Do the blind get a training to get guide dogs?

Answer 1

If a person is deaf, it is possible for them to have a guide dog. For example, if a deaf person is crossing the street and a car is beeping right behind them, the dog will move along with the deaf person. Though, guide dogs are usually needed for blind people. (* EDIT - This is incorrect. Only blind people have guide dogs. Deaf people have Sound/Signal Alert or Hearing Alert service dogs. *)

The proper term is Hearing Dog. There are 3 legal forms of Service Dog in the US under the ADA(1990). Guide Dogs for blind, Signal/Hearing Dogs for the Deaf, and Service Dogs for all others with disabilities.

Guide Dogs for the blind lead their handler around objects, stopping at intersection and help the person avoid from bumping in to things, much like the white cane.

Hearing Dogs for the deaf alert the handler to sounds. Most are taught at least 7 sounds in the home, such as the doorbell, telephone/TTY ring, oven & microwave bell, alarm clocks, smoke alarm and sometimes baby cry. (some dogs know over 100 distinct sounds)

When in public the hearing dog acts like a pair of ears, the handler can see where sounds are coming from just by watching the dogs parabolic ears. The dog may also be trained to alert to nearby police sirens and traffic noises. Many are also trained to stop at all intersections, just like Guide Dogs, so the handler can look both ways before crossing.

Service Dogs (all the rest) have a number of uses including medical alert and assistance, there are to many different types of other service dogs to name.

Answer 2

There is no global registration so any answer is just an educated guess.

Based on the published numbers of trained dogs, it's estimated there are 8,000 guides dogs in the USA, working on any given day. The UK has about 3,000 on it's rolls.

Answer 3

Not only does one have to meet the legal definition of "blind" ( the standard is less than 20/200 visual acuity in the best eye with the use of corrective lenses, and/or less than a 20 degree field of visual acuity), one also has to have completed Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training using the white cane before acceptance from a legitimate Guide dog providing organization. If one does not meet the legal definition of blind or has not had O&M training, one is not qualified to have and use a Guide dog in the US.

All legitimate Guide dog providers require O&M training before a blind person is considered for Guide dog placement. Without the O&M training, all a Guide will do is help the blind person get lost faster than with the use of the white cane.
No, different schools have different requirements.

Many legally blind have a form of tunnel vision so can see a small area, i.e. as if you were looking through a paper towel tube. Some can see light and blurry shapes, so being totally blind is not required.

Answer 4

No. Most people who are blind prefer to use a blind cane to aid in avoiding obstacles.

Answer 5

because they help the blind people get around

Answer 6

Yes. Typically six months with the dog.

Answer 7

n