[NAGDU] guide dog month post

[nellie at culodge.com]

<https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/2016/september/guide_dog_month.html
> September is National Guide Dog Month - a time to bring awareness to the
very special relationships guide dogs and their owners share every day.

But remember, no matter how cute you find that furry face, you should not
pet or distract a guide dog at work, or "in-harness." For the team's safety,
working guide dogs should be left to focus on doing their job.

If the team appears lost or in need of help, just ask. Or, if you see they
are in imminent danger,
<http://www.perkins.org/stories/blind-etiquette-six-ways-to-be-gracious-arou
nd-people-with-visual-impairments> communicate guidance calmly and clearly.

Now - Sit. Stay. And learn some fascinating facts about guide dogs:

1. Ancient bond. A first-century mural dating from the Roman ruins of
Herculaneum and
<https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:vx022057g> a 13th
century Chinese scroll are believed to be among the earliest depictions of
<https://www.igdf.org.uk/about-us/facts-and-figures/history-of-guide-dogs/>
dogs leading people who are blind.2. On alert. Guide dogs are trained to
<http://www.seeingeye.org/puppies-dogs/seeing-eye-dogs/training.html> lead
around obstacles, including hazards like low branches that may be above the
height of the dog but not of its owner. The dogs learn to be responsible for
a space two times as wide and up to three times as tall as themselves to
keep their owners safe.

3. Popular pups.
<https://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/about-us/types-of-assistance-do
gs/guide-dog/> Labradors, golden retrievers, German shepherds and
labrador/golden crosses are common guide dog breeds, chosen for traits
including size, intelligence and temperament.

4. Buddies indeed. On June 11, 1928, Morris Frank, who was blind, and his
German shepherd guide dog Buddy made the papers when they
<http://www.seeingeye.org/about-us/history.html> safely crossed a dangerous
street in New York City in front of reporters. Frank and Dorothy Harrison
Eustis, who bred and trained Buddy, went on to start the
<https://www.loc.gov/nls/braille-audio-reading-materials/lists-nls-produced-
books-topic-genre/listings-on-narrow-topics-minibibliographies/guide-dogs-se
rvice-dogs/> first guide dog school in the United States.

5. Critical thinkers. Guide dogs are trained to
<https://www.guidedogs.com/meet-gdb/dog-programs/guide-dog-training> display
"intelligent disobedience" - they will actually refuse to obey an unsafe
command from their owners if they see a danger their owners may have missed,
such as a car that ran a red light.

6. Top dogs. Not all dogs will actually graduate from guide school. Only the
<http://www.seeingeye.org/assets/pdfs/the-seeing-eye-by-the-numbers.pdf>
most qualified - some programs estimate 75 percent - will complete the
rigorous training.

7. Did you say, "Neil" or "heel?" Owners should
<http://www.seeingeye.org/knowledge-center/resources/dog-naming-tips.html>
choose guide dog names thoughtfully: suggestions include picking short, one-
or two-syllable names that allow for faster communication and avoiding names
that sound similar to a command - for example, "Kit" could be confused with
"sit."

8. They're a team. Under legal protections in many countries,
<http://www.seeingeye.org/knowledge-center/rights--legal-information/>
including the U.S., and with very rare exceptions (like around certain zoo
animals!), guide dogs are allowed access with their owners anywhere that the
general public can go.

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