement, and assemblage, and any other place to which the general public is invited. (Sect. 70. 84. 010, Sect. 70. 84. 030)

Public transportation includes trains, buses, airplanes, boats, taxis, and any other common carriers or modes of conveyance offered for public use. (Sect. 70. 84. 010, Sect. 70. 84. 030)

Violation: Any person, firm, corporation or agent thereof who interferes with the above-enumerated rights is guilty of a misdemeanor and punishable under Washington law accordingly. (Sect.70. 84. 070)

On July 2001, Washington joined 15 other states with a law that specifically protects
guide dogs. Now it will be a misdemeanor to knowingly interfere with or recklessly
injure a guide dog, or to allow one’s dog to obstruct or intimidate a guide dog. Repeat
offenders might be charged with gross misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence
of one year in jail and a $5,000 fine.

When Separation of Dog Guide and Owner Is Allowed

Under Section C2 of the ADA, a facility can require the separation of a dog guide from its owner, but only if the dog’s presence fundamentally alters or endangers the goods or services of the facility or jeopardizes public use of the facility.

Guide dogs are the guiding eyes for people who are blind and they are specially bread
trained for this most important job. There are many guidelines people must follow when
in the presence of a guide dog to allow for the safety of the dog and handler. Ignoring
these guidelines can distract the dog and endanger the dog and handler.

1. Don't distract the dog including talking, touching, or feeding the dog while he/she
   is wearing his/her guide dog harness. Allow the dog to concentrate and work for
   the safety of his/her handler.
2. Don't treat the dog as a pet. Please give him/her the respect of a working dog.
3. Don't give the dog commands. Only the handler should do so.
4. Don't try to take control in situations unfamiliar to the dog or handler. Only assist the handler upon his/her request.
5. Don't walk on the dog's left side as he/she may become distracted or confused. Walk on the handler’s right side but several paces behind him/her.
6. Don't attempt to grab or steer the handler while the dog is guiding him/her or attempt to hold the dog's harness. Ask if the handler needs your assistance and, if so, offer your left arm.
7. Don't be over-protective or overbearing when the graduate handler first arrives home with the new dog. Be thoughtful, patient, and try to inspire confidence in the handler and in time you will admire the expertise of the team.
8. Don't expect too much too soon. Remember that the dog is young and that complete harmony and confidence take patience, perseverance and time.
9. Don't give the dog table scraps. Respect the handler's need to give the dog a balanced diet and maintain good habits.
10. Don't allow children to tease or abuse the dog. The dog needs to rest undisturbed.
11. Don't allow your pets to challenge or intimidate a guide dog. Allow them to meet on neutral ground when all parties can be carefully supervised.
12. Don't allow the dog on your furniture or in areas of the home mutually agreed upon by the family and handler. Ask the handler to correct any errant behavior or trespassing.
13. Don't let the dog out of the house unsupervised in understanding his/her value to the handler.
14. Don't pat the dog on the head. Stroke the dog on the shoulder area but only with his/her handler's approval.

Law Information Card

Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits places of public accommodation from requiring proof of certification of a service animal/service dog's training. There are similar provisions in other federal laws that apply to commercial air travel, state and local governmental agencies, including public transportation, and other entities. When federal and state or local law conflict, the law that gives greater protection to the person with disabilities prevails.

The Delta Society National Service Dog Center® provides the Law Information Card at no charge and it explains what service animals/service dogs are and the laws that affect service animals/ service dogs in public places. If you are denied access to a public place, showing this card should be very effective.

For further information about Guide Dogs and Guide Dog Schools in the United States, please click here.