Re: Is it cruel to train and use guide dogs
Originally Posted by
Meg
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Dogs love to please and receive praise
it is the pinnacle of existence for many.
As long as dogs are trained using positive reinforcement methods PR (and never punishment, teach required behaviour and reward) training is not cruel and I understand guide Dogs are trained using PR methods these days.
'Using' a Guide Dog is not cruel , a dog with a purpose and treated with kindness and understanding should be a happy and fulfilled dog unlike those dogs who spend a lot of time alone with their minds under used.
I agree with you Meg.
The ones I have met have always appeared calm and at ease, gentle, happy, and loving dogs.
Having said that, last summer when I was in Marks & Spencers food place, a young, in-training GSD was full of beans, and was trying to nick bags of sweets off the lower shelves!
I spoke to both the lady, and the dog, and both were lovely. Even though that dog was beautiful, he was so cheeky and I did wonder if he ever made the grade or not.
I know of two Assistance Dogs near me, both Labs, and when those dogs got old, the people were allowed to keep them even though they'd been issued with younger models by then.
I was pleased about that, because I wouldn't have been happy if those old dogs had been taken away after spending years with that person.
One of the ladies told me if the guide dog people want to breed with a dog though, that the 'owner' has to let it go back to them for mating and whelping.