The Science Behind the Seeing Eye Dog

Abstract

A woman stands at an intersection, holding a leather harness in her left hand. She sweeps the air with her right hand and calls out, "Forward." Attached to the harness is a dog, who snaps to attention and guides the woman confidently across the street. Such a simple command, and a seemingly simple partnership: the pairing of Seeing Eye dog and handler. But that "simple" partnership is the culmination of decades of research, millions of dollars invested, and an immeasurable accumulation of curiosity, inquisitiveness, and analystical vision. From the moment The Seeing Eye came to exist, more than 75 years ago, its leaders have been innovative, breaking new ground. They sought to take advanatage of all that science has to offer. All this for one goal: the empowerment of people who are blind. The Seeing Eye has built a reputation as a pioneering organization, in every sense of the word. The word "pioneer" defines those who set a course or originate a new way of thinking. Such original thinking did not end with those few who founded The Seeing Eye. In 2004, the people behind The Seeing Eye continued to marvel at the opportunities and the challenges still ahead. They are, indeed, as true to The Seeing Eye's pioneering spirit as it founders Dorothy Harrison Eustis and Morris Frank, and Jack Humphrey, the genius of canine training, whose methods are still in use today.