Training a guide dog involves special knowledge of orientation and mobility aspects specific to guide dogs and guide dog teams. Trainers walk, on average, 600 km at full concentration whilst training each guide dog. One guide dog is typically a 2 year project involving puppy raisers, trainers and guide dog mobility specialists (GDMS).
In general, an assistance dog helps a specific person with physical, mental or emotional problems to improve their independence and health as well as to explore all kinds of possibilities that seemed hard to impossible to achieve before.
Independence Dogs Austria is a non-profit organization and a member of IGDF. It is based in Austria. A strong focus is on the continuing education of human-dog teams and supporting the teams throughout the life span of the service dog.