Guide Dogs 101

Update: Guide Dogs 101 With David Barnes of Guide Dogs Northern Ireland

Have you ever been curious about Service Dogs and interested in learning about the process of obtaining one, including what they do? How are they trained, and who trains the trainers? And what is involved once you get your dog? In this article that I originally wrote in 2018, I’m going to try to answer all those questions and more with the help of Guide Dogs Northern Ireland’s David Barnes and things I’ve learned since our interview.

I’ve decided to update this article because I am now in the process of applying for my own guide dog and want to share my experiences as I move through this significant change in my life. Over the past couple of years, my sight has diminished significantly. My right eye has been reduced to light and dark perception in the top right and bottom left corner. My left eye has very narrow peripheral vision, and the central vision is extremely limited.

I recently went to my specialist, who told me that my visual fields no longer matter — I’m just plain blind. This wasn’t exactly a surprise, but for someone who has travelled the globe searching for a happy ending to my Retinitis Pigmentosa journey, this was a sad confirmation that I need to redefine my definitions.