Phase 8: Final Testing, Finishing, and Pre-Matching

Notable Accomplishments – Final Testing 
All final guidework testing is done with the instructor under blindfold, and includes the following: 
 

• Final Obedience Test: The instructor conducts a series of obedience exercises with the dog, including an off-leash recall in an enclosed indoor setting.
• Final Blindfold Test: The instructor works the dog on a challenging urban street and sidewalk route for a duration of 40 to 50 minutes. The dog performs sits and downs in harness at any point on route.
• Final Building Test: The instructor works the dog through an indoor mall setting. Each dog is tested on their overall caution and work on escalators, elevators, stairs, and focus past food court areas.
• Final Traffic Test: The instructor works the dog on a guidework route and encounters several staged (choreographed) traffic checks that require the dog to demonstrate all types of traffic avoidance responses. The instructor is spotted by a teammate, but is not cued to the traffic situations in order to simulate real life scenarios.

Dogs that pass these tests are considered “class ready.” These dogs are fully qualified as guide dogs and are ready to be matched with a client.

“Finishing” Routes
Dogs work on relaxing residential or country routes, sidewalkless areas, and less difficult/more straightforward routes for confidence building before class. Obedience responses are maintained and practiced in a variety of areas with a variety of handlers.

Practice with Less Experienced Handlers
With either supervisory and/or instructor oversight, unfamiliar (and often novice) handlers work dogs that are (or nearly) at class ready status. Novice handlers could include clients in our Orientation and Mobility Immersion Program, participants in a Guide Dog Lifestyle workshop, apprentice guide dog mobility instructors for continued practice, etc. This serves two purposes: 

1. It gives any novice handlers an opportunity to experience what it feels like to walk with a guide dog.
2. It gives GDB Training staff a chance to assess the dog's abilities to successfully and reliably transfer to a new handler, both from a work performance and manageability perspective.

Specialized Training
All dogs are introduced to hand and chair targeting. Instructors introduce pole targeting (for crosswalk buttons) on a few different routes.

If needed, select dogs may do custom work for identified clients (slower or faster pace, compromised balance - client who travels with a support cane, toed-out gait, etc.)

Pre-Class Physicals 
All class ready dogs receive pre-class veterinary exams, which includes a height measurement at the withers (ground to shoulders).

Final Class Preparations
Instructors fit all dogs with new class collars, booties, head collars, and harnesses. Pre-matches are done based on information gathered from home interview and pre-class phone call meetings with clients.

Socialization
All specialized programs are complete for class ready dogs. Canine welfare training technicians (CWTTs) focus primarily on relaxing walks, kennel enrichment, and play sessions for the dogs.