Leading the Way: Guiding Eyes, Ears, Noses, and Beyond (Part 2)

In this second installment of guide dog history, we introduce you to a new generation of service dogs and the growing, often unexpected, range of breeds being deployed.

Today, in every part of the world service dogs are being trained and certified to guide the visually and hearing impaired. As scientists explore new frontiers in canine capabilities, evidence suggests that dogs can modify their behavior when a human’s biochemistry changes. This incredible olfactory sense offers humans yet another reason to appreciate, admire, and adore the canine counterparts who stay by their side in service.

 

Bonafide Bits:

• Sorry, triviaphiles but Timmy never fell down a well on Lassie’s watch.
• In 1938, an engineer who was hard of hearing relied on his canine pal, Rags, to know when the city water station pumps started and stopped.
• In 1976, college students in Massachusetts began training dogs as four-legged prosthetic “ears” for human handlers.
• On July 26, 1990, President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which gave widespread accessibility to service dogs.
• In 2018, the non-profit, Medical Mutts, trained five dogs to identify and respond to the scent of someone who is having, or just experienced, a seizure.

 

Featured Breeds:

Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever, an exuberant Scottish gundog of great beauty, stands among America’s most popular dog breeds. They are serious workers at hunting and fieldwork, as guides for the blind, and in search-and-rescue, enjoy obedience and other competitive events, and have an endearing love of life when not at work. Discover more about Golden Retrievers at AKC’s Golden Retriever Breed Biography.

 

Labrador Retriever

The sweet-faced, lovable Labrador Retriever is America’s most popular dog breed. Labs are friendly, outgoing, and high-spirited companions who have more than enough affection to go around for a family looking for a medium-to-large dog. Labs are famously friendly. They are companionable housemates who bond with the whole family, and they socialize well with neighbor dogs and humans alike. But don’t mistake his easy-going personality for low energy: The Lab is an enthusiastic athlete that requires lots of exercise like swimming and marathon games of fetch, to keep physically and mentally fit. Discover more about Labrador Retrievers at AKC’s Labrador Retriever Breed Biography.

 

German Shepherd Dog

There are many reasons why German Shepherd Dogs stand in the front rank of canine royalty, but experts say their defining attribute is character: loyalty, courage, confidence, the ability to learn commands for many tasks, and the willingness to put their life on the line in defense of loved ones. German Shepherd Dogs will be gentle family pets and steadfast guardians, but, the breed standard says, there’s a “certain aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate and indiscriminate friendships.” Discover more about German Shepherd Dogs at AKC’s German Shepherd Dog Breed Biography.

 

Doberman Pinscher

Sleek and powerful, possessing both a magnificent physique and keen intelligence, the Doberman Pinscher is one of dogkind’s noblemen. This incomparably fearless and vigi