I’m a guide dog owner - ama

[Guidedog]

I’m a guide dog owner, I have seen quite a few musings about guide dogs in the past on here, so go on, AMA.

Has your guide dog ever taken you somewhere he/she shouldn't?

Where do they retired guide dogs go?

@DailyMaui He is very obedient so generally not. But one of the very useful things about guide dogs is that they will usually offer you places you’ve been before, which is helpful not least for keeping your orientation when out and about. If you don’t want that place you just say a cheery ‘not today’ or similar and carry on. My guide dog is particularly enthusiastic at offering me pet shops, and always a little more reluctant to carry on on our way if I don’t take him up on the offer

@shakeyourcaboose It depends on the individual circumstances of dog and handler. Many guide dog owners keep their dog in retirement. Sometimes that isn’t possible, e.g. if the owner works full time it can be difficult as guide dogs are used to being around people and so can’t be left for long periods. The owner may not be well enough. Or when the dog retires it might be felt it is ready for a quieter life and wouldn’t enjoy having a new young dog bouncing around the place.

If the owner is not keeping the dog they can nominate a friend or family member to have the dog. That person will be subject to a rigorous home check and if suited the dog will go to them. This is nice for the dog as it will generally already know the person well.

After that the dog will usually be offered to the volunteers involved in its life in the past, e.g. the person that took care of it as a puppy or boarded it when it was in training. This is a lovely option too as the dog will be going back to a family it know.

If none of those options are suitable the Guide Dog charity will find the dog a suitable home. There is always a waiting list of people wanting to rehome a retired guide dog. All potential homes are carefully vetted for suitability and dogs are matched to the best owner for them.

So one way or the other they all end up in a lovely home. Although it can be heartbreaking for the owner if they need to give up their dog at retirement even though we may know it is for the best, particularly as we have such close bonds with our dogs,

How do you tell him where you want to go?

@Dramaattheschoolgate We don’t tell them our destination, but give them step by step instructions. These are relayed through a combination of voice commands and hand signals. In theory it is our job as the handler to know the route. So for example, personally I do things like count the number of roads we’ve crossed to keep track of where we were on my mental map so I can then tell him when to turn etc.

Essentially the dog is trained to go in a straight line from one kerb to the next, avoiding obstacles, indicating stairs etc. When they hit the kerb we then tell them which way to go.

I say “in theory’ because they are very bright and can do familiar routes on auto pilot really, even though we should keep giving the commands. E.g. if I were to leave my house dressed for work in the morning I have no doubt my guide dog would happily take me to work with no further instructions from me.

Also as mentioned above they will often offer you familiar places as you pass them which is helpful.

They are also trained to find specific nearby things on command. What’s they are taught to find depends on what the owner needs, but mine can find lifts, escalators, steps, chairs, doors, shop counters, bins, wide ticket gates at stations etc.

I don't have any specific questions but I just wanted to say I think guide dogs are bloody amazing. Whenever I see one out and about I could just stare at them for ages. So clever.

Your comment about your dog and the pet shops has made my day

just loving the idea that he helpfully takes you to the pet shop!

I hadn't realised that you had the 'map' so to speak and told him where to go. That makes a lot of sense.

Non doggy question, how are you accessing mn, does your device read the comments out loud?
I would love to know what voice it gives people (now there is a tech challenge, devise different voices for all the people in a mn conversation!)

I was once at a classical music concert and there was a guide dog lying quietly a few rows in front. Then, during a particularly quiet part it started to snore. Has your dog ever embarrassed you?

The concert hall staff then came and asked if they could take the dog outside so it wouldn't disturb the concert but the woman wouldn't let them. What would you do in such a situation? Do you feel very vulnerable without your dog, and is another person being in charge of your dog a bad thing? Does the dog get mixed up?

I think it's absolutely right that assistance dogs should be allowed everywhere, but what should happen if the dog is disrupting the concert for performers and audience?

My friend is a trainee dog boarder and the difference in the dogs from the start of training to when they leave her care is insane.

Although they are highly trained they are still animals at the end of the day, does your dog have any weird doggy habits that despite being a very well trained dog he can't stop doing?

I have had labradors before, and I know that one of the reasons that they are so great to train is because of their very vast appetites... I was going to ask how easily led astray guide dogs can be? (Especially around primary schools at lunch time, for example...)

Just to say I am loving the idea of the dog guiding you to the pet shop!

@Guidedog how long were you waiting for a guide dog?

How much training did you have to do before you could have a guide dog, or do you learn with the dog once you get them?