Guide Dog Resources for Professionals
The tools and information you need to better serve your clients.
Whether you’re assessing a client’s readiness for a guide dog, preparing to make a referral, or simply looking for more information, we’re here to support you every step of the way. You’ll find helpful resources and practical tools below, along with direct access to our experienced training team.
Get to Know Dogs Inc
Tuesday, December 1, at 6:00 p.m. ET
For over 40 years, Dogs Inc – formerly known as Dogs Inc – has been training and providing guide dogs for people with vision loss at no cost to recipients.
Hear directly from our Admissions team about our life-changing guide dogs, matching process, and comprehensive alumni support.
This webinar is intended for individuals who have vision loss or a visual impairment, their family members and friends, and blindness professionals to learn about the programs and follow-up support we offer.
During the webinar, you will learn about:
- Our guide dog program for teens, adults, and veterans.
- Our skilled companion dog program for youth ages 5-17.
- How to apply for a guide dog and what to expect during the process.
- Our comprehensive alumni support, including follow-up training sessions and routine veterinary care.
Get to Know Dogs Inc will be held via Zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to registered attendees.
Recommend a Client
Know someone who may be ready for a guide dog? We’d love to connect!
Our quick referral form makes it easy for you to introduce your clients to Dogs Inc and help them explore the next steps toward a life-changing partnership.
A printable version of the referral form will be available to download here soon.
Is a Guide Dog Right for Your Client/Student?
A guide dog can open the door to greater independence and a world of possibilities. But a successful partnership begins with a strong foundation.
This quick checklist is designed to help you determine whether your client has the essential skills and travel experience to take the next step toward working with a guide dog.
A guide dog might be right for your client/student if they:
- Have completed Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training.
- Travel independently using a white cane.
- Use environmental cues, such as sound and other sensory information, to stay oriented and make independent travel decisions without relying solely on tactile feedback from a white cane.
- Have established routes they navigate on their own with confidence.
- Have the stamina to walk approximately 6–8 blocks in one stretch, at least twice a day.
- Are physically capable of handling and providing daily care for a well-matched guide dog.
This checklist is a starting point for conversations about guide dog readiness and is not a formal eligibility assessment.
Working with a teen? Students ages 15–17 may be ready for a guide dog through our Youth Guide Dog Program.
A Guide Dog or A White Cane: Understanding the Differences
While a white cane helps travelers detect obstacles and gather information about their surroundings, a guide dog navigates around obstacles and assists with travel through complex environments.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing the right mobility tool, but we’ve put together a short breakdown you can use when discussing the benefits and responsibilities of each option with your clients.
Click here to download the Guide Dog vs. White Cane comparison (Word document)
Why Choose Dogs Inc?
Decades of Experience. Individualized Training. Ongoing Support.
For more than 40 years, Dogs Inc has been raising and training guide dogs to help people with visual impairments live with greater independence. That experience, combined with our commitment to personalized training and continuous support, helps us build successful partnerships between people and dogs.
Experienced Instructors
Our certified Guide Dog Mobility Instructors bring extensive experience and a deep understanding of the unique needs of each client. Most of our instructors have worked on our training team for at least 10 years, matching hundreds of people with vision loss with their life-changing guide dog.
Accredited Training
Dogs Inc is dually accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) and Assistance Dogs International (ADI), reflecting our commitment to high standards in guide dog training and care as well as continuing education for team members.
Ongoing Training and Alumni Support
Our guide dogs, personalized instruction, and ongoing alumni support are provided at no cost to our clients. Plus, our commitment doesn’t end at graduation. We provide follow-up training, including refresher sessions to help guide dog teams maintain and strengthen their skills throughout their partnership.
Training Tailored to the Individual
We’ve worked with people of different ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles, from busy urban environments to quieter rural communities. We recognize that every person’s travel needs and goals are different, and we tailor our instruction accordingly.
A Record of Delivering Results
Our student satisfaction rate upon leaving their three-week class experience is 99.8%
We're Here to Help.
Whether you’re exploring guide dog readiness with a client or have questions about our training program, we’re happy to help.
Click here to send an email to our Senior Director of Training.
Prefer to talk by phone? Call our main line at 941-729-5665.
Watch Our Guide Dogs in Action
Take a closer look at how our guide dogs are trained to navigate everyday environments, respond to challenges, and work alongside their handlers.
