Dog Guide Program
Students coming to Leader Dog to receive a dog guide complete a 26-day training program that includes country, city and nighttime travel, how to incorporate a Leader Dog into a daily routine, and dog care knowledge.
Upon arrival to Leader Dog, students learn how to work with a dog guide, including commands, making corrections, proper praise and physically caring for a dog. On day three, students are matched with a trained dog with consideration made to life style, travel pace, physical size and stamina.
Leader Dog recognizes the needs associated with diversity and the demands of balanced life styles and careers. We strive to meet the special needs of our students with accommodations such as Spanish-speaking instructors, late evening diabetic snacks and one of only two existing programs for individuals who are both deaf and blind.
Trekker Breeze Program for Dog Guide Students
Leader Dog provides a free Trekker Breeze to students in our dog guide program living in the United States and Canada. The Breeze is a simple-to-use, handheld GPS that enhances dog guide travel by verbally announcing the names of streets, intersections and other clues.
Prerequisites and Requirements
- 16 years of age and older
- Legal blindness, which is defined as a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or restriction in the visual field of less than 20 degrees.
- Good mental and physical health, including the ability to walk several blocks.
- Successful completion of a basic course in orientation and mobility.
- A short video demonstrating independent travel skills is required.
Program Overview
- Challenge Level: Moderate to difficult
- Class Length: 26 days
- Classes Offered Annually: 12
Program Costs
The dog guide program is offered free-of-charge at our residential campus in Rochester Hills, Michigan, including:
- expenses for public transportation to students traveling within North America
- room and board