Recent research shows that while Brits are confident they know what a guide dog is, many still have gaps in awareness about how these highly-trained dogs work and how they should interact with them.
Reading traffic lights, identifying bus routes and even navigating with a map are amongst the things people wrongly believe guide dogs are capable of. Some also mistakenly think they can pick out specific products in a shop, or serve as guard dogs.
Survey reveals widespread misconceptions
A survey of 2,000 adults found that while 97% are confident they know what a guide dog is, they held surprising misconceptions about what these animals actually do and how they behave – including the belief that guide dogs themselves are blind, or that they assist their visually impaired owners around the house.
In reality, a guide dog helps someone with sight loss navigate safely in public – steering them around obstacles and people, avoiding hazards, locating kerbs, and finding shop entrances and crossings.
They help owners feel more confident and independent, though ultimately the guide dog owner must know their destination and remains in charge of decisions such as when it is safe to cross the road.
Guide Dogs partners with pub quizzes
To help educate the British public about guide dogs and their roles, Guide Dogs has teamed up with Instant Quizzes, which supplies weekly quiz packs to more than 1,000 pubs across the UK. The aim is to introduce a dedicated guide dog round to quiz nights up and down the country in August, putting the nation's knowledge to the test over a pint.
Hannah Wright, Guide Dog programme lead, said: “A staggering 84% of Brits agree we are a nation of dog lovers, and whilst our guide dogs are well-known, there are many things people get wrong.”
Other misconceptions include the belief guide dogs can memorise entire towns and cities to lead their owner to any destination without needing directions (24%) - by comparison, more people correctly knew the name of Taylor Swift's new husband, Travis Kelce (29%).
Distractions can put owners at risk
Only two thirds (66%) knew not to approach a dog while it is in harness and working as a guide dog — something that can distract the animal and affect the person’s ability to navigate safely.
Guide dog owner Kimberley Heal said: “When my guide dog Dalby and I are out together, we're a working partnership and we both need to stay focused.
“When people try to feed, stroke or talk to Dalby while he's guiding me, it breaks his concentration and mine. That can leave us confused and put my safety at risk.
“It can be incredibly stressful because I'm constantly having to think about what's happening around me. It's especially difficult at traffic lights and crossings, where people sometimes grab me or Dalby without even asking first.
“I really appreciate it when people offer assistance respectfully, but so often people speak to my guide dog instead of me. A simple moment of consideration can make a huge difference, helping us travel safely and independently.”
Breed confusion and public knowledge gaps
There was also confusion as to which breeds people think a guide dog can be. Only 65% correctly identify both a Golden Retriever and yellow Labrador can become guide dogs in the UK, while 59% correctly identify black Labrador, and only 40% German Shepherds. And just 15% were aware that a Labradoodle can become a guide dog. In comparison, 55% knew the host countries for this year's World Cup, 42% can correctly name all the Spice Girls.
Hannah Wright added: “By dispelling these myths and misconceptions, we hope people will feel more emboldened and confident in their knowledge around guide dogs.”
List of statements people believe are true about guide dogs:
- Guide dogs can go into cafes and restaurants where food is served – 66% - TRUE
- Guide dogs help people around their homes – 64% - FALSE
- Guide dogs can go into shops that aren’t dog friendly – 62% - TRUE
- Guide dogs get to have a retirement in later life – 56% - TRUE
- It’s illegal for a taxi driver without a medical exemption to refuse to carry a guide dog – 55% - TRUE
- You have to be officially registered as severely sight impaired to have a guide dog – 46% - FALSE
- Guide dogs are always working – 34% - FALSE
- Guide dogs get to run around off lead – 26% - TRUE
- Guide dogs can read traffic lights – 21% - FALSE
- Guide dogs are also known as blind dogs – 14% - FALSE
- Guide dogs can identify shops by their signage – 13% - FALSE
- It’s OK to feed/give a treat to a guide dog – 9% - FALSE
- It’s acceptable to stroke a working guide dog – 7% – FALSE
- Guide dogs themselves are blind – 3% - FALSE
