The concept of dogs assisting the visually impaired has a rich and fascinating history, spanning centuries and cultures. While pinpointing who was the first guide dog with absolute certainty is impossible, historical records offer glimpses into the evolution of this invaluable partnership.
Early depictions of dogs assisting the blind can be traced back centuries. A wall painting discovered in Pompeii, dating back to 79 AD, depicts a blind man seemingly guided by his dog. This suggests a long-standing recognition of the potential for canine assistance.
Evidence continues throughout history, In the 13th century, around 1260 AD, an Irish reference attributed to Bartholomew mentions a dog guiding a blind man, indicating the practice was known in Europe during the medieval period. Examples can also be found further east. A Chinese scroll, dating back to 1200 AD and currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, portrays a blind individual being led by a dog. From 1500-1700 similar references appear with increasing frequency throughout the 16th Century in woodcuts, engravings and paintings throughout the world.
Literary and artistic representations further cement this history. A ballad from 1715, “The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green”, tells the story of a knight who lost his sight in battle and received a dog and bell from his friends to assist him. Later in 1727, Gainsborough captured the scene of a dog guiding its master in his painting “Blind Man on the Bridge”. Then William Bigg depicted “The Blind Sailor” being carefully led across a bridge by his canine helper in 1755. This portrayal was also echoed in Thomas Bewick’s engravings for his book “A General History of Quadrupeds” (1790), illustrating a blind man guided across a bridge by his loyal dog.
While these examples showcase the historical awareness of dogs assisting the blind, the development of systematic training methods is a more recent phenomenon.
In 1819, Dr. Johann Wilhelm Klein in Vienna published the earliest surviving description of a systematic method for training guide dogs. As Director of the Institute for the Education of the Blind in Vienna, Klein detailed a method using a stick attached to the dog’s collar, held in the left hand. This stick featured a crossbar, potentially providing information about the dog’s sideways movements. Notably, Klein’s method eliminated the leash and walking stick, a significant step forward. Unfortunately, this early concept of a primitive harness wasn’t further developed for nearly a century. In 1847, Jacob Birrer, a blind Swiss man, published a book advocating the use of trained dogs as guides, but his approach reverted to leads and walking sticks, hindering further progress.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw renewed interest in guide dogs, particularly spurred by the needs of blinded veterans. In 1899, a drawing from “The Graphic” shows how dogs trained by the German Red Cross Ambulance Dogs Association were used to help the wounded on the battlefield. The Director, Dr. Gerhard Stalling, used these same dogs in early attempts to guide blinded veterans. This marked the beginning of using larger breeds, primarily Collies, as guides.
World War I brought the plight of blinded veterans to the forefront. The German Red Cross Ambulance Dogs Association established a training center in Oldenberg. In 1916, Paul Feyen, a blinded veteran, received the first guide dog issued by this program. By 1919, the program had provided 539 guide dogs.
The German Shepherd Dog Association opened a training school in Potsdam in 1923, formalizing training methods that are still common today. These methods include careful dog selection, matching dogs with individuals, and providing in-home follow-up. By the 1930s, there were approximately 4,000 qualified guide dogs in Germany.
The work in Germany significantly influenced guide dog training internationally. In 1927, George and Dorothy Eustis visited the Potsdam School. Dorothy Eustis, deeply impressed, wrote an account published in an American newspaper in November 1927. Morris Frank, a blind American, responded to the article, inspiring Dorothy Eustis and Jack Humphrey to prepare a guide dog for him. In 1928, Frank trained with “Buddy” in Switzerland and returned to New York. In 1929, Eustis established The Seeing Eye School in Morristown, New Jersey.
Guide dog training continued to expand globally. In 1931, Eustis trained and supplied dogs to Italy, France, and Switzerland. She also qualified Guide Dog Instructors, some of whom went on to establish guide dog programs in other countries. Quarantine regulations in Britain spurred the search for suitable breeds to train, leading to the prominent use of Labradors. Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA) was established in 1934, and Leamington Spa opened as the first UK guide dog Training Centre in 1940.
While it’s difficult to definitively state who was the first guide dog, Paul Feyen’s story highlights the formalization of guide dog training. The journey from early depictions to systematic training programs demonstrates the profound impact of these canine companions on the lives of the visually impaired. The legacy of those early pioneers continues to inspire and improve the lives of people around the world.
