Upon returning to the United States with Buddy, Morris Frank set about educating people about what Buddy could do. This task was not always easy. German shepherds were commonly used as police dogs, and when they became pets to people who did not know how to handle them, the dogs' learned habit of aggressive behavior sometimes posed problems. As a result, the German shepherd dog had come to be regarded as dangerous.
Morris Frank's determined spirit kept the dream of establishing a dog guide training school alive as he waited for months while Dorothy Eustis and Jack Humphrey attempted to find a trainer whom they could send to Nashville. In the end, Jack Humphrey would come with a few dogs and three new trainers. The Seeing Eye was incorporated on January 29, 1929, and the first class began in February with two students.
Keeping things running smoothly was a struggle for Morris Frank and others involved with the affairs of the Seeing Eye during the first years of its existence. Finding potential trainees and assessing their fitness for training was a significant problem until the support of agencies such as the American Foundation for the Blind, Lions Clubs, and the Lighthouse in New York had been won. Other problems were the result of personality clashes or differences of opinion. However, the Seeing Eye survived and has provided over 10,000 dogs for blind people from the United States as well as other countries.
The establishment of the Seeing Eye marked the beginning of a new movement. Leader Dogs for the Blind (Rochester, MI) was founded in 1939; and Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA) was founded in 1942. Over ten dog guide training schools now operate in the United States. Some are still relatively new. Training methods are fairly similar with variations usually involving differences in commands (e.g. the Seeing Eye's usage of "rest" rather than "stay"). Most students travel to the school and reside there for two to four weeks while in training. However, several schools now offer home training to some students.
Dog Guides for the Blind, Inc. (1995). A brief History.
Leader Dogs for the Blind, Inc. The Leader Dog Story.
Putnam, Peter. (1997). Love in the lead: The miracle of the seeing eye dog. New York: University Press of America.
This document is copyright 2003 by Sarah J. Blake. For permission to reprint, please email Sarah at sarah@growingstrong.org.
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