BUSSELTON residents Josh Yates and Jeanette Lynn both live with vision impairments and have shared the experience of using a guide dog for the first time.
The pair both received their guide dogs Java and Tinker two weeks ago and have been training with Guide Dogs WA.
Over three weeks, Mr Yates and Ms Lynn will take the dogs on three walks up to four hours a day.
Having a guide dog will give them greater independence to do the things they love on their own without having to rely on canes or other people for help.
Both Mr Yates and Ms Lynn had used canes to help them get around and said it was hard getting used to trusting the guide dogs.
“Having a guide dog is a more gentle means of transport rather than using a cane and people telling you stuff all the time,” he said.
“It is a big change and you need to have enough work for the guide dog otherwise you would not have one.”
Mr Yates said it was a big decision to get a dog because of the responsibility involved in looking after it.
“Although it is a good help there is a lot to it and the decision could not be taken lightly,” he said.
“Once I was ready there was a lot of anticipation it has been a challenge and now I have a mate which will give me greater independence.”
Ms Lynn said it was great to finally have a guide dog which can lead her to places and activities she had missed in recent times.
“A few years ago I had better sight and I was able to paint and do craft and go places without using a mobility cane,” she said.
“Because my sight has gotten worse, with blurriness too, I have stayed home more and would not go out, I thought that was stupid because there were dogs that could help me.”
For the first few months while Mr Yates and Ms Lynn learn about the their guide dogs it was important for people to ignore the dogs so they do not become distracted and remained relaxed.
“People are not supposed to pat guide dogs while their owners use the harness so the dogs can concentrate,” Ms Lynn said.
“When people meet Tinker or Java they might become excited but it is good for them to ignore the dog and wait until they are calm before patting them,” Mr Yates said.
Guide Dogs WA mobility instructor Barry O’Toole said the dogs do get distracted because they were still dogs and for some people it was quite a challenge.
“When people use a cane it gives them every bit of information in the environment so you are constantly concentrating,” he said.
“With a dog it is the opposite of that, you hold onto the harness so you do not have to concentrate as much.”
