Question (2)

[TimberWolf]

Friend of mine was a puppy walker for the Guide Dogs. Basic idea is to socialise it properly, teach it the basics and see how well suited its temperament is: it has to be intelligent (for a dog, anyway!), bold not nervous but at the same time not reckless. Labs seem to be just the most suitable, although Alsatians are good, and he's worked with Dobermans and some contintental breeds (there's a dutch canal dog breed that looks like a right thug but is apparently brilliant at it). Even among the Labs, there's a 80% failure rate apparently.

The dog has to have a bit of weight though, so it has presence and the owner can feel its guidance clearly, hence big breeds only

What about a dolphin? They are intelligent, have a good temperament and carry a bit of weight. Unfortunately they do like water and tend to flap around a bit on dry land.

[malvolio]

LOL, good one.

But seriously, what makes a good guide dog? What's to prevent one using a dobermann or bull terrier? I mean why do they always seem to be boring labrador type dogs?

Friend of mine was a puppy walker for the Guide Dogs. Basic idea is to socialise it properly, teach it the basics and see how well suited its temperament is: it has to be intelligent (for a dog, anyway!), bold not nervous but at the same time not reckless. Labs seem to be just the most suitable, although Alsatians are good, and he's worked with Dobermans and some contintental breeds (there's a dutch canal dog breed that looks like a right thug but is apparently brilliant at it). Even among the Labs, there's a 80% failure rate apparently.

The dog has to have a bit of weight though, so it has presence and the owner can feel its guidance clearly, hence big breeds only

[oracleslave]

LOL, good one.

But seriously, what makes a good guide dog? What's to prevent one using a dobermann or bull terrier? I mean why do they always seem to be boring labrador type dogs?

Just a guess but I would have thought for a visually impaired person, "boring labrador" is preferable to a calf chewing bull terrier most of the time.

I think I just walked into that

[Marina]

Chap is spotted wandering around Marks and Spencers with a white sick and a chihuahua on a lead. An assistant stops him and points out that pets are not allowed in the store. "He's not a pet, he's me guide dog" the man protested. "Come off it," said the assistant "Guide Dogs are thing like labradors and Alsatians". The man replies, "Well what have they given me then?"....

LOL, good one.

But seriously, what makes a good guide dog? What's to prevent one using a dobermann or bull terrier? I mean why do they always seem to be boring labrador type dogs?

[Advocate]

First class ticket and a window seat please...

[malvolio]

Chap is spotted wandering around Marks and Spencers with a white sick and a chihuahua on a lead. An assistant stops him and points out that pets are not allowed in the store. "He's not a pet, he's me guide dog" the man protested. "Come off it," said the assistant "Guide Dogs are thing like labradors and Alsatians". The man replies, "Well what have they given me then?"....

[KathyWoolfe]

I'm going to tell my future mum-in-law (she's blind and has a guide dog) about this as I'm sure she'll fall about laughing

[daviejones]

I allmost choked on my coffee.....funniest thing I have read in ages...

[Sockpuppet]

it appeared the dog made a mistake

That line tickled me a lot.

[snaw]

Hot down here.

[KevinS]

I started laughing as soon as I saw the headline!!

[Sockpuppet]

Laugh and you are going to hell

Me and most of the office here are booking our handbaskets now.