A Brief History Of Seeing Eye Dogs

 No one knows when the concept of using assistance animals for the blind first came into being. It is suggested that dogs have been used in such a capacity in various cultures for a very long time. It is known, however, that there was no formal guide dog program in existence until after the First World War.

Why German Shepherds?

Many people have probably wondered why guide dogs and Seeing Eye dogs are so often German Shepherds. The reason is actually twofold. First of all the German Shepherd has a strong sense of loyalty to its owner, giving it a natural tendency to be protective. Having a very protective dog as a companion is an obvious asset for someone who may otherwise be easily attacked by less then scrupulous individuals. The other reason is far simpler; the first guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired were trained in Germany to provided assistance for those blinded in the war.

After the end of World War I the nation of Germany was devastated by financial depression. Many private businesses failed and the Potsdam, Germany school that trained the guide dogs for the blind was one of them.

The Beginning

An American woman named Dorothy Eustis had heard about the program and decided it was a very worthwhile endeavor. Because she owned a company that was training German Shepherds as working dogs, she decided she might try to train guide dogs for the blind. She did not start this right away, however. In fact she was still considering the possibilities when she penned a story for The Saturday Evening Post about the potential for guide dogs for the blind.

A Nashville man named Morris Frank had heard the story and decided to write to Ms. Eustis and ask her to train a dog for him. She did and Mr. Frank became known as the first blind person to use a guide dog.

As part of an arrangement he’d made with Ms. Eustis, Mr. Frank started training guide dogs in the United States. The foundation that Mr. Frank started was dubbed “The Seeing Eye” and the so-called Seeing Eye dog was effectively born.

Today guide dogs are trained to assist people with many different disabilities. There are Hearing Ear dogs to assist the deaf and other dogs that assist the physically disabled. All of the people who have benefited from the use of a guide dog, however, owe their thanks to Mr. Morris Frank of Nashville, Tennessee.

About the Author

This article provided courtesy of http://www.dog-health-answers.net

 Simon Harris

More Articles 

Three Important Safety Products for your Dog this Summer - Nicole Martins
Keeping your dog safe is similar to keeping a child safe, you need to constantly be on alert. There are certain dangers a dog faces, especially in urban and suburban settings where the risk of running away and getting hit by a car poses a serious...

Leash Training for Dogs - William Berg
Tired of your dog dragging you out the door and down the street? Are YOU the one that needs a nap after taking the dog for a walk? Maybe it's time to leash train the dog. A little time and a bit more patience can provide a lifelong reward -...

Dogs - Man's Best Friend - Keith Kingston
Dogs have been known as man's best friend for decades. Owning a dog can be a positive, enjoyable experience for the entire family. Keep in mind however, that the decision to own a dog is an important one that should not be taken lightly. A dog is...

Eliminating Problem Dog Behaviors - Jumping And Roaming - Dawn Keadic
Every dog owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with puppies and dogs alike are jumping on people and performing...

Are Westhighland Terriers the Right Dogs for You? - Jeff Cuckson
You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it is the right size for your yard, home, or lifestyle, but a little more in-depth knowledge is necessary to determine if westies have the personality for you. Westie terriers are exuberant little...

“On Trust” & “Paid For”: One of the Oldest Dog Tricks that Never Fail to Entertain - Moses Chia
“On Trust” & “Paid For” for are one of the oldest dog tricks that afford as much entertainment as anything a dog can do since the early 1900s. It is not the easiest trick to be taught but can be elaborated on and presented in several different forms...

Training your dog not to chase cars - Free Dog Trainer
Training your dog not to chase cars One of the most serious, and unfortunately most common, problem behaviors among dogs is that of chasing cars. Dogs must be trained as early as possible that chasing cars is not acceptable. That is...

Heartworms In Dogs - What They Are & What To Do - Kirsten Hawkins
Heartworms (Latin name Dirofilaria immitis) are parasitic worms that are common in both dogs and cats. Like their name suggests, they live in the dog's heart, normally free-floating in the right ventricle and nearby blood vessels. The worms are...

Dog Treat Ingredients To Avoid - Todd Jones
There are many websites on the Internet that provide access to dog treat recipes. Many of these recipes are excellent resources for providing your dogs with healthy treats that are affordable and nutritious. As with any information that you find...

Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten - Gerald Njuguna
You spoil your pooch as close to rotten as you can get, don't you? Hey, who doesn't? It's almost impossible not to, with those adorable, big, beautiful eyes, the little lashes, and the soft fur just behind the ears they almost beg to be spoiled. But...