guide dog owner

I thought I would do something slightly different in this blog and try to get you to understand why a guide dog is much more than just a means of transport for visually impaired people.

When I first completed my training with Ed we had a couple of weeks at home trying to get him used to routes at home and work and also to the two other dogs that lived in the house as well. This worked extremely well and Ed fitted in great and learned his routes well and we were given the all clear that we had passed the training course and would be out and about on our own. (Of course with Guide Dogs help if required).

Within the first two weeks of this process I decided to visit my mum and show him off. My mum had been given the all clear from cancer at this time so it was a celebration. However when we arrived she was still very poorly and had not left the house for six weeks. She loved Ed straight away and could already see the bond we had. Later that week we had a call to say she had been taken into hospital so we rushed off to see her. Again Ed seemed to be really intuitive and could tell something was wrong. We decided to stay at her house for a few days until it was determined what was wrong with her. So for poor Ed it was another big change in his life as he had only just got used to living at home with me and we were now in another strange environment.

On talking to guide dogs I was told I could take him back to the kennels whilst we were away or we could keep him at my mum’s house but to make sure he did not get too stressed and he was kept to his strict routines, which we did. So poor old Ed had to learn new routes and learn how to cope with regular visits to the hospital to see my mum.

Later that week we were given the bad news that the cancer had returned and she may only have a short time to live. It was indeed short and she sadly passed away within a week. Ed coped so well and gave great comfort, not just to me but also to my family. It was as if mum had known her cancer was back but had decided not to go through with another bout of chemotherapy all she wanted to know was was I safe with Ed and how did he work with me. She saw that he was in fact a great dog and she was happy to know I was safe so she could go peacefully.

It may seem strange for me to say but Ed appeared to ‘know’ what was happening and knew my mum was ill and he would put his head on her bed so she could pet him whilst she was going through the pain of the cancer. He could also ‘feel’ my moods and never took advantage of me whilst I was down and we were out walking. He could sense so much more than I thought and would come over to me when I was feeling down to comfort me.

When relatives and friends came to the house for the day of the funeral he greeted them all and had a little lick of comfort for them. It’s now been twelve months since mum’s death and people still talk about how great he was.
Without him I don’t really know how I would have coped he was always there for me and we kept his routine to ensure he felt comfortable and knew his role. Even walking around the shopping centre I came across a lady who introduced herself as a nurse from the ward where mum was and she commented at how great he was and had said that both nurses and patients were all sadden by mum’s death but also were delighted at how good Ed’s behaviour was in and around the hospital.

It goes to show that guide dogs are so much more than a way to get out and about; they are friends that will comfort you when you are down and bring a spark of light to a very difficult situation. Ed never lets me down and with careful handling of each other we can get through anything.

Day 8, in the morning my trainer came back with the other 2 ladies around 11am and then it was my go and we did a bus journey into northampton and worked back to the car which went really well.

In the afternoon we did a quiet relaxing walk in a rural area of Northampton which was lovely and again went really well but Day 9 didn’t go too well on either of the walks.

He did better in the morning than afternoon whilst the others did good in morning but better in afternoon but Tex just did not want to cooperate yesterday afternoon so overall not a successful day for us but I do hope it was just an off day and that he will be back on top form on Wednesday……

Day 6 was very interesting but definitely helped me to have more confidence and trust in Tex. We went to the busy town centre of Northampton and as you can imagine on a Saturday the streets were heaving with people, entertainers and even a robot!

Tex was very interested in it but he was still very good and didn’t bash me into anything and he is so careful going round obstacles it’s really nice to know I’ll be safe with him. In the afternoon we did another shopping centre walk but just a small one this time and again he was brilliant.

Day 7 We have now completed a week and are doing extremely well. My trainer took the other two ladies and their dogs for a free run and they had a fantastic time but poor Tex had to wait till the afternoon so we did a nice relaxing but again very hot walk but he was brilliant despite never having been there before.

He did get his reward of a free run in the afternoon when my family came to visit and he loved it and we got to see Toby & Pip our pet dogs too as apparently Pip had been really depressed since we came away for the training which I think is very sweet and know someone loves and misses me!

Back to hard work again on Monday…

Day 5 again went overall very well but Tex and I still had confidence issues which I’m hoping will keep improving as it’s certainly slowly improving already.

First walk we went to a different area which the dogs weren’t as familiar with so at the beginning Tex was quite reluctant to do as asked so we had to do things again a couple of times but towards the end he got going and became quite positive.

The one thing I was really pleased about was when he stopped before this big flat yellow cover on the floor which was slightly raised he stopped to alert me that there was something there and he then when I said forward he went very steadily around it whilst the other 2 dogs even though none of them were right or wrong, one of the dogs walked straight over this cover and the other dog gave it an extremely wide birth as she doesn’t like different floor surfaces but it’s interesting to think all dogs do it their own way.

Second walk we went back to our usual place but parked somewhere a bit differently and we went through a supermarket, did crossings and it was a lot busier environment and most of the walk he was very good and kept positive despite the hot weather whilst the other 2 dogs were quite sluggish during the last walk as it was extremely hot weather and tiring for the dogs.

The trainer then went home and we chilled until dinner at 7pm which again was lovely and we had a good laugh and chat together.

Buses maybe on day 6

Day 4 turned out to be successful and unsuccessful for the class. In the morning we had breakfast and then whilst the other 2 ladies and trainer went out to do walks I went to my room sorted myself out, spoke to mum then took Tex out to do a little obedience session, grooming and spending before so that I was ready to go out for my walk.

We had the dog care & welfare lady come and do a talk to the other 2 ladies whilst I went out on a very successful first walk and I certainly felt happier with the walk yesterday. Afterwards however I joined in on what was left of the talk and came in just in time for her to talk to us about our individual dogs.

Texan was born 5.9.2009 and his dad was a golden retriever called Hancock and his mum was a black Labrador called Vectra and he is pretty healthy apart from having had an ear infection in sept 2010, the talk went on till 2pm and it was only meant to last an hour! Little did we know that our trainer’s manager was meeting us at 2pm so we were about an hour late had to rush our lunch and get out asap but fortunately the walk pleased both of them which we were relieved about but we could only do a short walk and I think we were all glad to finish that day.

Another new and beautiful day today, more to come..,

Day 3 of training turned out to be an extremely sunny day but very exhausting too. On the whole a very good day.

After breakfast my trainer took one of the other ladies and myself out to the same training area as on day 2 and we just extended it by a little.

The first walk of the day went fairly well but my right shoulder work position was not right and on a couple of roads he would slow right down and so I had to take the lead in my right hand and get him to go quicker across a road by checking the lead forward and be nice and positive too.

Walk 2 was a little less successful on Texan’s part bless him, as he was tiring due to the heat and his confidence definitely needs building as he would again slow right down when crossing some roads, looking up as if to say am I doing ok. He really slowed and wouldn’t cooperate at one point so my trainer sort of pushed him from behind and said get on with it and he was ok after that but it was extremely hot and exhausting for both us and the dogs so we were glad for a sit down and slept really well last night.

Got up this morning had breakfast and now I’m waiting for my trainer and the other 2 ladies to come back before taking me out for my walk at 11. More to come tomorrow…

Thanks to everyone who commented on my first blog entry.  Today was a fairly typical Monday, I suppose, but I thought I would give you a flavour of what a typical Monday is for Jay and me.

Brisk walk to work this morning – we work at County Hall which has lakes and woodland nearby.  We walk past the lake on our way in and this morning Jay stopped abruptly on the path just before the steps.  A loud hiss alerted me to the fact that he was nose to beak with one of the swans.  They are a bit hostile at this time of year!  All I needed to do was put down the harness handle and walk past on the grass, which the swan found more acceptable.  I wonder if it will be there tomorrow.

Today was a busy day and I seemed to have meetings all over the place.  The building is a bit of a rabbit warren.  I know it pretty well and we often play a game which involves me directing Jay on where I want to go on the way to the meeting but allowing him to find his way back without direction from me.  He’s very good at getting back to our office and clearly enjoys the game.  We have to pass through a number of turnstiles but he has got used to these very quickly – he can duck underneath but has to wait for me to use my access pass so that I can follow him.

Lunch time we walked up to the Countryside Centre for another meeting and lunch.  There is open grassland on the way where other dogs are often running free.  Initially Jay found this tremendously exciting, but although I know he would love to join them he will now walk fairly steadily past.  His obedience is pretty good so I could risk letting him off for a quick scamper on the way back.  I was with a sighted friend.  Jay has only disgraced himself once – running off to see someone who was throwing a ball for their dog and then wallowing in a slightly smelly pond.  Thankfully, he dries quickly.

I expect tomorrow will be quieter and Jay will spend much of the day under my desk, but we never quite know what will happen in a day.

Bye for now.

Sandy

Our second day was alot more interesting than day 1. We had breakfast and then did a short obedience session before my trainer went off to talk to the other 2 ladies about grooming.

We then had lunch before going out at 1:30pm to do our first proper harness walk together which went “super” and felt really good to be back out with a dog by my side.

We then were back by 3:30pm and while our trainer took the last lady out I spoke to my family, then went to the gym for half an hour and had a bath before speaking to a friend who gave me a call.

Time flew by and before I knew it I had to spend Tex before going down for dinner where the other ladies brought their 2 dogs who were both very good I had to leave Tex in the room but he was absolutely fine. It was then time to watch some tv before spending Tex and going to bed and there was no noise from Tex and I slept really well ready for the day ahead. More to come tomorrow…

Hello,

I have now done my first day of training with Texan. It was a very quiet first day. Arrived at 11:15 at the Hilton, Northampton on 4th April 2011. Mum, My Trainer, Tex and I went to my hotel room where I was going to stay and funnily enough it was the same room I had when I trained with Pearce 2 years and 5 months ago and all my memories came flooding back.

I then was given orientation by a mobility trainer around the hotel. Once finished I went back to my room and mum showed me where everything had been put and then we hugged, said goodbye and here I was again in my room alone with Tex until My trainer told us it was time for lunch.

We had a lovely lunch and afterwards my trainer and other 2 clients came into my bedroom to talk about our training and our dogs, I was then left in the bedroom whilst she went to explain about the equipment etc to the other 2 ladies. She then came in to my room at 5pm to watch me feed Tex and spend him in the run outside. We then were left to bond till 7pm when we all went down for dinner me forgetting Tex! How could I!

We only finished our dinner at 9:30pm and it was off to spend him for the last time, ring my family, have a bath and get ready for bed. Slept well, Texan was a star again and then got up at 7am, changed, spent him, washed myself and got ready for breakfast which was Rice Krispies. Now just waiting to do some obedience before doing our first harness walk this afternoon which I cannot wait to do!

More to come soon…