Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Guide dog handlers!! Any advice you’d give to someone considering applying for a guide dog or anything you think they should know? (self.Blind)
submitted by cooliociouss
Hey!! I’ve been thinking a lot about applying to a few different guide dog schools over the past year. I’ve done my research and been to several guide dog presentations, but I was curious to know if there was anything significant that I should know that no one ever really talks about? Thanks a ton!!
razzretina 5 points 3y ago
Always have poop bags on your person, just in case. :D Really that's the only thing I can think of right now. Oh, and be prepared to hear every sad dead pet story from everyone you meet; people can't help themselves. Best of luck to you! I've had three dogs and they've done so much for me. Their loyalty and trust in me makes the few times people in public have been jerks about my dogs inconsequential.
retrolental_morose 2 points 3y ago
Really agreeing with the bag thing. My dog's pretty much ready to retire, but loves working. But he seems to just have to go when he's gotta go these days...
My top tip would have been to always prepare to be late, but I had a cute dog and a baby strapped to my chest for a year or so, and almost everywhere I went I'd be stopped, gushed over or asked questions of. it was really nice, we educated lots of children etc, but I took ages to get anywhere.
My top tip would have been to always prepare to be late, but I had a cute dog and a baby strapped to my chest for a year or so, and almost everywhere I went I'd be stopped, gushed over or asked questions of. it was really nice, we educated lots of children etc, but I took ages to get anywhere.
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
I’ve developed a lot of quick educational things I can say on the go as well as learning how to say “Not at the moment, we have to be somewhere”. When in doubt, I do sometimes plan to walk with my dog at times when there’s less pedestrian traffic.
Ha ha my second dog had no respect for me and wouldn’t go on schedule. I learned to carry poo bags from him. :D
Ha ha my second dog had no respect for me and wouldn’t go on schedule. I learned to carry poo bags from him. :D
cooliociouss [OP] 2 points 3y ago
thank you so much!! :) I do have to say, I haven’t heard that from anyone I’ve talked to with a guide dog
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
No problem! Your first dog is going to be a life changer but a great one. There’s a lot to them you don’t expect but they are great. And if you don’t like your dog at first (it happened to me) be patient, the two of you will bond faster than you think. :)
Drop9Reddit 4 points 3y ago
While not a guide dog user I know a fair few. One thing I hear a lot is to be ready for places to try to say the dog is not allowed in. Or to be refused service from things like Lyft and Uber.
Now of course this is very wrong and the dog should be allowed everywhere unfortunately not everyone knows or respects that.
The reasons for refusal can of course vary and there is usually recourse available to you it is still something to be aware of. For example it can make life a little more stressful to have to wait for a cab that is ok with the dog.
Now of course this is very wrong and the dog should be allowed everywhere unfortunately not everyone knows or respects that.
The reasons for refusal can of course vary and there is usually recourse available to you it is still something to be aware of. For example it can make life a little more stressful to have to wait for a cab that is ok with the dog.
cooliociouss [OP] 3 points 3y ago
I was actually just talking with someone about this earlier. thanks for the heads up :)
KillerLag 3 points 3y ago
People will want to pet your dog *all the time*. And you can't let them. That isn't to be mean, but it is because the dog is doing it's job. Even when the dog is sleeping under your desk at work, it's working (it's just working at resting). A guide dog isn't working when he is out of harness, so you may arrange for some play time then, but you have to stop random on the street from giving him treats or petting him. Distraction, especially with food, is easily one of the biggest things to mess up a dog's training.
Flyaway-Rainbow16 2 points 3y ago
Oh, also, consider joining The Guide Dog Handlers Network on facebook if you haven't already. It's a super supportive community of people, both current owners or hopeful owners, who talk about everything guide related.
Flyaway-Rainbow16 2 points 3y ago
I got my first guide at the beginning of this year. My life would be totally different without her and she is absolutely amazing, but she's demanding and is a total attention seaker.
You're going to be one of two people as a guide dog handler. You're either going to love people interacting with you about your dog, or you're going to hate it.
Also, your dog will be distracted by weird ass things nobody else's dog is ever distracted by.
E.g. My boyfriend's dog (m), was distracted by girls. Not female dogs, but girls.
My girl is super distracted by motorbikes/bicycles.
You're going to be one of two people as a guide dog handler. You're either going to love people interacting with you about your dog, or you're going to hate it.
Also, your dog will be distracted by weird ass things nobody else's dog is ever distracted by.
E.g. My boyfriend's dog (m), was distracted by girls. Not female dogs, but girls.
My girl is super distracted by motorbikes/bicycles.
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