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Guide dogs are trained for the purpose of guiding a blind person. Not every dog can be a guide dog, and only a selected few end up being chosen. Dogs chosen for this job must show intelligence, physical fitness, responsibility, patience and even temper. At the age of one, guide dogs begin a five-month intensive course. During the time, the become accustomed to wearing the leather harness and rigid leather handle that they will be wearing when guiding their owner. Along with this physical portion of the course, they are also taught how to avoid the dangerous situations. They learn how to avoid dangerous and how to guide the owner away if they sense danger. Thay learn to watch traffic and safely cross the street. They also learn numerous commands such as "forward", "left", "right" and "sit". These commands are constantly reinforced, and the dogs learn to disobey any command that may lead their owner into danger. The most important part of the program takes place during the last four weeks of the program, in which the guide dogs are placed with their future owners. During this time, the two practise the commands and learn to communicate, as well as getting accustomed to working and living together. Working with guide dogs is not as easy as it may seem. Many blind people are unsuited by personality to work with dogs, as only a tenth of the blind people find guide dogs helpful. |