Rather, the owner has to know where they are going, or enlist a sighted guide, and just allows the dog to guide them on their route safely.
So, the owner could probably get themselves to the shops without the dog. But the dog will guide them around that box that someone has put on the pavement, or keep them from straying into the road by accident.
Lesser-known things about being blind
.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-28853788
Contrary to popular belief, guide dogs do not tell their owner when it is time to cross the road and they do not take their owner where they want to go based on an instruction such as "find the shops".
Guide dogs walk in a straight line, always on the left of a person, and are trained to keep an eye on their owner's right shoulder to protect against collisions. They avoid obstacles and stop at kerbs. They know their left from right. Sometimes dogs might lead their owner into overhanging branches because its trickier for them to judge overhead obstacles. It all takes practice. It's a partnership and owners often consider they're driving the dog rather than being led by it.
Unofficially, guide dogs can provide good companionship for isolated blind people. Their presence can help owners feel safer while out and about. And of course, a dog can be a good ice-breaker in a social situation.
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