Guide Dog Users, Inc. presents all answers as submitted by the individual guide dog schools and have not modified or otherwise amended any answers or supporting statements. If answers are unclear or otherwise incorrect, please contact the individual schools for clarification.
Please place a check mark next to the response that best describes your program.
1. Your school's program for first-time guide dog handlers lasts:
EDF 24 Days
2. Handlers who are previous graduates of other schools must fulfill the same
training requirements as first time handlers.
EDF Yes
3. Previous graduates from your program return to the school to train with
successor dogs for:
EDF Three weeks of training
4. Training options provided to the guide dog team by your
organization include:
EDF In class training
1. During the past three years, the application process for a first-time
student (from application request to acceptance), has taken approximately:
EDF Three to six months
2. During the past three years, the approximate time from acceptance of the
application, to the student's class date has been:
3. Qualified applicants for your program include:
EDF Persons with visual impairment only
4. Do you train high partials?
EDF No
5. There are age requirements for acceptance into your program.
EDF Yes
(If yes, list) 18 and up
6. Your program requires potential applicants to demonstrate o&m proficiency
at a:
EDF Medium level
7. Your school does:
8. Please list any other additional admission requirements in the space provided.
9. Your organization provides some on site medical services for students in
training such as a school nurse.
EDF No
10. There are certain physical or psychological conditions, which would
disqualify a potential student from acceptance to your program?
EDF Yes
(If yes, please explain.)
11. There are standard evaluation processes in place for assessing these
physical or psychological concerns?
EDF Yes
12. Accommodations exist for special communication needs for those
who speak a foreign language or require sign language interpretation?
EDF Yes
(Please explain if necessary.) Instructor speaks some Spanish.
Please indicate which statements best describe your schools process of hiring and qualifying instructors.
1. Instructors are required to have no prior experience.
EDF Untrue
2. Instructors are required to have some prior experience working in animal
related fields.
EDF Yes
If yes, how much experience is preferred:
EDF One year
3. Instructors must have some prior experience working in animal and people
related fields.
EDF Yes
If yes, how much experience is preferred:
UA
4. There is an instructor apprenticeship requirement of:
UA
5. Standardized testing is used in the instructor training process:
EDF Not at all
6. Apprentices go through a blindfold experience?
EDF Yes
7. If yes, do instructors:
8. Apprentices receive cross training in related departments? (i.e.
puppy department, kennel, Admissions)
EDF Yes
9. Apprentices become instructors according to legislatively mandated
standards.
EDF No
10. Apprentices become licensed instructors according to the standards of
International Federation criteria
EDF No
11. Instructors have an opportunity to work with graduates in the field
dealing with real life problem solving situations
EDF Rarely
12. Please comment on any other aspects of your school's requirements for
selecting and qualifying instructors which would be helpful to know when
applicants are considering their individual needs?
UA
1. Please indicate which of the following areas your program includes during
training? (Check all that apply)
2. Formal guide work training for dogs in your program lasts:
EDF Other:
(If other, how many hours of training do dogs in your program receive?
Please feel free to elaborate.)
UA
3. Formal testing is used to determine a dog's ability to
perform various guide work and problem solving tasks.
EDF No
4. Customizing of routes at your school is a training option for handlers:
UA
5. Please indicate the percentage of dogs that completed training and were
matched in
UA
6. What percentage of dogs were returned to the school after being placed
with handlers in:
UA
7. Please list any other areas of training not mentioned above in which your
school prepares dogs for guide work in the space provided below.
UA
Please place a check mark by all that apply.
1 Breed(s) of dog(s) your program trains for guide work:
EDF German Shepherd
2 How does your program obtain dogs appropriate for training as guides?
3 Does your program utilize cryogenics, artificial insemination or other
scientific methods in breeding?
EDF no
4 If your program trains donated dogs, are they obtained from?
1. Does your school have a formal program in place for raising and
socializing puppies in preparation for guide dog training?
EDF Yes
2. At what age are puppies placed with raisers to begin the socialization
process?
EDF eight weeks
3. Does your program place any of its puppies in the "pups behind bars
program"?
EDF No
4. Anyone who is interested in socializing puppies for your school is
welcome to participate in the program.
EDF No - Must live in Phoenix area.
5. Those interested in socializing puppies for your program are carefully
evaluated before acceptance into your program.
EDF Yes
6. Your puppy raising/walking program consists of:
L7. Your puppy-raising program is well organized with a puppy raising manual
setting out specific guidelines for raisers to follow.
EDF Yes
8. Participants in your school's socialization program must attend meetings
regularly and strictly adhere to established procedures.
EDF Yes
9. A more relaxed approach to puppy raising is in place at your school.
UA
10. Puppies are evaluated by:
11. Established criteria is used to determine a puppy's readiness for formal
training, including evaluation of:
13. Puppies not suitable for guide dog training are:
14. Graduate/raiser contact is encouraged and facilitated by your program.
UA
15. Raisers meet handlers at a graduation ceremony.
EDF No - No Ceremony
16. Contact info is provided upon request.
EDF Yes
Please place a check mark beside the number of each statement that best describes the programs and services provided to graduates of your school.
EDF 1. The graduate owns the dog upon graduation from the school.
EDF 7. Because the graduate owns the dog, the school works with Animal Control or other appropriate agencies to remove the dog in cases of proven abuse.
EDF 9. The graduate owns the dog's equipment upon graduation.
EDF 12. The school provides replacement equipment at cost.
EDF 16. An instructor returns a graduate's phone call within two to four days.
EDF 37. The school has a voluntary ambassador program that gives graduates the opportunity to speak about the school and their guide dog related experiences in their local areas.
EDF40. The school has a website.
www.eyedogfoundation.org
EDF 41. The school has an email list for graduates and those interested in the school.
EDF 42. The school sells cards, shirts and other school and guide dog related merchandise.
Please use the space provided to list any programs and services available to
graduates from your school that are not described in the above statements.
UA
Place a check by the statements that apply
1. Amenities on campus include:
2. Your school offers loans to cover veterinary care or grants to
assist with other guide dog related expenses.
EDF No
3. Your school offers assistance in placing retired dogs?
EDF Yes
4. Your school provides kenneling for handlers who need this service.
EDF No
5. Please list any other special services your school provides to students
in training or to its graduates.
UA