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]

I love it persis ! The more people know the better.

[LauraAshleyDuvetCover]

Signed Some of my family puppy walk too.

I know a girl at dancing who has a GD - he's lovely. He's a very elegant dog, he there lies with his paws crossed very neatly, unless he thinks somebody might step on him, then he shuffles backwards on all fours, looking a bit daft

[LauraAshleyDuvetCover]

Obviously he's on all fours, because he has four legs... I mean he doesn't stand up properly

[RhodaBull]

I really think it's a slippery slope people training their own guide dogs. If you want a helpful dog (if you are, eg, limited in some mobility) then that's fine - some dogs can be trained to get the washing out of the machine, pick up things etc. But that's where it ends. I don't think that dog should wear an "official" vest.

The dogs I know in training are especially bred so that they are known to be particularly placid. You can't just take a pet and think they can fulfil the role. Confusion or excitability could be very dangerous - think of crossing a road.

[candykane25]

I agree. Self training so it is of benefit is one thing but to be accredited is another.
My old pet dog was exactly that, not trained. However she instinctively understand my eyes and ears were crap and adapted her behaviour without training - she didn't bark, she put her head on me instead. She woke me up by touching my nose with her nose. If I dropped something she would stand by it and point to it with her nose. She alerted me to doorbell ringing. She developed super fast reflexes to get out of my way. She was enormously helpful to me. But she wasn't an assistance dog and I never thought of her as one.

[PersisFord]

She sounds adorable too!!! What happens to assistance dogs when they retire? Do they come to inexperienced dog owners with rowdy toddlers ?

[candykane25]

I think there's a long waiting list :)

[readingrainbow]

Signed. Enjoy your new furry friend - hopefully everywhere!

[candykane25]

Thank you

I'm off to the local GD training centre tomorrow with my GDMO (mobility officer). There's been a new intake of puppies so I am very giddy.

[Adarajames]

Oh I've met some rather naughty guide dogs, ones that have stolen ice creams from kids as we've gone past and owners of course hasn't seen anything! I think there's always a danger of that however well trained a dog is when it's a canine dustbin aka Labrador!!

There are some service dogs (official not fake!) that are pets that are trained to do what their owners need, know a few of them; it's very expensive though as often need to self fund or do some sort of fund raising to cover the costs as its not such a big charity as GDs is.

I've thought about puppy walking but would hate giving them back!

[TyneTeas]

Bumping

[Catinthecorner]

This is lovely to read. I'm a puppy raiser (different organisation as I'm not in the UK).

Just to say, alot of the emotional assistance dogs in the US are PTSD dogs - generally with ex-military types. In the states you can't ask the disability, but you can ask what service the dog provides and offer a human alternative. You can also ask badly behaved dogs to leave.