What are other misconceptions about guide dog teams?
• Some people believe the handler simply gives the dog a destination, and the dog takes him/her there. As noted above, the handler gives a series of directions using gestures and words the dog knows. • Some assume the dog is working in harness 24 hours a day. It is more accurate to say the dog is on call 24 hours a day. Most handlers are humane people who love their dogs and don’t overwork them. When at home in familiar surroundings, handlers don’t need to have their dog in harness guiding them. With the exception of a few basic rules (like no table scraps), our dogs can act like any other dogs at home. • Another misconception is that guide dogs can read the traffic lights. Instead, handlers listen to traffic patterns to determine when it is safe to initiate a street crossing. When the person who is blind feels it is safe, he/she will tell the dog “forward” as a signal to cross the street.
