Training Schedule

On your first day at Guiding Eyes you’ll meet your fellow students and some key Guiding Eyes staff members. Instructors will assist you in getting acclimated to your accommodations, and you’ll be oriented in the technology available to you during training.

Training begins at a low-keyed pace at the Training Center and along the adjacent quiet country roads.

You will be introduced to your Guiding Eyes dog in the privacy of your room. Your first goal will be to learn to communicate and bond with it and entrust it with your safety.

As you begin to master your skills and become comfortable with your dog, instructors take you to progressively busier areas with increasing challenges, such as stores, elevators, and escalators.

Most of your training time is spent in outdoor environments, working with your guide dog and your Instructor.

An important component of Guiding Eyes training are workshops on such topics as grooming your dog, veterinary care, feeding and caring, and your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state statutes.

During your final week of training you will experience the thrill of navigating New York City streets, and travel by bus, subway, and train.

Finally, you’ll also have your photograph taken with your Guiding Eyes dog, and graduate with your classmates in Guiding Eyes’ signature graduation ceremonies. This is our opportunity to honor you and the volunteer puppy raisers that gave your dog its earliest training.