Preparing for Guide Dog Training

For almost a decade, I’ve been using a white cane as my mobility aid. After my first guide dog, Nev, went to the great kennel in the sky in 2012, I wasn’t ready to train with a new guide dog.

It seemed easier to continue my independent travel with a cane and at other times, with my trusty ‘guide-man’, Harry, who was more than willing to assist. This made me a little lazy, knowing I had his support if I needed it on difficult outings so life went on.

But as my sight continued to fade, it was becoming obvious to me that where once I felt confident on my own on a busy street, I was beginning to falter and to feel stressed. I began to imagine a guide dog by my side, and how much easier it would be to follow a guide dog to the right door or station platform.

Yet, doubt crept into my thoughts: was I ready to be ‘tethered’ 24/7 to a canine companion? Couldn’t I simply improve my white cane skills with an Orientation and Mobility instructor?

Decision Time

After many months of considering my options, I noticed how much more I was imagining a competent guide dog by my side. On those days when I became anxious, my intuition nudged me to bite the bullet and apply for my second guide dog!

I contacted Guide Dogs Victoria (GDV) and after all the appropriate paperwork and visits had been completed, I was on the waiting list. I hadn’t specified a particular colour or gender of guide dog, as I understood that to be matched by our personalities was more important than anything.

Surprise Time – Get Packing

When the call from GDV came a few months later, I learn that a guide dog had been chosen to meet my needs. But unlike the last time when it was usual practice to only introduce the new working team once at the training centre, this time, my trainer would bring the dog to meet me in my home to get a preliminary feel for our compatibility. So two trainers came to introduce me to Dindi – my possibly new guide dog

On jumping out of the vehicle, a young and trim black labrador showed little interest in me. She was just a dog, and I was just a human. Dindi sniffed vigorously at the ground, distracted by the new smells in this neighbourhood and ignored any eye contact with me. But I knew not to take this personally; while her trainer Christina was in close proximity, she held the dog’s heart and attention.

It was after our walk, when Dindi gently lay across my feet that I felt the possibility of forming a bond with this guide dog. Wwhen asked by Merita, the other trainer,

‘Can you see yourself being able to work with Dindi, or should we give her to someone else if you are not ready?’

I quickly said, ‘Yes. I’d like to give it a go.’ Having experienced her spritely and curious nature, she seemed the kind of dog I could grow to love.

One month later, I packed a suitcase for the intensive 3 week training that would take place at GDV, choosing clothes to be colour-coordinated with my new black guide dog!

Making Space or Nesting

During this time of preparing for a new dog to live in our home, I visualised Dindi, my little black lab, in various places around our home: on a mat in the kitchen, or on a cosy dog-bed in my writing room, or sleeping on another mat in the lounge room while Harry and I watched TV.

I was nesting!

My internal world was making a space for her in my heart and Harry felt it too. He took me to look at toys and bedding in a pet store and laughed when he saw me placing new doggy-toys in various rooms as if we were having a baby.

For me, it was a process of getting ready to welcome a new personality who was about to enter our lives as a significant member to our household.

Welcome to Guide Dog Living

From the moment I entered the accommodation centre, I was bowled over with the generosity of GDV staff. A chorus of ‘hellos’ greeted me as 3 guide dog trainers waited to welcome me and four other clients as we came one by one to be shown around our new ‘home’ for the next 3 weeks.

Before we could meet our guide dogs again, we had a group chat in the lounge area and here, we were given our surprise show bags, with certain items we’d need for the care of our special dogs.

After lunch, we went to our individual rooms – and it was here, where guide dog and new handler were asked to spend some quiet time together in getting to know our dogs.

Meet Dindi

The first 24 hours with Dindi was not what I had expected. She was fretful and showed signs of separation anxiety from her trainer. She was obviously more of a ‘sensitive’ dog who needed me to consider her needs in this new and unfamiliar situation.

My heart opened to her even more and I tried not to be too concerned; we would go gently and slowly in our new relationship as guide dog and handler. What happened the next morning is a moment I will always treasure.

In the next post, I will share how Dindi and I went from being strangers to new found friends!

Copyright © Maribel Steel 2019