What happens when a Guide Dog retires?

Well folks, I'm a little bit sad just now. My cousin Keegan has had to retire from being a Guide Dog. Guide Dogs retire for many different reasons, but the deciding factor is 'when they can no longer do the job effectively'. So, for example, if we can't keep up with our person any more, develop problems with our sight or hearing or become generally unwell. Sometimes a traumatic experience can end a Guide Dog's working life.

Keegan was the victim of a vicious dog attack - where the owner told his dog to attack whilst Keegan was walking his Person home from the station one night - a couple years ago. Poor Keegan hasn't been the same dog since, and now he can't work any more. His Person and the instructors from Guide Dogs Victoria have been trying to help him get over his fears, but it hasn't worked. He's afraid of dogs and doesn't want to go anywhere wearing his harness, because bad things happened whilst he was wearing it. So, he's being retired as a Guide Dog. This picture shows him with his Person in happier times.

So, what happens when a Guide Dog retires?

For the Person, it's a case of training with a new Guide Dog - usually they will be placed on the waiting list and matched with their new dog before the current one officially retires, but sometimes this isn't possible and the current dog retires before there is a new one ready to train with the handler. Then they must use a long white cane to get around (which is a lot harder and involves running into everything instead of going around it). For the dog, though, there are three options:

Option 1: The handler keeps the old dog as a pet
This is the option most handlers would prefer. We Guide Dogs develop a very strong bond with our handlers. They take care of us and we take care of them. So, where possible, our handlers keep us as a pet after we retire - we stay at home instead of going out all the time, getting plenty of love and attention when our handler is home. This option often works best if there is someone else in the house to give us extra love. Our handler is working on developing a bond with a new Guide Dog, and it can be hard on us when we retire to see our Person go out and take another dog instead of us. That doesn't mean it can't be done, just that we can feel better if there's extra people to give us love. There are several reasons why it might not be best or possible for the retired Guide Dog to stay with their Person. For example, if the Person's home is too small for two big dogs or is often away from home for long periods of time. Also, if seeing their Person go out with another dog becomes too stressful for the retired one. If this is the case, then the nest option is preferable.

Option 2: The retired Guide Dog goes to live with a friend of the handler
This means that someone the Person knows will provide a home and love and attention for the retired Guide Dog. This is the next best option, because we still get to see our Person fairly often, they hear all about how we are doing and know we are being loved and cared for. In some cases, though, this isn't possible either. Perhaps our Person doesn't know anyone who has a safe yard, time to be with us or space for a large dog. It's rare, but it can happen. In these cases, option 3 comes into play.

Option 3: The dog is placed in a new home by the Guide Dog association
If all else fails, the Guide Dog association which placed the Guide Dog in the first place will assist in finding a home for us to retire into. Most have long lists of people who want puppies who are reclassified (don't quite make the grade as a Guide Dog). They also have lists of people who are prepared to house dogs on a temporary or permanent basis. Sometimes retiring Guide Dogs go back to their puppy-raising family. And yes, we do remember them, even years later!

-----------
So, what of Keegan? Well, his Person has become friends with his puppy raisers and they have arranged to take him back. He will be living in Adelaide, a long way from us, but he will be happy and safe and we will be kept updated on how he's doing. He's only 5, so there's a lot of life for him to enjoy still!



The MummyBear says she would have liked to be able to take him here, where I live, but with so many big dogs already, it would be too much for her. Besides, I'm grooming her to take extra care of me when, years and years from now, I decide that I need to retire. Then she can give me more treats!

-----------
Well, hope that helped explain what happens when a Guide Dog retires. It really does depend on the dog and the situation the Person is in when the Guide Dog retires, but I've tried to give you a basic rundown on the options!

More questions? Feel free to comment!