Trailblazing Unleashed

It was incredibly tempting to name this article a guide to guided tours with your guide dog but I figured that was too much of a tongue twister.

As some of you know, Trace and I have been giving ghost tours in downtown Raleigh for the past few months. That being said, we have a lot of experience with guided walking tours, and how to bring your service dog along. Here’s how we make it work, and everything we recommend to service dog teams interested in adding to their adventure repertoire.

Plan Ahead – Talk to Your Guide!

When I first stated touring, it was a little spooky getting started! I had never walked quite that far with Trace, as our tours can span up to a mile and a half. Not only that, but we can have up to two tours a night! This means that we can have over three miles of walking up to four nights a week! This is a ton for any service dog team, much less one with a tripawd pup.

So how do we manage it? We plan! I bring any gear that I think could be helpful in a tote bag (like extra water, collapsible water bowl, and treats!) and make sure that he’s as ready as possible. I also bring a wagon for him, that I’ll talk more about later.

Additionally, I would recommend talking to your guide in advance about your accommodations. This can help your guide make your tour as enjoyable as possible. Some guides even have slightly shorter routes planned for those with mobility issues! They can also plan in extra breaks just for you and your pup.

Comfort Above All

I cannot stress this enough! It may be tempting to want to wear your cutest outfit, or want to carry less gear, but you and your dogs comfort are the priority here!

Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring some comfort items on along for your dog too. For Trace and I, this looks like his trusty wagon. Here I can add his bed in for comfort, a few blankets, and even some spooky accessories! That way when he gets tired about a mile in, I don’t end up having to drag him the rest of the way. Then we can both relax and enjoy the tour!

And as always, both of you should be hydrated! Bring some extra water with you, so that everyone can stay comfortable.

There are plenty of ways to make tours accessible, especially for service dog teams! Talking to your guide, and coming prepared are the first steps.

Have you ever taken a tour with your service dog? Let us know in the comments!