Mr Barri has had his eyesight deteriorate since first being diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa as a child.

The condition means Mr Barri has tunnel vision with a reduced peripheral field and night blindness. Until last year he used a cane to navigate his daily life but the addition of Yogi to his family has made him more mobile.

"As soon as I met him and did test walks, it felt good," Mr Barri said. "We did full-time training for the first three weeks to build our skills and relationship. He trained - it's me that needed the training.

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"A lot of work is required in the first six months. It's not seamless, but after 12 months it feels effortless. The results are much better and a lot less thinking goes into (how we work together).

"I have less than 10 degrees peripheral vision, which is in the legally blind category. My vision is somehwere between five and seven per cent. Having vision impairment can decrease someone's confidence and independence. Having Yogi has removed any barriers to independence."

Mr Barri said the addition of Yogi to his life and family has made him more independent.

"Using a cane really gives a level of independence but it inhibits your walking speed," he said. "The cane finds objects and you have to walk into them. With Yogi, I can follow his paths, which allows me to walk at a natural speed.

"He has been a really welcome addition to my life and even travels by train to Melbourne with me for work.

"At night time I really can't see anything, I wasn't as confident to go out at night. But with a young family, if it's eight or nine at night, I can walk to the supermarket - that wasn't possible (without Yogi).

"I can get out and go for dinner, get to the pub with mates and he comes along. We have been on camping and four-wheel drive trips; in addition to my working life, he has become a great companion."

With two children at home, it was important Yogi fit in with Mr Barri's family.

"When I met Yogi and did our original assessment day, (the assessments) are based on things like walking speed and temperament," Mr Barri said. "For someone like myself with kids, it's important to have (a dog) with a confident personality.

"He's really fit into the family well. My son loves him and in turn I think Yogi loves him."

Mr Barri was on a waiting list for almost a year before he was teamed with Yogi. He thanks the people who had helped train Yogi for his role.

"In addition to all the funding, it takes a village to raise a dog like this," Mr Barri said. "(Yogi) had puppy raisers and carers, many months of proper training, six months of full-time training with experts. It costs more than $50,000 to train him up."

To help support the training of more Seeing Eye Dogs, Mr Barri urged people to donate to The Seeing Eye Dog Puppy Games. The games will see pups in training taking on skill testing challenges.

"Donations can be made in Pet Barn with a view to raising $750,000 which would cover 15 dogs," he said.

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