Carrying a Tray with Food and Drink While Working Your Guide Dog
Patty Fletcher
On another guide dog group we’re talking about my experiences at the Virginia Training Center for the Blind in Richmond this week, and I’ve been sharing my success with learning to carry a food tray.
Trust me when I say it was a scary thing to try but I wanted to see if I could learn and here is what I learned.
I’m copying straight from the other place I wrote this.
Hi, I wrote this out and then ran it through Chat GPT so it would read like instructions.
I did this several times with great success.
Carrying a Tray with a Guide Dog
1.
Receiving the Tray
When your tray is handed to you at the counter, set it down on the counter directly in front of you. Make sure your dog is at heel and in a resting position (using “Stay” or a similar command). I kept Blue standing at heel and rest.
2.
Organizing the Items
Place your cup, plate, and utensils neatly in the center of the tray. Pay special attention to the balance—heavier items should be arranged in a way that stabilizes the tray, so it won’t tip as you move.
3.
Positioning Yourself and the Tray
•
Keep your guide dog at heel.
•
With the harness in your left hand, extend your right arm so it aligns with the edge of the tray.
•
Slide the palm of your right hand along the top edge of the tray until you locate your cup of liquid.
4.
Securing the Cup and Tray
•
Use your thumb and forefinger to grip the cup securely.
•
Wrap your remaining fingers and palm around the edge of the tray.
•
Position the bottom edge of the tray against the front right side of your body, just beneath your right breast.
5.
Walking to Your Seat
Move slowly and steadily toward your seat. Keep firm but relaxed pressure so the front edge of the tray stays in your hand while the back edge presses gently against your body. This contact point helps keep the tray balanced.
•
Pro tip: Your breastbone naturally acts as a guide to keep the tray level and stable as you walk.
6.
Additional Tricks for Safety
•
If possible, transfer your drink into a non-spill cup before moving. Some cups come with suction bottoms to prevent tipping—these can make a huge difference.
•
Always move at a steady pace, giving your guide dog enough time to adjust to your slower walk with the tray.
As I was walking I kept repeating, “Blue, steady, find a seat.” He is great at finding an empty seat at the table.
PS. It did not hurt that I have a small roll of fat there at the place where the edge of the tray met my body. I just wedged that sucker right into that roll. LOL. No shame! Tucked it right in there and went right on my way.
Sometimes being a “robust woman” has its advantages.
😜
Patty L. Fletcher
About Patty L. Fletcher
Updated November 2024
Patty L. Fletcher is a woman of passion and exploration.
She studies the art of manifestation and is a seeker of knowledge and the wisdom to know what to do with it when it’s learned.
To learn more visit: https://pattysworlds.com/about/
Patty Fletcher
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2025 12:04:13 PM
To: 'Patty Fletcher' <patty.vo...@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [GDUI Chat] Carrying a Tray with Food and Drink While Working Your Guide Dog
Patty,
This is great. We were never trained to carry serving trrays. I can well remember carrying a tray with my dog Corky at heel. Suddenly, he saw another dog and practically jerked the tray out of my hands. The lemonade splattered all over the place, what a mess.
Your sound advice is great.
Bob and Rounder
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terr...@gmail.com
Hi Patty,
Congratulations on your learning to carry a tray with your dog. Your instructions are wonderful. You have written out the exact steps I learned to follow when I learned to carry a tray with my first dog. It was a tough process and I did not figure it out right away. But you outlined what took me a lot of time to learn right up to the balancing the tray between my chest and my right arm that was around the front of the tray and holding the glass with my thumb and index finger. Thank you for listing the steps so clearly. Pauline is not as good as Blue at finding empty seats. It’s great that he has learned to do that so well.
Sending hugs to both of you,
Terrie and Pauline
Debby Phillips
I was so glad that I learned to carry a tray when I was working because I ate in the cafeteria and sometimes carried food to my desk if, for some reason I needed to do some work or something during lunch hour. I also used to balance my glass or cup with a lid by putting my chin on it. I must have looked like a turtle being led by a dog, but I never did spill anything, except with my first dog when ow don't think we were taught to carry trays. I spilled a whole Coke and order of fries. It was really embarrassing, and a big mess. LOL. Debby and Ruby
andrew edgcumbe
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/guidedogusersinc.org/d/msgid/chat/68a8b8e5.170a0220.38cf01.2f10%40mx.google.com.
Patty Fletcher
I used my chin a couple of times and one lady using her cane said she had such a great long one that she could tuck it into her neck and shoulder I think lots of use lots of our body parts to do lots of different things.
Patty L. Fletcher
About Patty L. Fletcher
Updated November 2024
Patty L. Fletcher is a woman of passion and exploration.
She studies the art of manifestation and is a seeker of knowledge and the wisdom to know what to do with it when it’s learned.
To learn more visit: https://pattysworlds.com/about/
Patty Fletcher
Well, I did have one issue with finding an empty seat. Thankfully it did not occur during tray carrying. But Blue saw me dance with this guy and after that he continued to take me to that guy and every bloody time I’d touch his knee. LOL.
It was funny once only.
Patty L. Fletcher
About Patty L. Fletcher
Updated November 2024
Patty L. Fletcher is a woman of passion and exploration.
She studies the art of manifestation and is a seeker of knowledge and the wisdom to know what to do with it when it’s learned.
To learn more visit: https://pattysworlds.com/about/