Finding a Routine as a New Guide Dog Handler in the Pandemic
Hi, I’m Amelia and I happen to be blind. Up until recently, I navigated the world with a long white cane. By swinging the cane in front of me, I could feel the cracks in the sidewalk, the change in texture from cement to concrete, and the obstacles in my way. Now I have Riley, my new guide dog, by my side.
Riley is a blue standard poodle. He’s very smart, eager to please, and loves to guide.
Using a guide dog is a new way to traveling (new to me). Riley guides me around obstacles instead of my cane making contact with them. He helps me find doors, stairs, a place to sit, empty stalls in the restroom, my significant others car, and more.
Riley is a wonderful addition to my life, but unlike my cane, he is a living being, He needs food, water, walks, snuggles, playtime, and much more. I am more than happy to provide for Riley’s need and do everything in my power to give him a happy life.
Personally, I have always been terrible at sticking to a schedule. In the past, I had a to-do list I would reference and cross things off. If I forgot to eat dinner or didn’t go to bed until 3:00 AM, it was okay because I was the only person I was affecting. However, with Riley my lack of concept of time is not good.
Riley needs a schedule to thrive and feel secure. This means as a new dog mom I need to get my shit together. So far we have discovered 7:00 AM is good time to wake up, go outside for a bathroom break, and have breakfast. Riley isn’t very interested in breakfast and usually lets me know he’s hungry around noon because he didn’t finish his food in the morning. This may change if we can figure out a better morning meal system. Riley has his evening meal around 5:30 in the evening.
He needs a chance to have water and go to the bathroom at least five times a day. I have chosen to couple together these activities, a potty break followed by offering water. His first chance is at 7:00AM, then at 8:30AM, next 12:00PM, then at 3:00PM, and lastly at 5:30PM for his evening meal. He has a final opportunity to use the restroom about 9:00PM in the evening but I do not offer water after that.
This is our current feeding/reliving/watering schedule due to COVID; however, it is subject to change as my commitments evolve.
Riley is a guide dog and needs opportunities to guide and do his job. In non pandemic times, this would be simple because I would be required to leave the apartment to be a functioning adult. At this time that is not the case. I work from home and do college from home. This means our outings are usually non utilitarian. We have been to the park many times, the coffee shop, the mall, on hikes, and more. Riley needs variety and challenges to remain happy with his work. It is difficult to provide him with that given the situation, but I am trying my best. And I hope we will have more of a need to leave the apartment soon.
I’m taking things one day at a time and trying to be the best guide dog handler I can be. Overall the change from a cane to a guide dog has been a positive one. It has made me more organized and my days are constantly brightened with Riley’s amazing guiding skills and personality.
