A Guide Dog is a special type of dog that helps people who are blind or at least 60% blind. A guide leads and alerts their owners that something is in front or ahead of them. These Dogs are usually German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and occasionally Australian Shepherds. These animals are specially trained and carefully placed with their owners. They are trained in a long process that takes about two years.

Before they get trained they go to a puppy raiser who teaches the dogs the basics such as sit, stay, come, etc. They show the dog different environments and people. The puppy raisers give the guide-dog- to- be all the attention and care that is needed for the dog to become happy, strong, and an enthusiastic companion. The raisers lay down the specific commands and obedience that will help the dog be a loving, caring guide dog. This takes about 15 months.

Afterward, they take a six-month class teaching them the advanced training. In two weeks they get medical tests to make sure they are healthy. If they are not, they are released from the program. If they are kept, they go over the basic obedience commands like they did when there puppies. If they do not remember the commands they are not capable of doing this job. 

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