Guiding Eyes Day 6 Friday 31st
Halloween, shmalloween, we still get up at 6 AM for you-know-what.
I'm taking my shower at night, and even so, I still smell like dog in the morning, just dog with bed head.
Today, our assistant instructor in training, Mike- who spikes his hair so we nicknamed him 'spikey Mike'- was allowed to remove his blindfold at lunch. He has been blindfolded since we began on Sunday, so he never saw any of us, just knew our voices/names. We decided we wanted him to guess which name went with which person. He got the first four correct. The next two started talking so he knew them. He gave up and we matched the rest for him. Good for a giggle or two.
Today was only a half day at the training center. Our walk went really well, flying solo again with no extra leash. Curbs stepped into carefully. Doggie didn't mess up the intersection today. It was going so well... until Doggie decided to stop and smell the roses,actually a bush of leaves. Doggie stopped, I didn't. Whose getting correction yanks now! Mom. Doggie got a leash correction and a stern, low NO!
When it was Forward and onward to finish the walk.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I mean the school there's mail call. Woo Hoo! I have the best friends and family around! I have received 8 pieces of mail in 2 days, Hugs to all of you (and you know who you are!)
This afternoon, we had individual instructor time working on Targeting objects, like my room door- which looks like the other 9 doors on the hallway. First we stand at the door make a fist, place it below the door handle, say Touch and Doggie nose bumps it. That's followed by a clicker click, YES! and food. Right at the handle, then one step back, then 2 steps away from the door, each with the command, click, and acknowledge with food. We moved about 6 feet away, picked up the harnes and Doggie was ready to sprint! Doggie was like a car with a revved engine and the parking brake on. I gave the command Forward and Left to door and we peeled out down to the door. Apparently mu Doggie is highly motivated by food and Targeting which is like a game. Me thinks this Doggie art ye proverbial speed demon!
Drumroll...... we were given permission to identify our pups on social media!!!!! Thank goodness because it is getting tougher to not say "she" instead of Doggie. It is my great pleasure to introduce the newest member in the Handler family, Miss Pippi (as in Pippi Longstocking. Is that not the best name for a teacher and children's book writer??? I see Divine intervention here. Or maybe it was a fluke.
I tried to insert a picture of Pip. I'm not sure it worked but I don't think it worked. I will do some finnagling between phone, documents, and the thumbdrive to make magic tomorrow. If there's a big empty space, that's why. If it's there, I think it might be the rest of that Divine intervention. Or maybe I just got lucky.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Guiding Eyes Day 5 Thursday 30th
Drumroll.......
6:00 AM #2! Feed-Water-Park again. And it's a @1. Enough said.
Another 2 walk day and this time I'm riding solo with no training wheels i.e. instructor not attached. When we are ready to roll, I lift up the harness handle and say, "Pippi, Forward!" and a hand gesture to indicate the direction. Man, if you aren't prepared, if you don't lean back so the chest strap puts pressure on your Doggie, zoom! You get a yank forward and feel like the race is on. It feels, I imagine, like the pull of a horse in the trotters' race; a little jerky, a little off kilter, and a goodly pace. So off we go done the sidewalk, weaving in and out around poles, manhole covers, pedestrians, and baby strollers. As we approach a street corner, the command is "to the curb." Previously, Doggie came to a halt but I tended to overstep. I can just hear the dog thinking, "oh jeez, not again. How long does it take to train this woman- when I stop, you stop!"
Today we gently slid into the curbs like a ballplayer sliding into second base. No, ours didn't involve ground skid or dirt. So we are rocking along our route and reach an intersection where we stop and immediately turn left to the curb a foot and a half away. If the light has just turned to green/walk, we can just say Forward. If it's mid-cycle, we wait. Um... no. Detached from the other mom, my Doggie decides to push the light and begins to walk out into the intersection to take me across. This is like the proverbial boy scout enthusiastically grabbing the old lady's arm and walking her across the street....even though she never planned to cross the street. My instructor yanked me back and michief Doggie knew the dog equivalent to a 'coming to Jesus' conversation was about to happen! Instructor gave the harness a quick, sharp yuank with a low voice said sternly NO! Then I took up the harness again and said Forward and off we went, correctly.
Would you be surprised to learn Doggie didn't try pulling any other pranks? Yeah, Doggie is smart.
My instructor asked me to walk for a while under blindfold. I did my second round of molility training. Amazingly, I didn't feel panicked or afraid. I knew my Doggie knew the way and would guide me. But it was a different sensation, an uncertainty like stepping over the edge of a cliff and believing a bridge will suddenly appear for you to walk across. It doesn't make sense, the likelihood of it appearing seems slim and yet.....there it is. I did about 2 blocks that way and corny as it sounds, it was an eye-opener.
Drumroll.......
6:00 AM #2! Feed-Water-Park again. And it's a @1. Enough said.
Another 2 walk day and this time I'm riding solo with no training wheels i.e. instructor not attached. When we are ready to roll, I lift up the harness handle and say, "Pippi, Forward!" and a hand gesture to indicate the direction. Man, if you aren't prepared, if you don't lean back so the chest strap puts pressure on your Doggie, zoom! You get a yank forward and feel like the race is on. It feels, I imagine, like the pull of a horse in the trotters' race; a little jerky, a little off kilter, and a goodly pace. So off we go done the sidewalk, weaving in and out around poles, manhole covers, pedestrians, and baby strollers. As we approach a street corner, the command is "to the curb." Previously, Doggie came to a halt but I tended to overstep. I can just hear the dog thinking, "oh jeez, not again. How long does it take to train this woman- when I stop, you stop!"
Today we gently slid into the curbs like a ballplayer sliding into second base. No, ours didn't involve ground skid or dirt. So we are rocking along our route and reach an intersection where we stop and immediately turn left to the curb a foot and a half away. If the light has just turned to green/walk, we can just say Forward. If it's mid-cycle, we wait. Um... no. Detached from the other mom, my Doggie decides to push the light and begins to walk out into the intersection to take me across. This is like the proverbial boy scout enthusiastically grabbing the old lady's arm and walking her across the street....even though she never planned to cross the street. My instructor yanked me back and michief Doggie knew the dog equivalent to a 'coming to Jesus' conversation was about to happen! Instructor gave the harness a quick, sharp yuank with a low voice said sternly NO! Then I took up the harness again and said Forward and off we went, correctly.
Would you be surprised to learn Doggie didn't try pulling any other pranks? Yeah, Doggie is smart.
My instructor asked me to walk for a while under blindfold. I did my second round of molility training. Amazingly, I didn't feel panicked or afraid. I knew my Doggie knew the way and would guide me. But it was a different sensation, an uncertainty like stepping over the edge of a cliff and believing a bridge will suddenly appear for you to walk across. It doesn't make sense, the likelihood of it appearing seems slim and yet.....there it is. I did about 2 blocks that way and corny as it sounds, it was an eye-opener.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Guiding Eyes Day 4 Wednesday 29th
Yeah, yeah 6:00 AM Park-Feed-Water-Park. We are DEFINITELY adjusting this schedule back home!
You know the guy on Seinfeld who harshly told folks in the deli "No soup for you!" ?? Well, I think my Doggie looks at me and says, "No poop for you!"
In the past 24 hours, we have parked our dogs 10 times and nine of those, my Doggie said "No poop for you, Mom!"
Finally, FINALLY.... the last park of the night (9:30), my Doggie said, "Ok, made you wait long enough." Ahhhh, relief (literally.)
Listen, we are going to start keeping track next week and while instructors were the pooper-scoopers this week, it's all hands on deck starting next week!
As we all stand outside (some nights have been pretty darn cold, like hat-and-gloves cold) waiting around together, you can't help comparing your dog with others. (Jeez this sounds like preschool or kindergarten parents!) The dog next door, a big yellow lab, does #1 and #2 every single time. I kid you not. He's like the rock star of guide dogs, the gold standard. That's a tough act to follow So the fact that my Doggie stands around looking at others and waiting to be the last one, every single time, can frustrate a new mom!
Today was our 2-walk day, one before lunch and one after. I've been bad about keeping my head up when Doggie completes a command correctly, We are to respond "YES" with enthusiasm, and hand over a treat/reward. I keep looking at that cute face looking up at me. My instructor said it distracts Doggie from staying focused, and Heaven knows, I want that dog paying attention!
So my goal was to serve up reward looking ahead, reaching down quickly and give the next command. Every delivery of a treat- and we are only allowed to give one at a time- is met with a mouth full of slobber. Since I can't stick the slimey hand back in the bag without sliming the rest of them, I have to wipe my hands either on my shirt or pants. Such a dignified approach, don't you think?
At the end of the route, I was congraduated for not looking down once. Seriously. Go me!
The afternoon walk was a bit rough on the "take offs and Landings," or stepping off a curb and coming up to a curb. Doggie stopped on a dime but if I didn't slow down to match the change of pace, I either stepped into the street or jammed toes into the curb up. So tomorrow, that will be my goal- to be cognizant of Doggie's movements right/left around obstacles and rate of speed. My instructor also wants me to do some of the walk under blindfold. Gulp.
Tomorrow instructors. who have also been attached to the dog with a leash, totally detach and we are "driving." We've been warned that in the next week, we should expect our dogs' true personalities to come through. Sort of like the first few days of the school year when most kids are a little unsure of the teacher. Once they get comfotable, the devious, mischevious side comes out. Apparently that's the same with guide dogs. Sneaky? Ok I can deal with that. Cujo leanings, not so much!
Yeah, yeah 6:00 AM Park-Feed-Water-Park. We are DEFINITELY adjusting this schedule back home!
You know the guy on Seinfeld who harshly told folks in the deli "No soup for you!" ?? Well, I think my Doggie looks at me and says, "No poop for you!"
In the past 24 hours, we have parked our dogs 10 times and nine of those, my Doggie said "No poop for you, Mom!"
Finally, FINALLY.... the last park of the night (9:30), my Doggie said, "Ok, made you wait long enough." Ahhhh, relief (literally.)
Listen, we are going to start keeping track next week and while instructors were the pooper-scoopers this week, it's all hands on deck starting next week!
As we all stand outside (some nights have been pretty darn cold, like hat-and-gloves cold) waiting around together, you can't help comparing your dog with others. (Jeez this sounds like preschool or kindergarten parents!) The dog next door, a big yellow lab, does #1 and #2 every single time. I kid you not. He's like the rock star of guide dogs, the gold standard. That's a tough act to follow So the fact that my Doggie stands around looking at others and waiting to be the last one, every single time, can frustrate a new mom!
Today was our 2-walk day, one before lunch and one after. I've been bad about keeping my head up when Doggie completes a command correctly, We are to respond "YES" with enthusiasm, and hand over a treat/reward. I keep looking at that cute face looking up at me. My instructor said it distracts Doggie from staying focused, and Heaven knows, I want that dog paying attention!
So my goal was to serve up reward looking ahead, reaching down quickly and give the next command. Every delivery of a treat- and we are only allowed to give one at a time- is met with a mouth full of slobber. Since I can't stick the slimey hand back in the bag without sliming the rest of them, I have to wipe my hands either on my shirt or pants. Such a dignified approach, don't you think?
At the end of the route, I was congraduated for not looking down once. Seriously. Go me!
The afternoon walk was a bit rough on the "take offs and Landings," or stepping off a curb and coming up to a curb. Doggie stopped on a dime but if I didn't slow down to match the change of pace, I either stepped into the street or jammed toes into the curb up. So tomorrow, that will be my goal- to be cognizant of Doggie's movements right/left around obstacles and rate of speed. My instructor also wants me to do some of the walk under blindfold. Gulp.
Tomorrow instructors. who have also been attached to the dog with a leash, totally detach and we are "driving." We've been warned that in the next week, we should expect our dogs' true personalities to come through. Sort of like the first few days of the school year when most kids are a little unsure of the teacher. Once they get comfotable, the devious, mischevious side comes out. Apparently that's the same with guide dogs. Sneaky? Ok I can deal with that. Cujo leanings, not so much!
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Guiding Eyes Day 3 Tuesday 28th
This 6:00 AM start is killing me!!!
AQnd I'm even getting to bed at 10! I can't go to sleep any earlier because "last call" for pooping is 9:30 PM.
Anyway.....
After breakfast, we all met to find out the name/gender/color of our dogs. Our instructors would out our name, say "you're getting a _____ color female/male dog whose name is______. The anticipation I saw on classmates' faces reminded me of the Miss America Pageant when contestants wait to see if they made the top 10, We all had a smile plastered on our faces to keep a brave front if we didn't get our preferred dog. I can't devulge my dog's description or name until after Friday when are sure the match will stick. (If they take this dog away from me, my heart would just crumble.) Yes, I'm hooked.
We were sent to our rooms to wait for an instructor to bring in our Mystery Dog. Mine arrived after an hour of trying to stay calm- something that isn't easy even on a normal, average day!
I was directed to talk with Doggie, feed treats from the treat bag permanently attached to my hip. The wiggly tail was great. The slobbery hand following a treat... not so much. Then, the instructor hooked on our leash, unhooked hers and left us toi get to know each other. Doggie dragged me to the door hoping against hope that Doggie's person would return and end this nightmare. When she didn't, I called Doggie by name and offered up some scratching behind the ears, on neck, and belly (don't know doggie well enough yet to be a butt scratcher. Doggie stood in front of me just staring me in the face. The former Gail, who feared dogs, would have quickly looked away, or maybe walked away. Nope. The new Gail stared right back at Doggie. I'd like to say Doggie was trying to see inside of me. The reality is I might have been getting the stink eye!. This walk-to-the-door-walk-back-and-stare-at-person went on for 2 hours....two very looooong hours. Both of us were struggling with this "first date" so I poked my head out into the hallway to see if anything was going on. This room confinement was turning bor-ing. Next to my legs, Doggie poked out a head too. An instructor walking down the hall asked if I needed something and I said, "Doggie and I are bored. Do you have a ball or something we could play with?" I was informed we weren't ready for the level of interaction and to go back in and talk. Yeah, I'd already talked about me, our house, the family, the neighboring dogs around us, and food. I'd asked about favorite toys, games, sleeping preferences. This was not a hold hands and sing Kumbayah moment.
Later, each student/Doggie team saddled up, actually harnessed up and took a brief walk outdoors. Although this Doggie was a good leader, I felt like I was being pulled along the street. My instructor decided I needed, rather Doggie needed a longer harness as I take large strides and "walk confidently with my cane."
4:30 PM Park-feed-water-park our dogs. Feeding and watering is not difficult, BUT (that's with one T), this Park stuff is complicated. You need to remove harness, remove training collar, leave regular collar, and keep leash on shorter heeling/training length. Walk out back door, rather get dragged out, get Doggie to heel-sit-stay and change leash to longer length. Walk to edge of Park area and let them sniff away. Of course, all the good smells are not in the area you're and the person needs to stay stationary and not let Doggie yank your arm out of the socket! When Doggie begins circling around or going back and forth at a frenzied pace, something is about to happen. All 12 of us are out at the same time with Parking dogs, so between the various "dances," an instructor is calling out "Tom, that's a number 2" or "Mike, that's a number 1" and our response is to act excited and praise them for "getting busy." Sounds like a room filled with moms potty training little kids. A little odd for a 62 year old woman!
Let me say that my Doggie is a bit inhibited and is willing to stand and watch all the others do a #1 or a #2, but NOT willing to try anything until every other dog goes in. That means I get to stand out in the rain/cold/snow longer. I'm all for bonding time but I prefer mine indoors, thank you.
We survived the first day together and I smell totally like dog!
This 6:00 AM start is killing me!!!
AQnd I'm even getting to bed at 10! I can't go to sleep any earlier because "last call" for pooping is 9:30 PM.
Anyway.....
After breakfast, we all met to find out the name/gender/color of our dogs. Our instructors would out our name, say "you're getting a _____ color female/male dog whose name is______. The anticipation I saw on classmates' faces reminded me of the Miss America Pageant when contestants wait to see if they made the top 10, We all had a smile plastered on our faces to keep a brave front if we didn't get our preferred dog. I can't devulge my dog's description or name until after Friday when are sure the match will stick. (If they take this dog away from me, my heart would just crumble.) Yes, I'm hooked.
We were sent to our rooms to wait for an instructor to bring in our Mystery Dog. Mine arrived after an hour of trying to stay calm- something that isn't easy even on a normal, average day!
I was directed to talk with Doggie, feed treats from the treat bag permanently attached to my hip. The wiggly tail was great. The slobbery hand following a treat... not so much. Then, the instructor hooked on our leash, unhooked hers and left us toi get to know each other. Doggie dragged me to the door hoping against hope that Doggie's person would return and end this nightmare. When she didn't, I called Doggie by name and offered up some scratching behind the ears, on neck, and belly (don't know doggie well enough yet to be a butt scratcher. Doggie stood in front of me just staring me in the face. The former Gail, who feared dogs, would have quickly looked away, or maybe walked away. Nope. The new Gail stared right back at Doggie. I'd like to say Doggie was trying to see inside of me. The reality is I might have been getting the stink eye!. This walk-to-the-door-walk-back-and-stare-at-person went on for 2 hours....two very looooong hours. Both of us were struggling with this "first date" so I poked my head out into the hallway to see if anything was going on. This room confinement was turning bor-ing. Next to my legs, Doggie poked out a head too. An instructor walking down the hall asked if I needed something and I said, "Doggie and I are bored. Do you have a ball or something we could play with?" I was informed we weren't ready for the level of interaction and to go back in and talk. Yeah, I'd already talked about me, our house, the family, the neighboring dogs around us, and food. I'd asked about favorite toys, games, sleeping preferences. This was not a hold hands and sing Kumbayah moment.
Later, each student/Doggie team saddled up, actually harnessed up and took a brief walk outdoors. Although this Doggie was a good leader, I felt like I was being pulled along the street. My instructor decided I needed, rather Doggie needed a longer harness as I take large strides and "walk confidently with my cane."
4:30 PM Park-feed-water-park our dogs. Feeding and watering is not difficult, BUT (that's with one T), this Park stuff is complicated. You need to remove harness, remove training collar, leave regular collar, and keep leash on shorter heeling/training length. Walk out back door, rather get dragged out, get Doggie to heel-sit-stay and change leash to longer length. Walk to edge of Park area and let them sniff away. Of course, all the good smells are not in the area you're and the person needs to stay stationary and not let Doggie yank your arm out of the socket! When Doggie begins circling around or going back and forth at a frenzied pace, something is about to happen. All 12 of us are out at the same time with Parking dogs, so between the various "dances," an instructor is calling out "Tom, that's a number 2" or "Mike, that's a number 1" and our response is to act excited and praise them for "getting busy." Sounds like a room filled with moms potty training little kids. A little odd for a 62 year old woman!
Let me say that my Doggie is a bit inhibited and is willing to stand and watch all the others do a #1 or a #2, but NOT willing to try anything until every other dog goes in. That means I get to stand out in the rain/cold/snow longer. I'm all for bonding time but I prefer mine indoors, thank you.
We survived the first day together and I smell totally like dog!
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Guiding Eyes Day 2 Monday 27th
Woke up to alarm at 5:45 AM, dragged myself out of bed to shower before Obedience training. Thought this plan would work, um... not so much.
In obedience we worked on come/heel/hup up/down/off with instructors as the dogs. Learning to make corrections for errors or inappropriate behaviors with a firm tug on the leash. By the time I got to breakfast (3 minutes) I'd already forgotten half of it. Can you say Overload????
Went to training center in White Plains. Plan to walk students in pairs while others chill in lounge. Dan, the assistant, gave orientation tours I offered to go on first tour but was told, politely, that a schedule had already been worked out. I'm changing the name from guide school to doggie boot camp.
My walk turn came after lunch. First half of the walk, instructor held harness and pulled me through the streets of White Plains, weaving in and out around people and other obstacles. We practiced the command phrases "to the curb" and "to the door." After a few blocks, we switched instructors and the second one brought out a small black female lab for me to try walking with. The instructor was also hooked to doggie's leash, sort of like the extra steering wheel and brake the old drivers ed training cars. Just in case of emergencies. Well, instructor told me to instruct dog with the Forward command and whoosh, off we went. I know that dog probably weighed less than 1/3 of me however, she was dragging me down the sidewalk as if late for an appointment! And when I cued her to go "to the curb", man, she stopped on a dime. Correct responses to cues, in training, are followed by the word YES and a food reinforcement. By the time we returned to the center, I was out of breath as if I'd been power-walking and smelled like a liver treat. Not my choice of perfume!
Oh, the rule of treat/food giving. Always keep it in the palm of your hand, never fingers because labs especially will snarf it down. Bring hand across your body, keeping it close to your stomach, and open your palm under the dog's mouth.. Yeah okay, but nobody tells you that doggie's snarfing involves a good bit of slobber. I hear you laughing at me, dog-owner friends, but this is all new to me and starting with bodily fluid is a little yuck..
Back at school, after dinner, we again had lecture from 6-8 PM Like in the military or the police academy, we were assigned "equipment." A leash, a harness, a Nylabone (large-sized plastic-ish bone with raised nubs for biting and gnawing (better than my hand) and we were taught ways to use and hold leash as well as parts of the harness.
Highlights of the day:
the interesting conversations we had at training center about our lives, our vision loss, and pet peeves with the sighted community. Example of topics discussed- are we always supposed to be the Ambassadors of the Blind World and educate everyone we meet? Or is it ok to get cranky with people who do stupid, rude things and make wrong assumptions?
Bonus Highlight:
We were told we will get our dogs on Tuesday, not Wednesday since that is day 3. Tomorrow I become a dog owner... well actually a dog renter since the school technically owns the dogs!
Woke up to alarm at 5:45 AM, dragged myself out of bed to shower before Obedience training. Thought this plan would work, um... not so much.
In obedience we worked on come/heel/hup up/down/off with instructors as the dogs. Learning to make corrections for errors or inappropriate behaviors with a firm tug on the leash. By the time I got to breakfast (3 minutes) I'd already forgotten half of it. Can you say Overload????
Went to training center in White Plains. Plan to walk students in pairs while others chill in lounge. Dan, the assistant, gave orientation tours I offered to go on first tour but was told, politely, that a schedule had already been worked out. I'm changing the name from guide school to doggie boot camp.
My walk turn came after lunch. First half of the walk, instructor held harness and pulled me through the streets of White Plains, weaving in and out around people and other obstacles. We practiced the command phrases "to the curb" and "to the door." After a few blocks, we switched instructors and the second one brought out a small black female lab for me to try walking with. The instructor was also hooked to doggie's leash, sort of like the extra steering wheel and brake the old drivers ed training cars. Just in case of emergencies. Well, instructor told me to instruct dog with the Forward command and whoosh, off we went. I know that dog probably weighed less than 1/3 of me however, she was dragging me down the sidewalk as if late for an appointment! And when I cued her to go "to the curb", man, she stopped on a dime. Correct responses to cues, in training, are followed by the word YES and a food reinforcement. By the time we returned to the center, I was out of breath as if I'd been power-walking and smelled like a liver treat. Not my choice of perfume!
Oh, the rule of treat/food giving. Always keep it in the palm of your hand, never fingers because labs especially will snarf it down. Bring hand across your body, keeping it close to your stomach, and open your palm under the dog's mouth.. Yeah okay, but nobody tells you that doggie's snarfing involves a good bit of slobber. I hear you laughing at me, dog-owner friends, but this is all new to me and starting with bodily fluid is a little yuck..
Back at school, after dinner, we again had lecture from 6-8 PM Like in the military or the police academy, we were assigned "equipment." A leash, a harness, a Nylabone (large-sized plastic-ish bone with raised nubs for biting and gnawing (better than my hand) and we were taught ways to use and hold leash as well as parts of the harness.
Highlights of the day:
the interesting conversations we had at training center about our lives, our vision loss, and pet peeves with the sighted community. Example of topics discussed- are we always supposed to be the Ambassadors of the Blind World and educate everyone we meet? Or is it ok to get cranky with people who do stupid, rude things and make wrong assumptions?
Bonus Highlight:
We were told we will get our dogs on Tuesday, not Wednesday since that is day 3. Tomorrow I become a dog owner... well actually a dog renter since the school technically owns the dogs!
Monday, October 27, 2014
Guiding Eyes Day 1 Sunday 26th
Guiding Eyes...Day 1 Sunday
My alarm beeped at 6:15 AM, a time usually reserved strictly for bathroom trips. Getting up that early is an acquired skill. Being retired for eight years, I've lost it. [yea] No worries since I had been awake since 4:30 AM.
I couldn't decide if I was over-thye-moon excited or under-the-sea terrified. Or some of both! After waiting nearly a year, the time to get a guide dog was within reach.
Airport, flight- no trouble. Finding rep from the school picking me up-challenging.Rode in van withMike [family practice doc from Kentucky], Christa [researcher from Univ of Minnesota], Rachel [ researcher and about three other jobs, from Minnesota via Kansas, Brazil, Chile, and several other countries]. One of them reminded me of the kids in my classes that talk so much, I wondered if they talked in their sleep!
Arrived at 4:00, met instructors Woody and Megan, and supervisor, Miranda. Given room orientation and given thirty mins. to unpack and off to dining room at 5:00 for dinner. Schedule-keeping is a requirement, not a request around here. Wondering if this might actually be doggie boot camp.
At 6:00 PM nightly, there is lecture time for a couple hours and I was pooped (no pun intended.) Given Monday schedule- 6 AM wake up call, like over a PA system kind of call, 6:20 Obedience training ( how we can give dogs commands properly),7:15 breakfast and leave the building at 8:00 for the training center. This will be Mon-Sat. Of course that 6 AM- 7:15 will involve park-feed-water-park, obedience and get dressed, No shower time. We're told if you want to bathe, do it at night.
Back in our rooms by 8:30 PM and I was asleep by 9. I think I woke up at about 4 AM again but refused to check the clock dozed a bit until wake up call
Made it through the first day. Amen.
My alarm beeped at 6:15 AM, a time usually reserved strictly for bathroom trips. Getting up that early is an acquired skill. Being retired for eight years, I've lost it. [yea] No worries since I had been awake since 4:30 AM.
I couldn't decide if I was over-thye-moon excited or under-the-sea terrified. Or some of both! After waiting nearly a year, the time to get a guide dog was within reach.
Airport, flight- no trouble. Finding rep from the school picking me up-challenging.Rode in van withMike [family practice doc from Kentucky], Christa [researcher from Univ of Minnesota], Rachel [ researcher and about three other jobs, from Minnesota via Kansas, Brazil, Chile, and several other countries]. One of them reminded me of the kids in my classes that talk so much, I wondered if they talked in their sleep!
Arrived at 4:00, met instructors Woody and Megan, and supervisor, Miranda. Given room orientation and given thirty mins. to unpack and off to dining room at 5:00 for dinner. Schedule-keeping is a requirement, not a request around here. Wondering if this might actually be doggie boot camp.
At 6:00 PM nightly, there is lecture time for a couple hours and I was pooped (no pun intended.) Given Monday schedule- 6 AM wake up call, like over a PA system kind of call, 6:20 Obedience training ( how we can give dogs commands properly),7:15 breakfast and leave the building at 8:00 for the training center. This will be Mon-Sat. Of course that 6 AM- 7:15 will involve park-feed-water-park, obedience and get dressed, No shower time. We're told if you want to bathe, do it at night.
Back in our rooms by 8:30 PM and I was asleep by 9. I think I woke up at about 4 AM again but refused to check the clock dozed a bit until wake up call
Made it through the first day. Amen.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
I Have My Space
I now have a room number, an address, and a phone number. That's the first step in becoming a part of Guiding Eyes.
I'll give you the address in a minute, but first I want you to think back to when you were a kid and went to sleep-away camp. Well that's what we called it up North! Even though it wasn't cool to admit you missed your parents, it definitely was cool when the counselor flopped that envelope with your name, on your bunk. That little bit of home made you feel good inside, especially if you were homesick, which also wasn't cool to admit. (But I was!)
Now imagine me, learning about a million point seven new things a day and getting frustrated with myself when mistakes are made- as they will be, and kind of wondering if I will be the first guide school drop-out (not really!). Returning back to our home-away-from-home, the instructors will come around and hand out the mail. Just so you know, flopping down letters doesn't work very well with the visually impaired or blind.
Wouldn't you like to be the sender of happy/goofy thoughts, the you-can-do-it cheerleader, the bringer of sunshine on a cloudy day????? I sure would. So maybe, some of you will drop me a line, or sign your name on a card, or even a postcard that says "hang in there." Knowing that people have your back can see you through the frustration. I have one long-time friend who would write something like "Hey, quit wasting time reading and get back to work!' and sign it with her childhood phone number or street address. (We decided as long as we could still remember those useless bits of info, we still had some brain functioning going on!)
Anyway, no one has to write. Besides, I know that my mom will send me a note or card 'cuz she like that.
Here's where I live from Oct. 26th through Nov. 15th (no mail on the 16th, it's going home day.)
Gail Handler
c/o GEB Room 9
611 Granite Springs Rd.
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
I'm not handing out the phone number, just call my cell if you want to talk. But seriously, with the schedule they have us on, there will be no extraneous talking time before 8 PM and I may be so exhausted, I'll be in bed at 9:00. Yeah, maybe not.
Three full days and fly out on the 4th. Breathe, Gail, breathe. And try to get some sleep!
I now have a room number, an address, and a phone number. That's the first step in becoming a part of Guiding Eyes.
I'll give you the address in a minute, but first I want you to think back to when you were a kid and went to sleep-away camp. Well that's what we called it up North! Even though it wasn't cool to admit you missed your parents, it definitely was cool when the counselor flopped that envelope with your name, on your bunk. That little bit of home made you feel good inside, especially if you were homesick, which also wasn't cool to admit. (But I was!)
Now imagine me, learning about a million point seven new things a day and getting frustrated with myself when mistakes are made- as they will be, and kind of wondering if I will be the first guide school drop-out (not really!). Returning back to our home-away-from-home, the instructors will come around and hand out the mail. Just so you know, flopping down letters doesn't work very well with the visually impaired or blind.
Wouldn't you like to be the sender of happy/goofy thoughts, the you-can-do-it cheerleader, the bringer of sunshine on a cloudy day????? I sure would. So maybe, some of you will drop me a line, or sign your name on a card, or even a postcard that says "hang in there." Knowing that people have your back can see you through the frustration. I have one long-time friend who would write something like "Hey, quit wasting time reading and get back to work!' and sign it with her childhood phone number or street address. (We decided as long as we could still remember those useless bits of info, we still had some brain functioning going on!)
Anyway, no one has to write. Besides, I know that my mom will send me a note or card 'cuz she like that.
Here's where I live from Oct. 26th through Nov. 15th (no mail on the 16th, it's going home day.)
Gail Handler
c/o GEB Room 9
611 Granite Springs Rd.
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
I'm not handing out the phone number, just call my cell if you want to talk. But seriously, with the schedule they have us on, there will be no extraneous talking time before 8 PM and I may be so exhausted, I'll be in bed at 9:00. Yeah, maybe not.
Three full days and fly out on the 4th. Breathe, Gail, breathe. And try to get some sleep!
Friday, October 17, 2014
My First Instructions
A couple days ago, I received a phone call from my instructor (actually I think it's one of a team of instructors ). Yakkety-yak-yak for 10 minutes and I mentioned I'd never had a dog before. She reassured me that GEB has successfully placed guide dogs with newbies like me. Yakkety-yak-yak and I mentioned I had a lot of questions to ask at school (kind of my "I'm sorry" disclaimer up front). No problem she said.
She verified my email address which brought up writing children's books and she asked if I planned to write one about guide school/guide dog. When I told her I was blogging my way through, she informed me that students are asked not to blog about their dog until the end of the first week. I asked why.
She explained that instructors can use interview data, recoded footage of students and conversations to help select a dog for each of us. What they cannot anticipate is the chemistry between dog and person. On an occasion, a person and a dog just don't mesh.
[ Um..Lord, could I bypass this step and go directly to 'good fit'?]
If that happens, there's a dog switch takes place. The school doesn't want any puppy raisers who put so much time and love into a dog to see on social media that "their" dog didn't match well. Thus, the request to wait until the first Friday to be sure of the match. Besides, what a self esteem plunger to think you can't fit with a sweet, trained dog!
So dear friends and family, the suspense may drive you batty but my posts will have to refer to my partner as Mystery Dog or Doggie X to protect the innocent. That also means I can't post a picture until Friday * big sigh*
********
Today I got an email with instructions for the first 3 days and our daily schedule. Up at 6:00 AM to park (word for bathroom-ing your dog)-feed-water-park your dog.
Breakfast is at 7:15 and we start training at 8:00-8:15.
Did I miss the time for shower and dress?
My best guess is the first couple days I'll manage to get dressed but maybe skip the shower, unless I can zip through the shower while the dog eats. Oh wait, for the first week, you can't leave your dog loose in the room while you're in the bathroom. Okay, I guess that means just a power bar for breakfast!
Yup, like having a new baby...fit your needs in around their schedule or do without!
Also, there's a list of commands to become familiar with before going to school. Training commands involve a verbal command and a physical cue (hand signals). In the "explanation" of commands, some involve switching the leash to the right hand and using the left hand for the signal, even though most of them are done with the right hand. Can you say pat-your-head-and-rub-your-tummy at the same time? Never could master that one.
Most of the commands seem simple enough and I already get it that when you use the command "Touch" the dog is exepting a food reward. When I taught, I always found paper clips in every pocket. Now I think Iit will be kibble.
Looking over the command list, I imagined my 4th grade students being given a list of vocabulary to learn for science, social studies, or health units. I guess my grade depends on knowing this list.
I'm wondering....can people flunk guide school even if the dog has his/her act together? Sounds like an interesting plot point for my book!
Nine days and counting down.
Gail
A couple days ago, I received a phone call from my instructor (actually I think it's one of a team of instructors ). Yakkety-yak-yak for 10 minutes and I mentioned I'd never had a dog before. She reassured me that GEB has successfully placed guide dogs with newbies like me. Yakkety-yak-yak and I mentioned I had a lot of questions to ask at school (kind of my "I'm sorry" disclaimer up front). No problem she said.
She verified my email address which brought up writing children's books and she asked if I planned to write one about guide school/guide dog. When I told her I was blogging my way through, she informed me that students are asked not to blog about their dog until the end of the first week. I asked why.
She explained that instructors can use interview data, recoded footage of students and conversations to help select a dog for each of us. What they cannot anticipate is the chemistry between dog and person. On an occasion, a person and a dog just don't mesh.
[ Um..Lord, could I bypass this step and go directly to 'good fit'?]
If that happens, there's a dog switch takes place. The school doesn't want any puppy raisers who put so much time and love into a dog to see on social media that "their" dog didn't match well. Thus, the request to wait until the first Friday to be sure of the match. Besides, what a self esteem plunger to think you can't fit with a sweet, trained dog!
So dear friends and family, the suspense may drive you batty but my posts will have to refer to my partner as Mystery Dog or Doggie X to protect the innocent. That also means I can't post a picture until Friday * big sigh*
********
Today I got an email with instructions for the first 3 days and our daily schedule. Up at 6:00 AM to park (word for bathroom-ing your dog)-feed-water-park your dog.
Breakfast is at 7:15 and we start training at 8:00-8:15.
Did I miss the time for shower and dress?
My best guess is the first couple days I'll manage to get dressed but maybe skip the shower, unless I can zip through the shower while the dog eats. Oh wait, for the first week, you can't leave your dog loose in the room while you're in the bathroom. Okay, I guess that means just a power bar for breakfast!
Yup, like having a new baby...fit your needs in around their schedule or do without!
Also, there's a list of commands to become familiar with before going to school. Training commands involve a verbal command and a physical cue (hand signals). In the "explanation" of commands, some involve switching the leash to the right hand and using the left hand for the signal, even though most of them are done with the right hand. Can you say pat-your-head-and-rub-your-tummy at the same time? Never could master that one.
Most of the commands seem simple enough and I already get it that when you use the command "Touch" the dog is exepting a food reward. When I taught, I always found paper clips in every pocket. Now I think Iit will be kibble.
Looking over the command list, I imagined my 4th grade students being given a list of vocabulary to learn for science, social studies, or health units. I guess my grade depends on knowing this list.
I'm wondering....can people flunk guide school even if the dog has his/her act together? Sounds like an interesting plot point for my book!
Nine days and counting down.
Gail
Sunday, October 5, 2014
The Countdown Is On!
I've been waiting and waiting for "The Call" from Guiding Eyes for the Blind (heretofore known as GEB) for thesecret code and handshake, no actually for my pre-arrival instructions and flight info. Turns out, all that stuff gets emailed to you. Silly me, I've been walking around with the smartphone attached to me like a security blanket.
I read through the entire document and I have to say that I might not be going to guide school... it sounds more like a resort or camp or maybe a rehab facility! You'll understand as I summarize the info.
There will be someone waiting for you at the airport in New York who will collect everyone and put you on a van to GEB. They are sending me 4 luggage tags, 2 to go on the outside and 2 to go inside your luggage. Sounds like camp, right?
You have your own private room with a full size bed, en suite bathroom, TV with DVD, wifi, and a mini fridge. Tea, coffee, fruit, healthy snacks available all the time. For meals, you will have several selections from which to choose.
Can you say RESORT?
Then there's restrictions on visiting hours. Fanily may only visit on weekends. The first weekend, only Sunday afternoon and no leaving the campus. Second weekend, hours both Saturday and Sunday afternoons and no leaving campus. Third weekend is graduation on Saturday and EVERYONE is welcome to come to that! You can even go out to eat off campus, with permission from your instructor, and take the dog with you. However, you must be back in time for your dog's scheduled feeding and/or elimination. This is soooo like a rehab set of restrictions.
There is some levity in the instructions (maybe not intentionally but I laughed!)
1) Every room has an emergency call system. Not exactly like the Life Alert gizmos. This goes directly to your instructor's room or pager if it's during the day. So what exactly is an emergency at night "Hello Jeff? This is Gail. I can't find the TV remote." Yeah, probably not. But if my doggie starts hacking up something, you better believe my instructor will hear about it!
2) The airlines are required by law to provide an escort to the disabled. Here's my favorite line in that paragraph: "If you are waiting for assistance [from the escort] and no one appears promptly, ask OUT LOUD for help." Okay, it's not bad enough I'm standing around with the white cane waiting for someone I don't know, now I have to call out "Hey, anybody around that can help me???" Watch people scatter!
3) They don't want you to overpack so they suggest you bring one week of clothes and then use their washers and dryers. Can you image the scene when 12-15 visually impaired and totally blind people and maybe a few who also have hearing loss, all trying to use washers at the same time? Or figure out which dryer belongs to their clothes? I guess if I find jockey shorts in my dryer, I'll use that technique of asking aloud; Hey, anyone missing some jockies?
Now while you're packing just that one week of clothes, remember, you need to be prepared for 'unusually cold or unusally warm weather'. And inclement weather, which could be rain or SNOW in Oct/Nov in New York so don't forget a raincoat, sweaters, boots, and maybe capris.... but don't overpack!
They also suggest bringing an empty gym-style bag to carry home the "extras" you'll get: dog meds, an 8 lb bag of dry dog food (seriously? You want me carrying that on the plane?), any GEB items you choose to buy and 'souvenirs.' What constitues a souvenir from guide school??? Don't. Even. Go. To. The. P word.
About 10 days from now, I will get a phone call, telling me my room number (in case anyone wants to send mail) and my personal phone number (but you can only receive calls after 8 PM and cell phone use is forbidden during training sessions and lectures). Mail will be distributed Mon-Fri. by your instructor. Back to the camp and rehab centers!
Stay tuned... oh, and by the way, the countdown is 21 days!!!
I've been waiting and waiting for "The Call" from Guiding Eyes for the Blind (heretofore known as GEB) for the
I read through the entire document and I have to say that I might not be going to guide school... it sounds more like a resort or camp or maybe a rehab facility! You'll understand as I summarize the info.
There will be someone waiting for you at the airport in New York who will collect everyone and put you on a van to GEB. They are sending me 4 luggage tags, 2 to go on the outside and 2 to go inside your luggage. Sounds like camp, right?
You have your own private room with a full size bed, en suite bathroom, TV with DVD, wifi, and a mini fridge. Tea, coffee, fruit, healthy snacks available all the time. For meals, you will have several selections from which to choose.
Can you say RESORT?
Then there's restrictions on visiting hours. Fanily may only visit on weekends. The first weekend, only Sunday afternoon and no leaving the campus. Second weekend, hours both Saturday and Sunday afternoons and no leaving campus. Third weekend is graduation on Saturday and EVERYONE is welcome to come to that! You can even go out to eat off campus, with permission from your instructor, and take the dog with you. However, you must be back in time for your dog's scheduled feeding and/or elimination. This is soooo like a rehab set of restrictions.
There is some levity in the instructions (maybe not intentionally but I laughed!)
1) Every room has an emergency call system. Not exactly like the Life Alert gizmos. This goes directly to your instructor's room or pager if it's during the day. So what exactly is an emergency at night "Hello Jeff? This is Gail. I can't find the TV remote." Yeah, probably not. But if my doggie starts hacking up something, you better believe my instructor will hear about it!
2) The airlines are required by law to provide an escort to the disabled. Here's my favorite line in that paragraph: "If you are waiting for assistance [from the escort] and no one appears promptly, ask OUT LOUD for help." Okay, it's not bad enough I'm standing around with the white cane waiting for someone I don't know, now I have to call out "Hey, anybody around that can help me???" Watch people scatter!
3) They don't want you to overpack so they suggest you bring one week of clothes and then use their washers and dryers. Can you image the scene when 12-15 visually impaired and totally blind people and maybe a few who also have hearing loss, all trying to use washers at the same time? Or figure out which dryer belongs to their clothes? I guess if I find jockey shorts in my dryer, I'll use that technique of asking aloud; Hey, anyone missing some jockies?
Now while you're packing just that one week of clothes, remember, you need to be prepared for 'unusually cold or unusally warm weather'. And inclement weather, which could be rain or SNOW in Oct/Nov in New York so don't forget a raincoat, sweaters, boots, and maybe capris.... but don't overpack!
They also suggest bringing an empty gym-style bag to carry home the "extras" you'll get: dog meds, an 8 lb bag of dry dog food (seriously? You want me carrying that on the plane?), any GEB items you choose to buy and 'souvenirs.' What constitues a souvenir from guide school??? Don't. Even. Go. To. The. P word.
About 10 days from now, I will get a phone call, telling me my room number (in case anyone wants to send mail) and my personal phone number (but you can only receive calls after 8 PM and cell phone use is forbidden during training sessions and lectures). Mail will be distributed Mon-Fri. by your instructor. Back to the camp and rehab centers!
Stay tuned... oh, and by the way, the countdown is 21 days!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)