Some Thoughts On Dog Guides and Canes

Some Thoughts On Dog Guides and Canes

Future Reflections Summer 1990, Vol. 9 No. 2
(back) (contents) (next)
SOME THOUGHTS ON DOG GUIDES
AND CANES
by Diane McGeorge
[PICTURE] Vivacious Diane McGeorge is always
on the go-with dog or cane.
There is one subject that comes up consistently
when we as blind people discuss independent
travel with parents of blind children: "Should I
get my child a seeing eye dog? Would a dog really
be helpful? I have seen blind people with dogs,
and I just wonder if a dog wouldn't be better than parents, but by the rest of the general public over
and over. Let me share with you some of my ideas
about the use or non-use of a dog guide.
First of all, lets talk about the name."Seeing Eye
Dog" is the title mistakenly ascribed to nearly
every dog that you see accompanying a blind
person. In fact, The Seeing Eye is the name of a
particular school which was the first established
in the United States. However, there are now a
number of schools in the country which provided
training, and each school has its own name. For
example, there is the Leader dog school, pilot
dogs, guide dogs for the blind, just to name a few.
A generic name would be dog guide, and I think
this term is most acceptable to all dog guide
users.
In order for a blind person to travel competently
and independently, it is of the utmost importance
for her/him to receive instruction in cane travel
from a competent mobility teacher. However,
that may sound easier than it actually is. The key
to being a good traveler is in one's confidence
level. Unfortunately, many orientation and
mobility teachers do not themselves believe that
blind people are capable of safe independent
travel and thus build in many fears and limitations
in their students. I do not believe this is
intentional on the part of the teachers, but rather
stems from their limiting, stereotypic attitudes
about blindness. After all, how can mobility instructors
build confidence and security in their
students when they themselves lack that fundamental
faith in the abilities of blind people?
Too many blind people believe that a dog guide
will solve any problems they may be experiencing
with their travel skills. The dog works on commands
only. It does not possess any amazing
power or sense of direction. The user must be in
control at all times and give the dog the appropriate
commands and directions. A classic
comment made by the sighted person waiting on
a street corner with blind dog guide user will be,
"Isn't that wonderful! Your dog will take you
across the street when the traffic light is in your
favor." Of course this is nonsense since dogs are
color-blind and therefore have no way of knowing
whether the light is red or green. The blind
person monitors the traffic and gives the dog the
appropriate command before any street crossing
occurs.
Another misconception is that the dog guide will
identify buildings that the traveler may wish to
find. The user must always have good information and good travel skills at his command in
order to be an effective dog guide user.
I think it is important to remember that a dog
guide has some inherent limitations simply because
it is an animal. Although it is generally
recognized that there is little difference between
the competent use of a dog guide and the competent
use of a cane, the responsibility incurred
with the former technique is indeed far greater.
Simply put, one need not feed, groom, or vaccinate
one's cane, and one must realize that the
decision to get a dog guide must not be undertaken
without consideration of the accompanying
responsibilities. The user-dog guide relationship
also embraces far more than the owner-pet
relationship in that the relationship is essentially
a working one. In assessing the merits and limitations
of using a dog guide, one's evaluation must
be guided by reason rather than sentiment.
Whether or not you choose to use a cane or a dog,
the key to independent travel lies in a high level
of self-confidence. Making this decision is a very
personal choice, and it is important to respect
each person's individual decision.
Should you as parents get a dog for your child?
Absolutely not. Most schools will not accept an
applicant under the age of 16. However, at the
age of 16, blind people have not had enough cane
travel experience to make an informed decision
about whether or not to use a dog guide. Placing
a dog guide in the hands of a child is a disservice
to both the animal and the child.
I was asked to write my views on dog guides and
there you have them. Yes, I am a dog guide
user --and yes, I am a white cane user. I am
fortunate to have received excellent cane travel
instruction; it was unfortunate that it came much
later in my life. There are times when I enjoy
using my dog very much, and at other times using
my white cane is much more efficient. And so you
see there is no clear-cut answer to the question
of which mobility tool to use -- cane or dog. I
leave it up to you, the reader, to decide.
(back) (contents) (next)