That's especially true if the person walking is visually impaired and the dog with him or her was trained by the Leader Dogs for the Blind organization.

Based in Rochester, the Leader Dogs for the Blind program has designed a comprehensive training system for dogs and the partners they will be matched with.

The non-profit agency assesses dogs based of their age, size, health and personality. Golden retrievers, labradors and German shepherds are the breeds most often called upon as leader dogs, but collies, standard poodles and other dogs have also been trained successfully. Standard poodles are good choices for people with allergies because they are a non-shedding breed, said Patrick Paterno, manager of media relations for the organization. A breeding and puppy raising program supplies nearly 65 percent of leader dog graduates, said Keith McGregor, director of training.

As part of this program, puppies are placed in volunteer homes that provide loving, stable environments for dogs during their first year. It is an important time as this is when puppies are socialized and become accustomed to being around people and different types of noises. After a year, a birthday card is sent to the volunteer family signaling that it's time for the dog to enter formal training at the Rochester facility, he said.

There are 26 instructors who work with the dogs.For the next five months, the canine candidates are taught the skills needed to be a leader dog. They learn how to wear a harness, avoid obstacles and take outdoor excursions to become acclimated to crowds, said McGregor.

"You never know who these dogs will go with," he said, explaining that the dogs need to be introduced to a variety of conditions and circumstances.

At any point, if it is determined that a dog is not best suited for the leader dog program, he or she makes a "career change" and becomes a family pet or enters other terms of service. McGregor said there is a long waiting list of people who wish to welcome these dogs into their families.

The canines that continue are matched with a blind or visually impaired student. The leader dog teams spend alot of time discussing which dogs will be matched with which people based on the person's pace, personality and environment, said McGregor.

"It's a pretty in-depth process," he said.

Students spend 26 days in a residence program on site learning everything they need to know about their leader dog.

Leader Dogs for the Blind conducts 12 sessions per year with a maximum of 24 students per session.

The leader dog program accepts students from around the world and individuals who are both blind and deaf so there's both Spanish-speaking instructors and those who communicate with students with hand-to-hand sign language.

Once a dog is matched with a student, training continues as both get to know each other. The training doesn't end once the pair go home, either. Since every home environment is different, it takes time to adjust. Field staff travel around the U.S. to make sure all is proceeding well. If not, brush-up training or perhaps another dog are options available.