As a response to a few inquiries, let me be a bit more specific about what Frost and Rhys do and what they don't do. Ferrets are too easily distracted to perform all the functions of a traditional guiding-eye dog or horse (Yes, they use miniature horses now to assist the blind.). The key is to go with their natural instincts. A ferret will investigate almost anything, which can give a needed clue that there is something in the path ahead. My guys do this by, instead of traveling off the sidewalk on my left, they cut in front of me and investigate. They will also take the path home, when given the "Go home" command, the path that we just traveled. They simply follow their scent trail. I've also noticed that they indicate by an extra hard pull on the leash when we pass the turn to our apartment. Teaching them to heel was the hardest part. The rest was more me learning what behaviors meant what and putting names to them ("Go home"). The guiding relationship seems to only work with the two of them together. Frost is the enthusiast and Rhys, though a plodder who likes to take lots of breaks, is the one that gets the commands right the majority of the time. You can almost hear Rhys telling Frost, "She said it's time to go home. Darn it -- Home is the other way!" It takes the right combination of ferret attitude, willingness to please, and circumstances to make this sort of partnership work. I wouldn't even have tried it, if I hadn't already seen great intelligence in a previous ferret of two; at least, a ferret that fetches on command seemed vey smart to me at the time. I wouldn't use the pair in unfamiliar surroundings. As mentioned before, ferrets are easily distracted. They'd also be more interested in exploring a new place than listening to me. Think of them as my back-up. Oh, and what do Frost and Rhys like to do in their off time? They ride in a ferret pack to a beach on Lake Erie. There they chase waves, dig, and even swim. With respect, Lori in Ohio [Posted in FML 6498]