Journal

Guide Dog Training Diary - Audio Diary First Half

In Summer 2007 I applied for a guide dog, little knowing that it would not be for a further two years until I was finally able to train with Vance, my wonderful German Shepherd.  During the intervening period I searched the internet high and low for information on what it was like to train with a dog.  There was plenty out there on the puppy walking process, and on how the dogs are prepared during their advanced training, but very little indeed on Guide Dog Owners’ experiences of meeting that new dog for the very first time.

I decided to fill that gap by both writing down and recording my thoughts as I went on.  Further down this journal you will find some short articles that I wrote in the latter stages of my formal training, which give an insight into the highs and lows of that time.  I have also recently been publishing on http://audio.fm/rjnet entries from my audio diary, charting day-by-day the process of learning to use a guide dog.  I have to-date, posted the prologue, and about one week’s worth of entries, and these are linked to below.  The entries from later in my training will be posted as soon as possible.

I hope that this audio diary serves as a useful resource for anybody thinking of applying to train with a guide dog themselves, as well as for those who are just inquisitive about the process.  Please let me know what you think using the comments button below.

Guide Dog Training Diary: Preamble Part 1

Guide Dog Training Diary: Prologue Part 2

Guide Dog Training Diary: Prologue Part 3

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 1 Part 1

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 1 Part 2

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 2

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 3

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 4

Guide Dog Training Diary: Pay 5 Part 1

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 5 Part 2

Guide Dog Training Diary: Day 6

More recordings will be posted shortly.  In the meantime you may be interested to visit the Guide Dogs website at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk .