1 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,599 S1: This is Studio One with Sam Rickard and Lizzie Easton 2 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:22,320 S1: on Vision Australia radio. 3 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,200 S2: Hello, I'm Sam and I'm Lizzie and this is Studio One, 4 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:28,560 S2: your weekly look at life through a different lens here 5 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:29,960 S2: on Vision Australia Radio. 6 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,400 S3: This week or New Puppy. 7 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:35,040 S2: What's it like to get a new guide dog and 8 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,760 S2: do things get easier the second or the third time? 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,440 S2: A couple of our friends talk about their experiences. 10 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,519 S3: As we always say at this point, please do get 11 00:00:42,519 --> 00:00:44,520 S3: in touch with the show. Whether you have experience of 12 00:00:44,519 --> 00:00:46,960 S3: any of the issues covered on this week's episode of 13 00:00:46,959 --> 00:00:49,919 S3: Studio One, or if you think there's something we should 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,159 S3: be talking about. You never know. Your story and insight 15 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,680 S3: may help someone who's dealing with something similar. 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,680 S2: You can contact us via email StudioCanal Australia. Org. That's 17 00:00:59,679 --> 00:01:02,160 S2: studio number one at org. 18 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:03,840 S3: Or of course, you can drop us a note on 19 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:08,080 S3: our Facebook page by going to facebook.com Slash Radio Network. 20 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,200 S2: Welcome, Steven and Lizzie. How are we today? We've got 21 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,959 S2: a slightly overcrowded. Studio one. 22 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:17,920 S3: We do, we do. Um, we are pretty good, you know, 23 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:20,560 S3: happy for the change in weather, to be honest. 24 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:22,240 S4: Yeah. Took the words right out of your mouth. 25 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:25,200 S2: So, uh, we, of course, the fourth member of our 26 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:28,160 S2: little group here is, uh, your your new puppy, as 27 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:32,039 S2: it were, since we've decided to call this episode exactly that. 28 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:36,320 S3: Yes, she is with us, my faithful, trusty companion. 29 00:01:36,320 --> 00:01:38,880 S2: So, uh, we will kick off our first lot of 30 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,760 S2: questions with. So, what's your dog's name? 31 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:47,080 S3: Mackenzie. But of course, she's got nicknames. We call her 32 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:52,720 S3: Mackers McAdoo Mac Truck or just Mamma mia! And she 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,000 S3: responds to all of them. 34 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,400 S4: And a few words that you can't use on radio. 35 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,520 S1: UK spelt UK. 36 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,880 S5: So my dog's name is Kimba, but as with I 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,320 S5: would say most dog guides, she has numerous other nicknames. 38 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,239 S5: Let me think. We've got Ratbag, not Inchworms. Another one 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,320 S5: that she can get called quite regularly. 40 00:02:19,519 --> 00:02:21,040 S3: Inchworm. Do I want to know why? 41 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:24,280 S5: Sometimes we'll be sitting there at a restaurant or something, 42 00:02:24,280 --> 00:02:26,040 S5: and there'll be a bit of food on the floor, 43 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,840 S5: and we'll sit there nicely, and then you'll just feel 44 00:02:28,839 --> 00:02:32,639 S5: this little inch, inch, inch getting closer to the food. 45 00:02:33,079 --> 00:02:36,840 S6: My new dog is, um, Lottie. Interestingly, that's not the 46 00:02:36,839 --> 00:02:39,440 S6: name she came with, though. She, uh, she was an 47 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,120 S6: s letter for those of of, you know, everyone out 48 00:02:42,119 --> 00:02:45,319 S6: there that understands the way guide dogs work. Every litter 49 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,919 S6: basically gets named by the next letter of the alphabet, 50 00:02:48,959 --> 00:02:52,280 S6: a bit like the old, uh, cyclone hurricane style. But, uh, 51 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,799 S6: she was an s litter, and she came with the 52 00:02:54,839 --> 00:02:57,880 S6: unfortunate name of apologize to everyone out there with this name. 53 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,639 S6: But Sheila and I didn't think it would be appropriate 54 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,919 S6: for me walking down the road going, come on, Sheila, 55 00:03:04,959 --> 00:03:08,600 S6: get out of that, Sheila, you know. Ah, again, I've 56 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:14,119 S6: gotta pick you up, Sheila, you know. Um, so, um, yeah, 57 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:19,200 S6: a bit of a, a family, um, conversation happened around 58 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:24,040 S6: the table, and, uh, we, we settled on the name Lottie, which, um, 59 00:03:24,079 --> 00:03:27,440 S6: took a little bit of time to transition over to. But, uh, 60 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,520 S6: on the advice of, uh, you know, the, uh, guide dogs. 61 00:03:30,519 --> 00:03:32,680 S6: She's a guide dog, not a seeing eye dog, but, um, 62 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,320 S6: on the advice of guide dogs, they just said, forget 63 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,200 S6: the old name and use the new name. And she 64 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:44,040 S6: transitioned over pretty quickly to that. Yeah. 65 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,800 S2: All right. So many a listener would probably have heard 66 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,599 S2: the story of what happened to your previous dog, but. Well, 67 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:54,000 S2: let's hear it again. 68 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,840 S3: So Lacey had been with me from July 20th, 2015, 69 00:03:57,839 --> 00:04:00,600 S3: and I think it was definitely in the latter half 70 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:05,680 S3: of 2024. I started noticing some incidences where she would 71 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:08,880 S3: get really distracted and walk me into obstacles that were, 72 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:12,800 S3: you know, very much avoidable. And actually, it was the 73 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,559 S3: day that you and I went and did our recordings 74 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,920 S3: from Tech Fest, and she nearly walked me off of 75 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:22,080 S3: a train platform and down a couple of flights of stairs. 76 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,560 S3: And I thought, this just isn't working out and it's 77 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:29,080 S3: becoming a safety issue. So yeah, she was a ten 78 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:30,400 S3: when she retired. 79 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,400 S2: And, uh, how is she going now, though? 80 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:35,680 S3: Yeah. She's good. So she's still with us. Unfortunately, she 81 00:04:35,719 --> 00:04:38,560 S3: is getting old. She's. She's 12 now. Um, so she's 82 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:41,039 S3: got a bit of mononucleosis in the eye, which means 83 00:04:41,039 --> 00:04:44,599 S3: the eye cells are, like, breaking down. Um, she's got 84 00:04:44,599 --> 00:04:47,119 S3: some issues with her back legs, not arthritis as such. 85 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:51,479 S3: Just a bit of muscle atrophy. I think she's slowing down, but. Yeah. Steven, she's. 86 00:04:51,479 --> 00:04:52,200 S3: She's pretty. 87 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:56,400 S2: Well, I believe she's more or less your assistant's animal now, Steven. 88 00:04:56,440 --> 00:04:58,400 S4: Yeah. I was trying to figure out how I could 89 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:01,159 S4: get her registered as an assistant animal, but I don't 90 00:05:01,159 --> 00:05:04,320 S4: know if that's possible at all. But we basically just 91 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:06,240 S4: go out for walks and explore and let her be 92 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:08,040 S4: a dog, and she sniffs around, and we get a 93 00:05:08,039 --> 00:05:11,239 S4: little bit of exercise at the same time. I do 94 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:14,480 S4: use some of the commands still like like find left, 95 00:05:14,479 --> 00:05:18,200 S4: find right, leave it. Uh, I find the, um, find 96 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,960 S4: the curve. I find the ramp. Just just so she 97 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,400 S4: feels special, you know? And she's she still does it. 98 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,280 S4: And that's without the harness or anything. Just a leash. And, uh, 99 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,040 S4: we have a pretty good time together. She's always got 100 00:05:31,039 --> 00:05:33,360 S4: a smile on her face when we go for walks. Um, 101 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,240 S4: she tries her best. She can't do what she used 102 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:37,760 S4: to be able to do. Or walk as far as 103 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:38,880 S4: she used to be able to walk. 104 00:05:39,039 --> 00:05:40,920 S2: All right, so let's hear it from everybody else now. 105 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:48,279 S6: Nothing happened to her like she's still with us. She's, um. She's, uh, 106 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:53,080 S6: just a, uh, a beautiful house dog now, um, incredibly 107 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,200 S6: well cleaned house dog, which makes a heck of a 108 00:05:55,200 --> 00:06:01,920 S6: lot of difference about, um, September 2024. She, uh, it 109 00:06:01,920 --> 00:06:04,600 S6: was coming into the hot months again, and she was 110 00:06:04,599 --> 00:06:08,650 S6: just showing reluctance to work. She'd only been working for 111 00:06:08,650 --> 00:06:11,490 S6: roughly seven years, so it is quite a shorter amount 112 00:06:11,490 --> 00:06:14,210 S6: of time for a guide dog. Usually they'll they'll stay 113 00:06:14,210 --> 00:06:18,409 S6: in service longer than that. But I'm someone who commutes 114 00:06:18,450 --> 00:06:22,250 S6: a lot, and she was doing up to and exceeding 115 00:06:22,289 --> 00:06:27,730 S6: 30km of walking a week very early morning starts. And 116 00:06:27,729 --> 00:06:29,930 S6: she was just starting to tell me, you know, I 117 00:06:29,930 --> 00:06:32,849 S6: don't want to work anymore. And when she was working, 118 00:06:32,849 --> 00:06:37,170 S6: she was becoming distracted. And it sort of coincided with 119 00:06:37,170 --> 00:06:40,170 S6: a time that I was coming up for my yearly 120 00:06:40,170 --> 00:06:43,210 S6: review with Guide Dogs, and I mentioned it to him 121 00:06:43,210 --> 00:06:45,570 S6: and I said, well, let's do an assessment. And and 122 00:06:45,610 --> 00:06:49,690 S6: they agreed, yes, that she's absolutely showing signs of retirement. 123 00:06:49,690 --> 00:06:52,089 S6: And I'd also had a full health screen done on 124 00:06:52,130 --> 00:06:55,490 S6: her at the time and everything. No arthritis, nothing. She 125 00:06:55,490 --> 00:06:59,529 S6: was incredibly it still is incredibly healthy bloods, everything. And, 126 00:06:59,570 --> 00:07:02,010 S6: you know, um, I made the decision that she's been 127 00:07:02,010 --> 00:07:05,050 S6: so good to me over, over the time we've been 128 00:07:05,050 --> 00:07:08,289 S6: together that I want her to be able to still 129 00:07:08,289 --> 00:07:12,489 S6: run and play and have fun in her retirement. You know, 130 00:07:12,530 --> 00:07:14,290 S6: she's about to get another dog in the house, and 131 00:07:14,290 --> 00:07:16,050 S6: that's probably going to want to wrestle and play and 132 00:07:16,050 --> 00:07:18,530 S6: stuff as well. And I didn't want her to have 133 00:07:18,570 --> 00:07:23,170 S6: a retirement full of arthritis and health complaints. So yeah, 134 00:07:23,170 --> 00:07:25,689 S6: it took a little while. The process was was long. 135 00:07:25,730 --> 00:07:30,610 S6: And um, there was there was some strange hold ups 136 00:07:30,610 --> 00:07:37,370 S6: with NDIS, but um, yeah, uh, April 22nd the following year. 137 00:07:37,370 --> 00:07:43,650 S6: So last year, um, this crazy young yellow lab turned 138 00:07:43,650 --> 00:07:47,090 S6: up at my, um, at my doorstep. So. Yeah. And 139 00:07:47,090 --> 00:07:48,130 S6: that's where we are now. 140 00:07:48,530 --> 00:07:52,650 S5: So my previous dog, Violet, was retired due to health reasons. 141 00:07:53,250 --> 00:08:02,050 S7: Back in March 2024, she was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer 142 00:08:02,650 --> 00:08:05,650 S7: and had five weeks to live. When we found that, 143 00:08:05,930 --> 00:08:09,170 S7: and so I lost the love of my life in March. 144 00:08:09,370 --> 00:08:12,730 S2: Was was it hard to, um, try and even think 145 00:08:12,730 --> 00:08:14,090 S2: about getting another guide dog? 146 00:08:14,130 --> 00:08:21,130 S7: Absolutely. Because Bella, which was her name, was everything to me. 147 00:08:21,170 --> 00:08:23,330 S7: She was a guide dog, but she was a best 148 00:08:23,330 --> 00:08:28,930 S7: friend and she just had so much personality. But just, 149 00:08:28,970 --> 00:08:32,610 S7: I don't know, one day I thought, I'll never, ever 150 00:08:32,610 --> 00:08:38,170 S7: replace her, but I need somebody to step in. 151 00:08:38,530 --> 00:08:40,730 S2: Um, have you had previous dogs to Bella? 152 00:08:40,770 --> 00:08:42,690 S7: Yes, I've had three others. 153 00:08:42,850 --> 00:08:45,290 S2: Okay, so. But she was special. Was she? She was just. 154 00:08:45,450 --> 00:08:46,690 S1: She was fantastic. 155 00:08:48,290 --> 00:08:51,930 S2: So this was a subject that came up, uh, when 156 00:08:51,970 --> 00:08:54,250 S2: without me even really asking the question to Shane. But 157 00:08:54,250 --> 00:08:58,010 S2: he talked about second dog syndrome. Now, does that ring 158 00:08:58,010 --> 00:08:58,970 S2: any bells to you? 159 00:08:59,010 --> 00:09:03,570 S3: Yeah. Okay. So, Shane, I will say listening to your answers, mate. 160 00:09:03,770 --> 00:09:07,650 S3: So relatable. All of them are so relatable to me. Uh, 161 00:09:07,650 --> 00:09:12,530 S3: so Lacey had this very particular way of guiding and 162 00:09:12,570 --> 00:09:16,210 S3: of working, and she was an excellent little worker. She 163 00:09:16,210 --> 00:09:19,970 S3: was a pocket rocket. She was fit, and she had 164 00:09:19,970 --> 00:09:23,490 S3: no qualms about getting in and around tight spaces and 165 00:09:23,490 --> 00:09:26,810 S3: pushing through people. She was a little bit, maybe aggressive 166 00:09:27,090 --> 00:09:29,210 S3: in her guiding would be the word that I'd use. 167 00:09:29,730 --> 00:09:34,130 S3: I've definitely noticed with Mackenzie, there are some massive differences 168 00:09:34,130 --> 00:09:36,970 S3: in the way that she guides. Uh, for one thing, 169 00:09:37,210 --> 00:09:39,890 S3: she doesn't seem to understand. Hurry up. She's quite a 170 00:09:39,890 --> 00:09:44,290 S3: fast ish walker, but she doesn't seem to understand. Hurry up. Uh, also, 171 00:09:44,290 --> 00:09:46,930 S3: because she's a bit longer in the body than Lacey, 172 00:09:46,970 --> 00:09:49,610 S3: she has a tendency to drift over to the right, and, 173 00:09:49,650 --> 00:09:52,570 S3: you know, so there's just little distractions and things that 174 00:09:52,810 --> 00:09:56,290 S3: I've noticed with Mackenzie. And, look, we've only had her 175 00:09:56,290 --> 00:09:58,650 S3: for about five months now. As of Sunday, it was 176 00:09:58,650 --> 00:10:01,930 S3: five months. And, you know, I think she's still settling in, 177 00:10:02,130 --> 00:10:04,570 S3: but she's got she promises to be a good worker 178 00:10:04,570 --> 00:10:07,770 S3: as well, but she is completely different to Lacey personality 179 00:10:07,770 --> 00:10:10,010 S3: wise and working wise as well. 180 00:10:10,050 --> 00:10:12,450 S2: One thing I've noticed is when we're waiting for the bus, 181 00:10:12,450 --> 00:10:15,810 S2: for example, Lacey would be sort of at attention. Where's 182 00:10:15,810 --> 00:10:19,210 S2: that bus? What's what's going on here? This one? No. 183 00:10:19,210 --> 00:10:20,250 S2: She's napping. 184 00:10:20,290 --> 00:10:23,410 S3: Yeah. She's an energy conserving opportunist, I believe. Was the 185 00:10:23,410 --> 00:10:25,770 S3: word that you the words that you came up with 186 00:10:25,810 --> 00:10:26,490 S3: to describe her. 187 00:10:26,530 --> 00:10:27,850 S2: All right, let's hear from everybody else. 188 00:10:27,850 --> 00:10:32,730 S6: Then there's a thing that they call second dog syndrome. 189 00:10:32,730 --> 00:10:37,330 S6: And coming from a family of, you know, um, of 190 00:10:37,530 --> 00:10:40,450 S6: guide dog users, it was something that I was aware 191 00:10:40,450 --> 00:10:45,570 S6: of but never really understood the full impact of it. Um, 192 00:10:45,570 --> 00:10:49,010 S6: so because you grow and learn over time with your, 193 00:10:49,410 --> 00:10:52,730 S6: with your first dog and, and, um, you know, and 194 00:10:52,770 --> 00:10:56,450 S6: subsequent dogs, but you become a team, a proper team. You, 195 00:10:56,930 --> 00:10:59,490 S6: you can sort of read into what the dog is 196 00:10:59,490 --> 00:11:04,210 S6: thinking and vice versa. You become this absolute connected team. 197 00:11:04,530 --> 00:11:07,810 S6: And you know, Bri, my former dog, she was a 198 00:11:07,850 --> 00:11:11,890 S6: she was an exceptional dogs. You'd only have to teach 199 00:11:11,890 --> 00:11:14,930 S6: her a new route once and she'd remember it. And 200 00:11:15,450 --> 00:11:18,890 S6: she was also very focused, hardly any distractions at all. 201 00:11:18,930 --> 00:11:22,050 S6: She there were some frustrations with her, but, um, you know, 202 00:11:22,210 --> 00:11:25,450 S6: and that was easy straight out of the gate. But, um, 203 00:11:25,490 --> 00:11:29,250 S6: second dog syndrome is, is when you get your second dog, 204 00:11:29,250 --> 00:11:31,250 S6: you kind of feel that. Yep. I know what I'm 205 00:11:31,250 --> 00:11:33,610 S6: doing this time. I don't have to learn. Uh, the 206 00:11:33,610 --> 00:11:36,770 S6: dogs trained will go out and do it, but that's 207 00:11:36,770 --> 00:11:39,570 S6: not the case because you don't have that, um, you know, 208 00:11:39,610 --> 00:11:42,850 S6: common language that that vibe, if you will, between your 209 00:11:42,850 --> 00:11:46,690 S6: two and a dog's not a robot. It's a dog. 210 00:11:46,690 --> 00:11:50,450 S6: It's got its own personality, its own traits, its own habits, its. 211 00:11:51,130 --> 00:11:53,850 S6: And you got to learn them. And usually they say 212 00:11:53,850 --> 00:11:57,570 S6: around sort of six months is a is a time to, 213 00:11:57,970 --> 00:12:03,970 S6: to fully transition from one to the other. My new dog, um, Lottie. She's, um. Oh, 214 00:12:04,170 --> 00:12:08,050 S6: I'll just say she's an absolute beautiful dog in terms 215 00:12:08,050 --> 00:12:12,090 S6: of personality, but her. She is nowhere near the worker 216 00:12:12,130 --> 00:12:15,970 S6: that that Brie was. She's quite, um, you know, dog distracted. 217 00:12:15,970 --> 00:12:19,930 S6: She's food distracted. She's a lot of different things. But 218 00:12:19,930 --> 00:12:22,970 S6: when she is on, she is quite a good working dog. 219 00:12:23,370 --> 00:12:26,090 S6: But one thing over, Brie, she's got a lot more 220 00:12:26,090 --> 00:12:31,810 S6: personality than Brie. She's a, um, uh, a very affectionate, playful. 221 00:12:32,330 --> 00:12:36,490 S6: I've think I heard Lottie bark more in the first 222 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:39,930 S6: hour of having her than I have heard Brie Barker 223 00:12:39,930 --> 00:12:45,050 S6: her life. Um, you know, just so many differences. And 224 00:12:45,050 --> 00:12:50,050 S6: it is a big, a big transition. Yeah. Um, but, um, 225 00:12:50,330 --> 00:12:54,890 S6: you know, it's it's coming up to, well, eight months 226 00:12:54,890 --> 00:13:00,010 S6: now that I've had Lottie, and it's probably only been 227 00:13:00,570 --> 00:13:03,410 S6: since our trip away over the break. Um, it's the 228 00:13:03,410 --> 00:13:06,330 S6: first time I've travelled with a dog. I never travelled, um, like, sorry, 229 00:13:06,370 --> 00:13:09,170 S6: flown with with with Brie, but, uh, we flew down 230 00:13:09,170 --> 00:13:12,610 S6: to Adelaide, as you know, with, um, with Lottie. And, um, 231 00:13:13,530 --> 00:13:16,730 S6: that was actually a really big settling and and growing 232 00:13:16,770 --> 00:13:19,850 S6: time for her and coming back. She seems to have 233 00:13:20,330 --> 00:13:23,690 S6: come back as a, as a more focused working dog. 234 00:13:23,730 --> 00:13:27,770 S6: And the frustrations that I might have been having are 235 00:13:28,250 --> 00:13:30,210 S6: a lot less than they are now. So it's taken, 236 00:13:30,210 --> 00:13:34,050 S6: in my experience, about eight months. But, um, yeah, it's 237 00:13:34,050 --> 00:13:36,730 S6: now to a point where my trust is getting to 238 00:13:36,770 --> 00:13:39,850 S6: a level that it was close to with Brie. 239 00:13:40,450 --> 00:13:45,050 S7: What I have found with this one, she's very aware 240 00:13:45,050 --> 00:13:48,770 S7: of when we're walking along the footpath, there might be 241 00:13:48,770 --> 00:13:53,130 S7: plants sticking out or holes in the ground. She will 242 00:13:53,130 --> 00:13:58,370 S7: hesitate so that I know something's wrong. And I've never 243 00:13:58,370 --> 00:14:00,770 S7: had that with the other four dogs. 244 00:14:01,890 --> 00:14:05,730 S5: Violet was very much good for me at that time. 245 00:14:05,730 --> 00:14:08,810 S5: I was still in high school, so I needed a 246 00:14:08,810 --> 00:14:11,290 S5: dog who was quite happy to go from point A 247 00:14:11,330 --> 00:14:15,170 S5: to point B, sleep, wake up, go from point A 248 00:14:15,210 --> 00:14:21,290 S5: to point B, sleep and repeat. And that was a 249 00:14:21,290 --> 00:14:24,850 S5: good match for us. I mean, I learnt a lot 250 00:14:24,850 --> 00:14:28,650 S5: later that she probably missed quite a lot due to 251 00:14:28,690 --> 00:14:32,650 S5: some health stuff, but that was something I didn't know 252 00:14:32,650 --> 00:14:35,010 S5: at the time. But at the time of her guiding, 253 00:14:35,010 --> 00:14:39,970 S5: she was really good for that. Because I graduated year 12, 254 00:14:39,970 --> 00:14:42,610 S5: I did uni and all of that with her, and 255 00:14:43,210 --> 00:14:47,930 S5: Kim was one of these. She's far more active, far more. Yeah, mum, 256 00:14:47,930 --> 00:14:51,970 S5: we got this. Let's go, let's go. And it's like, okay, 257 00:14:52,010 --> 00:14:54,050 S5: so it's like I can throw her in a total 258 00:14:54,410 --> 00:14:56,810 S5: new area. And I remember doing this and I was like, 259 00:14:56,810 --> 00:15:01,250 S5: I'm trying to find a backstage area. I can't remember 260 00:15:01,250 --> 00:15:04,410 S5: what my support person was doing at the time, but 261 00:15:04,690 --> 00:15:06,250 S5: I was like, hey Kimba, let's go and try and 262 00:15:06,250 --> 00:15:08,570 S5: see if we can't find backstage. And Kim was like, girl, 263 00:15:08,570 --> 00:15:11,250 S5: I got you. She led me back to the backstage 264 00:15:11,250 --> 00:15:13,250 S5: area and I had no idea it was even there. 265 00:15:13,490 --> 00:15:15,850 S5: She's also the type of dog who, if I say 266 00:15:15,850 --> 00:15:17,570 S5: I don't want to miss a train, she's not going 267 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:21,250 S5: to let me miss that train. I remember being in 268 00:15:21,250 --> 00:15:24,690 S5: Central Station, um, all the way on platform 12, and 269 00:15:24,690 --> 00:15:26,650 S5: my train was on platform seven, and I think I 270 00:15:26,650 --> 00:15:28,650 S5: had about 2 or 3 minutes to get to the train. 271 00:15:28,650 --> 00:15:31,890 S5: And I'm like, right, Kimba, I'm not missing this train 272 00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:34,970 S5: because I don't want to wait another hour. So here's 273 00:15:34,970 --> 00:15:39,170 S5: this guide dog in him and streaking across Central Station. 274 00:15:39,330 --> 00:15:42,010 S5: We didn't miss the train, but yes, she is that 275 00:15:42,010 --> 00:15:42,890 S5: type of dog. 276 00:15:45,650 --> 00:15:48,810 S2: Now you're on to your second dog. And we have 277 00:15:48,810 --> 00:15:52,210 S2: the ability to not just compare dogs, but also compare. 278 00:15:52,930 --> 00:15:56,130 S2: What got you the dog and how the process has changed? 279 00:15:56,370 --> 00:15:59,010 S2: Is there anything in particular that you've noticed is different 280 00:15:59,010 --> 00:16:00,010 S2: this time around. 281 00:16:00,050 --> 00:16:03,450 S3: Yeah. Okay. Well, the first, um, first and foremost, the 282 00:16:03,450 --> 00:16:07,490 S3: biggest thing that I noticed is the NDIS makes things 283 00:16:07,490 --> 00:16:10,890 S3: so much harder. So when I applied to get a 284 00:16:10,930 --> 00:16:15,410 S3: seeing eye dog, uh, back in January of 2014, the 285 00:16:15,410 --> 00:16:19,690 S3: NDIS wasn't a thing. It. Well, at least it might 286 00:16:19,730 --> 00:16:23,650 S3: have been conceived, but it hadn't been rolled out. So 287 00:16:23,690 --> 00:16:26,850 S3: when I got Lacey, uh, I had to cover her food. 288 00:16:26,850 --> 00:16:30,370 S3: I had to cover her vet expenses and grooming. ET cetera. 289 00:16:30,410 --> 00:16:32,930 S3: ET cetera. ET cetera. Now, one good thing that came 290 00:16:32,970 --> 00:16:36,090 S3: out of that was that because Cedar is partnered with 291 00:16:36,090 --> 00:16:38,890 S3: Greencross Vets, I did get a bit of a discount, 292 00:16:39,210 --> 00:16:42,490 S3: but this time around I still had to go through 293 00:16:42,490 --> 00:16:46,170 S3: the assessment and the medical paperwork. But we had so 294 00:16:46,170 --> 00:16:50,010 S3: many problems trying to get the funding for NDIS. Probably 295 00:16:50,010 --> 00:16:52,610 S3: not as many problems as what other people have had. 296 00:16:53,130 --> 00:16:56,490 S3: We did manage to get it through in our first, um, 297 00:16:56,530 --> 00:16:59,500 S3: change of circumstances for the plan. I know of people 298 00:16:59,500 --> 00:17:02,220 S3: that have have had to fight for a year or 299 00:17:02,220 --> 00:17:04,260 S3: more to get a dog, and even when they do 300 00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:06,580 S3: get it, they get the support. Hours slashed. I was 301 00:17:06,580 --> 00:17:09,980 S3: very lucky in that respect, but still, we're having trouble 302 00:17:09,980 --> 00:17:15,500 S3: with actually having Vision Australia fully paid off for Mackenzie. 303 00:17:15,580 --> 00:17:18,899 S3: So yeah, our NDIS has made things a bit difficult. 304 00:17:18,900 --> 00:17:21,780 S3: But apart from that, yeah, the process of actually applying 305 00:17:21,780 --> 00:17:24,740 S3: and being assessed and getting the dog is the same 306 00:17:24,740 --> 00:17:26,420 S3: and the training is much the same. 307 00:17:26,820 --> 00:17:30,780 S2: I understand that the NDIS wanted to, uh, divide the payments, 308 00:17:30,780 --> 00:17:31,220 S2: as it were. 309 00:17:31,260 --> 00:17:35,020 S3: Yeah, because of this new quarterly funding system that everybody who, uh, 310 00:17:35,020 --> 00:17:38,780 S3: commenced their plan as of last year has to go by. 311 00:17:39,780 --> 00:17:43,419 S3: The Ndia, in their infinite wisdom, also decided that the 312 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:46,740 S3: 52,000 that covered the purchase of Mackenzie would also come 313 00:17:46,740 --> 00:17:50,500 S3: out in quarterly instalments. So we've had to chase that up. Um, 314 00:17:50,500 --> 00:17:53,980 S3: and Vision Australia still haven't been paid for the purchase 315 00:17:53,980 --> 00:17:56,619 S3: of Mackenzie. We are in the process of getting sorted 316 00:17:56,620 --> 00:17:59,659 S3: that out and we've got a paper trail going, but it. 317 00:17:59,820 --> 00:18:02,260 S3: It's been a long process and a stressful one. 318 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:09,220 S5: So I had an interesting process. So I signed up 319 00:18:09,220 --> 00:18:12,260 S5: to both Guide Dogs New South Wales and see the 320 00:18:12,260 --> 00:18:15,420 S5: list in the end. But I was first with Guide 321 00:18:15,420 --> 00:18:18,540 S5: Dogs New South Wales, and I sort of was waiting 322 00:18:18,540 --> 00:18:20,820 S5: and waiting. I think I waited about six months and 323 00:18:20,820 --> 00:18:24,540 S5: then I signed up for Ceda, and I remember getting 324 00:18:24,540 --> 00:18:27,060 S5: a call as soon as I got approved to have 325 00:18:27,060 --> 00:18:28,899 S5: a seat, a dog being like, hey, we've already got 326 00:18:28,900 --> 00:18:30,619 S5: a match for you. And I'm like, oh, so it 327 00:18:30,620 --> 00:18:34,060 S5: was a really fast sort of matching process. And then 328 00:18:34,620 --> 00:18:37,780 S5: of course, guide dogs were like, hang on a second. Like, 329 00:18:37,820 --> 00:18:40,340 S5: we can't lose her as a client. So they brought 330 00:18:40,340 --> 00:18:44,260 S5: out three dogs. Ceda bought out Kimber to do the 331 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:47,540 S5: trial walks, and I was doing the trial walks with 332 00:18:47,540 --> 00:18:49,419 S5: the four dogs. And then I had like a very 333 00:18:49,420 --> 00:18:53,700 S5: difficult 24 hours. But in the end, my heart and 334 00:18:53,700 --> 00:18:57,100 S5: my gut both knew the same thing and they went, 335 00:18:57,140 --> 00:18:59,580 S5: you go with Kimba and I'm glad I did. 336 00:18:59,620 --> 00:19:03,780 S3: Was there anything different about the application process this time around? 337 00:19:03,820 --> 00:19:06,260 S5: No, not really, because I'd done it before. So there 338 00:19:06,260 --> 00:19:09,419 S5: wasn't really anything different. Like you still had to go 339 00:19:09,420 --> 00:19:12,940 S5: for a medical and all the assessments and the copious 340 00:19:12,940 --> 00:19:15,380 S5: amounts of paperwork. So there was nothing really different. 341 00:19:15,780 --> 00:19:20,180 S7: It took quite a while. I guess I applied probably 342 00:19:20,180 --> 00:19:27,900 S7: in maybe August 2024, and a couple were brought out 343 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:32,820 S7: for me to try, and it wasn't until about the 344 00:19:32,820 --> 00:19:37,820 S7: same time last year, August last year, that Uki was 345 00:19:37,820 --> 00:19:40,580 S7: brought for me to have a walk with um at 346 00:19:40,580 --> 00:19:44,540 S7: the Marion Shopping Centre, and I just felt so good 347 00:19:44,540 --> 00:19:49,060 S7: with her and she's so laid back. Yeah, we just 348 00:19:49,060 --> 00:19:49,700 S7: hit it off. 349 00:19:53,180 --> 00:19:55,860 S2: All right, so we have a new puppy. It's fresh 350 00:19:55,860 --> 00:19:58,660 S2: out of the box, still smelling of new paint. What 351 00:19:58,660 --> 00:20:00,900 S2: were your first impressions of McKenzie? 352 00:20:01,060 --> 00:20:09,180 S4: First impressions of McKenzie. Wow. Uh, completely different dog. Uh, very, uh. Demure. Uh, 353 00:20:09,180 --> 00:20:12,420 S4: she wasn't getting stuck into everything. Very well. Well behaved, 354 00:20:12,420 --> 00:20:18,620 S4: very quiet, not boisterous and stuff. But I will say, 355 00:20:18,620 --> 00:20:21,379 S4: when she rocked up and you had her on harness 356 00:20:21,380 --> 00:20:24,580 S4: and stuff, she looked very professional. And I'm using the 357 00:20:24,580 --> 00:20:25,940 S4: word very, very much, aren't I? 358 00:20:26,060 --> 00:20:28,860 S3: I would say the same. She was very timid, very anxious, 359 00:20:28,860 --> 00:20:32,660 S3: very quiet. During the training process. I did have to 360 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:35,780 S3: go out to run some errands without her, and, uh, 361 00:20:35,900 --> 00:20:38,300 S3: I'd have to leave her tethered and she would cry 362 00:20:39,980 --> 00:20:42,820 S3: and she still. Oh, wait, am I answering this question now? 363 00:20:42,820 --> 00:20:44,180 S3: But it has my impression change. 364 00:20:44,220 --> 00:20:45,980 S2: Yeah, if you want to, if you want to skip 365 00:20:45,980 --> 00:20:49,260 S2: to the next bit, then yes. Uh, how is that impression? Um, changed. 366 00:20:49,460 --> 00:20:52,660 S3: Well, she's still got a bit of that anxiety and 367 00:20:52,660 --> 00:20:56,460 S3: that timidity in some respects. But she has come out 368 00:20:56,460 --> 00:20:59,820 S3: of her shell a lot more. One thing different about Mackenzie. 369 00:21:00,700 --> 00:21:03,500 S3: So Lacey was very much the dog that wanted to 370 00:21:03,540 --> 00:21:06,380 S3: jump on you and lick you to death, lick your 371 00:21:06,380 --> 00:21:09,820 S3: face and, you know, slobber all over you and pin 372 00:21:09,820 --> 00:21:12,940 S3: you down. And to Lacey, it wasn't love if it 373 00:21:12,940 --> 00:21:18,620 S3: wasn't forced. Whereas Mackenzie, I mean, she's she's much more 374 00:21:18,620 --> 00:21:20,740 S3: of a wants to put her body on you rather 375 00:21:20,740 --> 00:21:23,659 S3: than lick you. She likes to put her face in 376 00:21:23,660 --> 00:21:27,020 S3: your space and sniff you and. Yeah. My impression of 377 00:21:27,020 --> 00:21:31,500 S3: Mackenzie is that she is a good worker, but she 378 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:35,820 S3: does have a bit more anxiety in unfamiliar spaces or 379 00:21:36,660 --> 00:21:39,500 S3: spaces outside of the home than Lacey did. 380 00:21:39,540 --> 00:21:43,340 S4: Even inside the home. She's very skittish. Like a noise 381 00:21:43,340 --> 00:21:47,060 S4: or something will make her jump. She's she's very timid, like, 382 00:21:47,100 --> 00:21:51,340 S4: almost frightened to a point where Lacey was like, yeah, okay. 383 00:21:51,380 --> 00:21:52,540 S4: I've been there, done that. 384 00:21:55,660 --> 00:21:58,900 S5: I must freely admit, Kimba was quite a bit younger 385 00:21:58,900 --> 00:22:02,060 S5: than I was used to hearing, so she was quite young. 386 00:22:02,060 --> 00:22:04,619 S5: And then I've felt her and I'm like, oh my goodness, 387 00:22:04,620 --> 00:22:08,660 S5: she's tiny and um, really quite bouncy. And I liked 388 00:22:08,660 --> 00:22:10,780 S5: that in her. And I was like, oh wow, you're really, 389 00:22:10,780 --> 00:22:13,700 S5: really quite cute. So that was one thing. And then 390 00:22:13,740 --> 00:22:16,940 S5: she was on her side, barely exposed one and pats 391 00:22:16,940 --> 00:22:19,380 S5: out of me. So I think she sort of bonded 392 00:22:19,380 --> 00:22:20,980 S5: with me very quickly. 393 00:22:21,220 --> 00:22:23,260 S3: Has that impression changed now? 394 00:22:23,540 --> 00:22:27,700 S5: Sometimes her tiny and cute impression is her only saving grace. 395 00:22:28,620 --> 00:22:32,380 S7: She's just fitted in. I've had her for four months and, um, 396 00:22:32,980 --> 00:22:36,619 S7: we've got two cats and another dog. It's a staffy 397 00:22:37,140 --> 00:22:41,139 S7: and she just, you know, doesn't care. The older, the 398 00:22:41,140 --> 00:22:46,500 S7: bigger cat is her best friend. But it's just been, um, 399 00:22:47,300 --> 00:22:50,060 S7: unbelievable how she's just fitted in. 400 00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:55,340 S2: As your impressions of, um, Sookie changed since she first arrived. 401 00:22:55,540 --> 00:22:58,620 S7: I guess I was really concerned at the beginning. I 402 00:22:58,620 --> 00:23:04,620 S7: was going to, um, try and make her, well, work 403 00:23:04,620 --> 00:23:08,460 S7: like Bella, or, you know, expect her to work like Bella. 404 00:23:09,140 --> 00:23:12,940 S7: But Bella was like a little pocket rocket. This one 405 00:23:13,140 --> 00:23:16,820 S7: has just got a very steady pace. And like I said, 406 00:23:16,820 --> 00:23:22,700 S7: very observant. What's going on? And, um, we've just, um, connected, 407 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:26,660 S7: I guess she, like I said, she will never replace Bella, 408 00:23:26,900 --> 00:23:31,859 S7: but she sure is, um, filling the shoes really well. 409 00:23:33,620 --> 00:23:39,820 S6: Under the guidance of the guide dog mobility instructor. She 410 00:23:39,820 --> 00:23:44,860 S6: was an incredible worker. I thought, damn, I've got lucky 411 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:49,340 S6: here twice. You know, two perfect dogs. We say Brie. 412 00:23:49,740 --> 00:23:53,540 S6: Brie was, um, Bree was sort of hand selected for 413 00:23:53,540 --> 00:23:57,340 S6: me because I had, um, uh, a relative who was 414 00:23:57,340 --> 00:24:00,620 S6: with guide dogs at the time. Definitely. No, no favors 415 00:24:00,620 --> 00:24:03,620 S6: in terms of hurrying the process. But she kept an 416 00:24:03,620 --> 00:24:06,460 S6: eye out and gave me, you know, the perfect dog. 417 00:24:06,460 --> 00:24:09,620 S6: And Lottie, we, uh, you know, she was just sort 418 00:24:09,620 --> 00:24:12,380 S6: of the the the, um, the next one that suited 419 00:24:12,420 --> 00:24:15,180 S6: what seemed to be my needs. And, um, we joke 420 00:24:15,220 --> 00:24:17,580 S6: that she, uh, she came off the production line at 421 00:24:17,580 --> 00:24:20,899 S6: 530 on a Friday afternoon. There's a few screws loose, 422 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:23,260 S6: and if you look at her, her tail kind of. 423 00:24:23,820 --> 00:24:26,140 S6: You're stuck on a little bit wrong. But, um, she 424 00:24:26,140 --> 00:24:27,700 S6: was a good worker when I got her, and she 425 00:24:27,700 --> 00:24:30,420 S6: seemed to tick every box that I wanted. But then, uh, 426 00:24:30,460 --> 00:24:33,780 S6: once we were away from sort of the, um, the umbrella, 427 00:24:33,780 --> 00:24:37,020 S6: the protection, if you will, of having the eye there 428 00:24:37,020 --> 00:24:41,460 S6: all the time. I think I was expecting the work 429 00:24:41,460 --> 00:24:45,660 S6: because because we got through the program very quickly, you know, 430 00:24:45,700 --> 00:24:51,060 S6: she was working really well. Um, she passed some some challenges, which, 431 00:24:51,380 --> 00:24:54,020 S6: you know, my DMI had said that he'd never seen 432 00:24:54,020 --> 00:24:57,940 S6: a team so fresh do before. We basically have two 433 00:24:57,940 --> 00:25:00,139 S6: kilometres of, I call it wheelie bin Wednesday on a 434 00:25:00,140 --> 00:25:02,100 S6: on a Wednesday morning, when I walked to the train station, 435 00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:05,540 S6: two kilometers of scattered wheelie bins and we just flew 436 00:25:05,580 --> 00:25:08,580 S6: through it. But, um, you know, and and he said 437 00:25:08,580 --> 00:25:11,139 S6: he's never even seen an experienced team do that before, 438 00:25:11,180 --> 00:25:15,660 S6: let alone a, um, a team that that's two weeks 439 00:25:15,660 --> 00:25:17,980 S6: in the making and, uh, you know, so there's a 440 00:25:17,980 --> 00:25:21,500 S6: lot of promise. But then it gradually the frustrations grew 441 00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:25,500 S6: in the distractions. The she had had some toileting issues 442 00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:29,580 S6: and and it, um, yeah. The, the second dog syndrome 443 00:25:29,580 --> 00:25:33,820 S6: really did kick in. And it's been a time where 444 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:37,540 S6: my walk to the station in the morning with Bree 445 00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:41,580 S6: was once, uh, I mean, I've never, never driven, but 446 00:25:41,580 --> 00:25:44,260 S6: you hear people who drive, so they get in the 447 00:25:44,260 --> 00:25:46,260 S6: car and they know they drive somewhere safely, but they 448 00:25:46,260 --> 00:25:49,740 S6: don't remember making the turn, stopping at the lights. You know, 449 00:25:49,780 --> 00:25:53,820 S6: it's just an autopilot. And that's what walking to the 450 00:25:53,820 --> 00:25:58,380 S6: station with Brie was like. But with Lottie, I've got 451 00:25:58,380 --> 00:26:01,220 S6: to be on all the time. I can't relax, I 452 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:03,700 S6: can't turn my mind off. I've got to be, you know, 453 00:26:03,740 --> 00:26:07,700 S6: fully focused. But that's starting to fade now. I'm I 454 00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:11,660 S6: find myself being able to switch, switch off a little 455 00:26:11,700 --> 00:26:14,500 S6: bit and, and end up what I'm meant to be. 456 00:26:14,820 --> 00:26:18,980 S6: Not in front of a car. Yeah. So I guess, yeah, 457 00:26:19,140 --> 00:26:22,900 S6: it initially it was really great. Then, then then all 458 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:26,260 S6: those sort of frustrations did creep in. And, um, it's 459 00:26:26,260 --> 00:26:28,340 S6: taken a long time to sort of get to a 460 00:26:28,340 --> 00:26:31,420 S6: point now where, where? Yeah, it seems to be coming 461 00:26:31,460 --> 00:26:32,980 S6: to some level of normality. 462 00:26:38,980 --> 00:26:44,540 S2: So we finish off this particular episode by asking, what 463 00:26:44,540 --> 00:26:48,270 S2: would you say to younger you right at the beginning 464 00:26:48,270 --> 00:26:49,390 S2: when you got your first guide dog. 465 00:26:49,430 --> 00:26:51,430 S3: Oh, you know what? I had to think about this 466 00:26:51,430 --> 00:26:55,149 S3: because Shane, Vicki and Kirsten all made some really good points. 467 00:26:55,830 --> 00:26:58,630 S3: But I would say one thing that I would say 468 00:26:58,630 --> 00:27:02,350 S3: in common with them is take it seriously. You have 469 00:27:02,350 --> 00:27:06,710 S3: no idea just how much responsibility you have now. But also, 470 00:27:06,750 --> 00:27:09,990 S3: my other piece of advice would be just because you 471 00:27:09,990 --> 00:27:13,750 S3: can take the guide dog everywhere doesn't mean you should. 472 00:27:14,110 --> 00:27:17,950 S3: My advice would be that before you head out to 473 00:27:17,990 --> 00:27:22,990 S3: an event or to a destination, think about where you're going, 474 00:27:23,310 --> 00:27:26,430 S3: what the surroundings are going to be like, what activities 475 00:27:26,430 --> 00:27:29,470 S3: you're going to partake in, and whether actually taking the 476 00:27:29,470 --> 00:27:33,910 S3: dog is going to be of help or hindrance. Because yes, unfortunately, 477 00:27:33,910 --> 00:27:36,109 S3: I did make the mistake of taking her to a 478 00:27:36,110 --> 00:27:39,350 S3: live music gig not long after I got her, and 479 00:27:39,350 --> 00:27:41,670 S3: she absolutely hated it. And I had to leave early 480 00:27:41,670 --> 00:27:45,550 S3: because yeah, she was freaking out. So yes, just just 481 00:27:45,590 --> 00:27:48,429 S3: sort of. You have to determine in what situations a 482 00:27:48,430 --> 00:27:52,510 S3: guide dog is going to be helpful, and in what situations. 483 00:27:52,510 --> 00:27:56,150 S3: The guide dog might not necessarily be helpful at all. 484 00:27:59,830 --> 00:28:04,670 S8: With my first dog is just, uh, and the voice 485 00:28:04,670 --> 00:28:05,429 S8: was given. 486 00:28:05,430 --> 00:28:08,830 S6: To me at the time by one of my uncles. And, um, 487 00:28:09,310 --> 00:28:13,030 S6: so I would just go back and tell myself to 488 00:28:13,270 --> 00:28:17,630 S6: take it more seriously than I did, uh, is to 489 00:28:18,030 --> 00:28:21,750 S6: let the dog guide you, even if you know where 490 00:28:21,750 --> 00:28:24,030 S6: you're going. And in my case, you know, have have 491 00:28:24,030 --> 00:28:27,310 S6: some vision, so might be able to see a telegraph 492 00:28:27,310 --> 00:28:29,470 S6: pole or a stubby pole for you guys down there. 493 00:28:29,750 --> 00:28:33,230 S6: Let the dog guide you around it. Don't make the 494 00:28:33,230 --> 00:28:36,990 S6: decision for the dog because it just helps you to 495 00:28:37,630 --> 00:28:40,590 S6: build that trust early, I guess. Make sure you've got 496 00:28:40,590 --> 00:28:40,990 S6: that trust. 497 00:28:41,030 --> 00:28:46,470 S7: Yeah, think about it really seriously. Because you know, they're 498 00:28:46,470 --> 00:28:49,630 S7: with you 24 hours a day. They're not something you 499 00:28:49,630 --> 00:28:52,830 S7: can just come home and hang in the closet. Um, 500 00:28:52,870 --> 00:28:57,230 S7: you've got to look after them really, really well. And 501 00:28:57,990 --> 00:28:59,950 S7: you know, when you're young and you want to get 502 00:28:59,950 --> 00:29:04,230 S7: out and be free sometimes. A guide dog will hinder you. 503 00:29:05,190 --> 00:29:09,550 S5: I would say that you're going to have good days, 504 00:29:09,550 --> 00:29:13,830 S5: bad days, and you're going to have to learn skills 505 00:29:13,830 --> 00:29:17,510 S5: that you probably didn't expect to learn, like cleaning up 506 00:29:17,550 --> 00:29:19,750 S5: dog vomit at 4 a.m. in the morning. 507 00:29:19,950 --> 00:29:20,830 S3: And patience. 508 00:29:21,230 --> 00:29:25,110 S5: Yes, lots of that. And also to the schools are 509 00:29:25,110 --> 00:29:28,270 S5: also pretty good at giving dogs to first time handlers 510 00:29:28,270 --> 00:29:31,070 S5: who are used to making mistakes. And you're going to 511 00:29:31,070 --> 00:29:31,750 S5: make many. 512 00:29:31,790 --> 00:29:33,670 S3: Stephen, I believe you have something else to say on 513 00:29:33,670 --> 00:29:36,510 S3: this matter about, you know, the dog situation. 514 00:29:36,550 --> 00:29:39,150 S4: Well, I'm going to be devil's advocate here, and I 515 00:29:39,470 --> 00:29:44,750 S4: hate to step on anybody's toes or say anything cringe worthy. However, 516 00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:47,430 S4: when you get a new guide dog, that dog needs 517 00:29:47,430 --> 00:29:53,910 S4: all the attention so strongly consider retiring. The retired dog 518 00:29:53,910 --> 00:29:56,390 S4: and giving it to another family. Even if it breaks 519 00:29:56,390 --> 00:29:57,750 S4: your heart, you don't want to give her up. You've 520 00:29:57,750 --> 00:30:00,510 S4: had her for so long, it's probably the best thing 521 00:30:00,550 --> 00:30:03,670 S4: to do, considering all your attention is going to be 522 00:30:03,670 --> 00:30:05,630 S4: on the new dog and the other dog will be 523 00:30:05,630 --> 00:30:07,710 S4: left behind a lot, especially if it's like you got 524 00:30:07,710 --> 00:30:09,630 S4: to go out, like with walking groups or whatever, and 525 00:30:09,630 --> 00:30:12,870 S4: you can only take one dog. Um, yeah. So it 526 00:30:12,870 --> 00:30:15,230 S4: would be better off if that dog goes to like 527 00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:19,070 S4: a family member or, um, a go back to where 528 00:30:19,070 --> 00:30:22,950 S4: it could be placed in, uh, different care. It will 529 00:30:22,950 --> 00:30:26,110 S4: break your heart. But I wish we had done that before. Lacey. 530 00:30:27,910 --> 00:30:29,790 S2: That's a wrap for this week. A big thank you 531 00:30:29,790 --> 00:30:31,710 S2: to Kirsten, Shane and Vicky. 532 00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:34,270 S3: And of course, a big thanks to you for listening. 533 00:30:34,470 --> 00:30:37,790 S3: That includes our listeners on the Reading Radio Network. You 534 00:30:37,790 --> 00:30:40,510 S3: can find a podcast of this program, plus some extra 535 00:30:40,510 --> 00:30:44,310 S3: content if you're lucky, on Apple, Spotify, Google all your 536 00:30:44,310 --> 00:30:46,030 S3: favorite podcast platform. 537 00:30:46,230 --> 00:30:49,750 S2: Next week. Are you lucky or unlucky in love? We 538 00:30:49,790 --> 00:30:53,350 S2: catch up with Patrick Rory John, a psychotherapist specialising in 539 00:30:53,350 --> 00:30:54,830 S2: disability and sexuality. 540 00:30:54,870 --> 00:30:56,870 S3: But between now and then, please do get in touch 541 00:30:56,870 --> 00:30:59,150 S3: with the show. Whether you have experience of any of 542 00:30:59,150 --> 00:31:02,150 S3: the issues covered on this week's episode of Studio One, 543 00:31:02,390 --> 00:31:05,630 S3: or if you think there's something we should be talking about. 544 00:31:05,950 --> 00:31:09,030 S3: You never know. Your story and insight may help someone 545 00:31:09,030 --> 00:31:10,710 S3: who's dealing with something similar. 546 00:31:10,750 --> 00:31:14,070 S2: You can reach us via Email Studio one at org. 547 00:31:14,110 --> 00:31:16,510 S2: That's studio One at org. 548 00:31:16,550 --> 00:31:19,750 S3: Or you can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram or 549 00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:23,470 S3: by searching for VA Radio Network. We want to hear 550 00:31:23,470 --> 00:31:24,470 S3: from you. 551 00:31:24,510 --> 00:31:25,190 S2: Bye for now. 552 00:31:25,230 --> 00:31:28,990 S1: Studio one was produced in the Adelaide studios of Vision 553 00:31:29,030 --> 00:31:32,790 S1: Australia Radio. This show was made possible with the help 554 00:31:32,790 --> 00:31:37,510 S1: of the Community Broadcasting Foundation. Find out more at.