West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Wednesday 13 September 1950, page 11


HELPING THE BLIND Need For Guide Dog Training Centre Urging the establishment in Australia of a guide dog training centre for the blind, Mr. Arnold Cook, who is himself blind, said yesterday that, because of two World Wars and the prospect of a third, the needs of blinded ex-servicemen and civilians should not be delayed. Mr. Cook, who is a lecturer in economics at the University of Western Australia, recently returned from London where he had studied for two years. Accompanied by his wife and daughter, he brought a guide dog of his own-the first to be introduced into this country. Outlining the history of the guide dog movement, Mr. Cook said that it was first started by a German doctor in 1915. An American woman later opened centres in Switzerland and America, and in 1933, with a capital of £100 and two foreign trainers, a centre was opened in Leamington Spa, England. To train a selected dog when it was 12 months old cost about £150, he said, and the training period took about four months. The greatest problem was that of matching the personality of the dog to that of his prospective owner and to do this took about four weeks. Australia had the right type of dogs, Mr. Cook said, and he knew of an English trainer who was willing to start a centre out here. He considered that finance could be managed, but the problem of a suitable site was more difficult.