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If you have ever wondered …

• What does a guide dog do?
• Is a guide dog allowed to accompany its handler into restaurants or stores?
• How is a guide dog trained?
• How does a guide dog know where to go?
• Can I pet a guide dog?

… then you are not alone. Each and every day, guide dog handlers are asked these questions by curious onlookers. Guide Dog Users of Canada has undertaken to launch public awareness and education programs to attempt to answer many of these questions.

The Issue

• Many people are not aware of how guide dogs are trained, what tasks they perform, and the nature of the relationship between a guide dog and his or her handler.
• Curious passers-by who pet, feed, talk to, or otherwise distract guide dogs may place the guide dog team in danger if the dog becomes distracted from their work. Educating everyone on the importance of not distracting a working guide dog is a major concern.
• Some misconceptions exist regarding guide dogs: for example, guide dogs cannot read or understand traffic lights, and do not tell a person who is blind when the light has changed.

Our Approach