5 ways my GUIDE DOG helps me WITHOUT training

[@Koda_Grey]

Koda does the first three things. It’s wonderful to have that extra sense of independence that wasn’t there before. Koda has also learned to find certain people so if ever I get disoriented I can say something like, “find dad” and she will. Really helpful in crowded environments. However, the biggest way Koda has helped me outside of the typical guide dog work is with managing my anxiety. I have extremely bad paranoia and she has learned to pick up when I’m anxious. She will lean against me or nuzzle my hand for affection. She has also taught herself to wake me from nightmares. In addition she helps a lot with becoming a healthy non intrusive stim. Instead of doing something more obvious or distracting I either pet her or readjust her harness. It has helped my hands be calmer in a way I didn’t expect.

[@lizvdp8066]

Oh cool! My service dog is named Koda too! My Koda is a boy, though ;)

[@brielledawnwolf8513]

I have a multi-purpose service dog with guide tasks. He learned to find and follow people I know by himself, I was so proud 🥺 Zenith is such a good boi

[@GoldiDox]

Hi Kay!! As I've said before, I have Zenith's brother Zeke. They are very similar LOL. Zeke absolutely finds our table In a restaurant, without fail every single time. If I go to use the restroom, or if I go up to a salad bar Etc, Zeke guides me right back to where we were sitting regardless of whether we had sat at same table on prior visits to that particular restaurant. And yes, this is a wonderful thing! Most guide dog users that I've known over the last 36 years that I've been partnered with guides say their dogs do the same thing. So it's very common. Zeke will also find people I know in a store or anywhere else we happen to be for that matter. It's really helpful when I go shopping with a friend and we split off and go and do our own thing and then meet up later. Zeke and all of my prior guide dogs would just automatically find the person I came with. My parents thought this was amazing when I was a new guide dog handler way back in the mid-80s. As for puddles, Zeke picks and chooses which puddles he wants to avoid LOL. Sometimes he walks through them other times he walks around them. He doesn't stop at every gradual curbs, but he usually stops at driveways where there's not a definite curb. I actually like that he does that, as I have always have a big fear of traffic and I'm much more comfortable with a dog that stops or at the very least slows down a good bit at driveways. I'm not really sure if Zeke chases bugs away LOL. I know that if there's a fly bugging me he will snap at it. Other than that I wouldn't know if there was a bug around anyway because I can't see it.

[@lizvdp8066]

My service dog does the going up to people he knows thing too when he is guiding me. I am not blind, but my service dog does guide me when I am either dissociating or about to faint or when I am too dizzy to still navigate safely on my own. I did train him a command to find certain people when needed, but he generalized it. I think that because he knows I am in a bad place that he assumes I need more help. His main job is alerting me to fainting, blood sugar drops, dizzy spells and seizures, so I know he knows I feel bad. I just love that he automatically seeks extra help for me.

[@craptos6938]

The bug thing is amazing!!

[@jericamayberry1517]

My guide dog, Milo, does the puddle thing. I don’t think he was trained to do this at GDA (Guide Dogs of America), but after relieving he will sit facing me to let me know he’s finished which I love!!

[@kumarakantirava429]

Amazing. Thanks for explaining these.

[@kelseysparks1528]

My guide dog dose the puddle thing too and he does number 4 too. He will stop at all driveways.

[@Scarletlight525]

I actually taught my dog to guide me around puddles, if possible. Like Zenith he will go through them if necessary, and he will walk through them himself while guiding me around one. I hate wet feet so this is great! And I hsve also taught him the crosswalk thing with our regular routes.

[@sankhulani]

Great video- ur dog is a genius!! How does he know u want to go back to the table at a restaurant rather than leave the restaurant??

[@jessicawatson7360]

Mine does all those finding things too: when it comes to the puddles, she’s just walk me through them and go around it herself lol. She’ll also find any crossings.

[@JessG.01]

Out of curiosity, if you were to go to a theme park and wanted to go on a ride that Zenith isn’t able to go on ie a roller coster,, what happens with him, are the workers allowed to take care of him? Also i have just watched a couple of your videos,, he is such a good boy☺️

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

That’s so awesome that Zeenith help you in so many ways and that many of them are things you were even trained for. I have heard of other guide dog handlers who have taught their dogs define people they know and or bring them back to their restaurant tables but that’s so cool that he did it without you having to teach him. I am thought about that before, how they might not want the dogs to guide you around puddles because they could choose to do that rather than taking you around an obstacle but it’s really good that is able to do so without compromising your safety. As someone who is currently in the Guide Dog application process I found this video to be very interesting and enjoyable to watch.

[@PawsWithPurpose]

What school? I got accepted into GDB. I’m still on cloud nine.

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

@@PawsWithPurpose congratulations, that’s so exciting. I was excepted to the school I applied to as well. GDF.

[@asecretcourtofcrowsandcloc4084]

Hi Kay. I hope you’re doing well and having a nice end to the semester. I’m currently taking the prep course for my senior theses class. My topic is going to be the impact having a service dog has on the in person social interactions of college students. I’m asking all of the service dog handler‘s I know if they would like to participate and since you’ve had your Guide Dog for a while and correct me if I’m wrong but in all four years of your degree right, I wondered if you might be interested in participating in the study.

[@maditarainbow]

Hi, maybe you can do a video about all your commands for Zenith. I'm blind and will train my dog from young age throughout all his education myself. I'm thinking about training him with english commands and don't know them all. That would really be helpful for me knowing everything he's able to do and the according commands to that 😘

[@FreshyFreshman]

Hi Kay i am a huge FAN!! Just wanted to say that I am getting i a guide dog soon because i am going to college in the fall and i am super excited and nervous to get him/her. any advise that you could help me in college and with the guide dog?

[@fromkaytozee8132]

That’s so exciting!! Good luck with your dog, and have fun in college :) I think the most important thing is to go into it with reasonable expectations. Having a new dog is hard. They don’t know you yet, and they’re trying to test boundaries. Don’t expect the dog to be a perfect little robot who will never make a mistake. It’s a lot of work, especially at first, but it’s worth it in the end for the safety and Independence. Also you’ll want to remember to put the dog first, above your popularity or appearances. You’ll have to tell people no a lot (when they ask to pet, etc.), and you’ll have to do things (like correcting the dog in front of other people) that might make you look bad to other people, but you need to do what’s best for your dog first. You’ll find friends who understand, and it’s not worth being friends with someone who doesn’t want you to do what’s best for your dog anyway. There’s a learning curve at first, but I’m sure you’ll do great!!

[@FreshyFreshman]

Thank you so much! that was really helpful. I am getting my guide dog from the seeing eye where you got yours too. Once again thank you, i am a HUGE fan of yours, it’d be an honor meeting you some day!

[@GoldiDox]

@@FreshyFreshman I'm excited for you getting your guide dog from Seeing Eye! You are going to love it there. Everyone is wonderful . I'm currently working my seventh guide dog, my fourth from the Seeing Eye. His name is Zeke and he is a golden retriever, in fact he is Zenith's brother. Are you in the Seeing Eye graduate Network group on Facebook? If not you should check it out! It's a Wonderful group All graduates of the Seeing Eye, and those getting ready to go to the Seeing Eye.

[@taylorclarke-vandermark7414]

My guide dog does all of these things.

[@anonanon4399]

Hey Kay! I love your videos! I have a golden retriever mobility and cardiac alert service dog 💜 I was wondering if you and zenith have an Instagram?

[@jessicawatson7360]

If someone’s following behind me she’ll turn her head to them then turn back to me and touch my leg.

[@MNR2024]

First

[@woofmonster1441]

What are your pronouns?