Attending a Guide Dogs client day

As some of you may know, I’m on the waiting list for a guide dog. With the pandemic causing longer waiting times, I’ve been on the waiting list for nearly 2 and a half years. A client day was the chance to learn more about the process and meet some of the staff at Guide Dogs.

Read more: Getting a guide dog: I’m on the waiting list!

The client day

Guide Dogs rang me at the beginning of April about a client day. They explained what it would involve and I couldn’t wait for Tuesday 18th April. Despite being on the waiting list for some time, I’d never actually walked with a guide dog, so I was very excited to give this a go!

There were 6 visually impaired people from the local area who attended the day. We were split into two groups and did different sessions throughout the day.

Walking with a guide dog

My group drove to a near by house estate and got the chance to walk with a guide dog in harness.

I’ll be honest, I was pretty nervous about doing this. Not because I didn’t want to, but what if it didn’t work? What if I’ve waited this long and I actually couldn’t walk with a guide dog? I imagine this is a concern for everyone, yet it felt even more important due to also having a physical disability.

I walked with Dezzie who’s a small yellow Labrador cross retriever. At first, I was surprised at how slow he walked. I had expected guide dogs to automatically be a lot quicker. Dezzie preferred to just plod along, with his pace matched my slower walking speed. I had a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) next to me who also was holding a lead attached to Dezzie’s harness. This meant we weren’t completely alone and the GDMI could easily intervene if needed.

What was it like?

It just felt so freeing. Walking along a housing estate on a sunny day and not being hyper vigilant about obstacles was a welcome change. I normally find it really hard to navigate when it’s sunny due to the glare. All I can see is a white bright blob. I suppose it was the perfect time to try walking with a guide dog as I got a chance to try it when my sight was at its worst. 

The walk wasn’t too long, but we stopped at a few curbs, crossed roads and worked on verbal commands. This included rewarding the guide dog when they completed a task. Dezzie was so happy throughout and loved the praise.

It might just have been a glimpse into the future, but it was amazing. Dezzie and I both didn’t know the area, but were able to navigate and cross roads together. At the end I was able to give Dezzie a good fuss for doing a great job.

Adjustments I might need

Currently I need to use a walking stick and a long white cane. I used to swap and change depending on the situation. However, as my vision has deteriorated, it became very difficult to walk without a long white cane. This was one of the reasons why I initially applied for a guide dog. A guide dog will enable me to use my walking stick in my right hand and work a dog on the left.

Due to my cerebral palsy affecting my left side, I was unsure if I’d be able to hold onto the harness correctly and for longer periods of times. When having my initial assessment, before being added to the waiting list, they spoke about a ‘built up’ handle. This would be a thicker handle to hold onto. When walking with Dezzie I got to try this out. It certainly was easier than using the traditional handle and I was able to hold it comfortably. You could say it was a bit like putting a foam noodle over the handle, so it’s chunkier.

It was great to know that these options are available. If the handle didn’t work, they are able to train a guide dog to work on the right. However, as a standard rule they’re trained to walk on the left.

Learning the basic steps of training

In the afternoon, I was taught some of the basics that I’ll need to know when working with a guide dog. All of the training is based on positive reinforcement and it’s clear the dogs love what they do!

Training with a guide dog (Guide Dogs)

During the session, the training included:

• using a clicker or verbal cue when the guide dog has done the correct behaviour.
• how to give your guide dog a treat when they are working in harness.
• getting the guide dog to lie under your legs which can be useful when sat in a busy area.
• using the command ‘touch’ to get a guide dog to come to you and physically touch your closed fist.
• getting the guide dog to rest their chin on your knee, this can be used to check their ears or eyes.

It was so interesting to know more about the training and what it will involve. It was also a chance to meet lots of different guide dogs and see how they they might be matched with certain people.

I really enjoyed the training and feel more confident about being matched with a guide dog. There’s a lot of things involved, but the staff were so supportive!

Final thoughts

Throughout the day I spoke to the other visual impaired people who were there. It was really nice to know we weren’t alone, especially as some of us had been on the waiting list for a long time. Some of them had previously had guide dogs. It was amazing and exciting to hear about how life-changing it is. It’s obvious that the bond between human and guide dog is truly special.

Not only that, the staff at Guide Dogs were so supportive. There were certain elements of the training that I wouldn’t be able to do. This is due to using a walking stick or wearing AFO splints that hold my foot at 90 degrees. It was reassuring to know that it could all be adapted and it’s something a GDMI could support me with during training.

I’m so excited for this next chapter in my life. A guide dog will open so many doors and give me so much more independence. I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait.

~ Chloe x