Development of play behavior between potential guide dogs for the blind and human raisers

This study shows longitudinal development of human-dog interactions in a gu ide dog raising program. Social play interactions between potential guide d ogs for the blind (puppies) and their adult female raisers (PWs) were video taped at home during the period from two months to ii or 12 months of the p uppies' age. The puppies and PWs established close proximity relationships by two to three months of age. The older the puppies became, the shorter ti me the puppies and PWs spent in intensive fighting and chasing play. The ol der the puppies became, the longer the puppies and PWs spent in waiting, se eking and possessing together play which needed the puppies' self-control, concentration and ability to cooperate with the PWs. Whether or not these b ehavioral tendencies which the puppies showed were appropriate for guide do g candidates is also discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights r eserved.