What to do if someone you know has a new Guide Dog…

Settling In Process Prior To Training

It is essential that the Guide Dog feels welcome and content in its new home and you may notice that, initially it will want to follow closely behind the new handler, however the dog will assimilate quickly into its new household. We suggest the * Guide Dog should be allowed several days to settle in before visitors are invited to see it and it is important, when introducing the Guide Dog, that it is permitted to approach people quietly and calmly, rather than people making a big fuss of the Guide Dog.

It is preferable that the Guide Dog should be patted or stroked gently on the chest or side, not on the head; as this can be unpleasant and may cause the Guide Dog to back off. At these times, care should be taken to avoid making the Guide Dog the centre of attention; dogs feel this sort of situation very keenly and sometimes react adversely to it, by becoming either anxious or over-excited.

The new Guide Dog handler is advised to have the dog either on leash or tethered during the first few days. This ensures a successful toileting routine is established and reinforces the bond between the handler and the Guide Dog.

It is essential that the primary person providing commands to or playing with the Guide Dog is the new handler. As the training course is completed and the handler and their new Guide Dog become more confident and settled, the dog will gradually integrate as a member of the family. At this time family members and children may be permitted to play quietly with the Guide Dog when it is off duty. However, over-excitement and the practice of retrieving balls and sticks should be avoided as the latter could cause the dog to become distracted whilst in a guiding situation. In contrast, a dog playing with sticks and balls by themselves is more than acceptable.

The Guide Dog should not have a regular feeding time, as there may be occasions when keeping to a set time is inconvenient. We suggest feeding during a time range of approximately three hours, thus ensuring the dog should not become restless in anticipation of its meal.

It is essential that the dog does not receive tit-bits in addition to its regular meal. This habit can cause:

• a. inappropriate food distraction, which can put the Guide Dog and its handler at risk (for example, if the dog sees food in a guiding situation and concentrates on the food rather than on the task at hand);

• b. the Guide Dog to become overweight very quickly, leading to the onset of degenerative conditions, which may ultimately result in early retirement; and

• c. begging, drooling and other unacceptable social behaviour.

Settling In Process After Training Course

During guide dog training, Guide Dog handlers are instructed as to the most appropriate methods of handling their dogs whilst on and off duty.

The Guide Dog team develops real proficiency only through practice and experience. Instructors cannot provide that experience; they can only support the process and encourage handlers in the application of correct training methods.

It is desirable that the new Guide Dog team be permitted to express its independence in every way possible, even at the expense of making a few mistakes. We all learn by our mistakes.

Your encouragement at these times will assist the new Guide Dog team in surmounting initial challenges. Overcoming challenges leads to the development of a stronger bond and greater understanding between the handler and their Guide Dog.

The Guide Dog training programme is both physically and mentally demanding and you may observe that, on completion, the new Guide Dog handler may appear to be feeling tired or under some tension. The new team are "on their own" now, although Guide Dogs Tasmania are only a telephone call away. The early days are challenging and we encourage you to provide as much understanding and support as possible.