Golden Retrievers

 

 

 

 

                                                                           

 

            Golden retrievers are one of the three best guide dogs. Their personality and intelligence make them a number one choice. Not all golden retrievers can be guide dogs but there are tests to help decide. A blind person and their guide dog are taught to work together.  To be a good guide dog they have to be trained, then they do guide dog tests, and finally they finish training and meet their human partners.
              For golden retrievers to be good guide dogs they have to very smart. Golden retrievers have to enjoy working with people. Goldens are the perfect size for the job. They can go anywhere with their human partners. Golden retrievers are also easy to care for.
              Next the golden retriever has to be tested to decide whether they can be a guide dog. Testing a puppy and training them as they grow older helps them be good guide dogs. They need to be calm around loud noises. Golden retrievers need to be curious when they are looking in a mirror. If the golden retriever puppy passes the tests, they go and live with a puppy raiser. The puppy raiser and the golden can go anywhere if the dog has the guide dog jacket on. The golden retriever has to be calm around people at all times. After the tests are passed intense training begins.
                After 18 months the golden retriever has to return to guide dog school. The dog learns commands such as forward, halt, leading people down sidewalks, up stairs, around holes, and to cross the street. The final test is that they have to lead a blind folded trainer around town. If the golden retriever passes, they get to meet their human partner. After that the human partner has to go to guide dog school for one month to learn how to give commands and become friends.
            Some golden retrievers from the time they were puppies are meant to be guide dogs. Testing and training helps decide their future. After the golden passes his tests he is matched with his human partner. The dog and the owner have to learn together. The dog and human go home and are ready to face the world together.
 

 
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