Career Change Dogs
Dogs that are not suitable for Guide Dog work due to health, behaviour or age issues are dropped from training and are described as "career changed".Around 40% of all dogs that go through the program are career changed. Career changed dogs are often adopted as pets by their handlers or their puppy raisers. Many dogs also go on to have other careers such as search and rescue dogs, Dogs for Diabetics. Some career change dogs enter the Guide Dogs for the Blind program "K9 Buddy" or "Community Canines" programs.
K9 Buddies are dogs that are placed with visually impaired children as pets, giving the youngster not only companionship, but the opportunity of learning to care for a dog. This experience helps prepare them for the responsibilities involved with having a Guide Dog someday. "Community Canines" are dogs placed with blindness professionals and organizations and act as community ambassadors for the Guide Dogs programs.
Read more about this topic: Guide Dogs For The Blind
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