[WEEKENDER] How guide dogs and humans become partners

Completing professional training does not automatically make a guide dog suitable for a visually impaired person to accompany. Before the dog can be matched with a suitable partner, it must first learn to live and walk together with its human companion. This process is best understood by Yoo Seok-jong, a guide dog instructor at the Samsung Guide Dog School in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, who has been visually impaired himself.

Drawing upon his own experience, Yoo assists visually impaired individuals in finding a guide dog that fits their particular needs and lifestyle.

During an interview on November 2 at the school, Yoo was accompanied by Gori, a friendly 5-year-old demonstration dog. Gori commonly introduces visitors to guide dogs and walks with visually impaired individuals during trial periods. Yoo explained that matching a guide dog with a prospective partner is crucially dependent on the balance between the person's walking speed and the dog's natural pace.

Forcing either one to adjust can prove challenging. Equally important to consider is the dog's temperament, which must harmonize with the human's personality.