Guiding Eyes   Day 21  Saturday 15th

What a relief to be using a decent computer again!!! The last weekend was crazy and I never finished blogging, so here are Sat the 15th and Sun. the 16t posts.

Saturday Nov. 15th
GRADUATION DAY!!! It started as the previous 20 days had- 6 AM Park-Feed-Water-Park. Obedience training then breakfast. Our morning agenda: to take the dogs across to one of the "community runs". This could be equated to mixed martial arts competitions neets dog racing. All eight dogs were taken out of collars and allowed to freely run in a communal play area. Each human  held onto the scruff of their dog while standing against the outlining fence. At the count of three, we released "the hounds." They all started racing around as if a starting gun had gone off. Standing against the fence prevented human accidents. Not the pee/poop variety but the being slammed-into-by-a-speeding- dog variety.

Racing at full speed could suddenly turn into one-on-one pretend paw-to-paw combat. Jumping on other dogs, playful biting, snarling, body slamming, as well as growls, yelps, and a whole lotta panting!

About every 5th or 6th lap, Pippi came back to me, just checking in I guess. After a quick pet and waggle of her tail, she was off again. It was awesome to watch, but I couldn't help being a little sad that most of my classmates missed out on this joyful view since they were totally blind.

The goal was to wear the doggies' butts out so they would behave during the graduation and possibly sleep. The ceremony was 3 hours later and some of the dogs had regained their stamina, their enthusiasm  by then.

Quick lunch, and we presented our instructors with a huge Edible Arrangements  (bouquet made out of fresh fruit) then hurried off to change into our grad clothes (same ones we wore in our pictures the previous week).

My sweet friend, Minnie Gallman, had sent me a corsage (sp?) to wear. (The last time I wore one must have been in my 20s! Three miniature yellow roses and some baby's breath on my deep purple shirt made it easy to spot me.

We each were escorted in by a sighted guide and our dogs to a seat. Our  instructors reminded us we were on YouTube and that puppy raisers and donors were present or watching so we needed to smile. Sort of reminded me of the beginning of the old TV show Fantasy Island when Ricardo Montalban said, "Smiles everyone" and then the sinister music began. On the show, not at graduation.

The plan was to get the dogs in a down position, and slide them under our chairs, a commonplace action after 3 weeks. A few -including Pip- wanted to socialize with the dog next door under the next chair. [Kind of sounds like her new momma, huh!] A couple repeated slides back under were needed. The CEO spoke  about our class and mentioned a few people. Began by talking about my conversation with him two days earlier at PetSmart when I told him about losing my fear of dogs to reach this guide dog goal and writing children's books. He said he hoped I'd write one about Pippi someday. The puppy raisers of our dogs received certificates and i was thrilled to identify which one belonged to Pipsqueak. Then the graduates got certificates too.

Following the ceremony, I had the pleasure of meeting Patience, Pippi's raiser. She brought a HUGE bone for Pippi as a gift and I thanked her for her loving care and willingness to give back that sweet little girl so she could come to me (even though they didn't know right then which "me" Pippi would get.) My cousins Adina and Bill Viezel and 2 or 3 sons-Reggie and Casey- came at my request to cheer me on. We all went to the set up photo shoot area and took pictures with Pippi. The 'celebrity status' feels a bit odd.

Patience seemed like a very calm, centered person and had some really nice camera equipment too. I have her contact info and hope to get to know her and her family better. She told me that Pip has always been a loving, cuddly dog and her then 9 year old son, Noah, loved to snuggle with Pippi. She told me they did not teach Pippi to put out her paw to say good night and that she frequently tried to jump into the shower with them. Sounds like the dog shampoo need to stay in the shower as well.

Patience had to leave but my cousins and I went on the kennel tour to see where our dogs lived during their training. I had the opportunity to see one of the rarest varieties of dog they get, a black and tan Glabb (golden and lab mix with patches of black and light caramel color. The dog's name was Fievel. Someone must have like that children's movie about the immigrant mouse coming to America!

I know now that people will be coming over to be entertained by Pippi, not to see me! I'm good with that. My cousins stayed until 5 PM when I went to eat the pizza the school ordered for dinner. The last90 minutes of our visit were watching and playing with Pip. I think I've become her "wingman."

Guiding Eyes  Day 20  Friday 

Let's see if these photos come through!

 
Gail and Pippi do Manhattan

Grumble, grumble, grumble... Tried to upload 4 pictures and only one showed up :-( The school's computer is sl-o-o-o-o-w and I'm working between a phone, email, flash drive and this computer. After I get back to my own stuff, I'll add in the pictures.

Morning outing was to the grocery store to learn how to learn how to manage a cart and a dog together without needing 'cleanup on aisle 7....and 8' every 20 minutes. I sort of felt like one of those moms with a child 'driving' the car attached to the front and a two year old asking for every cookie, candy, or chip bag they pass. You need to redirect the two year old's attention, keep the cart moving, and oh yeah, shop. I'm thinking a sighted adult along for the ride could come in mighty handy.

Okay, our last walk as a group! Went to FDR State Park. There was a 3mile and a 2 mile loop with no sidewalks. And the temperature was a brisk 41 degrees with a mild wind. I opted for the 2 mile, just in case the longer one crippled me. I didn't want to hobble in to, you know. I must admit that cute little 55 lb. bundle of energy and drive kept my butt walking, especially on the inclines! Except for the temperature, it was good practice for for my upcoming cardiology appointment (and the stress test I should have taken last year but somehow forgot.)

Tonight after dinner, we had an interesting last class. We were taught how to do doggie massage! Picture dim lighting, yoga-esque background music, 8 dogs sprawled out on the floor and 8 partially or totally blind people learning dog anatomy, like location of bones, muscles, and tendons. As the dogs relaxed, there was sporatic groans, heavy sighs, and of course, the unavoidable flatulence. From the dogs, not the people! We were told that massage stimulates their intestinal system and afterwards, they all poop. Took the zenned dogs out and bing, bing, bing we were holding stinky poop bags (some like Pippi's, were more 'pungent' than others. The stealth farter/pooper  could take on a toxic waste spill and tie for most hazardous.

Unrelated facts I learned today...
Miss Pippi was the youngest in a litter of five.
Her mother's name was Dixie (perfect for a dog moving to Georgia) and her father was named Carlton. (Apparently, he was quite a stud- a couple other dogs in our class are his offspring.)
Carlton had the same white blaze as Pippi, from neck to stern.

Now for the related fact. Pippi's  puppy raisers will be attending graduation! Yay!

Guiding Eyes  Day 19  Thurs  13th

If today is Day 19 of training, it means I've just about made it! Day 21 is graduation and Sunday morning Pippi and I fly back to Atlanta. It will be a new life for both of us; a companion, partner, and dependent for me hopefullyfor a long time, and for Miss Pipsqueak a new state, an unfamiliar environment where she only knows me, a 3 week mom. The , the depth of this relationship, physically and emotionally is, in the immortal words of Buzz Lightyear "To infinity and beyond!"

[Loving that my sweet pea is sitting in front of my chair at the computer with her chin on my knee just starring at me. I know this because I looked down and saw her looking up- no peripheral vision left down low.]

Today was a short walk around Mt. Kisco, a cute little town. We used Starbucks as our base. Everyone got a drink (thank you GEB for treating us) and one or two at a time, we went on our walk. Imagine walking into your local Starbucks and seeing 8 guide dogs sprawled out chillin' around the chairs and couches. Quite a sight, huh. Folks kept coming up to ask about them and some reached out to pet them- which we quickly but kindly informed them not to do since they were all in harness =ing work. Much easier than the wheelchair-bound man at Target earlier in the week who keep trying to hand me a peanut butter cookie for Pippi.

Also spoke with the school rep for vet supplies and received some free and purchased others. GEB offers all graduates a $200 stipend, yearly, for annual exam, heartworm meds, and tick/flea/mosquito med. If you keep your dog within 3 lbs. of target weight and send in documentation by July 1st, you get another $100 per year. Nice incentive to keep doggie healthy.

After lunch, we headed to PetSmart to be Obedience training in the distraction capital of the pet world. And the CEO of GEB  ("call me Tom and this is my guide Gus") came along.  with us!

 We were told that that our dog would need to be under control and heeling nicely during a walk around the store before we could purchase anything.! We did our Obedience lesson and walked around with other people and their pet dogs shopping. Just in case that wasn't enough distraction, each instructor carried a squeaky toy and randomly squeaky-squeakied it. When not touring the store, we sat on benches in front of the vet clinic in the store, right next to the scale to weigh dogs. A woman came in being dragged, literally, by two dogs, one being an overweight yellow lab. He was repeatedly making a sound that might have been the noise for coughing up a rubber ball. He had a choke collar with spikes on it and he lunged at our resting dogs a couple times. Of course, the woman had no control and didn't do a thing. Pippi and one other dog jumped up from a prone position to standing and it took a lot of calm talk and a few cookies to regain composure. These dogs are NOT trained, nor expected, to be protective of their handler. But I gotta say, push comes to shove, Pip might have my back :-)

The toothbrushing kit I got from vet services at school has poultry flavored paste.Can I just say,  Bleech!
So my small purchase at PetSmart was a tube of doggie toothpaste with a minty fresh taste. Listen, I'm being very tolerant of those doggie kisses on the face but I'd rather be slurped by mint than chicken!

Tomorrow we learn how to get in and out of a car (not van) with your dog. We are also practicing, again....wait for it......yeah, teeth brushing, pill jamming, and ear cleaning. Oh my poor fingers.

Alterative link for watching graduation, which lasts 60-90 minutes:
www.YouTube.com/GuidingEyesGuideDogs

Guiding Eyes  Day 18  Wed.  12th

New York, New York....
Coming to the Big Apple is a symphony of sound, a cocaphony of smells,movement not to mention a sh*tload of people. Who always seem to be walking the opposite direction so you feel like a salmon swimming upstream.

We took the commuter rail into the city and arrived at Grand Central Station. Whoa...that's quite a building- massive, canvernous, bustling, overwhelming for the sighted, let alone the sightless.

[my faithful companion, Miss Pippi who comes with me nightly to the computer, has requested rather emphatically a belly rub. More like HEY! I'm here on the floor with all four legs in the air waiting. Move those fingers over here.

Back to Grand Central. My instructor took me to the whispering hallway where you can stand in opposite corners, face the corner and whisper to your friend diagonally across in the other corner and hear each other as if you're standing side-by-side. It occurs because of the conductivity of sound using convex arches and/or ceiling. Listen, science isn't my strong suit...just Google it to get the why and wherefore of it.

Took a subway a few stops. Gotta say I'll never complain about the cleanliness or aroma of Atlanta's MARTA after NY subways. Aack!

We walked and walked and walked. Park Ave, 5th Ave, Madison Ave, 42nd Street to the 60s. Saw 30 Rock (Rock Centre), the location of the skating rink, the humungous Christmas tree-surrounded by scaffolding as the lights are added, and boocoodles of skyscapers. Grabbed a bus, rode to 90th Street (I think), walked over 4 blocks and up to 94th to The Barking Dog restaurant. Typical NY eatery- crowded, close tables, dimly lit even in the daytime. Well maybe the overcast sky didn't help.

Watch words for the day (actually always): Be In The Moment. Sounds simple enough but every teacher fiber in me says Plan Ahead. Focusinging on Pippi and being in the moment to move with her as she weaves in and out around people, poles, construction,roadwork requires slowing down and smaller steps so I don't overstep her lead. Being in the moment means being aware of her movements and discerning the distractions that take her focus off working. I'm a beat behind on corrections which should be immediate and redirect her attention. All the while, I need to be aware of my body language which Pippi constantly reads. If I want to go straight ahead, my shoulders better be facing that way or she will head towards the way they are facing. And knowing where we are and where we are going is imperative. Can you say 'multi-tasking?' It's a handful even in White Plains, NY or Dunwoody, GA. In Manhattan there's only one way to explain it:stimulous overload. Pip and I gave it our best shot. She rates a 96 and I'm behind with about an 80-85. This team is still a work in progress and every day, when we go home, will involve more work. But when we are in the zone, it's friggin' amazing.

New York pictures tomorrow........

Graduation link:
Go to www.guidingeyes.org web page
Left side panel, find Prospective Students section. Locate Guide Dog Services-click.
Find Graduation in the left side menu- click
On Saturday there should be a live stream link to watch the ceremony. Check it about 1:15pm. If by some chance you can't find it or miss it, the ceremony will be available a couple days later on YouTube accessible via the same location on www.guidingeyes.org

Thursday and Friday: Trip to PetSmart and a grocery store, how to enter/exit cars,Vet supplies mail order, doggie massage.

Guiding Eyes  Day 17  Tuesday  11th

Today I put my fingers in places I never would have chosen before! I learned how to clean dog ears, "pill" a dog when chewing isn't allowed, and brushed dog teeth. All in 15 minutes.

Imagine someone holding your mouth with one hand along the edge of yyour upper molars, and with the other hand, prying open your teeth, jamming a pill pinched between your thumb and middle finger all the way back in your throat, just before the esophogus turns downward, then clamps your teeth together (gently but firmly, and strokes your throat to encourage you to swallow. Don't know about you, but I'd be gagging the second that pill  and those fingers hit my tongue. Pippi had to put up with me jamming pills (just Brewer's Yeast) down her gullet three times. I'm praying her future holds only chewable meds or ones that mix with food.

Then there was the teeth brushing. No brushes yet, just a gauze pad aroung our pointer finger. I had to slip it under Pip's jowl on one side, aim the the back molars on the outside (front side) of her teeth, a quick whish-whish-whish and out of there so she doesn't accidentally chomp on my finger. I gotta say, any finger poked into my mouth without asking permission, will most certainly be biten. Hard. And on purpose. I'm just telling you the truth. If your digits are still intact, now try the other side of the mouth. Thank goodness I don't have to wrangle her to brush the backs of the teeth. Did I mention that toothpaste comes in liver and chicken flavors? My girl is using the minty fresh kind. I'm putting up with those lick-the-mouth kisses but the  liver/chicken breath would be too much.

Okay, now for the ears. While we were told as kids that nothing smaller than your elbow should be placed in our delicate ear canals, it's totally different with dogs. Not only do they have long throats that cause you to practically stick your finger up to your wrist to jam in pills, there ears also  have longer canals and you need to stick your finger, again with a gauze pad, all the way in til you reach the base of your finger. So now you're holding up one of those sweet floppy ears, and "dusting" all the little nooks and crannies in the canal. Really? Dusting the cartilage? Blech! That was disgusting. And I have the privilege of doing that once a week. Slight blackish stuff on the gauze is normal; a bunch of it means call the vet.

Teeth brushing? Every day so you won't need to take doggie in to a doggie dentist, be sedated, and have teeth cleaned with the same power tool and  high pitched sound- that would irritate a conscious dog-  many of our dentists use.

There's a few more openings on my fog, but I draw the line removing boogers from a dog's nose and I won't be trying any rectal thermonmeters either. A girl's got to have standards, you know.

 Guiding Eyes  Day 16  Monday  10th

 Today was Ride-the-Bus route. We trained with Pippi on Saturday to target the bus stop pole. Now we would see if she remembered. Bless her little heart, she did. Caught the next bus and found a seat in front. The rule is 'keep dogs sitting up if the ride is short. Tuck the tail under and block the backside with your foot. Be sure you know where your dog's head is located. Bus floors have tempting tidbits or there may be a child with candy sitting next to you. The woman to my right had a bag of groceries and Pippi turned her way, sniffing for aromatic destinations. I needed to cup her chin so I had control over that quick little snout. I joked with the woman that if she had any groceries she wanted to get rid of, Pip would gladly help out! We just rode two stops then walked back. I think our routes are a mile to 1.5 miles each X two routes per day= approximately 10 miles on the streets + stairs up and down (2 sets) daily to dining room for meals + the 18 steps (stairs) I do each night to reach the computer lab = a boatload of walking!

Afternoon walk took me to CVS to pick up items for myself and a fellow student. Going through stores now will be like attempting to cross a mine field. Little sniffer-girl is eye level with many products that look tempting, like candy and gum at the counter or someone's hand basket with stuff (and stuff is edible, right?), or even floor sniffing and slurping up morsels of things I don't want to think about. Each time head went down to sniff meant a leash correction. There must have been 10 and I think we were only in the store 10 minutes!

Lecture tonight dealt with training on a train platform tomorrow to keep both Pippi and me safe. It will be practice for Wednesday when we take a train into the Big Apple. No time for sightseeing, no time for shopping, just a 50 block walk Grand Central Station to out lunch spot. Those who train-ride in, take the van back. Those who van-ride in, take the train back.

One sad note... one of our classmates opted to leave his dog and return home. This would have been his 7th guide dog. He was finding the changes in the training program too stressful. He had soime health issues, difficulty dealing with change, and a robust dog. We were told at lunch that he had left but he sent his thanks to all of us. He was a combination of an old curmudgin and Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man. He was articulate and funny (mostly without intent but definitely with metaphors and similes!) and we all miss him.

Guiding Eyes   Day 15  Sunday 9th

Sundays have been wonderful 'down days.' Still feed-water-park on schedul, still have meals on schedule, but the rest of the day is ours. This is the time I catch up on blogging, grab a nap, and find time to play with my dog. Actually, I play with Pip every day as well as groom her.

This coming week is a humdinger. Monday bus work. Tuesday train platform work. Wednesday, day trip into New York City! Crowded streets, smelly subways, and a train, subway, bus, and van ride. Plus lunch in the Big Apple. Not sure about Thursday/ Friday, but Saturday is graduation! It is streamed live so if anyone wants to watch, I'll post the links to find it on Thursday or Friday.

Guiding Eyes Day 14 Sat 8th

Guiding Eyes  Day 14  Sat. 8th

Two weeks done, one to go. I am amazed how much I have learned in 2 weeks. I thought I'd leave here feeling like a pro, but I realize that's off the mark. I equate this to my first teaching job. Fresh out of graduate school; B.A. and M.A. under my belt, all the theory and a bit of practicum and yet I felt like I knew nothing as I met students on the first day. I didn't start out a pro, I had to to get some experience under my belt. It was truly year three to have enough confidence to tell the parents I knew what I was doing. (And even then, I had to fake it sometimes.)

So, expecting to have it all together when I go back to Atlanta is ludicrous. But, I believe I will have the tools I need to continue learning, and get some experience under my belt. And if I need help, this awesome school offers so much support.
Okay, back to Saturday.

In the previous week, we had simulated traffic checks where your dog slows down or stops and backs up due to an on-coming car. (Yes, you heard me correctly, the dog goes backwards. Not a typical movement for dogs.)
On Saturday, we went to White Plains and one of our instructors drove a real car at us. She appeared out of nowhere, well actually nowhere is my missing peripheral vision. And you know what? Little Pipsqueak hit her breaks and did a backward shuffle. I was supposed to shuffle back just as much as she did. I took a couple of giant steps backward instead of the baby steps needed (and for the oldies in the readership, I forgot to say 'mother may I !')

Big feet here frequently takes giant steps at a quick pace and creates 'situations' for Pippi and me.  One of those learning opportunities for home turf.

We were given directions to walk in twos part of our usual route and to cross over a street and turn right instead of a left turn before crossing. We were 'handed off' from one instructor to another and ended up at a lovely pub/restaurant for lunch. Following lunch, we all had different things to work on with instructors, to fit training to our environmental needs back home.

I worked on targetting bus stops. With food and clicker reinforcement, we taught Pippi to hone in on a specific pole. In a 10 minute period she hit the mark every time. Love me some Pip! Monday we will see if she remembers and we will ride the bus a couple stops. Back in Atlanta, I will use the same method to help Pippi target 4 different bus stops; one to head to our mass transit trains, two to take the bus in the opposite direction (grocery store, Jewish Community Center, and vet on that route), and the last one to take bus to hair salon, and partially to the library. Yup, got my work cut out for me. The best news is this dog is driven to work, and will do just about anything for food.

Who would have ever thought that a woman afraid of dogs until her 50s, could work on training a dog to specific places to maintain her independence with, or without, sight?
Certainly not me.

Guiding Eyes  Day 13.5 Friday review

An exhausting day, a roller coaster of emotions, and an adventure. We were taken for a 'dry run' to Catona, NY, a small, picturesque town with classy boutique stores, and no, this wasn't  a shopping trip. AlthoughI'm told Martha Stewart lives nearby. For those of us with a modicum of sight left, this check out the lay-of-the-land is meant to ease fears fo a walk in the darkness. I imagine for those with no sight, not even light perception, it's just another route to walk. [Kind of makes all you fully sighted folks out there feel grateful and blessed, huh!]

The next part of the day is smushed together: lunch, change into graduation clothes, groom dog, take group picture, take individual pictures (with your dog), and any special shots people wanted- just their dog or the instructors. I wanted the three instructors and our intern- just them. But one of them said,"Oh no, if we have to do this, so do you!" So there you go, another round of squeaky toys-to get Pippi's ears perked up, or maybe she wasn't in that picture. Told ya it was smushed.

Quick change of clothes and over to vet for an exam and weight check and birth date. Miss Pippi weighs 55 lbs, the smallest dog in our group. A fellow black lab in our group named Albert-but we nicknamed him Einstein, weighs 81-82 lbs. Yup, a two year old in a big guy body.

Vet told me Pip's target weight is 52 lbs and showed me how she had a little extra padding around the ribs. You know me, I had to say that I could relate to a little extra padding in the middle! Being a dog newbie, I asked how I needed to slim her down. (I was picturing mommy-doggie crunches and lunges!) Nothing so fancy. Cut back on the food and limit the cookies. Hmmm... good advice for me too! Also, instead of just cookies, mix part treats with part of morning kibble ration, I mean portion. I think I will let Pip have a few days to settle in between doggie boot camp starts!

Following exam, we had a vet lecture. Again, the dog newbie had strange questions to ask, like "Is there anything I can do to help 'tone-down' the stinky farts? And maybe the poop too?" Yeah, that's making some of you laugh but you should see the scrunched up noses when Miss Pip farts! Not uncommon to hear 'ewww' or 'phew, that made my eyes water,' or even 'that could make paint peel.' Come on, do you want someone saying that about your dog? The vet recommended Science Diet Sensitive Stomach [** this is not an endorsement and I will not be held responsible if your pooch tries it and has vomitting or diarrhea!]

Next dinner, bundled up (night temp was around 38-40 and a slight wind) and drove back to Catona. Each student walked with an instructor- 3 instructors meant only 3 at a time- and with 8 or 9 of us, you knew you had about a 40 minute wait time in the van. [And no potty breaks for people or dogs]

My turn... left the company of friends, can't say I minded getting out of the van, and took a step into the darkness, Only a few street lights so this was truly being led by my dog. Within a few minutes, the nervousness disappated. Without all the distractions of the day in town- like people, construction, kids- we honed in on the task. Pippi inherently knew how much I depended on her in this situation and she was in the zone. The girl was focused. Except for one turn. Normally, it was a straight left turn. However, during the morning, there was repair work going on with a van and we had to swing wide and get back to our straight line. At night, Pip decided to try the straight left. My instructor said STOP and grabbed my arm. I stopped Pippi. I was asked if Pip was level with me and she was much lower. She planned to go around in the street, without me knowing there was a curb. I think I had to give her a correction before we moved on. My instructor said," She just gave you the stink eye!' I replied that I'd seen it before but I was impervious to stink eye stares. I had to be. In my 30 year teaching career, I must have been given stink eyes at least 400 times...and survived!
(Too bad there's no way to create stink eye repellant for everyone besides teachers. I would be a millionnaire. No, make that a bazillionnaire.

Didn't feel tired until we returned to school. It was only 8:30 ish but the fatigue hit like a load of bricks. Took a shower, parked my dog, and sat down to watch TV. Saw a few minutes of Hawaii 5-0 then planned to watch Blue Bloods. I only remember fragments of it including the last 5 minutes. Planned to listen to the local weather and the next thing I knew, David Letterman was in the middle of his monologue. I'd fallen asleep sitting up! I was sitting on the end of the bed near the TV. How the heck did I not slide off??? Guess I have a new talent to add to my resume of skills. Not that there's much call for it.

Guiding Eyes Day 13   Friday  7th

I want to clarify something about the last post. The discussion I had with instructors  was necessary. I wasn't upset because they spoke to me, it was because I was disappointed in myself. I felt that I let myself down as well as them. That said, the Pity Party is over and it's onward.

Both Pip and I are exhausted from the busy, run around day, topped off by the night walk. I'll write more about it tomorrow but I have to say my little Pipsqueak nailed it! Came in smooth as could be to every curb! Pip pip Hooray!

Just have to add one more thought. I was told Pippi's birth date. She's a Halloween baby! So I could have celebrated her 2nd birthday with her last week.

Time to go back to my room, put up the feet and have a beer. I've earned it. (Or maybe I'll eat the brownie I saved from lunch.)

no post tomorrow due to the night walkafternoon, our instructorsh

Guiding Eyes   Day 12  Thurs   6th

Have you heard the expression 'keep on keeping on?' Pippi took that statement seriously this morning. Today began student poop patrol. We were given the lecture on correctly picking up poop last night. We were told to always at least 2 poop bags, just in case. Yesterday's rain left a rather prominent puddle directly below my room's Park door. Missy Prissypants, once again, decided her delicate toes couldn't be subjected to water and she refused to go outside. A few requests didn't work. A few leash correction yanks didn't either. When nothing seems to work....pull out the cookies! (What? Cookies work for me too.) I think her inner dialogue might have sounded like this:
Mom: Come on Pipsqueak, let's potty.
Pip: Yeah right, what's this 'us' business? I don't see you squatting out here.
Mom: Get busy. Busy, busy.
Pip: Hrumph, I know what to do to change her attitude.

So she left a pile for me. While I was collecting thatwarmth, she moved about a foot behind me and left another pile. First double-bagger in the class. Yeah, I know, it's a real honor.

Our lesson for the day was shorelining or walking along a street with no sidewalks. The dog keeps you close to the left hand side since walkers go against traffic direction. Not too difficult, unless real cars come along. And did I mention we had cool rainy weather today? My hood kept slipping down past my eyebrows, the visor I wore- to help hold up the hood- turned around to the back of my head, and just to be sure I had poor visibility, my glasses fogged up!

In the afternoon, my instructor called us, with our dogs, to the main hall to learn about booties. Not the human derriere, the shoe kind. She explained that extreme high or low temperatures can have an adverse effect on the paw pads. She handed us each for booties; the top had mesh and parachute material, the soles looked like hiking boot treads. They slipped on- with some convincing and more cookies- and then you tightly cinched a velco strap around their ankle area. All at the same time, we asked the dogs to stand up and walk down the hall with us. Dogs are NOT overly fpnd of shoes. (And it's a good thing with 4 feet; their shoe replacement budget would be sky high! Here were big and small labs cloppinf along, like Clydsdales! I was howling, it looked so funny. It was the only moment I felt badly for those who are totally blind in class. A few dogs were uncoordinated or ticked off thos hunks of rubber were attached. One dog splayed out all 4 legs and went down. Pippi was turning in circles while trying to gnaw the velcro off. Anothe clopped around looking down at his feet. Taking home a set of booties is not mandatory but I think Pip will need them in Hotlanta's brutal aummers. I'm not sure of the color yet, but the booties are either black or grey, She will be too cool.

Had one of those heart-crashing-to-the floor moments today. Instructor and supervisor came to my room and wanted to talk. I won't go through the conversation with you because it was embarrassing, mortifying, humbling, and slightly emotionally painful. Everything was stated kindly, respectfully, and with genuine concern, I believe. But the gist was they were concerned I wasn't being conscientious/discerning enough in several areas (see why I was mortified). Although I really appreciated them taking time to 'bring this to my attention,' my M.O when I get overwhelmed is watery eyes. Me being upset made them upset- well you get the picture. The bottom line is I need to rise to the occasion if I truly want to come home with my little girl. When they left, all of us on good terms, the emotion overcame me and I had a tiny pity party. Sweet Pippi came up to me-I was sitting on the floor- and licked at the tears. I know that seems loving, but let's face it, they lick for the salt. But she did bring the tennis ball over and dropped it in my lap, her signal that she wants to play. Maybe that one was all about me.

Remember, no post tomorrow due to the night walk. I will catch up by Sunday

Guiding Eyes   Day 11 Wed.  5th

Well, it was bound to happen. A tough day. However, if the saying about 'things happen in threes' is true, I'm done for the day.

First walk of the day done in tandem again. Caught most infractions and used proper corrections. Ready for 10:30 water and park. Tried to remove harness, Pippi squirmed, I dropped it and somehow she got her head caught in between the harness handle. We heard a shrill Yelp! My instructor ran out of the other room, found the cause of the yip, and handed me the high value treats. A handful of treats. She explained that Pippi would become 'gun-shy' or harness resistent if we couldn't help her mitigate the pain (not really hurtful, it just scared her). About 20 treats later, and an attempted park, I needed to put the harness back on. Slowly, carefully, praising all the while, she was buckled up and ready to boogie. Of course she needed a few treats for being cooperative. Seems to me that if someone got me tangled in something and I was given a bunch of cookies, I'd seriously consider getting myself into that predicament again! Fortunately, Pippi doesn't think that way!

Bad mommy moment #2   We return from White Plains around 4:00 and feed-water-park. For the past four days, during this feed time, we have been shaking an antibiotic on their food, adding a bit of water to make it soupy because one dog-in the kennels, not our class group- tested positive for Giardia. The school goes into precautionary mode and treats ALL the dogs, washes out their crates, their food bowls, their Nylabones, and machine washes the 'mattress pads.' And did I mention they bathe all the dogs? That's around 80 + dogs. Today was the fifth and last dose of medicine. First they took the crates which confused Pippi. Next they extricated the toy bone. She looked perplexed and kept pacing back and forth. The bad mommy moment came when my intructor knocked on the door to hand things back to me and Pippi was too close and I opened the door over a foot. High-pitched yelp, twice in one day. :-( Bring out the high value treats...again. I certainly don't want her to become 'door-resistent!'

The third bad happened to me. The toilet/shower room is oddly configured and as I started to leave it, I smashed my head into the tile wall. Maybe I deserved that....hurt the dog twice, come uppance for mom.

Today is the last day for two of our classmates, Their program is 10 days at school and 5 days one-on-one at their home. This program is reserved for individuals who cannot get 21 days away and they cannot be a first-timer. We first-timers need all the instruction and guidance we can get. It feels like a family falling apart, piece by piece. I'm disappointed these two women will not be in our graduation picture.

We have nightly lectures from 6-7:15. Tonight we heard, aloud, the Graduate's Contract. Basically, you take an oath promising to care for the dog with the greatest concern for health- both mental(providing on-going work to keep the dog stimulated)  and physical (correct nutrition, weight, grooming) or else. What's the OR ELSE? They will come and reclaim the dog. No second chance, Hasta laviesta [sp] baby!
Did you know....
I do not own this dog? Guiding Eyes holds ownership for two years. After two full years, and no negative reports, the handler may request a transfer of ownership. The school will continue to support handlers but the handler would own the dog

The main talking point of the lecture? Beginning tomorrow, we are the poop patrol. Keep those poop bags handy, ladies and gents. We were even given the correct way to locate and retrieve said poop. It was a great visual, for the few of us who still have some sight!

Tomorrow is all day at the school, Suits me just fine; the weather is turning cooler and it will be rainy.

Guidig Eyes   Day 10   Tuesday  Nov. 4th

I hope everyone did their civic duty (not to be confused with the poop kind) and went out to vote today. Hey, if I can manage an absentee ballot, you can move your backside and go vote!

Quite a day today. Yes, we went to White Plains but we worked in tandem. Not two people and one dog, actuall two dogs, two handlers, and an instructor and intern. We walked a bit further, switching off the lead each block. This gave the dogs an opportunity to demonstrate they could work through distraction. We ended up in Macy's (already decorated for Christmas just four days after Halloween!) and planned to do "Juno" practice. The intern kept my dog while I practiced with an empty harness and leash on ESCALATORS!!! You heard correctly. Although I heard escalators were a no-no for guide dogs, that's not completely true. If you can get on and mostly get off correctly so the dog is safe, you can use them. I was a bit apprehensive but as with everything in this training, I throw myself into it anyway. The command 'to the stairs' is given and the dog will stop near the edge. You have the dog in a Heel position, reach your right arm out to the railing and be sure it is moving away from you. When you are ready, say"let's go' and at the exact same time, step onto the escalator with your dog. Say 'Heel" and position yourself one step above dog if you are going up and one step lower than dog if going down. As soon as you feel the handrail begin the curve downward, say 'let's go' and simultaneously, step off with dog, letting the leash out fully iin front of you.  That's a lot of things to think about at once. If you aren't well coordinated, your doggie could injure his/her paw pads and it's months to recuperate. That translate to totally untraining. No pressure here! DISCLAIMER: No real dogs were hurt in this exercise. Our first try at the down escalator (the toughest to do), my instructor said to swing my left arm with the leash around the front of me. I did, but she asked me to notice where my hand was. In front of me and about three inches above eye. She asked me where my dog would be and I started to laugh. I was holding the 'dog' by the neck about 3 feet off the ground! Just swinging in the breeze like a side of meat. I was reminded that Pippi-real Pippi- is not that tall. We did 3 or 4 rotations up/down and then decided to try it for realsies. This time, I felt like the revved car engine with the park break on. I leapt unto the up escalator, Pippi in tow, positioned myself a step above and prepared to get off, although we still had another 30 seconds to go. Hopped off together and breathed a sigh of relief (and I'm betting Pippi did too).. Then we did tandom escalator riding. Not quite an Olympic sport yet, but who knows. I rode up and down escalators about a dozen times and never hurt the dog. Yeah, I'm cleared to use escalators! But, if I'm carrying packages, I'm taking the elevator. No reason to push my luck!

While my tandom partner was riding the stairs, I was standing about 30 or 40 feet away. Pippi had the easy part; she laid down on the floor and snoozed. Two guys worked by and commented that they loved labs. Three women walked by once with a lot of awws and ohhs. They circled back around and one lady started to lean toward the floor. I wanted to scream, "don't even think about touching this dog!' Instead I actually said," this is a working dog. You cannot pet her. (Sounds reasonable, right?

On the morning walk, we discovered that my leash corrections needed work. So, this evening, she found me in the computer lab and we practiced with an empty harness and leash in the hallways. I think I've got the corrections snap remembered now. We'll see tomorrow

Guiding Eyes   Day 9  Monday  Nov.3rd

Second verse, same as the first. Not really. The days begin the same but that's about it for sameness.

The goals today were smooth approaches to curbs and corrections when there are distractions. Pippi and I sailed through our curbs, except for one. It was a + intersection. We stepped off the curb, headed to opposite curb. A car was pulled half way into the pedestrian walkway. Pippi moved me around the front of the car as trained. She's supposed to go back to her "straight line" but she must have been distracted by a scent [air distraction] or a little bird because we came to the curb about 2 feet left of our target. I cued her with the leash back to where we needed to be and she obeyed. That earned praise, but no treat. We're told to reward the correct behavior not the corrected one. My instructor tolde me to drop the harness, use the leash and we crossed back over the street to "rework" it. This lets your dog know it must be done correctly on the first try. Of course there wasn't a car in the way, but she landed exactly where we wanted her to and this time, she got the treat. Reward the correct behavior.

The morning weather was brisk and windy. On one of the longer street crossings, a large gust of wind swooshed right at Pip's butt. She jumped as if someone had goosed her and turned her head to look behind her. Not allowed when we are in the middle of the street! A forcefull Forward got her moving. My instructor laughed for an entire block about the look on Pippi's face.

Slight (I hope) injury as we were ready to return to school for the 4:00 PM feed-water-park. Pippi was given a Stay command at the base of the van steps. I'm supposed to sit down, then call her in. She jumped the gun, I sat but landed, hard, on the stationery portion of the seatbelt. Smack in the cocyx [no clue how to spell it.] Man that hurt! And still hurts every time I try to sit down.

The nightly lecture included this week's schedule. Our obedience this week will include a variety of distractions to try to make Miss Pipsqueak lose her concentration when sitting in a stay position, me standing 2 feet from her and someone walking all around her bouncing a ball. This week distractions will include squeaky toys, another dog, and loud noise. She peeked at the ball but stayed in place. I think the dog will be her weakness.

Friday will be a jam-packed day. Training in a different town, back to take group pictures and individual ones with our dogs, an exam from the vet, a lecture with the vet, AND a night walk. As in really dark, need a flashlight dark to be sure we don't fall off the curb kind of dark. Just picture it, folks; 4 sighted humans,10 blind or virtually blind humans, 10 dogs who have never worked with you in the dark ( and only a couple times with the trainers.) This is not painting a pretty picture, but I bet it will be an amusing blog post! It definitely will not be posted Friday night and maybe not Saturday. I promise I'll catch up by Sunday.

The photo is smushed a bit so I  look stockier but Pippi looks awesome.

Guiding Eyes    Day 8.5  Nov.  2nd

Since I retired from teaching, I've noticed I don't multitask as well as I once could. I think that has changed. Each time I go upstairs to use the computer, Pip comes with me. She tries to get my attention away from the computer by leaning her chin on my thigh and looking up from under the computer table at me. A little scratch won't do. Next, she puts a paw up on me and gives me those puppy dog eyes. A chin rub isn't enough. She wants the ultimate, a belly rub! She sprawls out on her back, all four legs in the air with her white fur streak running down her belly and waits. No rub? I get a paw grabbing at my hand. Since I need both hands for typing, I've discovered I can take off my shoes and rub her belly with my feet. That's fine with Miss Pip.

Sunday is a down day for everyone, except a nurse and an instructor, and the kitchen staff. And of course we must still Park-Feed-Water-Park at 6 AM, Water-Park at 10:30, Park before and after playtime, Feed-Water-Park at 4:00, Water-Park at 7:30 PM, and final Park at 9. BUT, in between today, was all leisure time. We walked around outside a little. Miss Pippi likes to crunchthrough piles of leaves by curbs, sniff them up, and if I'm not watching munch a leaf or two. After lunch, I needed a nap. I hooked her to the tie-down cord which gives 3 feet to move and laid down. I was just about gone when I heard CLINK. Pippi was rattling her tie-down hook. Almost out again and CLINK. After the third time, I said sternly, "Shhhh! Quiet down." Not another peep and I had a glorious 90 minute nap..

After dinner, I decided to watch some TV If I'm on the bed, she tries to jump up to be with me and that's a no-no dogs on furniture. So I sit cross-legged on the floor. She immediately plops her 50 lbs (I'm guessing, won't know weight until next Friday) on my lap, well the space where a lap would be if my legs were out straight. So there's a doggie butt on one thigh and a doggie head on the other, and dead weight in-between. I didn't think she was so heavy until I noticed my feet starting to tingle. If I put my legs out straigh, I get either a butt or a head. Every time Pippi shnoozes out, she begins with a heavy sigh (and sometimes a fart! And let me tell you, they are pretty darn stinky. She's a 'stealth' farter- not a sound but the aftermath does you in.

We also seem to have a night time ritual; into  the crate and she sticks her nose through the bars, I rub her nose and she licks my finger. Then she puts her paw through the bars for me to hold. It's very sweet, but somehow I think she's actually saying," Please, oh please mom, don't leave me in here. I have to be right next to you." Or maybe it's, "Not again! How long do you think I can take this?"

Last week, if you told me I'd be holding hands,or paws with a dog, and kissing her head with regularity, I would have said,"yeah, when h*ll freezes over." All I can say is you better get out your winter coat, folks!

P.S. As I finish this, Pip is on the floor, head across my sneakers, snoring away.
*Heavy sigh* I'm hooked.

Guiding Eyes   Day 8   Sunday  2nd


I can't believe a whole has gone by! This time last week, I was facing the unknown, I mean the totally unknown. I became a part of a group of 11 other strangers, 5 men (I think) and 7 women (I think). None of us what have ever met if not for this class. We run the gamet from the low 20s to low 70s in age. A few are close to the beginning of their work life and  4 of us are retired. We have no college, trade school, Bachelor's, Master's, and Medical degrees. Our differences are great, but our commonalities, though few, are what bind us into a "familr' grouping; we all want to improve our lives, live to the fullest, and we've chosen to work with a 4 legged companion.

Allow me to introduce sweet little Pip. I think the picture worked this time. Someone please comment and let me know.

Guiding Eyes   Day 7 Nov. 1st

Well I have discovered there IS something worse than than going outside at 6:00 AM. That would be going outside in the drizzley, cold, windy morning at 6 AM! It's a good thing I've become so attached to her or Miss Pipsqueak  might have less than the 20 mins. we are required to give.

Woke up at 4:30 AM and couldn't fall back asleep. Add the gloomy chill and I was NOT looking forward to this morning's walk. Thank goodness, it was just a half day in White Plains. Our training scedule usually has me as second in the walk order. Today I was 4th/last, I went to the second floor lounge, found an empty couch and shnoozed for about 40 mins. Awesome nap! I'm not sure I could have paid attention without it.

Other than the rain, wind, and cold it was a stellar walk. I handled turns, curbs, ans distractions almost like a pro, or at least an average guide handler. [ Hey, I'm now a Handler dog handler!] Then we came to a curb with a huge puddle that I didn't see. But Miss Pippi caught it and refused to cross. She had no option to go to either side as a street light pole was on the left and a pedestrian + umbrella was on the right. The crossing was green, I said the command Forward and she refused. I gave her a leash cue, didn't budge. Asked my instructor what was up and she said, "Miss Prissypants doesn't want to get wet and she can't find an option to go around!" She gave a harness correction and a firm Forward and that little monkey skimmed the edge of the puddle. Her job was to get me safely across the street. The rules don't say she has to keep ME out of the puddles! This little girl has a rebelous side...we are so well matched.

Back at school in the afternoon, some of us had a lesson in organized play (sounds like what we had to call recess when I taught). We were in the large, auditorium sized hall, doors closed, open floor space, and a box of toys- balls, rings, stuffed cloth shapes. I tossed a ball, Pippy ran after it, got it and proceeded to run laps around the room as if in a relay and she needed to start out strong! By the end of our 15 mins, she was panting. Twice duriong play I had to quickly leash her and zip her outside because she looked ready to pee. When we returned to the room for a rest, she plopped down on the floor and zoned out! I guess mit is possible to wear out a puppydog. She cracks me up when she falls into a deep sleep. She snores! Not too loud, just enough to be ever so adorable. As I write this at the school's computer, Pipsqueak is curled into a ball next to my shoes (which are off my feet) with her head by the wheels of the chair...snoring away!

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.
                

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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