Why Puppies Bred And Trained To Be Seeing Eye Dogs Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Guide dogs from The Seeing Eye are specially bred, trained, and matched with people with blindness and low vision all over the US and Canada. These dogs are essential to the people that they guide. It costs about $75,000 to prepare each Seeing Eye dog for its career, and only 60% of dogs make it all the way through the training program. So what makes a successful Seeing Eye dog, and why are they so expensive? This video is audio described.

MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS:
Why This Obsolete Mechanism Makes Watches More Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
Why Pedal Harps Cost As Much As A Car To Buy And Maintain | So Expensive | Business Insider
What Happens To Mount Everest's Over 110,000 Pounds Of Waste? | Inside Everest | Business Insider

0:00 - Intro
1:10 - Intelligent Disobedience
3:02 - Breeding Station
3:50 - Genetics
5:04 - Early Training
6:30 - Donations
7:16 - Puppy Outing
10:39 - Blindfold Walk
11:56 - Matching
13:57 - Credits

------------------------------------------------------
#Blindness #SoExpensive #BusinessInsider

Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more.

Why Puppies Bred And Trained To Be Seeing Eye Dogs Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[briannaism]

I live in NZ and my husband is lucky to have a guide dog. It has made a huge difference to his independence. Thanks to everyone who raises a pup or trains lease dogs.

[KP-nxlo]

These animals are a vital part of life for millions, unfortunately health insurance companies won’t pay for any service animals. So many don’t get the assistance they need. Mad respect to these trainers

[AquaMoonMaiden]

This is why I get annoyed by people calling their pets emotional support and acting like they have guide animal rights. I have nothing against emotional support pets, but guide dogs are trained to both help their humans and behave in public, and they have specific legal protections taking that into account. People buying cheap vests and acting like their untrained pets are the same thing is not only insulting to genuine guide dogs, but causes problems to both guide dogs/medical dogs and those who need them.
Emotional support pets should require at least “behave in public” training to be entitled to vests and exemptions to ‘no pet’ rules. It’s much cheaper than pure guide dog training and if people need their pets with them that badly they can jump through a hoop or two to make sure they aren’t causing unnecessary problems for others.

[cymbidium]

My daughters both had a first grade teacher who trained dogs for the blind. Every year she had a new dog to train and the dogs always made it in the yearbook. The kids would practice reading to the dog as a prize for good behavior.

[heliusfengari]

"Intelligent disobedience" is such a great phrase and I'm amazed we can train dogs to do that! I wonder if the dogs really understand that the rail tracks are dangerous or it is just that they are trained to avoid it without understanding the gravity of the situation...

[TTOS]

What I noticed when they're training the pups is they try not to make a ton of eye contact, bc in their new rest of their life, they won't get that pleasure. Very smart pups! Amazing we can help steer them this far to be this helpful!

[Musicallison]

My childhood dog was in the breeding program for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. He was an extremely patient, intelligent, and lovable dog that helped make my childhood less lonely. This video made me think about how much he had to adapt to our family. He really was the best boy and I think about him all the time.

[Banyo__]

Just a reminder to not pet a guide dog when she or he is working. A lot of people get upset over that and even confrontational, but this is a dog working to help someone do their daily activities. If you are unsure, always ask and then respect the answer given to you.

[aff]

"Can't you read the sign? Keep off the grass!" 😂 😂 😂 😂

[alhypo]

I'm a 42-year-old man and watching this made me cry. The trainers, scientists, and volunteers working with these dogs are amazing people.

[thewallsarebreathing]

My dad worked at Guide Dogs Of America in the early 2010s and i was around 5-7 and he would take us to work with him sometimes and they would have these AMAZING doggy graduations where there were obstacles like bubbles, a couple of people walking on the path, and food scattered around (they were still puppies), but all guided by the visually impaired. Such an amazing memory

[singlesightart]

I’m on my 3rd Seeing Eye dog from The Seeing Eye, a female German Shepherd. I got my first in 2004, and they are so wonderful and have accompanied me through college, a solo move across the country for work, my marriage, and my career with the government. Wouldn’t have it any other way.

[Queltamas]

Reminds me of police dogs who failed for being too friendly.

[Twiddle_things]

They aren't just good boys, they're excellent boys ❤

[lindahamilton]

When I worked at The Seeing Eye, the fee for the visually impaired client was $150.00. Granted, that was in the early 80s, but nevertheless, the cost of producing a guide dog is never absorbed by the client needing the dog.

[scramblerbricks]

The people who need these companions are going to love watching this video

[willcookmakeup]

These animals are amazing. One of my friends who has a guide dog showed me how well trained they are and how she won't let her go into the street or anywhere dangerous. It was just incredible to watch

[Militantaoist]

Mad respect to the trainers and all of these incredible animals that perhaps cant fathom the impact they have on individual lives, even the ones who don't make it to be a seeing eye dog. They are all invaluable.

[Numberlaing]

I lived in Morristown for many years and saw these wonderful dogs being trained on a daily basis. The work that Seeing Eye does is incredible and these dogs are amazing.

[zanezelca]

We were host family for puppy @VuDouDog, he failed tests and now is our pet😊❤