Our Program
Our program matches trained guide dogs with visually impaired individuals at no charge to the recipient.
Our 10-acre grounds accommodate the training facility and an onsite home for the Training Director. We also have a dedicated puppy kennel wing. A grassy training field and landscaped walking path provide safe spaces for exercise and early puppy training.
Once ready, the dogs are matched with blind students to begin a life with a new best friend and greater independence. Our program offers customized placement options based on each student’s needs and routines. An experienced instructor accompanies the student on training walks as they become acquainted with their new traveling partner.
Two outings per day and obedience workouts several times each week help students and dogs form the bond of a working team. Evening lectures provide a forum for questions and allow students to discuss the day’s training with the instructor.
As training progresses, a true team begins to form. The student becomes the dog’s new master, assuming daily care and grooming responsibilities, and gradually replacing the trainer as the dog’s primary companion. Their bond strengthens as they learn to master rural travel, busy downtown areas, and hectic shopping malls.
Training in a variety of environments prepares students for the many challenges they will face in everyday life. As the team’s ability and confidence grow, the instructor gradually reduces their involvement. Eventually, the team navigates independently, opening a world of opportunity!
Our Dogs
The Eye Dog Foundation trains German Shepherds, both male and female. The dogs come from a variety of sources. The Eye Dog Foundation’s breeding program, along with a network of generous German Shepherd breeders, provides the majority of the adult dogs and all of the puppies for the foster family program.
It is understood that breed preference may be part of what leads a person to apply to the Eye Dog Foundation. However, the decision to work with a German Shepherd should be made with careful consideration. The breed is best suited for someone who will give the dog plenty of purposeful work. German Shepherds thrive as part of a team and love having a job. Without enough stimulation, their behavior may become challenging.
Their lineage often includes working dogs, providing them with the instincts and energy necessary to be excellent guide dogs. They require consistent, structured work and a firm yet loving handler. German Shepherds are naturally fast-moving, quick-thinking, and full of mental energy. They are sensitive and perform best when treated with respect and handled with consistency and fairness. Clear standards for behavior and work are essential for their success as guide dogs.
Past Clients
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![An older man with a long white beard and wearing a light green t-shirt kneels on the ground next to a large brown and black German Shepherd dog lying down on dirt with trees and bushes in the background.]()
"You will recieve the best of the best!"
“Hello, Looking for a world class school? Want world class, individualized, personal, comprehensive training? Want a world class, highly trained German Shepherd Guide Dog? If so, You will find just that at The Eye Dog Foundation. You will receive the best of the best! Forever Grateful, Graduate with Hayden since April 2023”
-Rick C.
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![A man wearing sunglasses and a beige and brown shirt sitting on a brick ledge holding a black German Shepherd dog. There is a large leafy plant and a backpack behind him.]()
"Gave me the confidence to go where I had not gone before"
“Becoming part of the Eye Dog Foundation family was a life changing experience. Working side by side with the trainers helped give me the confidence to become a handler. I was placed with Brett and we immediately started forming a bond. Working with Brett and the trainers reinforced that bond even more. Brett opened many doors for me and gave me the confidence to go where I had not gone before. Brett became not only my guide but also my very best friend. When I was with Brett riding the bus, strolling through the mall or even taking a nice hike in the desert was never a problem. Due to Brett’s superior training from the Eye Dog Foundation it created freedom for me that I could never have imagined.”
-Gil Mowbray
FAQs
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The waitlist to receive a dog is typically one to two years, depending on how many approved applicants are ahead of you on the list.
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The placement process typically takes between 10 and 14 days depending on the recipient's previous guide dog handling experience and knowledge.
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While we train and place all of our guide dogs free of charge to the recipient, there are still some future costs to consider. Typically you can expect to spend around $300 a year on regular check-ups and updating vaccines. You can expect to spend around $500 a year in monthly flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Depending on the quality of food, you can expect to spend between $500 to $1,000 a year and additional supplements like fish oil, probiotics, and glucosamine will cost around $200 a year. A guide dog will also need monthly grooming, consisting of brushing, nail grinding and a bath, if this is not something you are able to do yourself, you can expect to spend around $100 per grooming visit. While our guide dogs are “free”, there are still additional costs to consider when caring for them. We encourage all applicants to consider whether or not guide dog ownership is a good fit for their budget.
Apply for a Guide Dog
If you are visually impaired and seeking greater independence, a guide dog may be the right partner for you. Our program carefully matches qualified applicants with professionally trained guide dogs to enhance mobility, safety, and confidence. To begin the process, please complete this form and we will reach out to provide you with a complete application.