Had dogs all my life. Legally blind, worked in shelters and been the primary owner of two myself.

General advice for all prospective dog owners:

1. Make sure everyone in the household is fully on board with the whole thing, and understands the responsibilities.

2. Make sure your living situation and income is stable. A dog is a 10-15+ year commitment. Can you provide a safe and appropriate home for them? Can you cover any and all vet bills?

3. Educate yourself about different breeds and different temperaments. Remember that breed isn't always the deciding factor in temperament.

4. Think about training, grooming and exercise requirements. How much hair can you tolerate? What about barking or drooling?

5. How experienced is the primary carer? How good are they at training?

6. Looks should not be the deciding factor in which breed you choose for any reason ever. That path holds only misery for you and the poor pet you've chosen.

7. When it comes time, make sure to obtain your new family member ethically. A shelter dog isn't the best idea if you're inexperienced, so go for a registered breeder. Yes, you'll pay more than a backyard breeder, but you're paying for healthier breeding practices and a happier pup. A breeder should be registered with your state/province breed club and be able to show you the parents and living conditions at their operation. They should also screen every breeding dog for health conditions common in the breed, such as hip/elbow dysplasia.

8. Prepare your home before bringing the pup back and introduce them to a single room so as not to overwhelm them. Decide right away what is and isn't acceptable behaviour and enforce that consistently. Can your pup be on the couch? If you don't want them doing something as an adult, don't let them do it as a puppy.

9. Get yourself a puppy training guide or attend lessons, even if you're confident. It's good socialising for pup. Aim for positive reinforcement training with no yelling, hitting, yanking of collar/lead, etc. Also shock, choke and prong collars are cruel and ineffective over the long term.

10. Just like a child, get into a steady routine with your pup. They want structure and predictability. They want boundaries and to be the bestest Boi. A well mannered dog is a happy dog because you know you can take him fun places because you know he'll behave.

Advice specific to dogs in VI/blind households: from my own experience I've never had any issues. Smaller dogs may pose a safety risk if they get underfoot but you can train them to stay out of your way when it matters. 'Go to bed' is an all-around amazing command to have up your sleeve.

As for breeds, if you can put in the necessary exercise to keep them happy, Labradors are always a favourite. They need early bite inhibition and socialisation but are very easy to train, easy to groom and generally have a sweet nature.

If exercise is a concern and size isn't, you might consider a Mastiff. They're big goofy couch potatoes who love to snuggle and stand on your feet. They do tend to break the bank with feeding costs but can live just about anywhere.

Certain breeds of spaniels are good companions. They need exercise but won't exhaust you. They can be difficult to train and may have strong prey drive. They tend to be single-minded when they get an idea.

If smaller dogs are your style a Bichon is a good pick, they're one of the calmer toy dogs and quite easy to care for. They do bark a lot though.

If everyone gets involved with and remains consistent with training, most dogs will make a great pet.

HI. I am totally blind and have a pet dog. I've gotta say, as a total, there's no way I'd get a puppy because they chew things all the time. I currently have a rescue dog. He's a staffy who was around 2 or 3 when I got him.