The leash and harness working together allows the handler to work with the dog in tight areas such as on a plane or train. One can release the handle to the harness and let the dog guide by leash in tight spaces. Both the leash and harness work excellently to provide corrections by snapping the leash or the harness with just enough force to get the dog's attention to get him/her back on track for the sake of safety. The makeup of the harness is a combination of leather and steel with thick stitching to hold it together much like that of a horse's saddle.
Generally, guide dogs do not bite; however, in some instances there have been times when it happened but mostly these incidents occurred when the blind handler experienced a mugging by a burglar.
Can dogs go into restaurants or hospitals? Yes, a guide dog is a service animal and thanks to the ADA Law under title III, service dogs have the right to enter any building where the public is welcome including restaurants and hospitals. The only exception to this rule is that guide dogs cannot be in an operating room or other room in a hospital operating room-like setting where the room must be sterile.
Commands are the last big question everyone asks, adults and children. How many commands does a guide dog know? The answer is too many to list. Although, a few include stairs up, stairs down, door inside, door outside, find the register, find the counter, find the way, get busy, find the curb, forward, stay, sit, heel, sit-stay, down, left, right, fetch-up, and come.
If the dog knows a person well, it is possible to tell the dog to find so-and-so. They can learn to find a specific vehicle. The command for “find the way” is a wonderful command since it tells the dog to find his/her way around obstacles that leave the handler without an idea of how safely to go beyond those obstacles. Telling the dog to find the way gives him/her the lead to find whatever way is clear and get the handler through it.
Before anyone begins to wonder, guide dogs can tell the difference between a door outside and inside. They can tell the difference between stairs going up and stairs going down. Just for a reference, the command “get busy” is a specific remark to let the dog know it is time for him/her to take their potty break.
The mysteries surrounding certain areas of blindness and guide dogs in general no longer hold such a mystery with those outside the world of blindness and their families. It is important to allow any blind person that happens to cross your path the ability to remain on their path. If you feel the person might be lost, ask if they need assistance. Most are more than welcome to the idea of help when they cannot find their way.
Please remember that almost all guide dogs learn the command to follow a person leading so it is unnecessary to hold the guide dog handler's hand. The dog can follow you wherever you need to take the blind person and their dog.
