What does a guide dog trainer do?

Would you make a good guide dog trainer? Take our career test and find your match with over 800 careers.

Take the free career test Learn more about the career test

What is a Guide Dog Trainer?

A guide dog trainer teaches dogs how to help people who are blind or have very poor eyesight. They train the dogs to walk safely through different places, avoid obstacles, stop at curbs, and follow special commands. The dogs also learn to stay calm and focused, even in busy or noisy areas. Training takes months, because the dogs need to learn both important skills and good behavior in public.

Guide dog trainers also teach the person who will have the dog how to work together as a team. This means showing them how to give commands, understand the dog’s signals, and build trust with each other. Trainers need to be patient, caring, and able to solve problems, because every dog and person are different. The goal is to help the person feel safe, confident, and independent with their new guide dog.

Get online training through our partner:

What does a Guide Dog Trainer do?

A guide dog helping his owner cross the street.

Duties and Responsibilities
Here are some key responsibilities of a guide dog trainer:

  • Puppy Selection: Guide dog trainers are often involved in selecting suitable puppies to begin their training journey. They assess the temperament, health, and suitability of potential guide dog candidates to ensure they possess the necessary qualities for guide work.
  • Basic Obedience Training: Trainers start by teaching guide dog candidates basic obedience skills such as sit, stay, come, heel, and leash manners. They focus on building a strong foundation of obedience and ensuring the dogs respond reliably to commands.
  • Socialization: Guide dogs need to be comfortable and well-adjusted in various social situations. Trainers expose the dogs to different environments, people, sounds, and objects to promote socialization and desensitize them to potential distractions or stressful situations.
  • Specialized Training: Guide dog trainers provide specialized training to prepare dogs for their roles as guides. This training includes teaching the dogs how to navigate obstacles, follow directional commands, stop at curbs, avoid hazards, and maintain a consistent pace.
  • Training in Public Settings: Trainers simulate real-world scenarios by training guide dogs in public areas such as shopping centers, transportation hubs, and busy streets. This helps the dogs develop confidence, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in diverse environments.
  • Matching Dogs with Clients: Guide dog trainers work closely with individuals who are visually impaired or have disabilities to understand their specific needs and preferences. Based on this information, trainers match appropriate guide dogs with clients to ensure compatibility and a successful working partnership.
  • Client Training and Support: Trainers educate and train guide dog users on handling techniques, commands, and the responsibilities of owning and working with a guide dog. They provide ongoing support to clients, assisting them in building a strong bond with their guide dogs and addressing any challenges that may arise.
  • Assessments and Progress Monitoring: Trainers regularly assess the progress and performance of guide dogs in training. They conduct evaluations to ensure the dogs meet the necessary standards and are suitable for guiding individuals safely and effectively.
  • Continuing Education: Guide dog trainers stay up to date with the latest training techniques, advancements in dog behavior and care, and accessibility laws and regulations. They attend workshops, conferences, and seminars to enhance their skills and knowledge as trainers.
  • Care and Well-being: Trainers are responsible for the overall care and well-being of the guide dogs under their supervision. This includes providing appropriate nutrition, grooming, veterinary care, and ensuring a safe and comfortable living environment.

Types of Guide Dog Trainers
There are several types of guide dog trainers who contribute to the training and development of guide dogs. These trainers specialize in different aspects of the training process. Here are a few types of guide dog trainers:

  • Puppy Raisers: Volunteers who care for and socialize young puppies, teaching them basic obedience before formal guide dog training begins.
  • Guide Dog Mobility Instructors (GDMIs): Professionals who train dogs in advanced skills and teach people with vision loss how to work with their guide dogs.
  • Specialist Trainers: Trainers who work with dogs that need extra help in certain skills, such as navigating busy cities or handling unusual environments.
  • Aftercare or Follow-up Instructors: Trainers who visit guide dog teams after placement to give ongoing support, problem-solving, and refresher training.

Are you suited to be a guide dog trainer?

Guide dog trainers have distinct personalities. They tend to be social individuals, which means they’re kind, generous, cooperative, patient, caring, helpful, empathetic, tactful, and friendly. They excel at socializing, helping others, and teaching. Some of them are also investigative, meaning they’re intellectual, introspective, and inquisitive.

Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if guide dog trainer is one of your top career matches.

Take the free test now Learn more about the career test

What is the workplace of a Guide Dog Trainer like?

A guide dog trainer’s workplace is often a mix of indoor and outdoor environments. They might spend part of their day at a training center, where dogs live and learn basic skills, and part of the day outside, teaching dogs to navigate real-world settings. This can include walking through neighborhoods, busy streets, shopping centers, parks, and public transport to help the dogs get used to different situations they will encounter with their future owners.

The work can be physically active, as trainers spend a lot of time walking, bending, and giving hands-on guidance to the dogs. They also use special training equipment, such as harnesses, leashes, and training aids. Some days may involve office tasks like updating training records, writing progress reports, or planning lessons for both the dogs and the people who will receive them.

Guide dog trainers often work closely with other staff, such as puppy raisers, mobility instructors, and veterinarians. They may also meet with people who are blind or have low vision to match them with a suitable guide dog. The job can be challenging but is very rewarding, as trainers see the difference their work makes in helping someone gain independence and confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions



Careers



Degrees

Continue reading

See Also
Alligator Farmer Animal-Assisted Therapist Animal Behaviorist Animal Breeder Animal Caretaker Animal Control Worker Animal Lawyer Animal Nutritionist Animal Scientist Animal Trainer Animal Trainer For Film And Television Aquacultural Manager Aquaculturist Aquarist Avian Veterinarian Beekeeper Bird Trainer Chicken Sexer Circus Animal Trainer Comparative Anatomist Conservation Biologist Conservation Scientist Crocodile Wrangler Dairy Farm Worker Dairy Scientist Dog Breeder Dog Groomer Dog Trainer Dog Walker Ecologist Emergency and Critical Care Veterinarian Entomologist Equine Veterinarian Ethologist Evolutionary Biologist Exotic Animal Veterinarian Falconer Farmer Farm Manager Farrier Fish and Game Warden Fishery Officer Herpetologist Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist Horse Trainer Ichthyologist Jockey Kennel Technician Large Animal Veterinarian Livestock Farmer Mammalogist Marine Biologist Marine Mammal Trainer Oceanographer Ornithologist Pet Adoption Counselor Pet Detective Poultry Farmer Poultry Scientist Public Health Veterinarian Racehorse Trainer Rancher Small Animal Veterinarian Snake Milker Theriogenologist Vermiculturist Veterinarian Veterinary Acupuncturist Veterinary Anesthesiologist Veterinary Behaviorist Veterinary Cardiologist Veterinary Dentist Veterinary Dermatologist Veterinary Neurologist Veterinary Ophthalmologist Veterinary Oncologist Veterinary Pathologist Veterinary Surgeon Veterinary Technician Veterinary Technologist Veterinary Assistant Wildlife Biologist Wildlife Ecologist Wildlife Enforcement Officer Wildlife Photographer Wildlife Rehabilitator Wildlife Veterinarian Zoo Curator Zoo Educator Zoo Endocrinologist Zoologist Exterminator Dairy Farmer Marine Ecologist Marine Mammalogist Marine Fisheries Biologist Marine Conservationist Family Dairy Farmer Commercial Dairy Farmer Organic Dairy Farmer Artisanal Dairy Farmer Robotic Dairy Farmer Cognitive Ethologist Neuroethologist Applied Ethologist Comparative Ethologist Comparative Animal Psychologist Behavioral Ecologist Conservation Behaviorist

Guide Dog Trainers are also known as:
Seeing Eye Dog Trainer