Do you know about guide dogs?

Listen to what the science has to say

Guide dogs are an important tool for visually impaired people to travel and participate in social life, and they are working dogs and the "second pair of eyes" of visually impaired people. In recent years, public policy has become an important driving force to promote the popularization of guide dogs. So, do you know about guide dogs?

Guide dogs are not pets, they have undergone special and strict training, and they are working dogs, just like police dogs and search and rescue dogs. When the guide saddle is put on and the leash is fastened, they immediately enter the working condition.

They are the "eyes" of the visually impaired. Guide dogs have the ability to assist visually impaired people in avoiding obstacles, finding their destinations, crossing the street, finding seats, and going up and down stairs safely. A trained guide dog can remember more than 30 passwords and more than 5 destinations.

Guide dogs are not aggressive. So far, there have been no incidents of guide dogs injuring people in the world. Puppies that are suitable for breeding into guide dogs not only have a quiet personality and good obedience, but also have no record of active aggression from generation to generation.

Becoming a guide dog requires "going through layers of hurdles". In the first level, the puppies are shortlisted, the second level is family life training, the third level is base skills training, and the fourth level is training with the user.

Guide dogs are rare. The selection requirements of guide dogs are strict, the training is time-consuming, the elimination rate is high, it is not easy to train a guide dog, the cost of manpower and material resources is higher, and the number of guide dogs in China is relatively scarce.

The application for the use of a guide dog is free of charge. Guide dogs are public welfare, only open to the visually impaired, and are delivered free of charge to the visually impaired who meet the application conditions.

Guide dogs dedicate almost their entire lives to their owners. Starting from the selection of puppies, guide dogs will go through about 1 and a half years of training before service, and the service period is about 6-10 years, while the life span of a dog is generally only 10-15 years, it can be said that guide dogs have been serving people almost all their lives.

Guide dogs can enter and exit public places in accordance with the law. According to the Regulations on the Construction of a Barrier-free Environment, visually impaired persons carrying guide dogs in and out of public places shall comply with relevant national regulations, and staff in public places shall provide barrier-free services in accordance with relevant national regulations.

When encountering guide dogs, we should do "four noes and one question". Do not feed, touch, call, or refuse, take the initiative to ask the visually impaired if they need help, and provide corresponding assistance after obtaining consent.

Do you understand?

(This program is jointly recorded and broadcast by Jilin Provincial Science and Technology Association and Jilin News Comprehensive Broadcasting)