Why can they just use a dog guide?
A dog guide is another tool. If the user does not have the skills to travel independently a dog will not solve the problem. Also, if a person is allergic to dogs having a dog guide in the house would not be an option. For people who have the skills to travel independently, the decision to use a dog or a cane is a personal one. There are many dog guide schools throughout the country. Each has a slightly different focus or philosophy allowing the potential dog guide user to choose an agency that fits their criteria. The person who chooses to use a dog instead of a cane makes a commitment to care for the dog and use it every day. The dog cannot become a family pet or the joint responsibility of the entire family. If these things happen the dog can lose its training and be of no value to the user. This often why children, if they have good travel skills, do not use dogs. Trying to tell 1500 high school students not to pet the dog because it is working, exercising it, feeding it, relieving
