micksmom
Posted : 4/15/2008 10:29:51 PM
Well, The Seeing Eye isn't very far from me, so I've seen lots of Guide Dog puppies over the years (know a few people who raise them, too). I've seen Labrador and Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds and Boxers. Someone I know raised a Flatcoat Retriever for them, too, but it wasn't accepted for training. About 13 or so years ago, The Seeing Eye was breeding Lab/Golden mixes for guide dogs, too. I don't think they're doing that anymore, tho. I also know of a Norwegian Elkhound who was trained as a seizure alert dog for a little girl in Canada. On TV, I've seen all kinds and sizes of mixes, trained as service dogs (hearing, seizure alert, etc), and a Great Dane that was trained to work with a Parkinson's patient.