Guide Dogs and other assistance/service dogs

[candykane25]

Next month my dual purpose guide dog comes to live with me and I am excited beyond belief.it won't be easy, there's a lot of work involved in being a guide dog owner (GDO) and no doubt I'll be sharing my journey in various posts around the site!

The below petition has been set up by Guide Dogs (the organisation, not cyber dogs ;) ) and it is about Access All Areas. Unfortunately 49% of GDOs have been refused access in the last year.

Here is how one GDO described it

“Each refusal is crushing, confidence shattering, rejecting, and traumatic. I always feel that I don't want to go out after - but work dictates I must.”

Personally I know how hard it is to step outside with a disability and get through the day and face numerous barriers and hiccups and misconceptions. GDOs are challenged on a regular basis and really, just want to get on with their day. Here is the link and any question, I'm happy to have a go at answering.

www.guidedogs.org.uk/supportus/campaigns/access-all-areas/how-can-i-help-the-access-all-areas-campaign#.VxCjHkV4XCQ

[candykane25]

On long haul flights, cabin crew are trained to set up a spending area (toileting).

[LarryStylison]

Why would someone 'fake' a guide dog?

[SecretWitch]

I would love to sign but am in the US. Sending my love and support to you though,..

[Floralnomad]

larry , it's not guide dogs that get faked it's other assistance dogs and I think it's so people can take their 'ordinary' pets in places where 'ordinary pets are not allowed ie shops / restaurants / theme parks etc .

[ThursdayNextIsMyHero]

Signed

[candykane25]

Thank you secret

[PersisFord]

I am just popping on to say that documentary is lovely tate. As is your dp's dog uptown

[TyneTeas]

signed and bumped

[balalalala]

Signed.

[Honeybeam]

Signed :)

[candykane25]

You are all lovely

[UptownFunk00]

Thank you Persis.

[DropZoneOne]

Signed.

My brother is blind, he briefly had a guide dog but she had to be retired and he decided his routine meant he could manage without one. Having a gd gave him confidence though.

Best of luck being a gdo.

[WannaBe]

"I know a few GDOs who get asked if they are training the dog because we look far too young, fit and trendy to have a visual impairment (the young, fit and trendy bit is tongue in cheek." I think that sometimes the public are just generally unobservant, or just make assumptions. I get asked if I'm training my dog and whether he is still very young or even a puppy. He will be eight next month. .

Similarly however some of the stories which guide dog instructors tell of how the public assume they are blind, try to drag them across roads, talk down to them etc can be hilarious. even though guide dogs in training wear different coloured harnesses and have "guide dog in training," tags on their leads etc.

There are actually two people in the UK who have self trained guide dogs, and who are fighting to get these recognised by Guide dogs because technically they're not allowed in shops etc as they're not officially qualified as guide dogs. This is in fact a bit controversial because if a self trained dog is badly trained, and plays up in public for instance then Guide dogs still get the complaints because guide dogs is a recognised name iyswim. But guide dogs don't want to put their name to the training of dogs they've had nothing to do with.

Sometimes dogs do retire early due to a number of reasons. My second dog was withdrawn when he was five due to severe dog distractions. My ex MIL had two dogs withdrawn early due to behavioural issues. And sometimes an issue might mean immediate withdrawal or potentially just bringing the process forward somewhat.

My current dog is eight in May and I know that next year we will need to start having conversations about his retirement and me going on the list for a new dog. Because the preferred option is to have a dog which is still working relatively well at retirement so it gets a good retirement. So hopefully he will retire by the age of about ten, or perhaps a bit younger, but the list can be a longer one so I would go on it when he's about nine so that the process is as seemless as it can be. In both previous instances my outgoing dog has retired on the day my new dog has arrived. However, current dog had surgery in February to remove a cyst from his left eye (which meant he was out of work for two weeks), I know that it is a condition which may recur, and if it does then we may need to start the process of looking for a new dog sooner than that. Currently his eyes are ok again. It's actually quite scary to think that for a time I actually was walking around with a half blind dog. It was only through ds' observant skills that he noticed he had a mark in his eye. Otherwise who knows when it could have been picked up.

[JuxtapositionRecords]

A relative of mine who is blind was refused a taxi by a company as their drivers wouldn't like the dog due to religious/cultural reasons. They had no alternative! She has also been made to feel very uncomfortable because of the dog by a couple of doctors for the same reason.

I understand their views but it is really soul destroying to someone who has enough challenges to deal with as it is.

However, it isn't just because of cultural reasons people object the dog. Many times she has been told she is cruel for having a guide dog, that dogs shouldn't be made to work. On the bus she has suffered a barrage of abuse for having the dog on there and taking up space (the dogs sit under the seat but obviously do take up room which can't be helped) and again been told it's cruel to take a dog on a bus. People have fed the dog bits of food at restaurants etc which completely ruins what the dog has learnt and obviously my relative can't easily see what's happening until it's too late. Children come up and stroke the dog without parents intervention which again confuses the dog, and will refuse to explain to the child what the dog does it why it is needed.

Guide dogs are amazing. They are doted on by their owners as they give them a lease of life they wouldn't otherwise have. My relative adores hers and they are so protective of each other. When guide dogs retire they get the cream of the crop of owners as everyone wants an ex guide dog.

Sorry bit of a rant there! While this petition is great I wish we could have a bit more public education on these things.

[candykane25]

wanna it's a very intense thing isn't it. I've observed others going through the transition.
At the weekend whilst out shopping I met a guide dog in training. She was actually with her Puppy Walker and goes to the training centre today. The PW gets her next dog tomorrow. It will be her 17th dog. Isn't that amazing. I thanked her for what she does and I actually got a bit choked up. She let my DD give the GD a treat as I explained having a dog will be a completely new thing for her, she's 2.

[PersisFord]

Ooooh, while I have this excellent opportunity....if we see a guide dog I say to my kids "that dog is busy working so we mustn't bother him, but just look at his nice fluffy ears (or whatever)", is that ok? They might point and squeal but they never touch. But now I am worried that's it's really annoying, esp if you have a super cute dog and you are just trying to get somewhere!

[candykane25]

persis every GDO is different I suppose but I would live that, knowing that you are educating your children but also being positive. I've always talk children never to approach any dog without the owned permission. As a pet dog owner in the past I was amazed how many parents just let their children pet my dog without checking with me first - my d dog was a gentle soul but you just don't know how they'll react.
maryz as you will know obedience training in the cornerstone of assistance dogs so it would be confusing to me if they weren't behaving well.
I did laugh at a very serious presentation I went to, a guide dog obviously took offence at something and randomly barked just once, very loudly, startling everybody. He was taken out by his GDO with a sheepish look on the GD's face.

[WannaBe]

maryz had been wondering how you were getting on with the puppy. Will you get another one when he goes back?

I once encountered a parent whose child was misbehaving, and as I approached the parent said "if you don't stop right now that dog is going to bite you." . I was fuming and told her that she really shouldn't be saying that to a child about a guide dog. Posted about it on here at the time and was flamed and told that the parent must have been having a bad day and I sounded uptight. .

I have no issue with people talking about my dog to their DC. My rule of thumb in terms of stroking is that if I'm in one place and the handle is down, if people ask I will generally say yes. If I'm walking down the street then no, I'm not likely to stop and let you stroke my dog (yes people do ask, or try to stroke them at road crossings etc). But I always reiterate that people need to ask because A, not all GDO'S want to let the public stroke their dog, and B, if you stroke the dog without my knowledge, he will be distracted, I will think he is playing up and then I will correct him. And at that point you often get someone say "oh it's ok, I'm stroking him." Err no, it's not. .

[UptownFunk00]

Jux DH has had the same problem re: taxis especially those with Islamic beliefs.

[UptownFunk00]

Persis that's absolutely fine and respectful - a lot of parents just let their child get on with it or worse, actively encourage them.

[PersisFord]

I always make them ask first in case the dog doesn't like children and also because I like to say that everyone should ask before they touch anyone. But they are for some unknown reason quite scared of dogs so I like to point them out and say nice things when we see them. Do all assistance dogs have something on their lead to identify them?

This is a v useful thread for me, lots of questions I've wanted to ask for a long time!! Sorry to derail it though candy

[RhodaBull]

My friend (and dog trainer!) trains assistance dogs. I was in the Coop with her a while ago and the dog was practising paying (very cute!). She had to go in owner's bag, take out wallet and hand to the cashier. [If it were my dog, he'd be off and at the butcher's with my credit card...)

Anyway, this woman in the queue started ranting about it was disgustingly unhygienic allowing a dog in a supermarket and letting him go up to the cashier. Training friend was as calm as anything, and placidly explained to hrrmmphing customer how valuable it was to a disabled/blind person to have a dog who could perform a variety of tasks like this.

I do see the point about "fake" assistance dogs. The problem has increased in the US, with people apparently buying fake coats from the internet so they can take dogs on planes/in shops/theme parks etc. The law there is that someone cannot be challenged as to their disability or requirement for dog, and also someone can claim that their disability is that they need reassurance (from a chihuahua in a handbag?!), so the fakers are getting away with it - and the consequence is that this abuse impacts on of genuine assistance dog users.