Guide dogs undergo rigorous training from a young age, and surprisingly, even their bathroom habits are carefully managed. A key aspect of this training involves teaching them to relieve themselves on command. This ensures that guide dog owners can maintain control over their dog’s elimination, promoting cleanliness and hygiene in public spaces.
Puppy walkers play a crucial role in this process, beginning as early as 8 weeks old. The goal is to have the puppy consistently responding to commands like “BUSY” (for urination) and “BUSY BUSY” or “BIG BUSY” (for defecation) by around 14 weeks.
The training starts at home, typically in a designated fenced-off area of the garden. The puppy is taken to this spot, and as it begins to urinate or defecate, the command is given. Immediately following the act, the puppy is showered with enthusiastic praise and cuddles. This positive reinforcement helps the puppy associate the command with the desired action and the resulting reward. The excitement shown by the walker is key; the puppy learns that they have done something terrific in the walker’s eyes and wants to repeat the behavior.
This process is repeated frequently throughout the day, reinforcing the connection between the command, the action, and the positive reinforcement. The puppy quickly learns to respond to the command and anticipates the praise that follows.
When the guide dog is out and about for extended periods, the same principle applies. Upon giving the command in a suitable location, the dog is rewarded with abundant praise and positive reinforcement.
The more effort a puppy walker invests at the outset, the faster the puppy learns and the fewer accidents occur indoors. Puppies often exhibit signals indicating their need to relieve themselves, and handlers learn to recognize these cues. They also understand the dog’s routine, allowing them to anticipate when the dog needs to go. This helps in ensuring the dog waits until it is in a suitable and safe place.
An excellent example is a five-year-old former guide dog puppy, now a pet, who understands the routine perfectly. She knows that after performing her “busy” and “big busy” in her designated area at home, she gets to go to the park, beach, or woods. Consequently, she never defecates during walks because she has already done so beforehand.
Even when out for extended periods, the dog will not simply relieve itself anywhere. Instead, it will signal its need to go, and the handler will find an appropriate and safe location before issuing the “big busy” command.
This training methodology bears a resemblance to Pavlov’s famous experiments with dogs, where a conditioned response is established through repeated association.
Therefore, a guide dog owner familiar with their dog’s routine would ideally have the dog relieve itself at home before venturing out. However, if that isn’t possible, the dog will not simply go on the sidewalk. It will wait for the command, ensuring the guide dog owner is in control and prepared with a waste bag. This ensures responsible pet ownership and maintains the cleanliness of public spaces.
