# owner training

Category: Animal House

## Post 1 by purple (Generic Zoner) on Sunday, 03-Aug-2008 12:47:53

i would like to know more about ower training of a guide dog.

## Post 2 by tunedtochords (Zone BBS is my Life) on Sunday, 03-Aug-2008 19:25:04

Owner training is not something that should be undertaken lightly. You need to have a good deal of money and a great deal of time that you're willing to invest in the project, with the knowledge that the whole thing might fail. You need to be in consult with good breeders (not back yard breeders or puppy mills or pet stores) to find a dog with suitable temperament and good health. You need to be willing to pay for equipment (harness, leashes, collars, etc.). Prior dog-training experience is a plus. You need a sighted person who is willing to do traffic training with you and the dog (driving the car at you and dog, Etc.). In the U.S., a guide dog does not need to be certified by a program to be admitted to public places, but you would be wise to ensure that your dog can pass not only basic obedience and good citizenship tests, but other benchmark type tests for service dogs.
What is causing you to be interested in owner-training?

## Post 3 by purple (Generic Zoner) on Monday, 04-Aug-2008 22:11:15

i find it very hard to get in to guide dogs schools. i see that you have to have good o and m skills. i see that you have to be away from your family for a nonth.

## Post 4 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 05-Aug-2008 10:45:53

I think there is one school that does training with students in their home area. Not exactly sure, though.

## Post 5 by tunedtochords (Zone BBS is my Life) on Tuesday, 05-Aug-2008 13:35:45

Fidelco does home training. But, uh. You need good O&M skills if you're owner training, too, so I'm not sure how that's applicable... You can't just wander down to the shelter, pick out any old dog and expect it to guide for you. A lot of work goes into training a guide dog, whether it's trained by a program or by an individual.

## Post 6 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 05-Aug-2008 20:20:32

That makes perfect sense.

## Post 7 by wild orca (Zone BBS Addict) on Wednesday, 06-Aug-2008 0:59:57

All the previous posters are right, training a guide dog shouldn't be taken lightly. Also, being away from your family is a good way to gain more independence.

## Post 8 by jen91_09 (777) on Sunday, 16-Nov-2008 18:35:31

I wasn't su6e what it'd be like being away from the family for a month either, but I found I enjoyed it immensely. I agree with the previous posts.

## Post 9 by Big Pawed Bear (letting his paws be his guide.) on Tuesday, 25-Nov-2008 12:21:25

you want to train your dog when you have no mobility training yourself? learn to use the white cane and to walk routes before you go down the owner training route.