Re: starting out with a guidedog.
Ouch, sorry I missed this topic, my mum has been in hospital earlier this week having an operation, though Cx2 and Cinnamon have largely covered a lot of things.
Firstly Brad, I'd recommend talking to guide dogs generally for information or just for general training. they're one of the few blindness organizations in the Uk I have any respect for, mostly because they don't take the "I can't because I'm blind" attitude. Guide dogs are obviously the main thing they do, but they also do mobility and other things as well (right now they're having a campaign group running to get audio announcements on busses manditory).
As regards some of your dog questions. Firstly, taking care of the dog is relatively easy if you can take care of yourself and are willing to take the time to do it. I personally had a bull terrier puppy when I was thirteen, (she was a pet dog not a guide dog but was very much my! dog not the family pet), so tak ing care of a dog was sort of second nature to me, however none of the things you need to do are so difficult on their own.
I personally use those rawhide stick bones for Reever for general treats, but to play I use a rag pull toy which i get out when needed, while I have some nylobones kicking round for her to have a chew of when she wants. One thing Guide dogs are good at is matching the dog's personality to your own life style. In your assessment you will get a long series of questions about how much you go out, what you do, whome you live with etc. With Reever the thinking was that while there are some points I'm in my flat all day doing my research, there are other times I'm running up and down the country going to singing courses or the like, not to mention commuting to my parents a lot, so I needed a very relaxed dog who'd just take things in her stride, which she is, although she also enjoys a play occasionally and likes other dogs.
If you s ay your uncomfortable with dogs who jump up, Guide dogs will take that into account. however, another major factor to bare in mind is emotional attachment, you don't worry about where your dog is, what it's doing or how it's racing round when you have lived with that dog for 24 hours and are absolutely sure that dog will not cause trouble, will come when you call etc.
one thing to remember about a guide dog is the more you put in, the more you get out. the more you practice not only walking with the dog but teaching the dog different objects, doing different routes etc, the better things will go, likewise, the more you trust your dog to know the commands your giving and be aware of your safety the better things go.
Emotionally, i will say with Reever it wasn't easy sinse she really! didn't want to be around me she just wanted her trainer, and for someone like me who gets on extremely well with most dogs, having a dog who spent three weeks lying in front of the front door was pretty dysmal. It's however gone the other way now and I'd not be without her, indeed she now follows me around constantly and is probably my closest friend. This works out for me as well, sinse I can for instance completely trust reever when I'm out, as well as continue to teach her more commands and objects to find I was quite impressed when she not only learnt the statue of the footballer bryan cluff in the center of Nottingham where my parents live (which I was using as a landmark), but also could associate the word "statue" with other statues as well. Indeed, while it is perfectly true that you can! get around with a cane no problem, having a guide dog seriously! cuts the amount of effort required in walking. For example, instead of being constantly aware of every possible obstacle on the road in order to avoid it, even on a subconscious level, you can just relax and think about your route (or indeed anything else), and r ely on your dog. The same is true of finding steps, crossings on roads, bus stops, doors etc.
As to going out with the dog, well it's a good idea as Cx2 said to go out around 6 days a week even if your not actually going anyway. Even though Reever is very lazy, I try to do at least a 40 minute walk each day at least, (and if that 40 minute walk just happens to pass the very nice local sandwich place and I pop in for breakfast, well that's not my! fault )., I also let her have a free run in the grassy area behind my flat, or take her for a quick, off harnice walk as well.
This probably sons more hassle than it needs to be, indeed I found I got used to it fairly quickly.
As regards leaving the dog, I wouldn't say "never leave the dog", however I would say firstly make sure you leave the dog with another member of your family so that the re is someone around. Leaving a dog on it's own is a recipe for trouble, sinse dogs are pack animals (indeed abandoning a dog on it's own in a room is a good form of punishment), also I agree with Cx2, don't leave a dog often.
The only time I leave reever is when I visit my brother who is not alergic, but goes nuts if his house isn't exactly the way he wants it to be, and I leave her more for my peace of mind than his. I however leave her with my parents and my mum's guide dog Zia who she now knows very well and even is aware that if I leave her there I'll be back soon. Also note that alogies can vary a lot. my friend (and research assistant), said she had a fir alogy, however she decided to try coming roun when i had Reever, and found it okay so long as I made sure the place was clean and occasionally opened the windows. Indeed, She's now very fond of Reever and is one of Reever's favourite people.
As to getting used to dogs, to be honest I'd not advise finding a random pat dog or similar, sinse while that will introduce you to "A dog" it won't really let you know about living with and looking after a dog, plus you can't guarantee that the dog involved will be one you get on with. i'd suggest myself you go on one of guide dogs introduction days, where you will get the chance to meet a guide dog owner from the local area and likely practice several things like dog brushing and also walking with a dog.
For me, the first dog I tried was also a reject, and had the similar issues Cx2 mentioned, indeed I found myself having to constantly say "Hup hup" to get him to move forward which made me think I was pushing the dog. Seeing the trouble however, the man who later became my trainer put me with a dog called Ingle who I really! liked, sinse she was a hyper energetic, very tiny labrador who was ridiculously clever (not unlike my mum's dog Zia who I'm very fo
nd of). Oh, and that reminds me, one other bennifit I really like walking with a dog, no need to walk at a slower pace anymore either .
I'll admit a guide dog isn't for everyone. Some people just don't get on with ogs, and that is fare enough. I've also heard stories of people who do treat the dog basically as a mobility aide, which is dire, ---- and interestingly enough doesn't usually work out for them either.
Still, there is no harm in asking and finding out, and the bennifits definitely are worth it if you can! learn to be close to your dog.
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