Five things to know before applying for a guide dog

These are five things I wish I had known before getting a guide dog

Greetings Readers!

This month marks Blindness Awareness Month, and I recently asked on my Instagram what people wanted to read about and a lot of people asked to read more posts about my experiences using a guide dog.

So, by popular demand I will be sharing things I wish I had known before applying for one. 

I’ve been a guide dog handler since 2012 and have had the privilege to work with two wonderful dogs over 12 years.

First with my guide dog Unity who worked with me for 9 years until the end of 2020 and then my second guide dog Rosie who I currently work with.

Both very different, but wonderful in equal measure. 

But there was a lot I didn’t know before applying for my first dog back in 20211 that I wish I had known as a young 17-year-old with no confidence or mobility.

https://www.guidedogs.org.ukBaring in mind this is coming from my personal experience as a guide dog handler from the UK where guide dogs are primarily trained by the charity Guide Dogs UK, so the rules and laws that apply are pretty similar across the UK.

So, here’s everything I wish I could have told my younger self about getting a guide dog:

You need long cane skills

One thing I didn’t know before getting my first guide dog is that you actually need to have some degree of mobility using a long cane before you can get a dog.

Whether or not you like using your long cane, a lot of guide dog organisations will expect you to be able to know and carry out routes using your cane, so you are confident handling a dog.

But what’s more, it’s also very important to be able to have another means to get around in situations where you can’t work with your dog if they are unwell, injured or your dog retires.

So even if you’re not a fully paid-up member of the long cane club, get those long cane skills up to scratch so you are better equipped to have a dog.

Having a guide dog will totally change your routine 

At the same token having a guide dog is very different to using a cane in a number of ways.

For one you have to learn to change the way you walk to account for another being moving next to you and you also have to pay attention to what they are doing and how they are moving.

In some ways, it’s a lot less stressful, for me, than using a cane because I don’t have to concentrate so much on using my cane or worrying about overhanging branches.

But in other ways, it can be more demanding in terms of ensuring they don’t scavenge for things and that they have used the toilet before working them.

You need to be prepared to be refused access

Here in the UK, guide dogs and other assistance dogs are protected under the Equality Act Meaning they are legally allowed in most public places – with a few very small exceptions. 

However, this doesn’t mean that everyone will be aware of this and there might be occasions when you have to stand up for yourself if someone is trying to refuse you access from a shop, a cab or a restaurant. 

It’s not a pleasant feeling, but the best thing to do in that situation is to remain calm, explain your dog is a working guide dog covered under UK law and report the incident to Guide Dogs UK and other relevant managing parties.

There will be times you are better off not working with them

Even though for the most part you will probably have your dog with you nine times out of ten, there will be times you would be better off not taking them with you.

I’m talking about holidays in very hot countries, visits to hospital wards and even visits to certain places.

I recall one time I went with my first guide dog Unity to a zoo and whilst the zoo was incredibly accommodating, I found I would have been better off not taking her due to the areas I couldn’t go into due to them being open enclosures.

So, it’s something to keep in mind when you get a dog 

Be prepared to get a lot of attention

If you’re an introvert, you may need to get used to talking to a lot more people. 

Having a guide dog like having a great massive neon, flashing sign next to you attraction all dog lovers within a four-mile radius. 

In some ways, it’s lovely because people tell you they sponsor the charity and offer to give you help and support.

But in other ways, it can be a challenge if a load of people on the train are clamouring to pet your dog after a long day at work.

Either way, you will receive a lot of attention when having a guide dog.

Are you a guide dog handler? What do you wish you had known before applying for your first dog?

Let me know in the comments.