The Oxford Residential- Guide Dogs for the Blind

The Oxford Residential- a student experience (part 3)

By Emily Hall- FdSc Animal Husbandry and Welfare

Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Students arrived at the centre after a very cold morning and were greeted by the staff with warm smiles, hot drinks, and even a custard cream or two! The staff and long term volunteers took turns in introducing themselves, one member of staff had been volunteering at the centre for 26 years.
After a couple of short videos about the work Guide Dogs conduct on behalf of the blind and how many volunteers it takes to carry out this dedicated work (10,000 across the UK), students were left in awe of the charity and all its members- furry or not!

The hard work carried out by staff and volunteers affords a blind or partially sighted person their independence, allowing them to fulfil everyday tasks that most of us would often take for granted; crossing the road or going to the supermarket for example. The guide dog gives back confidence which may have once been lost, and dogs are again matched to suit individual recipients. A German Shepard (GSD) bred with a Golden Retriever for example could be matched with a very outgoing person, since the dog would be full of the energy of the GSD and require more mental stimulation than other breeds.


















The Guide Dog Association has its own breeding facilities and every year 1200 dogs are bred and a job is found for every one of them. While some may not be suited to ever leave as a fully-fledged guide dog, some may be house dogs, helping with tasks such as washing, picking up items from the floor, fetching the phone and many more.

As with the Hearing Dogs, a whistle is used in training, and mainly for recall. Three short bursts from the whistle is used consistently from a young age during meals times, after three bursts on the whistles the food is presented, the dog associates this sound with a food reward and responds with returning to the sound of the whistle. The three bursts are used because it is so universal, if it was just one burst people may whistle for different periods of time or in a different tone, three short bursts are fast and effective and grabs the attention of the dog.The dogs are also taught to go to the toilet on command, no time for the toilet whilst working!

After the introduction to the centre and the work they carry out, we got to see some of it in action. Ufton and Fenton were the next two dogs we met, Ufton a lab x retriever at 18 months old was already taking part in advanced training and had the harness to show for it! Fenton on the other hand was still young at 12 months old (he was a GSD x retriever) and was still under early training on the lead, both showed talent as they guided their handler around the propped walkway.


 After this demonstration, students had the opportunity to meet the dogs, and exchange some kisses. They had lovely gentle natures, and while they were a working dog, you could see they were equally as playful as your average pet dog.

Next the students had the chance to walk around the propped walkway holding on to the harness, with members of staff playing guide dog. I think it is fair to say most took part thinking it would be easy…how wrong we were.

As soon as you can’t see anything and are expected to walk around obstructions, you can’t help but let the panic set in, you didn’t quite trust that you weren’t about to painfully walk into a sign, but you knew they wouldn’t let it happen. Every ounce of you relies on that person (or guide dog) for confidence, without them and only your hearing and touch, the world becomes a dangerous place, enough for anyone to want to stay indoors. These guide dogs really are empowering people. Students and tutors also experienced the sensory room, with a variety of different goggles you were guided by voice through a room full of all sorts of different objects. To name a few there was a radiator, a child’s toy, a brush, a tree, clothes and many others. It was an experience to help anyone appreciate just how difficult life can be the for the blind or partially sighted.