Making a perfect match

A Seeing Eye Dog can be a much better option for some people who are blind or have low vision than a cane, but Seeing Eye Dogs aren’t suitable for everyone. Here is how we assess who will most benefit from having a dog guide.

Our applicants undergo a formal assessment which includes a medical examination to ensure they are healthy enough to care for a Seeing Eye Dog. If so, we interview the person to find out more about their needs and lifestyle so that we can match them with the perfect dog – dogs are all individuals, too!

Our instructors visit the places where the dog will be spending time – whether it’s at home, heading to the shops, making their way to work or dropping the kids off to school. This allows us to determine the size, speed and strength of the dog that will best suit that person.

Then the waiting starts – at present it can be between six and 12 months for the right dog to become available. We are working hard to fundraise and to find more volunteer puppy carers to reduce that long wait.

Once the person is successfully matched with their Seeing Eye Dog, they progress to more formal training, either in their home or at a residential training centre. Instructors remain in regular contact to make sure the new partnership is working effectively.

A Seeing Eye Dog can work for up to a decade before they are retired. Seeing Eye Dogs are not just a wonderful help in allowing people to get around safely, they also provide constant companionship which can help to alleviate the effects of loneliness or depression.