Seeing Eye Dog Day 2025 is on Wednesday, January 29, 2025: Is this fair to qualify for a seeing eye dog?

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 is Seeing Eye Dog Day 2025.

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Information below lists eligibility requirements from The Seeing Eye for their guide dogs. For more information check out their website, link provided below.

Are You A Good Candidate?

The Seeing Eye has served a wide variety of blind persons since its inception in 1929. Applicants from all walks of life and a variety of economic and educational backgrounds have been served. From our years of experience, we have found that candidates with the following characteristics are more likely to succeed as dog guide handlers.

1. Physical, mental and emotional capability of handling the stress of training with a Seeing Eye dog as determined by references and agency referrals, personal interview and physician’s report. Applicant must be between the ages of 16 and 75, motivated and emotionally stable, capable of walking one to two miles a day, and able to receive and implement instruction.

2. A realistic plan of use for a Seeing Eye dog as determined by personal references, applicant explanation, agency referrals and personal interview. Applicant must have an active daily routine which would provide independent travel destinations for the dog.

3. A degree of vision which will not interfere in the safe and effective working relationship with a Seeing Eye dog as determined by medical reports and a personal interview.

4. Hearing ability sufficient to effect a safe working relationship with a Seeing Eye dog.

5. Independent travel skills adequate for working with a dog guide, as determined by professional references and personal interview.

6. A clean living and working environment conducive to safe and effective use and care of a Seeing Eye dog as determined by application and personal interview.

7. Necessary maturity and temperament to handle the responsibilities of caring for a Seeing Eye dog.

The Seeing Eye, Inc., does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, in the administration of its education policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.

My dogs eyes changed color for a second I am scared?

well no see dogs eyes do that in the dark and her mix is a rough kind of dog its because dogs have nightvision kinda but it happens with my dog all the time its ok

How did Ray Charles get around without a seeing eye dog?

um... it's called a cane. It's just a long white stick with a rounded tip, usually made of fiberglass or carbon fiber, but probably made of wood or graphite in Ray Charles' day. We just hold it out in front of us and tap it from side to side. The tip falls about a step or two ahead of us so we can feel when re reach a doorway, the end of the sidewalk, stairs, or any other obstacle. There are also other cane techniques that can be used for things like finding a doorway, finding the place where the sidewalk turns or the hallway opens up, where the pole with the crossing button is at the intersection, etc. Then there are all the other Orientation and Mobility techniques a blind person learns early on like identifying landmarks, using your other senses like smell, touch, and hearing, knowing to listen for the sound of traffic moving parallel to your body, not perpendicular to it, so you know it's safe to cross, how to ask for directions and follow them when you need to, how to figure out new areas you've never been to before or if you're on vacation, where to look for door signs in braille, how to use public transportation, how to read a tactile map, etc. Now a days there is technology too. A blind person, like myself, can use a computer with screen reading software and look up walking directions on Google Maps. Some people can do this with screen reading software on their phones too, or with a braille or talking GPS. Ir's not too hard.

One of the biggest misconceptions about the blind is that we need to be guided, that our dogs if we have them know the way to go and we just follow them. That's not how it works. THe dog doesn't know where we're going or how to get there. THe dog can't read signs or maps or get directions. Often, the dog isn't even one hundred percent sure if you want to cross the street at the corner, or turn and keep going. All the dog can do is alert you to obstacles. Sure, it may get used to a rout you take often, but that isn't its purpose, and you still need to maintain your mobility skills. The human is in control and gives the dog instructions and commands.

Oh, and no one takes a blind person by the arm. At least, you're not supposed to. THe blind person takes YOUR arm and is again in control of where you go, is still using his or her own mobility skills, and can decide when he or she wants to let go.