How does the dog know where its handler wants to go?
Usually the handler tells the dog where to go. Before training with a guide dog, the handler will be well-oriented to their most often used locations, (e.g. to work, the local shop) so they know where they are going. Being aware of cues and landmarks (such as a curb or a dip in the pavement) enable the handler to know how to direct the dog to their destination. Having traveled the route a number of times, the dog will become familiar with and remember the route. As a matter of fact, guide dog handlers have reported that their dogs have remembered a particular doorway or house, even when they have not visited the place for twelve months or so.
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