However, a discerning, well-trained dog will deliberately disobey the command if danger is still present. If the owner still tries to move forward, the dog will then use his body as a barrier to stop his handler. Their size also enables them to maintain a steady, comfortable walking pace beside their handler. Whereas a smaller guide might only cause their handler to trip when they attempt to block forward movement, a Labrador average weight 55 pounds can stop their handler in their tracks without tripping them up and potentially save their life.
By nature, Labrador Retrievers have an intense desire to please. They thrive when given plenty of praise for a job well done or a new command mastered. These cheerful people-pleasers are also very food motivated and learn quite quickly that doing what is asked of them is rewarded with two of their favorite things, praise, and treats.
Guide dogs typically spend the first year of their life with a volunteer family who teaches them basic commands and ensures that they are well socialized. After this, potential guide dogs are given back to the training facility where they begin intense training which continues for about four months. That is indeed a lot of training, but many Labradors easily rise to the challenge and seem to enjoy the work very much. Labrador Retrievers have a short, sleek double coat that does shed but is rather easy to maintain.
Yellow, black, and chocolate Labradors all make excellent guide dogs if their individual temperament qualifies them and they show an interest in the work. Color is really irrelevant. However, most Labrador guide dogs are yellow or black. There are several reasons for this. Chocolate Labs, who at one point in time were routinely culled as pups, are now the most popular color and are in high demand both as family companions and for hunting work.
They also tend to have shorter lifespans and slightly more health problems, such as ear infections and skin conditions, than black and yellow Labs do. While German Shepherd Dogs were the original breed used for this type of service work, over the years, Labradors have become the number one choice for guide dog work.
Golden Retrievers and Retriever crosses such as Labradoodles also are capable of becoming talented guide dogs, but are not trained nearly as often as Labradors are. This natural desire to retrieve is particularly useful for anyone who needs help to pick things up at home or retrieve important items like the phone. Labradors can grow up to kg and are usually yellow, black, chocolate brown or fox red in colour.
Most also love to be in or near water and will happily retrieve things from a pond or the sea. As a working dog, Labradors can be robust and independent.
But at Dogs for Good we select more passive Labradors because they make an excellent partner for people with physical disabilities. We select Labradors that are happier following people and working alongside a strong leader.
This personality allows the client to verbally guide and support the dog, making the dog feel safe, calm and patient. Since many of our clients have conditions that mean they require a little more time to do things, this patience is key.
Every Labrador is unique. As a breed, they share traits, but they have individual personalities too. Why are labrador retrievers used as guide dogs? Labrador Retrievers are used as guide dogs for a number of good reasons.
To understand why Labrador Retrievers are such good guide dogs, need to dive into how each of these traits translates into a good guide dog. The biggest reason Labradors are used as guide dogs is their even-keeled temperament.
The world that humans have created is confusing enough for many of us two-legged creatures. Now imagine navigating that world as a four-legged dog with zero ability to communicate via language or perform any kind of higher-level thinking. For example , some guide dogs have to lead their owners through the chaos and complexity of public transit. Depending on the mode of transit, this can lead to quite a few stressful scenarios. When a subway train pulls into a station, the tunnels that connect the subway systems to the streets of major cities can become filled with people in a matter of seconds.
If a guide dog and its owner get caught up in one of these surges, the dog will need to remain calm and level-headed to get their owner safely through the throng of travelers. Many other dog breeds would have a real problem doing something like this.
Some would get excited and start happily greeting everyone who walked by.
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