Guide Dogs in the Workplace: Practical Tips for Handlers
Whether you’ve recently started a new job or you’ve been working at the same company for years, each day brings new adventures when you’re a guide dog handler in the workplace. For many employers and employees, service animals are often a novelty in the workplace. I’ve often been the only handler in a workplace setting, and it has been most of my colleagues’ first interaction with a guide dog in a professional setting. This guide provides practical tips, personal anecdotes, and key takeaways for navigating work with a service animal, whether you’re employed on-site, remote, or in a hybrid setting.
Have you encountered barriers or have questions about best practices for navigating the career landscape as a person who is blind or low vision who chooses to use a guide dog? Here are some key tips:
- When starting your job, you will need to notify your employer that you use a guide dog as a mobility aid. Your employer will work with you to formalize an accommodation.
- Note: Every employer’s accommodation process may differ slightly; however, under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), having a service animal in the workplace is considered a reasonable accommodation.
You may need to provide documentation that demonstrates you have a disability under the ADA and that the animal is necessary for your job-related functions.
Working In-Person
If you work in an in-person environment, consider ways to foster a successful team environment.
Some examples might include:
- Learn your daily routes if you need to walk to and from various offices or buildings. If needed, utilize the services of an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist.
- Block time on your calendar to relieve your dog and provide them with food, water, and breaks.
- Confirm that there are places near your office building where you can take your dog to relieve themself. Additionally, you may need to request that a trash can be placed nearby for disposal. You can work with your employer to explore what this might look like.
- Have a “place” for your dog in your office or worksite— a bed or crate.
- Bring any necessary water bowls, toys, waste bags, and other accessories you may need for your dog throughout your workday.
Navigating Conversations at Work
As a handler, you may encounter complex conversations with colleagues who might not know how to interact with your dog. Some approaches you may want to consider:
- Discuss with colleagues that they should speak directly to you, not your animal.
- If a colleague has a concern about, fear of, or allergy to dogs, loop in your employer early to explore solutions.
- Clarify how you prefer others to interact with (or don’t interact with) your dog:
- When your guide dog is “in harness” (working), they should not interact with it.
- When your guide dog is “off harness,” they may pet your dog if you allow.
- Inform your colleagues about common misconceptions about guide dogs:
- They’re not perfect or automatic – they can (and will) make mistakes.
- Your guide dog isn’t a GPS! They won’t automatically understand routes or directions. Make sure your colleagues know that, as the handler, you’re responsible for deciding where you need to go and giving your dog the necessary cues. You might use hand signals, verbal commands, or both to communicate. It’s important for others to understand that the dog doesn’t “know” the entire route — navigation is your job.
Adapting to Remote or Hybrid Work
As remote or hybrid work becomes more common, it’s essential to plan for your dog’s needs:
- With remote work, it’s easier to schedule a calendar with remote appointments that have little to no breaks in between. As a result, you will likely need to schedule breaks for your dog just as you would if you were working in person.
- During virtual meetings, your guide dog must behave and demonstrate that they can remain calm, even if they’re not in harness, actively working. Distracted or misbehaving guide dogs can easily derail a virtual appointment and be misleading to your colleagues about guide dog etiquette.
- If you find yourself in a fully remote working environment, it’s essential to continue working as a team outside of the home environment. This might include: regular trips to the grocery store or shopping mall, learning new routes in your area, and more. Providing your dog with a balance of at-home and outside environments allows for a richer and more engaging experience for both you and your dog.
- If you work in a hybrid role where you spend some days in the office and others at home, ensure that your office is set up in a way that is conducive to working in person. You’ll likely want to have a designated area for your dog at your office, such as a kennel, bed, water bowl, etc.
- You may find that remote or hybrid work means that your colleagues are “extra” excitable around your guide dog when they get the chance to work with you. As a result, you may find that you need to be more mindful of educating your colleagues about service dog etiquette. You may also need to provide more frequent reminders to your colleagues, such as, “Please don’t pet him.” It can be more challenging for people who don’t regularly interact with service dogs to remember the “rules.”
Self-Advocacy and Community Support
Working with a guide dog in the workplace isn’t just about practical logistics — it also means being ready to advocate for yourself and your dog’s needs. Not everyone will know the right questions to ask or the best way to help, so having some clear language in mind can make a big difference. Consider practicing how you’ll explain your dog’s role, your preferred interactions, and what support you need if an issue comes up.
It can also be helpful to connect with other guide dog handlers. Many guide dog schools and blindness organizations offer community groups, online forums, or mentorship opportunities where you can share stories, get advice, and learn new strategies. You may pick up tips about travel routines, building positive coworker relationships, or solving unexpected workplace challenges.
Finally, remember that self-care is also important. Guide dog teams thrive on trust, consistency, and routine — and so do handlers. Take breaks when you need them, reward your dog for good work, and celebrate both the big and small wins. The more confident you feel advocating for your needs, the more successful you and your guide dog will be at work and beyond.
A Day in the Life: Katie’s Story
Guide dogs work in a variety of settings, including offices, busy city streets, and college campuses. Katie is a female black Labrador Retriever with a spunky personality. She loves finding stairs, weaving her way through crowds, and walking quickly. Katie’s daily routine includes meetings, walks, and a daily bus ride to campus.
Katie’s day begins early with a quick sniff outside before guiding her handler to the office. She finds her handler’s office door and settles on her bed by the window to watch the world go by.
Meetings, phone calls, and Zoom calls fill the morning. Katie knows when it’s break time and eagerly waits for a treat. She and her handler head out for a quick relief break, then return for lunch. Katie always gets a warm welcome back but stays focused on her job.
In the afternoon, she may get excited about new visitors, forgetting she’s working — but handlers know that sometimes dogs make mistakes too. At day’s end, Katie finds the bus bench and curls up for the ride home, ready to do it all again tomorrow.
Conclusion
Being a guide dog handler in the workplace takes planning, communication, and teamwork — between you, your dog, your employer, and your colleagues. With preparation and mutual understanding, you and your guide dog can thrive in any work setting.
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