Guide Dogs - amazing!

[Chilternrides]

My mate has just passed his guide dog "driving test"

I'm probably more excited than he is - and believe me, he's excited.
He's had around three to four weeks to train with the dog and the stuff he has been telling me is incredible; I had no idea just how detailed the training is.

Many of you probably know much more about this than I do, but I'm in awe of the capabilities of these dogs and the people that train them - did you know that they look out for overhanging branches and sticky-out wing mirrors, and even point their noses at the pelican crossing "press to cross" buttons ? (apparently the person simply puts their hand on the dog's head and follows the trajectory of its snout to find the button). That's just the start of it - the attention to detail is quite something.

Having seen the difference that this has made to my pal's life, I'll be shoving a few more pennies than usual in the jar on the bar from now on.

Of all my senses, I fear losing my sight above all else but should the worst happen, then our furry friends will be there to help. Bloody brilliant!

 

[Simba]

Guide dogs are just a completely different breed of dog, I am a huge dog lover and seeing a dog look after its owner/handler for a change makes me smile. When I see a guide dog though I don't go to stroke them as I don't wish to distract them.

 

[steve52]

My mate has just passed his guide dog "driving test"

I'm probably more excited than he is - and believe me, he's excited.
He's had around three to four weeks to train with the dog and the stuff he has been telling me is incredible; I had no idea just how detailed the training is.

Many of you probably know much more about this than I do, but I'm in awe of the capabilities of these dogs and the people that train them - did you know that they look out for overhanging branches and sticky-out wing mirrors, and even point their noses at the pelican crossing "press to cross" buttons ? (apparently the person simply puts their hand on the dog's head and follows the trajectory of its snout to find the button). That's just the start of it - the attention to detail is quite something.

Having seen the difference that this has made to my pal's life, I'll be shoving a few more pennies than usual in the jar on the bar from now on.

Of all my senses, I fear losing my sight above all else but should the worst happen, then our furry friends will be there to help. Bloody brilliant!

im with ya and the first guide dog fund i find gets a fiver from me!

 

[Theseus]

Many of you probably know much more about this than I do, but I'm in awe of the capabilities of these dogs and the people that train them - did you know that they look out for overhanging branches and sticky-out wing mirrors, and even point their noses at the pelican crossing "press to cross" buttons ? (apparently the person simply puts their hand on the dog's head and follows the trajectory of its snout to find the button). That's just the start of it - the attention to detail is quite something.

One of the guys I work with and his partner are involved in the basic training for the puppies until they are old enough to start the proper training. The stuff they do is all about socialising them and getting them used to strange people and situations. On a couple of occasions he has brought one into work.

Guide dogs are just a completely different breed of dog, I am a huge dog lover and seeing a dog look after its owner/handler for a change makes me smile. When I see a guide dog though I don't go to stroke them as I don't wish to distract them.

When they are in "work" mode they will have the harness on & be held by it, they should not be unnecessarily distracted. If they are just on a leash with the harness handle lying on their backs, they are not working, but you should check with the handler before approaching.

 

[Mozzy]

My Uncle Geoff has had two GD's over 20 years and I know just how important these have been to him. Sadly the loss is hugely upsetting though.

Mozzy

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, they do a great job.

They can't work miracles though ... I was on holiday in Penzance once and saw an old blind woman out with her guide dog. She was trying to cross a road and the dog was trying to persuade her that there was a problem, which was that someone had parked a car in front of them in the middle of the road, rather than next to the kerb. She was obviously aware that there was nothing immediately in front of her and could hear that there was nothing coming so she was trying to walk forwards and the dog wasn't having it! I heard her chastising the dog and telling it not to be silly, there was nothing to worry about!

I watched for a minute or so, and finally decided that I ought to help out so I went over and explained why the dog was hesitating. She then allowed it to lead her down the pavement to a clear spot and go on her way.

I saw the woman and her dog about the town centre several times that day, and finally meeting up with her family in a park that afternoon. The dog had helped her navigate around what is quite a complicated little town centre.

Two friends used to work at the Guide Dog Training School in Leamington Spa about 30 years ago.

 

[Flying Dodo]

When I went to give blood a couple of weeks ago, one of the other donors had a Guide Dog in training with her. Very clever animals.

 

[Baggy]

They are absoulutely amazing.

I've had one episode where one couldn't quite get over its labrador instincts though, it sneaked up on me and nicked a whole piece of toast out of my hand!!

The owner was unimpressed and started berating me for eating in the street...as she carried on the dog kept looking abck at me, licking its chops.

In my defence I was about to get in my car to wait for the Autoglass repair person - someone on a trails motorbike had ridden over my car the night before. Finding the car damaged and then having my toast stolen made for a surreal morning!

Hope your friend enjoys getting out and about with his new friend.

 

[Crackle]

They are absoulutely amazing.

I've had one episode where one couldn't quite get over its labrador instincts though, it sneaked up on me and nicked a whole piece of toast out of my hand!!

The owner was unimpressed and started berating me for eating in the street...as she carried on the dog kept looking abck at me, licking its chops.

In my defence I was about to get in my car to wait for the Autoglass repair person - someone on a trails motorbike had ridden over my car the night before. Finding the car damaged and then having my toast stolen made for a surreal morning!

Hope your friend enjoys getting out and about with his new friend.

Pfftt!

Yes they don't even break stride to nick food. I used to pick one of my kids up from school and before he came out the pre school emptied. Hordes of kids used to descend on the dog, pull his ears and tail, poke him, push him, lean on him and he used to stand their wagging his tail. It took two or three visits before I realized he was taking big licks of wayward ice creams, deftly emptying pockets of bags, which he dropped on the floor, put his paw on and ripped open to demolish the contents. We stood elsewhere from then on.