Visual Impairment Support Service Dogs

Our Visual Impairment Support Service Dogs are meant for those clients that are too high functioning for a guide dog program. These are by no mean's a full guide dog but preform 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 clients but have too much sight still for the normal guide dog companies to assist them in their search for a Service Dog. That's where we step in! Our normal 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 go with but we do train them closer to 18 months in program where as our other dogs are all around 12 - 14 months in program. They have to be higher attune to any environment that we throw them in and they have to be able to preform for their handler to the highest standard. 

See a Need, Fill a Need

We began this program specifically because of the flow of clients that reach out to us that have been rejected from Guide Dog companies. It makes perfect sense that a guide dog company would have to take the cases they do and pick them carefully to set the client up for success. In this process the most high functioning but still legally blind clients get left to fend for themselves. It is just 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 a part 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 really proud to offer these dogs to our clients and fill this need in the disability community. 

Benefits of a Visual Impairment Support Dog

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. 

If you have questions or need help navigating this process with Errorless Service Dogs please reach out to Dawn at 970-433-5737 or email errorlessservicedogs@gmail.com