Guide Dog vs. Cane - Pros & Cons!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มี.ค. 2021
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I get asked a lot about the differences between a guide dog and a cane, so I'm finally making a video about it!
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I'm Molly, a typical sushi, makeup, and fashion loving millennial girl who just so happens to be blind! I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at just 4 years old and began public speaking at age 5. I started just doing motivational speaking, but now I make videos and even model! Even though I can’t see, I know that there are bright spots in everything we face. Let’s find them together. 💕
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A guide dog isn't right for everyone, and neither is a cane. This is a personal and unique decision and I hope my story and perspective can help someone out there figure out what may be right for them! :) Do you use a guide dog or a cane?
Want more Molly? You should check out my TikTok and Instagram! @mollyburkeofficial
Ok yes but for me no im afraid of animals so personaly idk it would be hard for me
I am as of right now learning how to use my cane so as you can tell I’m on that side of the situation
Name your cane jimmy bob 😂 jk
@@madi..morris Haha I haven’t named it yet.
When you said like a 3D movie with out the glasses fun fact when you take off the 3D glasses the screen is very blurry
My cane's name is Mo, short for Moses because he parts seas of people for me 😂
That's so genius lol
That's the best name ever hahah
genius
@꧁WolfieAndStitch꧂ voice to text or have someone else type it
That is such an amazing, adorable name, I love it!
I’m low vision and named my white cane seymore cause in a way it Sees more than I do 😂
😂
Cute
omg you're so cute hahaha
HAHAHAH
Clever! I love that!
I feel like "Candy Cane" is a great name for your cane
Omg my cane is called candy cane because I got her right near to Christmas!
@@emmah9251 it’s definitely a great name for a cane, great minds think alike
@@kelseyshaw6101 definitely!
LOL! I had thought of that name too when they brought it up. Funny story, I went to school with two twins one was Candy Cane and the other was Sugar Cane. Their last name was cane and their parents thought that they would be cute. I can't imagine having to go through life as a human having one of those names.
@@RiverWoods111 at least their last name wasn't Tree. My Mom knew a family whose last name was tree. I think one of the children was called Christmas and I can't remember what the other one was called.
Put simply, its like this: A cane shows you where the obstacles are, but a guide dog shows you where the safest path is.
With a cane, it shows you the obstacles, and you have to find your way around them. With a guide dog, the dog does the 'finding your way around the obstacle' part for you.
Well, and simply, put!
@@Jelleybean18 Thank you! It means a lot when someone replies to my comment!
Zhara Ireland you are very welcome! I appreciate your input :)
Molly: “with a guide dog, I have a friend”
Niamh: “maybe if you bothered to NAME your cane”
I am 17 years old and also have RP. I am learning to use the cane now to have more independence at university and having you, a big inspiration to me, talking about using the cane is sooo important, thank you♡
Btw my cane name is Rudolph, bc it guides me just like Santas reindeer haha
Rudolph is such a great name for your cane! I love that!
@@hockeysteph thanks!
Omg that’s such a cute name!! If you don’t mind me asking is your RP slow processing? Like your in university and just starting to learn to use a cane, as where molly was very young. You don’t have answer if you aren’t comfortable!
@@alexjackowski1329 thanks ^^ it's okay to ask me! I actually have a channel to talk about my experiences like Molly, but I am brazillian so unfortunately I dont think you will understand my videos hahaha. Yes, my RP is slowly progressing, it was estable until I was 11, then due to RP I developed a macular edema that affected more my central vision and I started to struggle more with my vision, I have always had a worse vision than others but only now I am actually needing some specialized adaptations, I still can see a little though, more similar to Molly's boyfriend than to her actually, even though he has a different eye problem
@@lendocomlupa-leticiam5071 ahh thank you! And yes I wouldn’t be able to understand your videos but it’s good to know there are more people out there making videos like molly! I wish you luck on your journey
In Poland you can only use white cains. Apparently if you cross the street on red light and you cause some car bump that's not your fault, because you were holding your cane and by the law it's drivers duty to drive with extra caution. That's why guide dogs in Poland have white harnesses- they are like a living canes :D
That’s so clever! That the harness is white too
Living cane sounds wrong, but I see what you mean.
Im Polish and even i didn't know this
Mhm yeah I've seen this
Hi, I'm from Czech republic. :) Here in CZ white cane means vision disabilities and red+white means hearing and visual disabilities. But dog harnesses are used in many colours. :)
I had to chuckle when you talked about how your dog can be a social ice breaker. I was a volunteer reader for a blind couple for many years, and one of them had had a dog but had switched to a cane years ago. He said one of the things he didn't like about the dog was that it made random strangers feel like they could come up and start talking to him. It gets back to what you said about choosing what works best for you and your lifestyle.
Oh, yes, so much of this. I have always been a full-time cane user, but I have lots of friends with guide dogs, and every time I go out with them, they get so much attention from the people around them because of the dogs, and personally I just can’t handle that. I’m honestly super introverted and socially anxious and generally prefer to just not interact with people in public as much as possible, so for me the dog just draws unwanted attention and stresses me out when I’m with my guide dog using friends. For some people they really love that, especially extroverts and social butterflies, but for some of us, it’s super uncomfortable and definitely falls into the con side.
I would add the emotional aspect to cons. Dogs retire, get sick, get attacked, pass away, you have to emotionally invest in the bond and also be prepared for all the things that can happen to them at the same time. In one lifetime you will probably have to do that at minimum 5 times. For some people that’s just too much heartbreak
This is a major reason why I'm not getting another dog. I can't go through that level of emotional attachment and pain upon dog retirement a third time. First one was rather traumatizing and unexpected due to very rare illness onset. Plus, my cat is terrified of dogs and I wouldn't know how to help her adjust to a larger four-legged creature in the house so having a dog would be unfair to the cat's emotional wellbeing.
This is so weird to read as an Italian 'cause cane means dog in my language so it was like...dog or dog?
AHAHA love that!
ESATTO per qualche secondo ero confusissima
@@Irisinthegarden ahahah
Yeah, I never thought about that! Haha! (I’m learning Italian)
Molly and her secret Italian skills, lol!
It’s so weird to me that people don’t get out of your way naturally with a guide dog. I always try to give service dogs of all kinds room when I see them coming because I don’t want to make their job harder or distract them even if the person isn’t blind and it’s just a medical alert dog or such. Just seems respectful 🤷♀️
I know right. People don't get out of the way for my service dog explicitly because she only wears the harness and no metal bars because she doesn't have to help with navigating like a blind dog. I can't imagine anyone who sees a blind dog with the bars to not realise and help by making space!
It’s because people see dog and go blank🤦🏻♀️ I have had people corner me and my service dog just to talk to her and pet her which in turn is a huge trigger for my ptsd... people just don’t have any basic common respect and decency anymore
@@bcpointer987gsp9 it does get pretty bad... Even if the dog wasn't a service dog people should be respectful to the dog like they also should a human. Just because it looks cute doesn't mean everyone should touch it! /rant xD
Same, I don’t care what kind of service dog it is, my presence is a distraction and could put the dog’s human or others at risk. I’m not about to be responsible for someone getting injured or dying because I saw a cute dog and decided to get close.
@@MiepGirl Yes definitely don't touch if it's a service dog but even if the animal is just a pet you should still ask before petting. There might still be reasons the owner might not want you to like if they're busy or their dog gets anxious with strangers etc.
sad gallop won't be a guide dog anymore, but happy to see him become a pet!!
love the aesthetic, Molly 💖🐝
Let's hope they share pictures of him frequently.
Why won’t he be?
@@katierachel3305 she made a video about it, but he’s retiring because quarantine has caused him to “untrain” and he’s close to retiring age anyway.
@@katierachel3305 i’m so sad to not seeing gallop especially eating cheese I thought that was very cute
The cane is not completly recognized by everyone. In january this article came out (in Norway), about Mollie 4 years old, who don’t want to use her cane, because adult get angry at her for «waving her stick around», and telling her that «one should not use a cane, because it can break stuff». 4 year old Mollie of course gets confused as to why her cane is being called a «stick», and she gets upset that adult are angry with her for taking such a long time to walk up stairs. I am so glad that you make the content that you do, and that you help to educate people, because people need to be educated!
I guess there are people not knowing about canes, but it's definitely well known in Norway too. I've known about canes since I was a kid, but I've never personally known a blind person (and yes, I'm from Norway).
@@torejorgensen5344 jeg har også alltid vært klar over hva en «blindestokk» er. Men ble mildt sakt sjokkert over å lese på NRK om stakkars Mollie på 4 år 🥺 ville bare skrive om det for å si takk enda en gang tip Molly for å lage slike videoer 💙
Why did you change the channel to your language?😉 Hahahha, I was enjoying the conversation 😁
@@farnazgh6839 sorry 😅 because he said he was from norway, and its easier to write in my own language 😅😂 I just said that I felt like sharing this because I was shocked when I read about 4 year old Mollie getting such negative feedback from adults who should know what a cane is, and not think its a kid walking around with a stick for fun. And with that comment that I wanted to thank Molly yet again for the content she makes, that she takes time to educate people, and that there are still people who needs to be educated 😄
@@pepsimax8078 I can think of a couple of reasons for that woman:
- Some people do not know some basic facts (maybe she was absent in school when the subject of blind people came up).
- Some people have no regard for disabled people.
- Some people believe that only adults (or old adults) can be disabled.
Being a sighted female, I feel safer going to the walking park with my big dog. I don't even leave my house (if I can help it) when it's dark, so I totally understand the safe feeling of having a dog. It would be 10xs scarier as a nonsighted person though. I feel like I would feel everything around me was a threat without most of my sight.
Reading this makes me so thankful for living where I do.
I couldn't even imagine living in an area where I would be scared to leave my home.
We live in a little town just outside of Copenhagen. The most exciting thing that happens here is the small group of teenagers that meet in the town square to drink on weekends (it's legal to drink stuff like beer and wine when you turn 16) 😂
I'm in a wheelchair I feel safest when I'm with my gentle giant of a dog. I suppose it feels more like it did when I was able bodied. I just know no one is going to mess with my 100 pound boofhead.
That's completely understandable
As someone whose visually impaired I can't explain how terrifying and isolating it feels to be assaulted walking home at night by someone you can't see. Walking with a big dog can literally save your life just by being there!
@@ciennadeitz462 Wow. I was assaulted few months ago by a guy with a big big knife. I could see him (I am a sighted person), and I'm trained in martial arts, so thank God, I was able to defend myself when he repeatedly tried to stab me (I got superficial cuts in my left arm). Even though I came out victorious (unharmed) from that situation, it still is an awful experience being the target of such violence and bad intentions from another human being. I can't imagine what it would feel in the situation you described (been attacked by someone you can't even see).
As a deaf and disabled woman the number one benefit my service dog has provided for my independence is safety
Molly doesn't realise, but she makes everyone's day better when she publishes a video😊
Have a beautiful day ❤️
Aw, you're so sweet!!! Thank you :)
@@MollyBurkeOfficial I'm so happy that you saw my comment!!!! I hope that made you smile :)
Much love❤️
@@__Teresa__ OMG your so lucky.
Your comment is so true
Yes!
Yeah you’re right
I don’t know if anyone’s been like this but I have been waiting for so long to see Molly‘s process of getting a guide dog and I am so excited (also sad because I will miss gallop💔)
I'll miss gallop too but I'm also excited to see this journey. It's something I've never experienced myself, so not only will it be educational but also interesting. I love to learn about life through many different views and perspectives. I'm also excited to meet mollys next guide dog.
I was in college and was sitting out in a hallway and saw these college kids (I will call them kids) laughing (silently) and pointing at a blind person as they almost sat on one of them as they had their feet tucked up in the seat so the blind person had no clue they where sitting there so I went up and let them know someone was sitting in that seat I was very upset that other humans can be like that.....adults......it made me so mad so I helped them find a free spot to sit. Just was so stupid of them to just sit there making fun of someone. I guess I find it hard to relate as I am not that kind of person. If anyone ever see this put a stop to it....for any reason....
@Caramel Cupcake it made me so very mad that others would act this way.....it was so rude after helping them find a seat further away from them I did go back and let them know they where disgusting excuses of human beings. They had stopped laughing at this time and just looked at me.....that is what I call RUDE uncaring humans. It is so sad you have to worry about this and never thought I would see others be so unkind.
@Caramel Cupcake awe for me it is natural I do not understand how or why others can be so mean and cruel at all, guess it is my nature or I have really good parents. And I too wish more people out there were more kind to everyone ❤🤗
I had that happen at college was sitting an looking close to my laptop cuz I cant see well an this couple sitting next to me goes do u need glasses an I ignore them which is rude but I was doing stuff an trying to focus an didnt feel like explaining an they kept asking an giggling I just look over at them like are you serious an still try an ignore them an they keep going so I get up an leave
@@shays9595 I am sorry others think it is funny and feel the need to bother you while you where trying to study....like I said other humans can be jerks.
I used to have that happen to me. It only stopped after I started using my cane to smack the seat itself. It stopped pretty quickly after I smacked a guy in the privates.
I think I’m going to share this with my parents . I’m in the process of getting a guide dog and I think this will great for them to watch!
Thanks for posting.
P S my canes name is Mr. Stick
Hmm... Mr. Stick, might have to steal that one! Good luck with the guide dog!
@@MollyBurkeOfficial Thank you!
Have you heard of the Ambutech Jumbo Roller eyelet tip from the CNIB?
I find it doesn’t get stuck as much. It’s flatter and a bit larger than a regular rolling tip.
I wish you luck in your guide dog journey! I love your canes name, lol.
I like the name Fiona for the pink cane. My suggestion if someone hasn't beaten me to it is Michael cane...
The name Michael Cane is great! I'd just introduce the cane as "Michael" and if people questioned it, I'd say "yes, Michael Cane"
I love a good play on words.
Or you could call it pinky as light pinky promise because your cane will promise to deliver to make you feel safe
My husband only has one eye, lost his left to cancer at 6months old. He tries to explain the no depth thing to me all the time. It does make him a phenomenal scenic photographer because he see the world flat like how it will look in a photo.
I totally agree with you I went from using a cane to using a guide dog. And at first it felt funny but I’m so used to it. But when I am in between dogs I still remember my Owen M skills where I don’t have to ask anybody. But everybody like you said is different. And here in Florida my guide dog school. Will give you a guide dog when you’re 16. But now they went down to 14. And they only will give that age group guide dogs only during the summertime when school is out. I’ve been a guide dog users for almost 30 some years. And all of my guide dogs are well trained because I am totally blind and deaf. So I have my girlfriend when I watch videos or anything else to handover hand called tactile sign language to me. And I know on contracted braille. I have a braille display and a big braille note touch plus. Got them both from I can connect
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
I'm an ASL interpreter and I've always wondered how technology is made accessible for Deaf-Blind people. Didn't know they had tactile displays! Thanks for sharing!
I was taught at a young age that the special harness guide dogs have is unique for blind people, just like the white/red cane. Im not sure why so many ppl do not know this. We really need more awareness and understanding.
I knew a lady whose service dog had a very similar harness to ones that guide dogs use, but it was to help her with her mobility. It helped her get up from chairs and assist while walking. So, it looked very similar, but my guess just more solid due to how sturdy it needed to be to support weight. So at a glance, could definitely be mistaken for a guide harness.
@@mila3483 interesting. Well, either way, a harness like that is clearly a service dog of some sort, not a pet! Its sad that hers gets mkstaken for a pet :/
We were certainly taught this in school as children.
actually I am a cane user I've been using a cane for 25 years and one thing that I would recommend for you to use is a cane from the national Federation of the blind. Those canes are really thin. and they actually have two kinds of canes they have a foldingcane and they also hav e the straight cane. And there's a lot of them that you can order as long as it's your height. and if you wanna use a rolling tip I would recommend for you to order them from Maxi aids.
Hello fellow federationist! I haven’t fealt one yet since I joined the federation about 7 years ago. My chapter is part of the Ohio affiliate.
The NFB canes are great, but they aren’t going to be appropriate for everyone. Speaking only for me-and not for anyone else-I have tried several of the NFB canes; I like the telescoping one for indoor use or if I’m needing to teach my dog to locate a counter/light pole etc. But the NFB canes don’t work for me when I’m out and using it extensively. I like the Revolution canes better because they feel more secure and I get better feedback.
I’m glad that the NFB canes work for you. They’re super light and very good quality.
Love seeing other NFB folks out here! Definitely second in this. Honestly, the biggest selling point of the NFB cane to me is that it was designed and tested by blind people, for blind people, which is super unique and I think really speaks volumes about the level of attention to actual practicality, science, and real life usability.
@@bratprivilege Hi:
I completely agree, and it’s the ideal that other product designers should follow. Even if the fiber hollow cane doesn’t work as well for me, I still really love the NFB canes for this reason.
Correction about the height. It should measure at the very least from the floor up to your nose, not sternum or armpit level. I find there canes lighter to use and easier on the wrist. I have a folding ambutek cane as a backup as I don't like the telescoping or folding canes the NFB has available. They've broken across time for me, unfortunately. Being able to find things much sooner is one of the benefits of using a longer cane.
I like canes because I can passive aggressively tap kids that talk about me at school as i walk bye
Thats epic.
Do they apologize to you? I can report that about 90% of the time you run over someone with a wheelchair, they will apologize. It’s kind of evil, but I can’t say we haven’t done it on purpose once or twice.
@@juniper617
I assume that the only times you’ve deliberately run into or over anyone with your wheelchair is when they just wouldn’t get out of your way, and that it probably was a repeat offender, in which case they _should_ be the one to apologise.
Oh my gosh! Your cane photo shoot is just too cute 😂
Iconic. ;) LOL
Who doesn’t love a kitty montage 🥰🐈⬛
Me
Just kidding I love itttttt ❤️😻
Gotta have the Lavender show, that girl is gorgeous!
Right? Lavy girl is so pretty
ye
Fascinating! I would never have thought about needing to learn a cane first.
It’s a skill. It’s actually takes quite a bit of practice to use a cane in a way that keeps you safe.
It makes sense when one stops to think about it. With a cane, especially if you are newly blind as an adult or you’re a child, you do not have to think about another living being. As a guide dog handler, you have a multitude of jobs in addition to knowing where you are in space and being able to properly direct the dog: You must be able to:
Redirect the dog’s attention if he/she gets distracted by sniffing, a person, another dog, etc;
Rework the dog if he/she fails to indicate an elevation change or runs you into an obstacle;
Make sure the dog is in position and under control when at the grocery store, in a restaurant, on a bus, etc;
Be able to take appropriate actions if the dog has accidents or becomes stressed;
Be able to problem solve when the team gets lost or if the team has miscommunications.
These are just a few of the things that are involved in having a guide dog, which is why the percentage of handlers is very small. Having a guide dog is a lifestyle; having a cane is not.
Thank you for letting us know about where to get a colored cane. I want to feel confident with mine so I always wanted a purple cane. I can’t get a guide dog because of my money situation. I can barely afford myself I don’t want a dog to suffer, also my mom is terrified of animals. Thank you for the amazing video Molly!!! 💜
A purple cane sounds so cool!!
Just so you know, my niece spent a bit of time on crutches do to multitude of surgeries and she would go buy fancy duct tape and wrap her crutches in it. She was also then able to change as she wanted. It is a very affordable way to change the color of crutches or a cane and not have to be stuck with one color.
Where I am only white is recognised as visual disability. No other colours. If you plan on travelling at some point make sure you have the option to change the colour to be recognised.
When "Molly from the future" was talking about access issues who else suddenly remembered the story (can't remember if it was a video or in the audiobook) Molly told about being denied access to a spa because of Gallop. Not because he was a dog turns out but because he was male. :)
but........ that's still a dog dsfjhgksadgfja
@@drimachuck they didn’t care about him being a dog. They cared that she was a female and he was a male. They keep men and women separated or something like that and apparently that applies to gallop as well
@@hazelfilene964 but..... it's not a male human, which makes it ridiculous lol
@@drimachuck that’s why it was funny
I thought of that story too hahahaha. "But.....*he's a boy*" lmao
I love that in your experience people don't recognize that your SD is a guide dog, every time people see me with my SD they automatically assume that he's a guide dog (he's not). I love hearing other people's experiences with service dogs and interacting with the public.
“That’s on you girl”, lol you are so right Molly. I have worked as a sighted guide to deaf blind people and when my consumer is using their cane I don’t shout out warnings to the sighted hearing people. Serves them right if they don’t get out of the way but usually that 80% jumps about 10 feet like they’re going to get jolted with electricity if they’re in the path of the cane
Molly- you should do a video where do guess the color of markers based on their scent like a few years ago. It would be fun to see a new version💕🤩🐝
I was actually listening to the guide dog chapter of your book walking home today actually! So far I'm nodding along like 'yep, yep, I remember listening to that!'
I'm 100% team guide dog for life, but when it comes to cane recommendations...
I LOVE the National Federation of the Blind rigid canes you can get on their website through their free cane program. They are made of fiberglass and a flat metal tip. They are SO lightweight, but it won't fold so it's not as ideal for trips or things like theaters where there might not be a convenient place to lean it. Honestly, it's my favorite due to the feather-light weight - makes it easy on my wrist, and greatly reduces the weight of the cane (I'm a tall human and long canes tend to weigh more!)
My folding cane is an Ambutech graphite, which is a very lightweight material and much better than the heavy (aluminum, I believe) free one I got from my state services for the blind when I started O&M. I like the ceramic tip for audio feedback but otherwise have a marshmallow tip. I need to order a rolling tip, but it's hard to order just one little part if there's an order minimum or large shipping costs.
I love how lightweight and sleek these canes are, but I wish you could change the tip. I'm not a fan of the metal glide tip.
Agreed- I like it for indoors, but outside not so much.
This cane discussion is interesting. Me personally, I tried several of the NFB canes including the free one and while I really liked the quality and weight, none of them worked for me for extensive use; the telescoping one is great for indoor or very limited use, but when navigating outdoors, I like the heavier Revolution cane with a marshmallow or tear drop tip.
One of these days, I’d love to get a Wewok Smart cane and see how well that works, especially paired with the app.
Love this. Hard agree on the NFB cane. I grew up using a folding graphite cane with a marshmallow tip, so when I first started using the hollow fiberglass rigid kind, it was kind of a culture shock and I definitely had to acclimate and mostly learn to not be so heavy-handed, because the cane is so light that you don’t need to put so much force behind it, which I think is where a lot of people go wrong when they first pick one up because they are so used to a much heavier cane, and end up breaking the NFB cane sometimes by being a little too rough on it. But now I’ve been using them for like seven years and honestly haven’t switched back. I keep a telescoping NFB style cane in my bag for emergencies and for situations where having a collapsible one would be nice.
I'm glad you love them too!! I love how it barely needs a flick of the wrist; as a piano player I can just use my hand muscles instead of my wrist really easily. The only downside is that I would love to have the option to use a roller marshmallow with mine or something that can do constant contact, but maybe one day I'll try to get creative and rig something up. Thanks for the tip about a telescoping NFB, that's something I haven't tried. :)
I'm currently raising a guide dog for the Blind Foundation here in New Zealand and I love watching your videos and seeing the impact of what I'm doing and how it can really help people ❤️ so rewarding!
Molly: “Lavender! Can you stop making a rrrrruckus”
*cue necessary Lavender montage*
💜
Certified O&M over here- all your points are spot on! Research has shown drivers yield about 300% less to colored canes than white/red canes- a very important safety consideration depending on where you’re traveling that day. Love colored canes for self expression otherwise.
I use a graphite cane from ambutech with a rolling marshmallow tip, or I've started using a ceramic tip. Both great tips and it's nice and lightweight.
I’m sighted and feel like I have learned so much! My father went blind a few years before he passed. so I’m always watching your content to help me use logic with myself if that happens to me and how to deal with it.
Where do you get all your turtle necks I love them so much!
This one is from the brand Wilfred and Aritzia! :) I got it in all 5 colors because it's so soft and comfortable and fits so well!!
@@MollyBurkeOfficial I have a pink and blue cane so I Collett sky.
So glad you asked this question because I was wondering the same thing 😃
I haven’t watch the video because I don’t want Molly‘s opinion to affect mine. I personally prefer guy dogs. The two big differences between Guy dogs and canes is canes or object finers while guy dogs are object avoiders. In my opinion the cane is a better tool for low vision person. You can use your phone or an optical telescope to be able to look around you and find certain things. While I can train my guide dog to find doors and stairs and elevators and stuff like that that is much harder for a completely blind person such as myself to do. Both are incredible tools and I honestly love both. I do feel safer with my guide dog though.
I would definitely agree that guide dogs are better suited to those with significantly less vision, and canes are generally better for those with more remaining vision! Good point. :)
@kayla’s Life thank you for your opinion.
Great comment. I’m completely blind and have been a guide dog handler for two decades, but I am also equally comfortable with using a cane. I do like the increased speed that I can have with a guide dog, and as someone who is more trainer-oriented, I love training and watching my dog learn.
Having said that, I’m at a point in my life where I find dealing with things like public access issues and interference due to my guide dog draining. That plus all the work that goes into keeping a top-notch guide working... it’s exhausting and I have serious reservations about getting a successor once my Shepherd retires.
I’m glad the guide dog lifestyle works for you, and I hope you’ll have many wonderful partnerships for as long as a guide can meet your needs.
Molly I love listening to your videos like in a podcast style on my walks. It really makes walking fun for me! Thanks for everything! Keep up the positivity!❤️🐝
Hi Molly, I just started my dream job as an Apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, and just want to thank you! Your videos have been so helpful and interesting, and have helped keep me motivated to keep pursuing this dream. I start shadowing my first class of students receiving guide dogs in a few weeks, and any advice you want to share would be awesome! Thank you for all that you do!
Hi:
I’m not Molly, but I’m a guide dog handler and have been for 22 years now. Congratulations on pursuing your dream job as a GDMI. I don’t give advice, but here are some things that I have observed over the years and wish trainers would take to heart:
1: Keep an open mind and don’t stop learning, even after you’ve been training for two, three decades. You’re learning from your supervisors and master instructors on aspects of training a guide dog, but your best teachers for training teams and really learning about blindness are your students.
2: Have conversations with each and every one of your students. Really listen to what they tell you, ask questions, and encourage an open dialogue. If a student says: “I’m not comfortable with this match.”, that’s not to be ignored. (I tried to tell my first instructor during class that the dog I was matched with pulled too hard and it hurt to work her. He brushed me off, and since I didn’t know any better, I took her home; we only had a two-year partnership. I made the difficult decision to return her because I was in constant pain even after working her for six plus miles every day.)
3: Embrace that each student you work with will be different and unique and adjust your teaching style accordingly. One of the things that I found hard to deal with in my last class was my instructor taught in a cookie cutter manner. If you have a retrain who for example demonstrates that she already understands the principles of clicker training, don’t spend ten minutes explaining the basics to her. Work on refining those skills to suit the team.
4: You don’t know everything, and you will never know everything. And you don’t know what it’s like living as a blind person with a guide dog. When a student expresses her grief at losing or retiring her dog, you don’t understand what that’s like, and it’s okay to say that rather than: “I completely understand.”
It can be more powerful to just sit in silence and be present with your student’s pain, or just to acknowledge her loss.
5: You’re going to work with students who don’t click with their dogs right away or vice versa. Handlers coming for a successor dog may still be mourning their previous guide and may compare this new dog to the more experienced one. Don’t dismiss the person’s grief; remind him/her that this is a young dog but also encourage him/her to talk about the previous dog. You cannot take someone’s pain away, but you can help him/her through it by encouraging sharing and by being fully present and empathetic.
I could write a lot more, but this is probably long enough. If you have not already, you may wish to consider looking up Christie Bane’s guide Dog blog and reading her book titled Forward Together: An Inside Look At Guide Dog Training.
Good luck.
What was the process like getting into an apprenticeship?? Super curious!!
@@khanhhm5762 Thank you so much for taking the time to respond! I truly appreciate the advice, and will definitely keep it in mind!
@@user-fj9fo9uv2m I have a few years prior experience working as a dog groomer, and then I moved states to pursue this opportunity. After moving I started at the guide dog school as a kennel tech, which at least at this school is where most trainers start in the hopes of eventually getting an apprenticeship. After going through a preliminary process where I attended various lectures covering things like orientation and mobility, the structure of the eye and eye diseases etc, and shadowed the certified trainers several times, I was able to apply for an apprenticeship when a previous trainer retired. It is quite competitive, as there are not many guide dog schools and I am very fortunate to have been able to get an apprenticeship without a college degree, as the school accepted my previous experience instead. A lot goes into it, but it's so worth it and honestly I think I have the best job in the world
Yay for your first cane lesson! I’m happy for you!
I just want your everyday to be as comfortable as possible.
Yay! Molly posted!! I’ll watch this when I finish with my class!
I love you, Molly! ❤️
It’s a nice video to watch after an hour and M lesson I also had mine yesterday to so it was a nice choice of video to watch
You could name the pink cane Elle bcs it gives off legally blonde vibes
Thank you for being you and sharing your world with us ❤
Love learning about different communities from myself and this sort of 'blinducation' is really interesting. Thanks Molly for opening up your world to us because I know a lot of sighted people, myself included, have the privilege of not having to think about accessibility. ♥️
Hi Molly. I don't comment often on anyone's content really. I've only been watching you for the last....2 years or so. But I just wanted to say thank you! I'm a sighted person, but I do appreciate that every time I watch one of your videos I learn something or think about something in a way I wouldn't have before, even your content that is more on the just for side like a clothing brand review or something - I learn so much from those because you just explain things in ways that make a whole lot of sense to me. You never make your audience feel unintelligent for not knowing something, and you tend to veer on the side of over explaining things, which I definitely prefer rather than not explaining enough.
I'm really excited for your current journey in self discovery and self care, and just wishing you all the joy and happiness you deserve. I hope you and your family and fur children are doing well. Take care!!
Thank you for all the educational content you put out. I’ve learned so much from you. And your energy always brings light into my day!
I have been waiting for this video! Such an interesting debate as a sighted person looking into your world.
I know how hard it was to say goodbye to my cat when he passed so I I feel like a big con for a guide dog would the "replacement" factor, even just retirement to new dog. Grant it no animal can be replaced, especially one that you are super close to but having to get a new cane would be far less upsetting than getting a new dog would be.
A plus for canes... you can easily have a spare if your standard one breaks, gets lost or goes missing.
I could hear the emotion in your voice discussing the differences of navigating. As a sighted person I never realized there were other ways to 'see' your surroundings. I would be emotional talking about my safety as well,, especially if I were more vulnerable. So much appreciation for you Molly, you're a true ambassador.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for this video. I have a student that is struggling with acceptance of the cane so I'm trying to help her look at the importance of mobility skills and that you need those skills to get a dog.
Molly I love these kind of videos, I especially love it when you talk about access issues, If all goes to plan i should get placed with my medical alert dog in 6 to 12 months. Love you and your cute family.
Molly I'd love to know what your thoughts are on developing technology for the blind community? I saw something on TV recently where someone had developed what was essentially a cane with motion sensors on so it could provide the same level of spacial awareness as a guide dog. When I saw it I couldn't believe someone hadn't thought of this sooner! Surely there's a lot of room for further development in this field? Would love a video on you exploring such options 🥰❤️
I can say I am not a big fan of them. When I was at college some engineering students came up with a cane that vibrates when you get close to steps or objects. The guy asked me why wouldn’t you buy one? I told him because I feel that pretty much makes it so you don’t even have to use your cane techniques, and people should know how to use cane techniques properly to find those objects.
@@ryanm7249 Interesting thought. I’m not agreeing or disagreeing, and I haven’t played with a Smart cane extensively. But from my limited experience, I personally would love one if I could affordit because I see the vibrations and sounds as extra feedback. When I played with the Wewok Smart cane for example, I still had to use good cane techniques.
Having said that, I wouldn’t completely rely on a Smart cane at this point, especially in extreme weather conditions.
That’s been in the works for years. They’ll probably be more available in the future, but right now, there are too many flaws for robot guide dogs to be marketable. The closest thing is a Smart cane, but even those have their flaws. Also, there’s the cost. (The Wewok smart Cane for example is six hundred dollars.) Any time you create niche technology like this, it costs; and with 70% of blind people being unemployed, affording such products is currently not possible.
Your hair looks so good Molly! Love the length and the different layers! ♥️ Thanks for this educational video.
Molly I love learning from youuu!!! You are so amazing and I am sending you all the love and positivity in the world!!
You got this!!!!! Thank you being such an amazing inspiration!!
Hey Molly! Hope you're having a good day, thinking of you and Gallop and Lavender 😊❤️
Also, your makeup looks fantastic! Natural but stunning.
As someone who isn't blind, but is still only a few inches taller than Molly, i only go on walks with my German Shepherd. I certainly don't blame you for keeping a giant dog with you at all. People can be creepy jerks.
3 minutes in and mini Lavender being cute montage happens and I feel HEARD THANK YOU! (On her last video I said I would like to see more animal content stuffs) ❤️💕
thank you for this, my eye sight is really going downhill(i'm already legally blind) and this is really informative :)
It’s really good to be able to gain a knowledge about Keynes and other skills that you are likely to need when you do go blind I release my own podcast if you want it’s an extra tip school Fishel affairs and I’m also pretty impaired so I can totally relate
You already know I came right awayyyyyy!!!! I love these videos molly
Thank you molly! Transitioning from cane to guide dog in two months and I’m super excited and nervous!
I'm listening to this video, and remembering my O&M lessons from last year. Not more O&O because of COVID.
Love the backdrop!
Thank you Molly for making my day brighter! 💗
Yes! More guide dog videos! I'm not a blind person but I want to train service dogs.
I just wanted to say that I love your style and aesthetic
Lavender’s interruption at the start made my cat look up and pay attention. She was so enraptured watching her 😂
Sorry, second comment I'm making here! I totally relate to the safety feeling you get with your guide dog. I have PTSD and related disorders, and this is a huge secondary benefit for me having my service dog. I've even had grown men say to me -- "that's a big dog, I'm not coming near you" and I was so grateful to hear that, because I don't feel safe on my own due to my traumas, and my service dog makes a big difference in the level of safety I feel with him vs without him.
Gosh I LOVE your hair and makeup and this top!!!! 😍😍😍
Great video, very informative.
As a con for dogs I would also say that the person and their close family have to be confortable with dogs. I know a lot of people who are very scared of dogs (especially big ones).
Hi Molly!!! I don't know if you will notice my comment but I love your videos, they are always entertaining and full of information. Also your makeup looks super pretty😁
I love your video concepts Molly! You come up with great ideas for videos.😊 I love you!❤️
Hi Molly! I have been a can use her for the last four years and although I feel like my skills are a little rusty because I’ve barely gone outside in a year I can tell you that you should absolutely get a rolling cane tip. All the other ones are very cumbersome and the rolling tips make everything so much easier. I found this video very helpful and I am going to be thinking a lot about what you said, I have been thinking very much about whether I should get a guide dog and what benefit it would have for me. Thank you for always doing your best to represent the blind community in a way that shows that blind people are just like everybody else. I think you are so precious and you have really been an inspiration to me through the last five years of my vision loss journey
I am a cane user (currently, not opposed to a guide dog, just not ready yet) and I experience two things most often. 1- People still don’t move out of the way while I use my cane, I have central vision left and can still see, but am “legally” blind and 2- I’ve gotten a lot of negative comments. I had an elderly lady tell me she would never leave the house if she were blind like me.
The smartass in me would probably reply to that lady with “well I would never want to leave the house if I was ignorant like you
I've met many of that woman's kind. G-d forbid you hit their shoe because they're walking too close to you. Everyone today has a big mouth on them.
My grandmother’s cane (for mobility and support, not due to vision) was named Michael. Her last name was Bolton. The cane was Michael Bolton.
I love you molly, you make everyone educated on every topic out there
A long Molly video is exactly what I needed today!
Love the video!!
Sounds like a very very interesting video 😍
So helpful, thanks. You rock Molly. Just have to say it: your editor is AMAZING! :)
I’m never this early to your videos! Love your videos! One of my favorite pass times is watching your videos.
You did a review on meundies a while ago, they just launched a new collection that has bees all over it, just a fun fact for today if you liked their brand I can't remember from the video lol
Good to know! I'm obsessed with their stuff! I have bought so much for myself and loved ones since doing that review!!!
Omg love you and I hope you are having a wonderful day
Molly looks amazing I love these informative videos
This set up is so minimalistic and gorgeous
Aluminum Telescopic Blind Cane with Rolling Tip 28cm-150cm (11 inch-59 inch) ，with 2 Tips (Black Handle)
Another beautiful video from a very pretty Molly Burke.
Aw, thanks
I loved this video, Molly. I really hope that you can come to Norway one day and talk about these things. There are so many dpg trainers here that need to hear what you have to say. Sending you lots of love and hugs from Norway.
I think Frenchy for the pink cane. Like the pink lady from Grease. And also kind of a fun reference to the fact that your guide dogs are from Quebec.
You are so pretty how was your day? Also thank you for educating me!!
Are you planning to film getting your new guide dog? I would love to watch it!
The roller tip is great for rougher ground if you ever come across a situation where you need one in a more rural place
Great video Molly. I learned a lot