在繁忙的都市街头，你可能曾见过有人牵着一只狗走在人行道上。但若仔细观察，那人并非在遛宠物狗，相反地，他似乎是在狗儿的引领下前行。他，其实是一名视障者；它，其实是一只导盲犬。为感谢导盲犬的付出，并让公众更了解导盲犬，每年4月的最后一个星期三被定为国际导盲犬日（International Guide Dog Day），今年的国际导盲犬日定于4月30日。
Guide Dogs Singapore/图 Christina Teng/文 李诗琴/整理
数据显示，新加坡目前有超过4万名视障人士，而随着人口老龄化，这一数字预计将大幅增长。新加坡导盲犬协会（Guide Dogs Singapore, GDS）长期致力于提升视障者的生活质量，通过多个项目帮助他们独立生活。
新加坡导盲犬协会为视障者提供多项服务，包括培训他们如何使用科技产品。
导盲犬也是该协会提供的重要服务之一。配合国际导盲犬日，《畅游行》专访了协会导盲犬训导师 Christina Teng，带你深入了解导盲犬的训练与作用，以及目前视障者遇到的挑战。为了让更多公众了解相关知识，以下分享将以中英双语呈现。
Christina Teng
Q：能否介绍导盲犬的选拔和训练流程？Could you provide a detailed overview of the selection and training of guide dogs?
繁育：幼犬由具有导盲犬血统的种犬繁育，以确保其具备适合导盲工作的遗传特性。
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幼犬培养及社交化（8周龄 – 12个月）：评估性格后，送入寄养家庭，学习基本指令及适应不同环境。
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评估（约12 – 14个月）：返回训练中心进行测试，若不适合导盲工作，可能转为辅助犬或治疗犬。
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导盲犬训练：合格的犬只由导盲犬训导师进行为期5个月的密集训练，包括避障、环境适应、服从指令等，并进行定期考核。
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配对及团队训练：完成训练的导盲犬会与适合的视障人士进行匹配，并展开约3至4周的团队训练，以培养彼此的默契和合作能力。GDS会持续提供支持，并定期评估导盲犬的适应情况。
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退休：导盲犬的工作寿命一般为7至9年。当它们达到退休年龄时，GDS会与使用者讨论不同的安置方案，以确保导盲犬得到妥善照顾。
导盲犬是新加坡导盲犬学会提供的服务之一。
The process can be broken down into several key stages:
- Breeding: Puppies born to parents from guide dog lineage
- Puppy Raising and Socialisation (At 8 Weeks – 12 Months): Assessment of puppies’ temperament for placement to puppy raiser homes. Puppies play, socialise and learn basic commands.
- Assessment (At about 12 – 14 Months): The dogs return to training kennels for an initial assessment. Some dogs may be re-classified to other careers at this stage.
- Guide Dog Training: Suitable dogs are attached to a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for an intensive five months of training and continuous assessments, with periodic milestone checks.
- Working Team: Dogs that complete the training are matched to suitable guide dog applicants. Subsequently, they are trained for about three to four weeks with the new user as a team. The team is supported and assessed continuously by GDS until the dog retires.
- Retirement: Guide dogs typically work for seven to nine years. Various options are discussed with the user when it is time for retirement.
视障者在导盲犬引领下穿梭地铁站。
Q：导盲犬训练中最具挑战性的部分是什么？What are the most challenging aspects of guide dog training?
其中一个是教导它们适应自动扶梯。这一训练必须根据每只狗的信心水平循序渐进，绝不能操之过急。如果狗在训练过程中因操作失误对自动扶梯产生负面联想，可能会导致它再也不愿意使用。
另一个是教导导盲犬在指令下排泄，而不是随时随地寻找“理想地点”。这项训练需要高度的耐心和一致性，以确保导盲犬在各种环境下都能遵循规范。
Personally, one of the most challenging aspects of guide dog training is teaching them to use the escalator. This process must be paced according to each dog’s confidence level and cannot be rushed. A wrong move that causes a dog to associate escalators negatively may mean it will never use one again. Another important yet challenging aspect is training dogs to relieve themselves on command rather than waiting to find a “perfect spot.”
协会到学校进行宣导活动
Q：在为视障人士匹配导盲犬时，需要考虑哪些关键因素？What key factors are considered when matching a guide dog with a visually impaired individual?
为视障人士匹配导盲犬是一个经过严格考量的过程，以确保双方的长期契合度和合作的成功。完成训练的导盲犬会根据多个关键因素进行评估，包括体型、性格和步行速度，然后再与适合的用户匹配。
- 导盲犬评估：为每位申请者建立详细档案，包括生活方式、居住环境、体型及日常出行需求。匹配过程中还会考虑日常步行速度、出行频率及常用路线等因素。
- 匹配成功标准：通过对比导盲犬和申请者的档案，确保导盲犬能够充分满足使用者的需求。例如，生活方式较为活跃的使用者会匹配精力较旺盛的导盲犬，而步行较慢的使用者则适合匹配步调较缓和的导盲犬。
- 潜在匹配确认：一旦找到合适的导盲犬，使用者需要接受与导盲犬的配对训练，以建立信任、学习有效沟通，并确保双方适应彼此，待确认匹配成功后方可正式认证。
Matching a guide dog with a blind individual is a carefully considered process to ensure the best compatibility and long-term success of the partnership. Dogs that have completed their training are profiled based on several key factors, including their size, personality, and working speed.
- Guide Dog Assessment: An applicant profile is created for the prospective user. This profile includes details about their lifestyle, home environment, physical build, and general travel requirements. Factors such as daily walking speed, frequency of travel, and preferred routes are also taken into account.
- Successful Match: Made by comparing both profiles to ensure that the guide dog can effectively support the user’s needs. For example, a user with a more active lifestyle may be paired with a higher-energy guide dog, while someone who walks at a slower pace would require a dog with a compatible walking speed.
- Once a Potential Match is Identified: The user undergoes training with the guide dog, allowing them to build trust, learn to communicate effectively, and ensure that the partnership is a good fit before certification.
导盲犬引领视障者马路。
Q：导盲犬的平均工作寿命是多少？What is the typical working lifespan of a guide dog?
导盲犬的平均工作寿命约为7至9年，具体时间取决于健康状况、体能和工作环境等因素。在新加坡导盲犬协会，导盲犬通常会在11岁之前退休，以确保它们在晚年依然拥有良好的生活质量。
The typical working lifespan of a guide dog is around 7 to 9 years, depending on factors such as health, fitness, and working conditions. At GDS, guide dogs retire before their 11th birthday to ensure their well-being and quality of life.
协会宣导活动。
Q：导盲犬退休后会有什么安排？What happens after guide dogs retire?
大多数情况下，导盲犬的使用者可以选择继续饲养已退休的导盲犬作为宠物。如果使用者无法照顾退休导盲犬，GDS将协助为其寻找合适的新家庭，确保它们能够得到妥善安置。
协会会在导盲犬退休后的过渡期持续跟进其健康状况，确保它们能够获得适当的兽医护理和必要的支持。整个退休规划始终以导盲犬的福祉为首要考量，让它们在多年服务后，能够享受安逸、愉快的晚年生活。
In most cases, the user has the option to keep the retired guide dog as a pet. If the user is unable to care for the retired guide dog, GDS will facilitate rehoming.
Throughout this transition, GDS continues to monitor the dog’s health and well-being, ensuring they receive proper veterinary care and support. Retirement plans are made with the dog’s welfare as the top priority, allowing them to enjoy a relaxed and happy life after years of dedicated service.
在使用导盲犬之前，视障者需要先掌握定向与行动训练。
Q：导盲犬在新加坡的接受度是否有所提高？它们在公共空间和交通系统中的融入情况如何？Are guide dogs becoming more widely accepted and integrated into daily life in Singapore, particularly in public spaces and the transportation system?
新加坡导盲犬协会积极与政府机构和交通运营商合作，提升导盲犬使用者在公共场所和交通系统中的无障碍体验。协会与国家环境局、社会及家庭发展部等机构合作，提高社会对导盲犬用户权益的认知，并推广包容性措施，帮助企业和公众了解导盲犬的重要性及准入权。
在公共交通方面，协会与SBS Transit、SMRT Corporation 及陆路交通管理局合作，确保导盲犬可搭乘公共巴士和地铁，并针对交通运营人员开展培训，同时通过公众教育提升社会对导盲犬的正确认知。尽管整体认知有所改善，但偶尔仍会发生误解，因此持续的倡导和教育至关重要。
此外，协会还与新加坡伊斯兰宗教理事会合作，确保导盲犬可以进入清真认证场所，消除穆斯林社区的顾虑，并确保符合清真标准。
协会宣导活动。
GDS actively partners with government bodies and transport providers to enhance accessibility for guide dog users across public spaces and transportation. Collaborations with agencies like the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) help raise awareness and promote inclusivity, educating businesses and the public about the rights of guide dog users and the importance of access.
In transportation, GDS works with SBS Transit, SMRT Corporation, and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to ensure guide dogs are welcomed on buses and trains, training operators and launching public education on etiquette. While awareness has improved, occasional misunderstandings still occur, requiring continued advocacy and education.
GDS also works with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) to ensure guide dogs are allowed in halal-certified venues, addressing concerns within the Muslim community and ensuring compliance with halal standards.
协会宣导活动。
Q：是否有任何想要传达给公众的重要信息？Is there any key message you would like to convey to the public?
如果您遇到一位视障人士并需要与他们交流，请轻轻拍他们的肩膀并直接对话。不要假设他们无法理解，也无需通过第三方代为沟通。如果您对如何与视障人士互动感到不确定，可以礼貌询问他们的偏好，尊重他们的方式。
如果您在公共场所看到正在工作的导盲犬并感到好奇，您可以直接与导盲犬使用者交谈，或静静观察。请不要试图用手势或声音引导导盲犬，也不要触摸或干扰它，因为这可能会影响导盲犬的专注力，进而影响使用者的安全。
如果您遇到使用白手杖的视障人士，想要提供帮助，请直接询问他们的目的地以及是否需要协助。如果他们婉拒您的帮助，请理解这不是对您的好意的否定，而是因为他们已经掌握了应对方法。尊重他们的自主性，不要强行施加帮助。
协会也为视障者提供独立生活的技能培训。
If you see a person who is blind or visually impaired and need to speak to them, gently tap them on the shoulder and address them directly. Do not act as if they cannot understand or require a third party to communicate for you. If you’re unsure about how to interact due to their vision condition, respectfully ask them for guidance.
Should you encounter a guide dog at work and feel curious, feel free to speak directly to the guide dog user or simply observe from a distance. Do not attempt to direct the dog or lead it by making gestures or sounds, as this can interfere with their training and focus.
If you meet someone using a white cane and you want to offer help, ask them directly where they need to go and what assistance they require. If they decline your offer, understand that it’s not a rejection of your kindness, they know how to manage their needs. Always respect their autonomy and do not impose.
协会对外进行宣导活动。
Q：对于希望支持或参与这项事业的人，你有什么建议或呼吁？What advice or call to action would you offer to individuals who wish to support or contribute to this cause?
首先，尝试了解视障和失明的不同类型，并认识到有许多组织致力于帮助视障人士重建独立生活，提供专业训练支持。白手杖和导盲犬同样是至关重要的辅助工具，帮助视障人士安全、自信地出行。
尽管许多国际品牌和大型商店已经熟悉导盲犬的使用，但本地许多邻里商铺，如咖啡店、五金店或巴刹摊位，仍然会拒绝导盲犬使用者进入。这使得他们在日常购物或用餐时，可能面临店主的阻拦和质疑，而这些本应是每个人都能自由享受的简单生活体验。
因此，我衷心希望更多邻里商家能提升对导盲犬的认知，让导盲犬使用者可以像我们一样，自由地去咖啡店享用一盘炒粿条，或在五金店买几个晾衣夹，而不必因为携带导盲犬而受到阻碍。只有当社会真正理解并接纳导盲犬的作用，视障人士才能真正无障碍地融入社区。
协会的义工、工作人员与视障者。
Do try to understand more about what constitutes visual impairment or blindness. Recognise that there are organisations dedicated to supporting individuals with these disabilities through training aimed at helping them regain independence. It’s important to note that both the white cane and the guide dog are invaluable aids that assist the blind in navigating their surroundings.
While many international brands and shops are aware of guide dogs, local establishments in the heartlands, like coffee shops and hardware stalls in neighborhood markets, often turn guide dog users away. This prevents them from conducting daily activities, such as shopping without facing confrontations with shop owners, just like you and I would do. Therefore, I sincerely hope that there will be greater awareness in these heartland shops, enabling our guide dog users to freely enjoy their local coffeeshops and order dishes like char kway teow, or visit the hardware store for clothes clips without being reprimanded for having a guide dog with them.
📣即日起至6 月30 日，新加坡导盲犬协会展开“Paws with a Purpose”活动以支持导盲犬培养。更多活动详情点击这里
新加坡导盲犬协会（Guide Dogs Singapore）
guidedogs.org.sg
