Guide Dogs

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 28, 2025
​Guide dogs are specially trained service animals that assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired by helping them navigate their environments safely and confidently. While guide dogs offer increased mobility and independence, they are not appropriate for everyone. A successful guide dog partnership requires strong orientation and mobility (O&M) skills, a willingness to care for a dog, and a lifestyle that supports the daily use of a guide dog.

A Brief History of Guide Dogs in the U.S.​

Guide dogs were introduced to the U.S. in the late 1920s by Morris Frank, who returned from Switzerland with his guide dog, Buddy. Buddy was trained by Dorothy Harrison Eustis, an American dog trainer living in Switzerland. Together, Frank and Eustis co-founded The Seeing Eye, the first guide dog school in North America, originally in Nashville, Tennessee. It later moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where it still operates today.

​Legal Protections and Access Rights

In the United States, guide dog users are legally protected under several federal laws:
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures access for guide dog users to all public places, including restaurants, stores, hotels, transportation, and more.
  • The Fair Housing Act (FHA) requires landlords to allow service animals even in properties with “no pets” policies.
  • The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) allows individuals with guide dogs to travel with their dogs on flights without additional charges, provided guidelines are met.

​Guide Dog Breeds and Training

The most common breeds used as guide dogs are:
  • Labrador Retrievers
  • Golden Retrievers
  • German Shepherds
  • Increasingly: Standard Poodles, Labradoodles, and Collies (due to low-shedding or hypoallergenic needs)
All guide dogs undergo rigorous, specialized training. They are trained to:
  • Navigate around obstacles
  • Stop at curbs and steps
  • Avoid hazards
  • Recognize and respond to verbal commands
  • Demonstrate intelligent disobedience (disobeying a command to protect the handler)

​Who Qualifies for a Guide Dog?

​Guide dog schools have eligibility requirements. While each program may vary slightly, common requirements include:
  • Legal blindness or significant visual impairment
  • Strong independent O&M skills (the dog is not a substitute for cane training)
  • Physical ability to walk several blocks at a steady pace
  • Good health and ability to care for the dog
  • At least 16 years old (some schools offer programs for teens and youth)
Guide dog schools work hard to match each dog with a handler based on personality, pace, travel needs, lifestyle, and living situation.

​Guide Dog Etiquette

It’s essential to teach students the proper etiquette around guide dogs:
  • Do not distract a guide dog while it is working (e.g., touching, calling, feeding, or making noises).
  • Always ask permission before petting a guide dog.
  • Respect the handler by speaking to the person, not the dog.
  • If walking with someone using a guide dog, let the dog lead and ask the handler where to position yourself.
  • A harness signals the dog is working—off-duty playtime is only at the handler’s discretion.

Accredited Guide Dog Schools in the United States

​Below is a current list of accredited guide dog training programs as of 2025. All are members of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) and/or Assistance Dogs International (ADI), ensuring high standards of training and support.
  • The Seeing Eye – Morristown, NJ. The first and oldest guide dog school in North America. Offers month-long residential training, customized instruction, and lifelong support. www.seeingeye.org
  • Guide Dogs for the Blind – San Rafael, CA & Boring, OR. Provides all services—including travel, training, dog, equipment, and vet support—free of charge. Offers residential and home-based instruction. www.guidedogs.com
  • Guiding Eyes for the Blind – Yorktown Heights, NY. Offers specialized programs including guide dogs for children, teens, and runners. Focuses on enriching independence through innovative pairings. www.guidingeyes.org
  • Leader Dogs for the Blind – Rochester Hills, MI. Offers free services including guide dogs, white cane training, and GPS tools. Also provides teen mobility and DeafBlind programs. www.leaderdog.org
  • Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind – Smithtown, NY. Provides guide dogs to individuals with vision loss, and partners with America’s VetDogs. Offers small class sizes and customized support. www.guidedog.org
  • Southeastern Guide Dogs – Palmetto, FL. Trains guide dogs for both civilians and veterans. Offers walkable campuses, emotional support dogs, and an innovative Kids Companion Program. www.guidedogs.org
  • Freedom Guide Dogs – Cassville, NY. Provides in-community training, traveling to clients' homes instead of requiring residential stays. Especially helpful for those with complex needs. ​www.freedomguidedogs.org
  • Guide Dogs of America | Tender Loving Canines – Sylmar, CA. Provides guide dogs, service dogs for veterans and children with autism, and facility dogs. Offers fully funded training, follow-up, and veterinary care. www.guidedogsofamerica.org
Guide dogs can transform the lives of individuals who are blind or visually impaired by providing not only greater mobility, but also companionship, confidence, and connection. However, becoming a guide dog handler is a major responsibility that requires a strong foundation in independent travel skills. Students should be encouraged to learn about guide dogs, understand the commitment required, and explore whether a guide dog may be a future mobility option. For some, a guide dog will be an invaluable partner on the path to independence.

Subscribe today!

Subscribe today to unlock premium resources & printables. Choose the subscription level that best fits your needs and get immediate access to additional printable resources, ECC tools, and more. Subscription plans are individual and non-transferable. Your membership helps sustain and grow this resource for the vision community. ​​Thank you for your support!

Article Pages

VI Basics
History of VI ​Vision Professionals​ ​Professional Publications ​​Program Tools & Templates ​Policy & Advocacy ​​Professional Support AT Resources​
Service Planning
VI Referrals​ ​Medical Vision Exam ​Visual DiagnosisFVLMALow Vision EvaluationsOther Evaluations​Service PlansGoals & Objectives
Consultation
​Unique Visual Needs
​Collaboration​​Instructional Adaptations​Environmental Adaptations​​Material Adaptations​Access ClassesFamily Resources
Teaching Strategies
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development​Alternative Communication​Emergent Literacy​Beginning Braille​​Braille Code​Braille Fluency & Comprehension​Braillewriter​​​​​Slate & Stylus Basics *S
​​​Nemeth Code Instruction *S
​​​Tactile Graphics​Print Concepts​​Abacus ​​Organize​​​Study Skills​​Time Management
Sensory Efficiency
​Auditory Efficiency​​​​​Listening Skills​​Visual Efficiency Skills​​Optical Device Use​Tactile Readiness
Assistive Technology
AT Assessment ​AT Instruction​
AT Basic Use ​​AT Problem Solving ​Braille Notetaker ​iOS/Tablet Instruction Audio Skills ​Video Magnifiers ​​Basic Computer Use Access Productivity
Social Skills
​Non-Verbal Skills​​​​​CommunicateCooperativeIdentity & Self-Awareness​Interactions & RelationshipsManaging Challenges & Safety
Self-Determination
Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene  ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation​Household SkillsClothing Management​Money & BudgetShopping & ConsumerismPhone Use​Safety & Emergency Preparedness​​Services & Community Resources
Orientation & Mobility
Recreation & Leisure Skills
Career & Vocational
Interactive Activities
Recorded Presentations
Lesson Planning 
Thematic Units
Beginning of the Year Units ​​Fall Units​​Winter Units​​Spring UnitsHoliday Units
Printable Resources
**Additionally, each Teach Subscription page and each Thematic Unit contains additional unique printables!
*M = free member pages
*S = Basic subscription pages
*CS = Complete set bonus
*A = All Access subscription pages