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Guide Dog Handler Emma and Valmai: Navigating Access Rights on Pooches at Play
Channel 10’s hit lifestyle series, Pooches at Play, has showcased amazing dog stories and pet expertise since 2017. The show recently featured Emma, a Guide Dog handler from Melbourne, and her yellow Guide Dog Valmai, in Season 10, Episode 3, a segment hosted by Dog Trainer and Behaviourist Lara Shannon. The episode offered viewers an in-depth look at daily life with a Guide Dog, including how access rights work and the trust, communication, and teamwork that make every partnership successful.
Emma shared her experiences navigating busy shopping centres, cafés, and other public spaces with Valmai by her side, highlighting the remarkable bond that develops between Handler and Guide Dog with training, trust and time. Valmai’s calm guidance, paired with Emma’s skill and confidence demonstrates the life-changing impact of strong human and dog partnerships.
The episode also provides insight into the skill, patience, and dedication behind Guide Dog training. Stories like Emma and Valmai’s show the confidence, independence, and freedom Guide Dogs give people with low vision or blindness every day, as well as the broader difference these partnerships make in communities across Australia.
We’re especially grateful to partners like the Petstock Foundation, whose ongoing support allows us to continue this vital work, raise awareness, and bring these stories to more people nationwide.
Watch the full episode to see Emma and Valmai in action: Pooches At Play – S10 Ep. 3 – Network Ten
