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History The first guide dog training schools were established in Germany during the First World War, to enhance the mobility of returning veterans who were blinded in combat. The United States followed suit in 1929 with the Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey. The first guide dogs in Britain were German Shepherds. Three of these first were Judy, Meta and Folly who were handed over to their new owners, veterans blinded in World War I, on 6 October 1931 *. This was followed, in 1934, by the start of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Great Britain. Breeds Early on, trainers began to recognize which breeds produced dogs most appropriate for guide work; today, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and German Shepherds are most likely to be chosen, though by no means does this mean other breeds, such as Collies, Vizslas, and Dobermanns, are not. Crosses such as Golden Retriever/Labrador, which are popular due to both breeds' known intelligence, work-ethic, and early maturation, and Labradoodles, Labrador/Poodles bred in an attempt to provide dogs suitable for those with hair or dander allergies, are also common. Guide dog training Potential guide dogs come from various sources. Some organizations breed and raise their own puppies, while some rely on "foster families" to raise the puppies until they are ready for formal training. Also, some dogs are rescued from shelters, although any dog heading for a career as a guide dog must be sound and desensitized to most public situations. When dogs become old enough to start training, most guide dog "schools" will conduct a test to analyze the dog's potential for guide dog work. If the dog passes this test, they continue on to harness training, where they learn to help a person move around safely, including such achievements as navigating curbs and avoiding overhead obstacles. The dogs may be taught additional skills, such as retrieving items for their handler. At the end of approximately two to three months of individual training, visually impaired students that have applied and are accepted begin to work with their own guide dog under the instruction of the school or an individual instructor. When the newly-created team has finished their training, they are certified and released on their own. Depending on the organization, follow-up training to ensure the dog is still doing his or her job correctly may or may not be required. Guide dog accessibility Despite regulations or rules that deny access to animals in restaurants and other public places, in many countries, guide dogs and other types of assistance dogs are protected by law, and therefore may accompany their handlers', generally any place that is open to the public. Laws and regulations vary worldwide: Because Islam considers dogs to be unclean, many Muslim taxi drivers and store owners have refused to accommodate customers who have guide dogs. This has resulted in controversy in a number of cities in North America, Europe, and Australia, especially as Muslim drivers become an increasing percentage of the taxi business. Some critics have accused Muslims who refuse to accommodate people with their guide dogs of trying to impose Sharia on non-Muslims *. On the other hand, those Muslims who hold that they are forbidden to come into contact with dogs even when used by people with disabilities see this as a religious liberty issue. See also Guide dog training schools | ||||||||||
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