Dog Guide Training Programs

In addition to training Dog Guides for people who are blind or visually impaired, the Lions Foundation also trains Dog Guides to meet the needs of Canadians with hearing and other medically and physically limiting disabilities. All programs are offered at no charge to the client, but future care and maintenance become the responsibility of the Dog Guide recipient.

Our three Dog Guide programs are quite specific to the needs of our three main client categories:

• Canine Vision Canada Dog Guides for Canadians who are blind or visually impaired.
• Special Skills Dogs of Canada for Canadians with a physical or medical disability.
• Hearing Ear Dogs of Canada for Canadians who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Training programs are both generic, to meet the general needs of clients, but are also specific to the needs of the individual client to whom the Dog Guide is assigned. In the final stage of training the client and Dog Guide train together and live together at the Oakville training facility for up to 26 days to ensure bonding and a team approach to work and on-going care.