Handing Over the Dog

This phase of our work is probably the most difficult for our trained dog and also for us. The hand over takes place at the residence of the new owner during seven days. The procedure is very difficult for the psyche of both members of the new pair, especially with respect to the short time period. Both client and dog have to manage many new tasks.

Most clients did not have a dog before their own guide dog. That is why they have to learn everything, starting with dog care, walking the dog, mutual communication, technique of commands, and ending with successful collaboration with the guide dog during the guiding.

It is wrong to think that after the handing over everything will work. Each dog that works for the trainer creates a certain emotional bond towards him/her, and according to this bond the dog is willing to perform challenging work for such trainer. In order for the cooperation between the new pair to be successful, the dog has to create an emotional bond with the new owner.

This is impossible to achieve over just seven days, and that is why the dog is often out of sorts during this time. In some cases, the dog more or less protests against this kind of forced change of owner and needs time to adjust and build confidence in the new owner. In very rare but fortunate cases the exchange is unproblematic - the dog quickly acclimatizes and accepts the new owner.

It is very important that its new owner gives the dog support, understanding, and love, and in so doing recreates the environment the dog had at our school. One of the most frequently asked questions concerns the handing over of the guide dog: How is it possible for us to hand over a dog that we love and have spent a lot of time with? We decided to help people through training dogs.

We cannot do more for the blind and visually impaired, we can’t return their health, but we can make their life more qualitative with a helper and faithful friend.
We breed and train our dogs with the love which they are later able to return to their owner. Our dogs soon forgive us for this exchange, as we see during the annual meeting. They love their masters and are happy.