Biscuit’s Blog: Life of a Guide Dog

Introduction

Thank you for reading my guide dog blog in celebration of Disability Pride Month! I should start by introducing myself. I am a 42-year-old guide dog Labrador, that is 6 years old in human years; I'll never understand why you humans divide my age by 7 and make things so complicated. To answer the most common question I am asked, my name is Biscuit. I am told this is a very appropriate name for me, I am not sure if this is because I am the colour of shortbread, or because I just LOVE biscuits so much! When my human, Stacy, calls me in the park, I am often accompanied by many other dogs who have misinterpreted her calling my name and who think they may have a chance on getting their paws on my biscuits from mum's special treat pouch. To use a very appropriate idiom... fat chance!

From pup to professional

From the day I was born, I knew I was special and people have been telling me this ever since. At first, I had no idea why I felt special, or why I received so much attention from everyone around me. I was always being given special games to play; such as walking up tilting balance beams (easy) to playing in big plastic tunnels. I loved these games, because I was always very good at them and when I was good, I received lots of treats. They said I was a very motivated little pup! I had lots of playtime in rooms with different noises gently playing in the background, such as trains, buses, people, bangs and construction noises. I was closely watched to see if any of these noises would bother me, but I could eat and sleep through anything! This is still a handy skill I possess to this day. I spent my puppyhood in the countryside in Hertfordshire, with a lovely family, but I always had puppy dreams of the big city and bigger and brighter things to come. Then, one day, I was told that I had the fortitude and motivation to become a London guide dog, and that I would be moving to the 'big smoke' to start my proper guide dog training! This was my 'Hogwarts' moment and I was so excited for the challenge and fun ahead!

Treats and training

I spent the next six months in a flat share with a lovely man in the King's Cross area. He was my official border and so I lived with him for free and I was the envy of so many commuting dogs! I was also given a swanky outfit to wear, which connected me to the person I was walking with via a handle. Everybody would tell me how smart I looked. I was always offered the chance to put my head in my special harness and was never encouraged to put it on if I didn't want to. I always wanted to, as I loved exploring and still do. I was told it always being my choice to put the harness on was a very important thing. I know it is very important to my human mum even now.

Every day I was out and around town, in London, with my trainer; learning routes and getting used to the London life. I learned to watch and safely navigate the traffic. I quickly got used to the noise and using the various methods of transport; tube, bus, train etc. I loved all of it and was always keen to learn, for a treat or two of course! I don't work for free, minimum wage, at least two pieces of kibble for each task and some short praise in an excited tone. I learned to locate lifts, tube barriers, bus stops, doorways and even escalators, which are such fun! I learned to always stop at kerbs, steps and crossings. I learned to avoid all obstacles, but had to do so in a way that seemed to imply I was so much bigger than I was. I remember thinking 'how much space do they think I need?!' It was only later I would fully understand that all these tasks, and the extra room, was so I could keep my human mum safe from any harm, after I would eventually qualify.

Meeting my match

In the late summer of 2018, I was told they had found me a human to manage and that she and I were the perfect match. We met in August and began training together in October. We spent one week in a hotel in central London together and then I moved into her house, where I would live with her. The training continued, with me getting to know local routes, to the shop, bus stop or local tube and train stations. There were also so many parks for me to play in, which I still do most days.

I was surprised the park runs continued, as I did embarrass myself the first time we ever went for a free run. I was running alongside my human mum and my trainer and we were doing recall training, which I have always been good at. Coming back for treats is definitely something I excel in! However, on that particular day, we happened to walk past a building with its door wide open, when suddenly, my nose was filled with the scent of freshly cooked bacon. Well, I was in there like a shot. Some big men screamed and dropped their rolls for me to have, which was very kind of them. Then my trainer came in and took me out. It was fine though, as we do positive reinforcement training, so I never get told off and really, who can resist a bacon sarnie?!

Tails on the tube

I spent the next few months settling in and going to the office with my human mum, which I still absolutely love! The commute on the tube is amazing, with people just smiling at me or talking about me all the time. I take mum to the tube and put two feet up to indicate a step up into the carriage. Often, many people will give up their seat for mum, but not once to they ever actually tell her this, and this is where I come in! I find an empty seat and rest my head on it for mum to find. That’s another treat in the bag! I often then settle on the nearest pair of shiny shoes and take a little nap on the way to the office. People step over me and my presence always seems to create an echo effect of people saying 'mind the guide dog' which is then transmitted down the whole carriage. Mum always protects me to ensure I am never stood on, but often I will have a whole circle of strangers forming a protective circle around me as well. I was told Londoners aren't very friendly, but this is not my experience at all!

Okay, we did have a few incidents where strangers would shout at mum, saying they hated dogs and telling her to leave, but this was rare. Luckily, my mum can be quite the Rottweiler when she needs to be and would tell them that they had to leave and she made sure they didn't come near me. I didn't take it personally, I don't like cats, so each to their own I suppose! As long as people don't exclude me from their shop, hotel, or taxi etc, as this is against the law, as it means mum can't go the places she needs or do the things that other people can.

Biscuit about town

I always wake up early, eager to see what the day will bring. Mum tells me, but I'm not listening, I am thinking of how many treats I'll get if I am good. We go almost everywhere together, so I am well-travelled and well-cultured, for a dog anyway! I love accompanying mum to concerts, festivals, theatre, dinner or on adventures abroad or doing things like rock climbing in the countryside.

I always leave the house, with my head up and tail out and wagging, this lets mum know I am happy and eager to do my tasks for the day. Mum directs me, left, right or straight on. If we are going somewhere I have been already, I already know the way, as I am very good at memorising routes. As I make my way through the busy London streets with my human, I ensure she doesn’t walk into anything. This can be tricky, as there are so many obstacles, such as bins, street furniture and the one I hate the most, parked cars! These often mean mum and I need to go into the middle of the road to get around them. I have been taught how to do this of course, but it doesn’t make it safe.

When we need to cross the road, I find the crossing and then touch my nose to the pole with the button on it, so mum can find it. Occasionally, people will try to grab hold of mum and pull her across the road, but not on my watch! Sometimes they try and touch me when I am working, but I completely ignore them, as they should not be distracting me and I know this. I do love a fuss and I am always allowed petting and cuddles when my handle is down and mum says it is okay.

Forming the bond between me and my human is the most important thing. In time, mum and I became like one in the same object, moving seamlessly, when walking together, as if every movement and feeling is transferred through my handle. If one of us gets nervous, the other one knows it. This happened a lot at the start, but not any more. This connection means mum can feel every movement, so she knows with exact precision, when to turn, or when to take a step up or down. I also always pause at the top and bottom of every step or staircase and mum taught me a special blocking manoeuvre especially for escalators. We have complete trust in one another and this allows us to navigate busy environments and go on adventures!

Bonded forever

From pup to fully qualified guide dog is a varied journey, and then being paired with my human mum to be part of my pack forever is very special and we have a very strong bond. If I need anything at all, I put my head in her lap and she gets it for me, whether it is a toy, food, out, or simply just a cuddle. I have grown up a lot since I first became a guide dog, but I am still a pup at heart and love nothing more than a toy and a cuddle. I always try and get on mum's lap for snuggles. She still says I am too heavy, but never pushes me off! My human mum will always be in my care and I will always be in hers, even after I retire at 70.

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