Journal

Four Weeks On

8^th September 2009

Introduction

At the start of August 2009 I began training with my first ever guide dog, a German Shepherd called Vance.  In the run up to the start of class I spent a considerable amount of time preparing my website for the posting of articles and audio diary entries.  Well, I'm afraid I have a bit of an apology to make...

Journal Article

On the 10th August 2009, after two years waiting on a very long list, I finally began training with my first ever guide dog.  Vance is a very large black and tan German Shepherd, weighing in at around 47kg!  We had first met each other, briefly, back in July, when I had the pleasure of test driving him - checking out is accellaration, cornering and general maneuverability.  He was then, as now, a superb dog - intelligent, fast and inquisitive - a brilliant guide and an even better friend.

 I had originally planned to chart my progress with both prose and audio diary entries.  Sadly, as fate would have it, on the night before training began my computer decided to drop down dead.  Then, to compound issues, I was then prevented from returning to my flat by the unavailability of spending (toileting) facilities for my dog.  So, I have had, and indeed still have, no access to my home computer.  Therefore, although I have kept an audio diary throughout my time training, which will hopefully be of some interest to you, I currently have no way of posting it.

 Suffice to say, training at the hotel went very well.  I don't want to suggest it was a walk in the park, or anything like any course you may have been on before - on the contrary it was incredibly intensive - but it was amazingly rewarding, and a truly positive experience.  The time was helped considerably by the staff of Barnett Hill who were exceptional in their service, and who I cannot thank enough for their help and support during the time.

After returning to my temporary home, things have progressed well.  I finally qualified almost a fortnight ago - paying my 50p to take formal ownership of this wonderful dog.  The time since has been split between work, learning the occasional route, and attempting to free-run Vance on the weekends.

In due course I hope to post the audio diary, and perhaps some written articles.  In the meantime I can only apologise for building up your expectations without being able to provide anything to date.  Hopefully when it comes however, like my time on the guide dogs waiting list, it will prove to be well worth the wait.

In the meantime you may be interested to read an account of learning to use a guide dog from one of my classmates on the course: http://terrioshaughnessy.blogspot.com/

Robert Johnson