How Partially Sighted People Clean Up After Guide Dogs

Guide dogs, also known as seeing eye dogs or assistance dogs, are specially trained and highly intelligent companions that help visually impaired individuals, including blind and partially sighted people, navigate their environment safely and independently.

Many people admire the impressive training and skills of guide dogs, which start from puppyhood. However, aspects of daily life with these working dogs are less known, including the challenge of cleaning up after the dog when their handler has limited or no sight.

Let’s explore how partially sighted people effectively manage cleaning up after their guide dogs, ensuring both hygiene and responsibility.

Understanding Guide Dogs and Their Handlers

It's important to recognise that not all guide dog owners are completely blind; many have varying degrees of partial sight. This means some owners can see when their dog goes to the toilet and can clean up in the usual way.

For those with less or no vision, the task can seem daunting. However, guide dogs are professional working animals trained meticulously to support their handlers in all aspects, including toileting routines. They assist in making their owner’s daily lives easier and safer.

Specialised Toilet Training for Guide Dogs

Guide dogs receive toilet training that goes beyond typical puppy potty training. While they are taught to ask to go outside and to hold their bladder and bowels until the appropriate time, their training includes responding to specific verbal commands to relieve themselves.

Handlers establish a daily schedule with regular toilet breaks for their guide dogs, tailored to the dog’s feeding and natural habits. Common commands used to signal the dog to go include "do your business" or "potty time".

This training enables handlers to prompt the dog to relieve itself on command, giving them control and knowing when the dog is expected to go.

Tactile Techniques for Toileting Awareness

One of the clever adaptations for visually impaired handlers is reading the dog’s body language by touch. The dog’s posture while relieving itself is distinctive: a flat back indicates urination, while a hunched back indicates defecation.

Handlers can run a hand along their dog’s back to assess which type of toileting is occurring without needing to see. Male guide dogs are also trained to squat rather than lift their leg, making it easier to identify their action by touch.

Moreover, guide dogs are conditioned to accept gentle touching during toileting, allowing handlers to comfort or support them and then clean up promptly.

Cleaning Up Responsibly

Once the guide dog has finished toileting, the handler uses a poop bag to collect the waste, just like any responsible dog owner. Although it may seem challenging due to visual impairment, the combination of training, routine, and tactile feedback makes this process manageable and hygienic.

It’s also noteworthy that, legally in some areas, guide dog owners may have exemptions from picking up dog waste due to their disability, but most handlers choose to maintain cleanliness and public hygiene whenever possible.

Preparation and Equipment

Partially sighted guide dog owners always carry essential cleaning supplies such as poop bags and sometimes additional tools to make cleaning easier and more discrete. Carrying these supplies ensures they are prepared to clean up promptly, no matter where or when their dog needs to go.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning up after a guide dog when your vision is limited requires a combination of professional dog training, day-to-day routine, tactile perception, and being well-prepared.

The dedication and skill of guide dogs, coupled with the resourcefulness of their owners, ensure that these responsibilities are handled with dignity and care. This not only supports the independence of people with visual impairment but also upholds community standards of cleanliness.