Robert Johnson's Posts

Gio and I head home after our catch up with Becca. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba

A week after qualifying with Gio I meet up with Becca for a walk to Tate Modern. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba

Paul Hopkins and I, along with our respective guide dogs, head for Orpington station in the early hours of the morning. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #orpington #station

They were all the rage this Christmas, and finally I got to have a go on a swegway whilst visiting Paul and Claire. #swegway #indoor #Practice #try #balance

A new route for Gio in the suburbs as we visit Paul and Claire in Orpington. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #walk #orpington

I look back on the past three days' activities, including two fairly challenging walks. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #recap

Gio and I start heading for home and his work picks up considerably. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #sheen #mortlake

Gio and I have to cross the Mortlake station level Crossing, providing a good opportunity to see how he will react to the passing train. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #LevelCrossing #railway #mortlake

Gio and I begin a 4 mile long route in my local area. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #walk #sheen #mortlake #practice

Having seen off a friend at Waterloo East Gio and I head for our own train in the mainline station. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #WaterlooEast #Connection #Walk #Concourse #Station #Waterloo #Mainline

In the final recording of our walk along London Southbank Gio and I make good progress through the London Bridge area towards Tower Bridge. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #Southbank #London #LondonBridge #MoreLondon #RiverThames #TowerBridge #ThamesPath

We continue along the river to the Millennium Bridge. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #walk #southbank #MillenniumBridge #TateModern #2016

Gio becomes extremely agitated whilst watching the skateboarders underneath the Southbank Centre. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #Southbank #Centre #Skateboard #QueensWalk #Distraction #Agitation #Upset #Whine

We walk along Albert Embankment and past the London Eye. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #Southbank #Parliament #Walk #Independent #LondonEye #Busker

Gio and I set out from Vauxhall station in London for a walk along Southbank. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba

I look back on a slightly challenging walk through Richmond and consider how the rest of the week might pan out. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #walk #richmond #distract #squirrel

It's the day after we qualified and Gio and I are out in Richmond alone, tackling the circular route from three days earlier. It was possibly a courageous choice on my part, given the number of parks and gardens it passes, but it is also one of my favourite walks, and one I want to crack with him sooner rather than later. Listening back, there are definitely points which I could have improved, including being more encouraging when he was distracted from finding certain kerbs, however this is all part of the learning experience. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #walk #RichmondHill #squirrel #distract

Just 11 days after arriving at the Euston Premier Inn and beginning our training together Gio and I are qualified! In some ways, this is where the really hard work begins, cementing our bond together and learning to work as a team in any circumstance that life can throw at us. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #reflection #qualification

Having signed the guide dogs contract and handed over my 50p, signifying our qualification together, whilst waiting for the sun to go down, Gio and I walked across Waterloo Bridge back to the station. #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #qualification #waterloo #bridge #night

What better challenge for a confident dog like Gio than a walk through the crowds on Regent Street? #GuideDog #Training #Class #Dog #Gio #2016 #home #richmond #london #UK #Blind #VisuallyImpaired #VI #Learn #Independence #Mobility #AudioDiary #Audio #Diary #GermanShepherd # GoldenRetriever #gdba #RegentStreet #OxfordCircus #busy #Tube #Underground #Station #Escalator