Guide Dogs: Myths vs. Facts Sheet

Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists Karin Barrows, Allyson Bull, Michael Dionne, Michela Meaney, Kara Peters, and Alex Primrose separating fact from fiction about guide dogs.

Myth	Fact
My current pet can be trained as a guide dog.	Puppies begin training as young as three days old and undergo a rigorous training process throughout their development, reaching specific milestones. Remember, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!
Dogs can find a location without any previous instruction.	Guide dogs are not GPS devices. The handler must understand the route and navigate to/from the destination using their O&M skills. Dogs follow specific cues given by the person working with them.
It’s okay for strangers, friends, and family to interact with the guide dog while they’re working.	Even if the person is familiar with the guide dog, they should not interact with the dog while its harness is on and the dog is working. The best practice is to ignore the dog completely to allow it to focus on its task at hand.
You can use a friend’s guide dog to try it out and see if it’s a good fit for you.	Guide dog matching is highly customized, and each individual guide dog is intended to work with the specific human partner they are matched with.
Guide dogs work for their whole lives.	Guide dogs often retire as they get older.
Guide dogs can read traffic lights.	The dog handler will use their O&M skills to analyze an intersection and determine when it’s safe to cross the street. Guide dogs offer additional protection by navigating unexpected situations while crossing the street (e.g., an oncoming car running a red light).
Guide dogs can only work with people who are completely blind.	Guide dogs can be matched to people with varying levels of vision loss. This is usually reviewed and considered by the guide dog school during the application process.
Guide dogs must be the only animal in the house.	The person can have pets in addition to their guide dog, as long as they are not a threat to the guide dog.
Guide dogs are always working.	Guide dogs are working when their harness is on. They get breaks from working and have downtime. When the handler is not working with the guide dog, they may take off the dog’s harness to allow them a break and free time.
Guide dogs are trained to protect the person they’re working with.	Guide dogs are trained to assist the person with navigation safety within their environment, but they do not offer protection from strangers.
All guide dog schools are the same.	There are many guide dog schools available in the United States, and it is important to review different schools to find the right match.
No additional training is required after receiving a guide dog.	Many guide dog users will need O&M training upon returning home to familiarize themselves with commonly used routes.
Guide dogs are always correct.	Guide dogs can make honest mistakes or become distracted. The dog is just a mobility tool, and the handler’s orientation skills should be the primary skills being used.
I am not an independent traveler right now, but once I get my dog, I will be.	The handler must already be an independent traveler.