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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2019 - 04 - 06 - ID#baahaa
10
Questions for guide dog users from a first-time guide dog user (self.Blind)
submitted by gracers94
I am getting my first guide dog next week (yay!) and while the school is going to provide the basic equipment and supplies I'm wondering what else I will need to get that maybe the school won't provide. What are some things that you have found helpful that you didn't realize or think of until after you had your dog? How did you prepare your home for your dog? Any guide dog tips, in general are appreciated!
jrs12 8 points 4y ago
Puppy raiser here: Listen to everything your trainer tells you and implement it. They are telling you for a reason. The dogs know how to do their job, but your time together training as a team is only just starting. You will need to consistently reinforce your dog's training in order to make sure your dog continues to do its job. The school will show you how to do that. Make sure you do what they tell you to do.
There are rules in place for a reason too. Many guide dogs are ruined by learning to jump up, bark, lunge, or beg for food. That behavior can be learned at any time.

Make sure your home is dog proof to help keep this behavior from developing. Don't leave food out in spots that is easy for a dog to access or things that are fun to chew in places where you can't monitor the dog.

Over time you will develop a great bond and learn which rules you can bend or break. Some handlers let their dogs sleep in bed with them. Others let their dogs be petted in harness. Don't get too excited to break the rules too early because you can do irreparable damage.

Take time to appreciate this new journey you are on. Traveling with a dog is a whole other skill set, and quite the ride.
KillerLag 6 points 4y ago
Definitely agreed about the dog proofing. One thing my instructors always stressed was that a guide dog was still a dog, and if you leave a steak out, they will eat it. You'll need to be a bit strict at first until you find the happy balance.
gracers94 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thank you!! Also, may be a dumb question but are guide dogs usually crate trained? I live in a very small apartment so I kind of want my dog to have her own “space” but I don’t know if she would be used to it
jrs12 6 points 4y ago
No such thing as a dumb question. It's a big life change! Each school I've raised through has had crate training as part of puppy raising. The dogs are in crates as part of normal training and also learn to relax on 'tie down' which is a short length of chain tethered in a secure location so that you always know where the dog is at. This is some of the stuff which might seem weird at first, to always have your dog on tie down or connected to you, but it's all part of the bonding.
ginsenshi 5 points 4y ago
On my second dog from Southeastern Guide Dogs from Florida, most schools now have the dogs crate trained.
gracers94 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks!
ginsenshi 2 points 4y ago
You’re welcome
AmAsabat 3 points 4y ago
Spend as much time with the trainer as you can. Every dog is different and have strengths and weaknesses you need to learn.

Constantly praise them when they get it right and do stuff with them you already know how to do. For me I was already walking to school with my cane so knew every step of the way. We’d bonded quickly because I knew when she got it right and was pleased.

Both mine have been crate trained and sleep in my room in their crate, but it no longer has one of the sides. Their default place in the apartment in either at my feet when I’m sat down or in their crate when I’m mobile indoors. I’m really strict about this as I am with food she gets fed in the same routine every day and once it’s out it stays out for 10 minutes and then is put away.

The only time she gets to cuddle is when I sit on the floor with her, at least everyday, when we play fetch. I place three toys around the room and she has to get the right one to be cuddled after 3 months we were toy perfect.

I have a strict no petting rule and she wears a coat that says that, she also has a small rucksack that carries her water and treats so I always can find them.

In winter she has a big coat as its pretty cold here.

Most important is that they are your friends for life, my retired dog went to my parents until she passed on.
annibear 3 points 4y ago
Dog raincoat is a must. If you live in a cold area, I would also buy a more hardcore dog coat--my guide dog is good up until around 25 degrees, but after that and even a bit before that, she's wearing the coat. I use one that's actually meant as a dog blanket but wraps around her I think (I can look up the brand later if you want it).

​

I would also recommend collapsible bowls for when you're out for a while. Also, if you fly a lot, I would recommend buying a blanket your dog can lie down for that--about a year ago, I noticed that my dog was shaking on planes, and I was confused because she wasn't at all scared. Then she started doing it at a Starbucks and I realized it was the cold floor. She's been fine since I started laying down a blanket for her.
gracers94 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks for the tips, I hadn’t even thought about the collapsible bowls! Any particular brand of raincoats you recommend?
annibear 3 points 4y ago
The collapsible bowls are really useful! I think mine is called Serene Pet?

​

For the raincoat, I use this one: $1. It's blue and has rubber ducks on it. A bit silly-looking, but it also has a hood and it fits well-enough that she doesn't get that wet.
brimstone_tea 2 points 4y ago
Things I bought:
- a doggy raincoat
- a fleece coat for drying
- a good raincoat for myself because carrying an umbrella is pretty difficult
- a waist bag for quick access to treats
- lots of toys
- doggy shoes for winter and hot summer days
- an ultrasound collar device to scare of ticks and fleas
- a doggy toothbrush
- basic medical supplies
- a blanket for long hours at school


gracers94 [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks! Any brand recommendations for the coats?
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