The Test
At the end of the six to nine month training period, a guide dog expert from the invalid insurance scheme examines all our dogs. During this test, the trainer, wearing blackened glasses and
guided by the dog, walks for about one hour along a route chosen by the expert.
The expert observes the way the dog works: does it stop correctly when leaving or mounting a curb; indicate
pedestrian crossings the right way; cross the road in a straight line; navigate around all obstacles at the proper distance; notice every obstacle level with the trainer’s head and obey
the spoken commands correctly, or does it allow itself to be distracted by outsiders? After a successful test, the dog is then ready to be introduced to the local environment of a visually
impaired person.
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What happens to a dog that is not suitable for training?
Dogs which prove unsuitable for training are passed on, free of charge, to families as pets. All such dogs remain the property of our school - and each family must bind itself contractually to
keep the dog according to our guidelines.
If you are interested in a family pet from our school, please contact the school’s secretariat for further information:
tel. + 41 61 487
95 95.
Dogs which are suitable for training as social dogs are entrusted to families which are prepared to undertake this training and then to carry out assignments suitable for a social
dog.
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The profession of trainer
The work of a trainer comprises looking after and training the dogs entrusted to his or her care (generally three dogs at any one time), introducing the qualified guide dogs to their visually
impaired partners and following up the working units as well as, quite generally, helping within the school.
Training a guide dog demands good powers of observation and great understanding
for the way dogs behave. In addition, many kilometres are walked each day, in all weathers and generally within an urban environment.
An important element lies in teaching a visually
impaired person to handle the guide dog. This introduction lasts 3 weeks and takes place in and around the home of the visually impaired person. Thereafter, the trainer is responsible for
advising and supporting the visually impaired person until the end of the dog’s life. This demands teaching skills and an ability to get on well with people.
Further professional
responsibilities comprise active involvement in training events for would-be and actual guide dog users, as well as taking part in PR activities.
Requirements
- Excellent health and a robust physical constitution
- Great love of animals and understanding for the ways of animals
- Openness and an outgoing personality, team-spirit and independence
- Enthusiasm and staying power, sense of responsibility
- Languages: German and French
- Good mental health and perseverance
- Good school education and general knowledge, good social skills
- A completed apprenticeship (or similar) and a few years’ practical experience
- Age: 22 to 35 years
- Driving licence (vehicle category B)
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Duration of the training: 3 years
Diploma: the school’s own diploma. There is no federal or international recognition of the profession.
Location: Foundation Swiss School for Guide Dogs for
the Blind, Allschwil. For practical reasons it is essential for the candidate to live near the school.
As a basic principle, we only train a candidate if we are then able to offer him or
her employment in our school. Opportunities to apply our training elsewhere are very limited.
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