Watch this video to learn about how dogs can become guide dogs.
Video Transcript
Narrator: She's here to find out if she has what it takes to make it as one of the most sought-after dogs in the country.
Is she fit, healthy, intelligent, and above all the right character to be a guide dog for the blind?
The first test is to see how she'll respond to an unfamiliar, slightly scary sound. She should react, but not panic.
Man: Very good. She sat through that so intently. Ready?
Narrator: The most crucial trait is loyalty, looking to her owner at all times and in all situations.
Man: Puppy! Puppy! Come on! There we are. That's really good.
Narrator: And it seems like she's got what it takes.
Man: She's ever so like...
Narrator: You might wonder if your dog could qualify to be a guide dog. You can get an idea by observing them.
Research has shown that dogs are left or right-pawed.
Man: Are you left-footed, Max? Hey? Is you a left-footer? No?
Narrator: You can test this by watching closely to see which paw they step off with.
Man: I think that was a right foot starter.
Woman: Yeah. Yeah, she's left-footed, isn't she? You're left-handed.
Man: Okay, let's go.
I think we've proven there in that unbiased test that it was his right foot that came forward.
Narrator: Preliminary research has shown that right-pawed dogs are statistically more likely to pass their guide dog test.
Man: You'd get them run over with a bus, you would, wouldn't you?
Narrator: There's another clue to the chances of them passing in the swirls of hair on your dog, and it all depends which way they turn.
Woman: Clockwise.
Man: Anti-clockwise.
Narrator: If your dog is right-pawed and the swirl goes anti-clockwise, then your dog is more likely to be calm, confident, and self-assured.
Exactly the traits that a guide dog needs.
Man: How are you?
If you were a guide dog, you could be a blind dog for the guides.
Narrator: And if your dog is left-pawed, be prepared for some creative solutions to your problems.