BOOKS ABOUT GUIDE DOGS AND PUPPY RAISERS  FOR ADULTS A Bibliography Compiled by Andrea Loughry		Info for Raisers	Books	Home	Email us with comments or about a book
	Picture Books	Fiction for Teens and Tweens	Non-fiction for Teens and Tweens	Videos	Hard to Find books
Many of these titles are out of print and unavailable to purchase. All of them can still be found on the shelves of libraries across the U.S. If you do not see the book you are looking for in your local library, ask the librarian about getting it for you through Interlibrary Loan.

Non-Fiction
Mr. Christensen and Almo	Almo 'His Master's Eyes' : A True Story of a Famous Hero Eye Dog by W. A.Christensen Author's tribute to his seeing eye dog who rescued him from a hotel fire. Mr. Christensen was the founder of the National Eye Dog Association, Inc, of Los Angeles, California. A wonderful look into the founding and training of German Shepherds to be service dogs to the blind. (1935) Text available from The Seeing Eye
	Barking Up the Right Tree: Breeding, Rearing and Training the Guide Dog's Way by Derek Freeman A 'hands-on' guide to breeding, rearing and training dogs the guide-dogs way by Derek Freeman, an internationally renowned trainer with thirty years experience of training guide dogs for the blind.  UK; Interpet Publishing; 1991, USA: Ringpress, 1993
	Blind Courage by Bill Irwin, et al     The author, with the help of his dog guide, Orient, was the first blind man to hike the   entire 2,000 miles of the Appalachian trail. This is the rousing story of their adventure together. (1991)
	A Brief History of Dog Guides for the Blind  by Nelson Coon Covers the history of seeing-eye dogs from ancient times to the mid-nineteenth century. Many illustrations of the historic relationship between dogs and the blind. 48 p. Morristown, N.J.: The Seeing Eye, Inc., 1959.
No Cover  Art Unavailable	Cast Off the Darkness by Peter Putnam Mr. Putnam recalls his life, before and after his blindness. Text available from The Seeing Eye (1957).
	Dear Kilroy by Nora Vitz Harrison From a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, an inspirational look at how dogs reflect our human values and bring joy to our lives.  (2003)
	Dogs Against Darkness by Dickson Hartwell     History of the establishment of the Seeing Eye, with photos of the people and dogs who helped found the school. Text available from The Seeing Eye. (1942)
No Art Unavailable	Dogs as Guides for the Blind by Dorothy Harrison Eustis Article by the founder of The Seeing Eye, the first school for professionally trained dogs to lead the blind in the United states.  Text available from The Seeing Eye (1929)
	Emma and I by Shelia Hocken     Meet Emma, a charismatic chocolate lab who guides her spunky mistress Shelia around London. Followed by Emma and Co. and Emma V.I.P., After Emma, and Emma Forever.  (1979)
	Everyday Heroes: Extraordinary Dogs Among Us by Sherry Bennett Warshauer     Of the dogs raised and returned for formal training at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, most become dog guides; those who don't are "released" and serve as crime fighters, lifesavers, search and rescue dogs, or in service for a person with special needs. Everyday Heroes is a tribute to the extra-ordinary dedication and courage of dogs and people--showing how one person's life can be dramatically  changed by the love and help of a dog. (1998)
	Eyes at My Feet by Jessie Hickford     Ms. Hickford's experiences with her guide dogs. Ms. Hickford's second book, I Never Walked Alone, tells the poignant tale of retiring her first guide and receiving a second. (1975)
	Eyes that Lead: the Story of Guide Dogs for the Blind by Michael Tucker     Former British guide dog trainer Tucker gives a comprehensive explanation of exactly how these outstanding dogs are harness trained.  (1981)
Morris Frank and Buddy	First Lady of the Seeing Eye by Morris Frank     Story of Buddy, the first Seeing Eye dog in America.  She and her partner, Morris Frank, helped establish the first dog guide school in the U.S. (1957)
	Foster Pups by Virginia B. McDonell      The story of the actual experiences of ten high-school students who participated in a pilot project to determine whether responsible teen-agers could pretrain puppies for later service as guide dogs for the blind. The project was a cooperation between the Second Sight Guide Dog Foundation, the Child Service League, and Bayside High School in New York. (1966).
	Friendships in the Dark: A Blind Woman's Story of the People and Pets Who Light Up Her World by Phyllis Campbell A fascinating and inspiring window on the mysterious world of the blind that combines the warmth and storytelling art of James Herriot's All Things Bright and Beautiful and Helen Keller's The Story of My Life.(1996)
	The Guide Dogs book of Amazing Dog Tails edited by Neil Ewart Editor Neil Ewart, who has been invovled in the training and breeding of guide dogs for many years, has assembled a rich assortment of canine tales from leading figures in the world of dogs. The result is a book that will delight everyone with an interest in man's best friend. Vets reveal the secrets of their surgery; trainers tell tales on their best and worst pupils; and owners of assistance dogs boast about their wonderful companions. (British -2004)
	Guide Dogs for the Blind:  Looking Ahead by Paula Harrington     Photo essay in celebration of the first half-century of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. in San Rafael, California. (1990)
Beau, the 1st Guide trained in Austrailia	Guide Dogs In Australia by Monty Hamilton-Wilkes    History of the Royal National Guide Dog Training Center in Victoria, Australia. Includes raising and training of the dogs, training of the blind guide users, and stories of individual guide teams. (1970)
	A Guide To Guide Dog Schools by Ed and Toni Eames An invaluable manual for anyone considering using a Guide Dog as a mobility aid for the first time. Includes facts about a dog can do for the person, the impact it may have on him, his job, and his family. Discusses common myths about Guide Dogs and their blind masters. Then gives an overview of Guide Dog schools in general, and specifics about each of the schools in the U.S. (1994)
	Guiding Stars Compiled and edited by Peter Ireson A selection of writings, recollections and images chosen to convey some of the joys and anxieties, achievements and disappointments experienced by the generations of people who have eigher used guide dogs or helped to provide them. (British, 1993)
	Gunter: A Guide Dog by Marian Lund Modlin A blind woman's tribute to her smooth-coated collie guide dog, trained at the Southeastern Guide Dogs in Florida. (1996)
	Harnessing Thought: The Guide Dog A Thinking Animal with a Skilful Mind by Bruce Johnston The debate has gone on for centuries: do animals really think, or is thinking reserved for humans only? Bruce Johnston, a psychologist and guide dog user examines the thought processes evident in the canine mind, as demonstrated by trained dogs who guide the blind. A fascinating look at an animal whose bevaior suggests a capacity to think, not just respond in a conditioned way to stimuli. (1995- Published by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, UK)
	Keep your Head Up, Mr. Putnam by Peter Putnam     Mr. Putnam's experiences being blind and receiving a dog from the Seeing Eye. (1950) Text available from The Seeing Eye
	Leader Dogs for the Blind: For Whither Thou Goest by Margaret Gibbs     The world of training service dogs for the blind, written from an insider at Leader Dogs for the Blind in Detroit's point of view. (1982)
	Leading Lady: Dinah's Story by Betty White     Story of actor Tom Sullivan's Leader Dog Dinah, and how she found happiness in retirement at the home of actress and animal activist Betty White. Also by Tom Sullivan: If You Could See What I Hear. (1991)
	Leading the Way : The Story of Leader Dogs for the Blind by William D. Eisenberg     Through the experiences of Leader Dog's staff, graduates, and volunteers, Eisenberg shows how Leader Dogs for the Blind has become a progressive dog guide school, especially in the last twenty years. (2001)
	Legal Rights of Guide Dogs, Hearing Dogs, and Service Dogs, 8th Ed. by Michael Roche          A guide and reference to the legal rights, by state, of people with disabilities who use assistance dogs, and for trainers of assistance dogs. Lists state statutes and Federal regulations regarding assistance dogs. (2003)
	Long Time, No See by Beth Finke With unflinching candor and acerbic wit, Beth Finke chronicles the progress of the juvenile diabetes that left her blind at the age of twenty-six as well as the seemingly endless spiral of adversity that followed. First she was forced out of her professional job. Then she bore a multiply handicapped son. But she kept moving forward, confronting marital and financial problems and persevering through a rocky training period with a seeing-eye dog. (2003)
	Love in the Lead: The 50 Year Miracle of the Seeing Eye Dog by Peter Putnam     A history of the Seeing Eye, Inc. in Morristown, New Jersey.  (1979)  Text available from The Seeing Eye
No Cover  Art Unavailable	My Eyes Have a Cold Nose by Hector Chevigny     Mr. Chevigny describes his journey into blindness after being diagnosed with detached retinas. His struggle to maintain dignity and an independent life lead him to investigate becoming a guide dog user. He relates his experiences at the Seeing Eye and the impact the dog makes on his life. (1948)
	New Knowledge of Dog Behavior by Clarence Pfaffenberger     Classic study of dog behavior and training by the founder of Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.'s puppy raising program.  Mr. Pfaffenberger also wrote Guide Dogs for the Blind, Their Selection, Development, and Training. (1963)
	On A Clear Day by David Blunkett with Alex MacCormick An inspiring, and often hilarious account of a man overcoming disability and beating the system - with the help of a dog. David Blunkett was born blind, which makes his struggle to the top of British politics - all the more remarkable. At the Manchester Road School for the Blind he began learning braille and at sixteen joined the Labour Party, then Sheffield University beckoned. David chose to train with a guide dog, and Ruby, his golden labrador, was allowed to sit by him in the Commons, as were her successors, Offa and Lucy. (British: 1995)
	Planet of the Blind by Stephen Kuusisto Singular, evocative, brilliantly imagined, Planet of the Blind takes readers on a journey through the universe of the legally blind, where an everyday encounter can become a heart-stopping challenge. (1999)
	Puppy Training The Guide Dogs Way by Julia Barnes The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association has an unparalleled reputation for breeding, rearing and training dogs. Over the years it has been responsible for producing thousands of well-behaved animals. Now, for the first time, this great bank of knowledge and expertise is being made available to all dog owners. This superbly illustrated book, which includes more than 150 colour photographs, is the only dog training book officially approved by Guide Dogs. (British--2004)
	Things no Longer There: A Memoir of Losing Sight and Finding Vision by Susan Krieger A lovingly crafted collection of personal stories about the author's struggle toward enlightenment while losing her eyesight. It is also, more broadly, about invisible landscapes—places of the heart that linger long after they have disappeared from the world outside. In these ten brief tales and one novella-length intimate drama, Susan Krieger takes us on a series of adventures in vision, a journey both inward and to various parts of the country. We travel with her as she goes birdwatching before sunrise in the New Mexico desert, learns to walk with a white cane, revisits an old love, returns to a summer camp of her youth, and reflects on the nature of blindness and sight. Written by a graduate of Guide Dogs for the Blind. (2005)
Dr. Arnold Cook and Dreena	To Guide and Guard: Beginnings of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Movement in Australia, 1951-1962 by Alexandra Hasluck Documentary record of the trials and tribulations of Dr Arnold Cook and many others who established the first school for thre training of guide dogs in Australia.(1967)
	Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther Than the Eye Can See by Erik Weihenmayer Memoir of a mountain climber and sky diver--who just happens to be blind. (2001)
	Through Otis' Eyes: Lessons from a Guide Dog Puppy by Patricia Burlin Kennedy     "Through Otis' eyes I see..." So many lessons to learn from a black lab with a very special destiny. Touching and inspiring words and pictures for anyone who has ever raised a dog guide pup, or shared their life with a dog. (1998)
	Two Puppies: Being the Authenic Story of Two Very Different Yound Dogs, One who is Virtuous and Goes on to a life of Service, the Other Bron to be Naughty... by Jane and Michael Stern Two Puppies clearly spells out the pleasures as well as the vicissitudes of choosing and raising a puppy and is as entertaining as it is informative. Follows two dramatically different dogs through puppyhoods that are alternately tumultuous, funny, emotionally wrenching, and ultimately happy. It is a journey that goes wonderfully right, as in the inspiring biography of Parnell, the Labrador Retriever born and meticulously raised to work hand-in-paw as a faithful companion and guide dog to a blind woman. On the other hand, through the antics of Clementine, the Sterns's own misbegotten puppy, we see in excruciating detail what can go hilariously but instructively wrong. (1998)
	Two in One: Walking with Smokie, Walking with Blindness by Rod Michalko     When sociologist Rod Michalko's sight failed, his search for a guide ended with dog guide Smokie, who led him to a dramatically different sense of blindness itself.  (1999)
	Venture's Story: Life & Times of a Guide Dog by Diana Dawne Golden retriever guide Venture & her owner's  adventures, from the dog's point of view. From puppyhood to his graduation from the Guide Dog Foundation, Venture's canine perspective is sure to please. (1997)
	Zack'S Tales: Travels of A Guide Dog by Audrey M. Gunter Zack is the best Guide Dog in the world. He knows this because his Mom tells him so, all the time! Zack was trained as S.E. Guide Dogs in Florida. This is his account of his working life with his partner, Audrey. (2004)
Fiction
	Around the Next Corner by Elizabeth Wrenn A mother of three with a stale marriage and a soon-to-be-empty nest volunteers for K-9 Eyes for the Blind and finds "someone" to guide her out of the darkness. Ms. Wrenn is a Colorado Guide Dog Puppy Raiser. (2006)
	Blind Man's Bluff by Baynard Kendrick Mystery story starring hard-boiled detective Captain Duncan Maclain and his seeing-eye dog, Schnucke. The T.V. series Longstreet was based on characters from this book. 1946. Text available from Project Gutenberg. Other titles about Duncan and Schnucke include The Last Express, The Whistling Hangman,  and The Odor of Violets.
	Brave Companions by Ruth Adams Knight The story of a lieutenant who was saved by a K9 German Shepherd and the son of the Shepherd who went on to become a seeing eye dog. (1945). Text available from Project Gutenberg
	A Dog To Trust: The Saga of a Seeing-Eye Dog by Joseph E. Chipperfield; Shortly after meeting Arno, a young Alsatian dog, 25-year-old artist Ralph is in an accident that gradually makes his eye complaint worse. When his friends hear of his deteriorating vision, there is no doubt as to Arno'ds future of being trained as a guide dog. (1963.)
	A Friend in the Dark: The Story of a "Seeing Eye" Dog by Ruth Adams Knight, Follows the raising and training of Hero, a German Shepherd, from a puppy to working guide dog with his new master. Forward by Morris Frank. Text available from The Seeing Eye. (1937).
	Luminescence by Will Addison A tender love story set in present-day Thomasville, Georgia, this novel follows the brief connection of two lives equally scarred by tragedy, equally illuminated by the grand romance they share together.  For a beautiful summer month, private-practice veterinarian Katherine Reese opens her home and heart to James Levine, a blind man whose guide dog contracts a deadly but treatable illness. (2004). Download your free audio copy here.
	Pat: The Story of a Seeing Eye Dog by Col. S P Meek      This novel tells the story of a young veteran, injured in the Pacific and returning to civilian life totally blind, who is discouraged and without hope until he is persuaded to train with a seeing eye dog. (1947)
	Year of the Dog by Shelby Hearon When her husband dumps her for an old girlfriend and sets all of Peachland, South Carolina, gossiping, Janey Daniels has to get away—far away—for a "sabbatical" year. She flees to Burlington, Vermont, home of Aunt May, her mother's only living relative. There she adopts Beulah, a Labrador puppy in training to become a companion dog for the blind. Not for a moment does Janey suspect that this "year of the dog" will change her life forever. (2007)