These Guide Dogs-in-Training Melted My Heart (But I DID NOT Pet Them!)

This pup lives with volunteer puppy raisers, whose job includes taking it into a variety of places, so it becomes unfazed by different sounds, smells and sights.

For National Guide Dog Month, in September, the CNIB Foundation invited me to meet and photograph some of their guide dogs, alongside guide dog users, trainers and puppy raisers. The dogs were at various stages in their training, and a couple were still just adorable young pups, which made for some sweet moments.

We took photos at a demonstration event at Ren’s Pets, in Toronto’s East End, as well as on a busy street, where the dogs were learning how to stay calm and focus.

Guide dogs in training will spend time in all kinds of indoor and outdoor public spaces, so that they are calm, comfortable and able to work, even when there are a million distractions.

There are different rules of engagement with guide dogs, and I kept having to remind myself not to squish the puppies and scritch the older dogs’ butts and ears.

As well as reminding people of the fundamental rights of guide dog users to bring their dog to all places the public normally have access to, National Guide Dog Month was created to educate people about how to be Guide Dog Champions in their own communities – and that includes how best to behave around guide dogs.

As the CNIB shares on their website:

“Guide dogs are specially bred and trained to provide mobility assistance to people who are blind or partially sighted. They are a partner in independence, but there needs to be a better understanding about what to do when encountering a guide dog pair.”

Learning to be aware of the environment and alert to potential hazards is crucial in a guide dog’s training.

While this baby guide dog in training still has many skills to learn, it has already mastered the art of being cute.

Here are the golden rules to follow when we cross paths with a guide dog:

• Harness on means hands off.

  A guide dog in harness means “I’m working.” Petting can take the guide dog’s focus off its partner and the potential for injury increases. If the dog is not working the guide dog handler may decide to remove the harness and let you pet the guide dog. It’s a good idea to always ask first.

  Don't feed them.

  Tempting as it may be, if strangers start offering treats to working dogs, the dogs can begin displaying disruptive behaviours, such as begging and scavenging from the ground. Keep your kibble in your pocket!

  Contain your excitement.

  Guide dogs are trained to be calm, so that they can enter public places where other dogs are not permitted, without causing any disturbance. If we act in a way that gets them worked up, we’re making it harder for them to behave appropriately on the job.

  Say "hello" another time.

  If you’re with your dog and you encounter a guide dog pair, just keep walking and ensure your dog doesn’t stop to sniff, play or interact.

  There is time for play!

  Guide dogs don’t wear their harness at home, where they are not working, and get to be a "pet" dog. This is their time to play, run around and relax.

Assisting a guide dog user with safely getting onto and off public transit is a key task for these working dogs.

I hope you enjoyed these images from our photoshoot. You can learn more about CNIB Guide Dogs on their website, (including how to volunteer!).

Guide dog users have the right to bring their guide dogs into stores, cafes, movie theatres and any premises where the public are allowed to be.