Visual Support Service Dogs

Our Visual Impairment Support Service Dogs are meant for those clients who are too high functioning for a guide dog program. These dogs are by no means a full guide dog. They perform basic tasks to help high functioning handlers navigate their day to day world. Some of our handlers have partial blindness or depth perception issues. They are considered legally blind, but have too much sight for the  standard guide dog companies to assist them in their search for a Service Dog. That's where we step in! Our typical task list for these clients looks like:

• Obstacle Avoidance
• Stopping at Crosswalk pads and waiting for direction from the handler
• Right and Left turn assistance
• Stopping at curbs and other obstacles and awaiting direction
• Stopping at stairs or ramps to alert handler to a change in terrain. 
• Crowd Navigation in any environment
• Opening Handicap Doors

These dogs go home with all three AKC titles that our other dogs have, but we train them closer to 18 months. Training for our other dogs is typically about 12 - 14 months. Visual Impairment Support Service Dogs are more attune to any environment that we put them in and they have to be able to perform for their handler to the highest standard. 

We began this program specifically because many clients who have reached out to us have been rejected from Guide Dog companies. It makes perfect sense that a guide dog company would have to  choose cases carefully to ensure that they set the client up for success. In their process the  highest functioning, but still legally blind clients are left to fend for themselves. It is a fall out of how the current system is set up and we are here to fill that gap. 

The other thing that sets us apart is the ability to combine basic visual impairment work with other needs. Most often this will lead to a multi-purpose dog that does visual impairment work and psychiatric work as well. We are proud to offer these dogs to our clients and to be able to fill this need in the disability community. 

The benefits to our clients are astounding. Finding these dogs and getting the correct temperament is no small task so we do not offer out Visual Impairment dogs lightly. These dogs are carefully picked, evaluated and raised by our expert team. Since we require so much more out of these specific dogs we also do not find and place a ton of them each year. You can expect an intense level of attention to detail and impeccable work going into these pups. We understand that even if our clients are high functioning they are still legally blind and need the dogs to be their eyes. In any environment that is a heavy and very serious job for a dog to do. 

• Our number one benefit of a Visual Impairment Dog is independence. Our handlers are able to get out and about with out the help of family members and allows them to take back their independence. 
• Our handlers see an upward trend in their ability to get active which is a domino effect for all areas of their health. When they are more active they help with depression and anxiety related disorders and they improve their cardiovascular health.
• There are also social implications for our handlers that we love. Many handlers, before getting a dog, are shut in to their homes because of lack of independence. When they get their dog they can get out and about and be part of the community that they live in. It helps give them their lives back in spite of their disability.