MENSA GETS A NEW SISTER IN RETIREMENT

It has been a long time since my last visit to this site to make entries. Mensa and I have now been together for more than nine years. She is my longest working guide and my oldest working dog; She had her eleventh birthday on January 22. Amazingly, she is still healthy and doing well, but we know that it cannot last for another nine years. It was time to apply again at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) about a year and a half ago and also to Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center (GH).

 

Since the pandemic, the waiting times for a class date have been long, possibly as much as 2-3 years. I am now caregiver for my husband since his injury two years ago, and have requested in-home training—an even longer wait period from (GDB).

 

It is to my good fortune to have received a class date from GH beginning March8, 2026. They are a small school in Mississippi and do only in-home training after a very brief (4 days in my case) trip to their area to begin the match process.

 

The excitement of training with a new dog is tempered a bit by the sense of loss for my partnership now ending. Mensa will stay with us as a pet, but it will still be a bit like a divorce as she will be left behind, whereas she is still eager to get into the harness when she hears me lift it from its place, she will be wondering why not her. “Never me again!!!” “Why a young thing that doesn’t know what I know?” We cannot know the thoughts of our dogs, but Lots of possibilities can be considered.

 

Always before, the breed, gender and name of my new dog have been a secret until we were introduced. Now, it is a female German shepherd named Daisey who will soon, reluctantly at first, be my new partner if all works out. She has no idea what is about to happen in her life, and I am sure that she is happy with the way things are now. It will be my task to win her over so that she will willingly work for me instead of her trainer.

 

Once we have met and walked on the streets of Mississippi for two days, we will return to my home with the trainer who will continue to work with us in our own area. He plans to stay about a week for intensive training.

 

All prayers welcome: safe travel, a good match, clear understanding to develop between Daisey and me as well as the trainer. I would ask for quality sleep and good health, and that Mensa’s slide into retirement will go smoothly and the two dogs will become great friends. with the two-hour time difference as well as the onset of Daylight Savings, I will need to get some good rest going into this adventure.

Primarily, I pray that God would be glorified in this.

 

My hope is to journal my training experience again as I have done in years past. We will see how it goes. Thank you for reading and for your prayers and well wishes.

 

https://www.gallanthearts.org/

https://www.guidedogs.com/

 

HOME AT LAST

December 18, 2016

We have graduated and have started our life together.  As I write, Mensa is tucked under my chair at the Portland airport as we wait for our departure time.  There was a very long line to get to the ticket counter.  It was necessary to weave back and forth along that serpentine path to the counter.  Mensa did this with some verbal cues from me that I received from the GDB staff person who had driven us here. She did this at least as well as any of my seasoned guides. 

We had our graduation yesterday afternoon after having an opportunity to meet our puppy raisers.  Two of the four successive families were able to fly to Boring from San Francisco for the occasion.  It was fun and informative talking with them and learning where she has been and what experiences she has had.  It turns out that one puppy raiser works at the San Francisco airport and has taken her through that facility on many occasions.  Another raiser is a lawyer and took her to the courthouse where she learned to go through the security clearance. She was able to combine these two experiences today with ease. When going through security, I have her sit and stay as I make a long leash.  I go through first and then call her to me.  I do not alarm, but her harness causes her to have a pat down, enjoyable for her.   

Let me say a word here for the wonderful work that puppy raisers do in general.  They take the puppies when they are about eight weeks old and offer them as many varied experiences as their creativity and ingenuity can  consider.  Meanwhile, they tolerate the puppy accidents and likely loose more than a few shoes and other items to those puppy teeth.  When the puppies are well-behaved, they return them to the school where they were bread and born and professional trainers teach them the demanding work that culminates in a partnership that Mensa and I are establishing together. We are a work in progress.  We are not now what we will become in our life together.  Some have compared a new team as "green broke."  She knows the basics and has yet to learn the specific circumstances of my life.  I need to stress that the professional trainers do not have the time to teach good behavior and house manners and establish a wealth of experiences that combine to make this whole thing work.  The puppy raisers are an integral part of this process. 

We have practiced tucking Mensa under the seat in front of me using the airline seats that are available at GDB.  She, as most of the graduating dogs have not flown before.  This will be a new day of learning for Mensa.  Once we are home, she will meet her new family members.  These include my husband who is most anxious to meet her.  She will also be introduced to two cats who are likely not that excited to see her.  Our Basset will be an eager greeter. 

Those of you who will be interacting with me on a day-to-day basis will help us greatly by ignoring Mensa.  Please try not to compare he with my previous dogs.  She is not them and has not had their experiences.  We will need time to grow together into a well-working team.  Remember that initially, she has been taken from everything and everyone she has known as is expected to work for me in a totally new environment. 

December 19, 2016

We are home!  Mensa leapt onto the first seats when boarding the first plane of our trip.  She received a “leash lecture” about this and did not repeat it on the second leg of our journey.  She did need to learn how to settle under the seat in front of us, and she did this with clicking and treating for successive approximations of the desired behavior.  By the time the snack cart came our way, she was well settled on the first leg.  When we boarded the second plane, she settled as if she were a seasoned guide.  I really like the clicker training. 

Yesterday was very cold, snowy and icy.  We were both very tired and did not go out except to go to dinner with friends.  She behaved admirably under the table. 

We waited until today to introduce Mensa to one of our cats and our Basset.  All went well.  Our cat is much like the kitchen cat at GDB and came right up to Mensa, showing no fear.  She was wonderful with him as she had been with the kitchen cat.  She was rather indifferent to EZ, our basset.  Our black cat will have to find her own way to meet Mensa as she is much less sociable. 

Today as my husband and I took our seats in the waiting room for my annual physical, Mensa scooted under my chair very easily as if she has been doing that for years.  After that appointment, Mensa and I took a nearly one half mile walk around the hospital block.  She did make some work errors, but she could not be faulted for this.  Although the sidewalks were clear of snow for the most part, the streets and gutters were not. 

Today I have been working with food to slow her down when heeling on stairs out of harness.  She is making great strides.  No pun intended. 

I am very happy with Mensa.  She is a great dog—very affectionate.  She is eager to please and a fast learner.  She seems to be a great match for me.  She does not yet have complete freedom in the house, but there seem to be no behavioral issues.

A BUSY TWO WEEKS

Training guide dogs has always been based on praise for correct behavior and various levels of correction for communicating wrong behavior or responses. In this way, the new methods are not different, they are just giving a more clear indication of what is good behavior. Whereas we used to use our tone of voice and physical praise, we now include a food treat along with the other two. No doubt this is even more desirable and meaningful for the dog. We are providing a piece of kibble whenever the dogs make good choices. This motivates them to do more of what is expected--less need for corrections.

We began with heeling in the hall going to meals and back to our rooms. "Heel." take a few steps and stop to offer a treat. Soon we could take a few more steps between treats. We did this for the first few days, before we were cleared to work our dogs in harness inside the dorm. As a result, I have a dog that can or does heel with a slack leash when going sighted guide.

Our day begins early as we are to feed, water and relieve our dogs at 7:00. we now use our patios outside our rooms from the beginning. Mensa seems to know what is expected of her and goes quickly each time. There is now no standing in line in the hall to file out one by one to relieve our dogs as there has always been for me before.

This is the first time that there are no chimes or bells to call us to meals or to lectures. The telephone system gives us the schedule for the following day and we are expected to be there. This is also my first experience where the dog food is kept in my room. Each day, we do go down the hall to exchange the previous day's dish for a clean one.

Breakfast for us is 7:30. Usually, we have then met in the Fireplace room at 8:30. Often there has been a lecture/discussion with questions that we were given on the phone system the previous evening. Following this or just before it, e relieve our dogs again. We next go by GDB bus or in vans depending on the circumstances. Most early street work has been in Gresham. Initially, the trainers were with us holding a long leash attached to our dog's collar. By the first Wednesday afternoon, they disconnected the long leash giving us full control of our dogs. They stayed just behind our right shoulder giving cues for best practice.

From time to time, Wheeler and Juno returned for us to work on specific gestures and foot work as needed.

We spend most of the day at the Gresham GDB lounge or Portland GDB lounge while each one has a turn working along the streets with a trainer. The distances are too far to shuttle us back and forth. Lunches are prepared and eaten at the lounges.

Trips have included quiet streets, busier city routs, stores, elevators, escalators for those who will need to use them, and trips with or without sidewalks. We have ridden a city bus and a train. There are specific ways to handle our dogs in each of these scenarios.

We have had lectures and discussions with hands-on experience on every aspect of the work and care of our dogs including feeding, grooming, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, using appropriate toys during play with our dogs and administering the monthly flee protection. We have worked on obedience with various distractions: cats, dogs playing with squeaky toys, people wanting to pet the dog, a cat, food, and other things. We have worked around barricades, and we have had planned car encounters where our training supervisor came at us from all directions in a car as we passed driveways and crossed streets. Mensa did very well with all of this.

There has usually been a discussion before dinner after returning to the dorm. Sometimes there halve been evening meetings as well.

With all this, our class has had more weather issues than anyone can remember. We have worked the dogs with a wind chill in the teens. Two days last week, we could not go off campus due to a storm. Yesterday and this morning we were also unable to leave campus. Some did go to the mall this afternoon.

All in all it has been a rather stressful and busy time for all of us. It has been hard work and very rewarding. Everyone has been so very helpful and supportive.

Tomorrow is graduation and one of Mensa's puppy raisers is planning to come from San Francisco to officially present my dog to me as part of the service. When puppy raisers are not able to be here, a staff person steps in for this. There will also be tours and a demonstration of guide work done by a trainer for the guests. Then two teams will be leaving for home. Four of us will be flying out on Sunday morning.

Catchup #1

At last I am able to post again. We have found a work-around for the issue. Now, having not kept a daily journal as I had hoped, I will, by necessity take some poetic license with respect to dates and times.

Monday, December 5, we met the trainers and had a time ofintroductions all round. It was during this morning that we met Wheeler, Stuffy, and Juno. Wheeler is a dog harness on wheels, Juno is a trainer acting the part of a guide, and stuffy is a plush dog that is used to demonstrate Martingale chain collars, and head collars that may be worn by the dogs.

Only two of us have partnered with guide dogs before and the other four needed to learn a bit before receiving their dogs. It was also a good review for us retrains. Also during that time, we learned/practiced how to hold the leash and harness handle in our left hand and how to use our right hand to give various types of communication with the dogs.

Before we received our dogs that afternoon, we were each taken
out individually to walk with our specific trainer/instructor to
allow them to have one last check of our comfortable pace and
pull. They know the dogs that are class-ready and at what speed
each of them tends to work. This information had been provided
as estimated by the trainer that visited each of us in our home
environment as part of the application process. There is nothing
like first-hand experience, though. The point is that there is
lots that goes into the process of choosing the best dog for each
of us. It is not only about pace and pull. It is about
environment, family constellation including four-footed and
feathered members.

After lunch on December 5, we students each retired to our room
to listen for that sound of dog feet approaching our door. Dogs
were to be introduced to us between 1:30 and 2:30.

As 2:30 approached, I began to wonder if there was to be no dog
for me. I feel sure that I was last to be matched. You know the
outcome for me. Mensa was one of two yellow labs to be issued
this time. There were six labs in all. There were two males and
four females. One male was the only other yellow lab in our
group.

Once the dogs were issued, we each had an opportunity to walk
with our dog on the campus grounds. The trainer was at our right
shoulder giving minute by minute information and instruction.
She had a long leash attached to the dog's collar much like in
driver training where the instructor has a separate set of
controls. Each dog is different and the body language
transmitted through the harness to the handler is different. The
interesting thing to consider is that the dog also feels the
difference between my body language, gestures, and pull as
compared with the trainers she has known. We are both having to
work to understand each other.

When I first trained with a guide dog in 1984, there was no use
of food in the training. In fact they discouraged food given
except if it were placed in the dog's dish. Imagine the
difference now with treats given as part of the reward process
for every correct behavior on the part of the dog at this
facility. I came here specifically to learn this new and
different method of training and handling. Dogs who are not
raised with people do not interpret voice and petting as
rewarding in themselves. They need to learn what these mean and
develop a sense that they are good things. With food, however,
they do not need to learn that it is good. Food, then is a more
powerful reward than our kind words. also, the individual voice
of the owner is learned. When we get them, they do not
necessarily recognize our way of giving verbal praise. Luckily
for us, our dogs have been handled lots from their earliest days
and have learned that people are good to them. They have been
raised with families who have provided them a huge amount of
socialization and good-dog behavior that is an invaluable part of
who our dogs have become already.

In this training process, the basics are similar at any of the
schools, but the specifics can be quite different. That is, all
guides are trained to walk along a sidewalk, path, or street
edge. They are all trained to negotiate through openings large
enough to accommodate both of us or to stop to show us a
barricade. All stop at street corners; all wait for the cue of
the handler to enter a street; all are trained to stop at stairs
going up or down. To a greater or lesser degree, they are taught
how to find locations such as "inside." "Outside." "Door."
"Elevator." and as we develop our partnership through the years
together, we expand on these specific skills becoming a
well-melded team.

For now, though, for me, there are subtle differences in the two
schools as to how I hold the leash, how I use body gestures and
foot work, and even some of the words that my dog knows. My
trainer is ever-ready to cue me to best behavior with this dog
who has not learned to take shortcuts translated as less than
perfect cues. I need to learn to do things Mensa's way because
she knows only the basics right now. the more I can stick to the
basics of her training experience, the better we will work as a
team long term. This relearning is something that every student
returning for a successor dog experiences, but it is compounded
by changing schools. (lots of work for me)

Come back often. Now that I can post to this blog, I have lots
to say. I hope you will find it informative and interesting.

DAY 3: HARD WORK FOR GUIDE DOGS

It is not all hard work for guide dogs. This picture of my new dog, Mensa, was taken at the Guide Dogs for the Blind, Gresham lounge while we were waiting to take our turn with the trainer.

DAY 2: FIRST WALK ON THE STREET

It was a busy day today with our first walk on the streets of Gresham, Oregon. There is a lot to learn with this new technique and lots of old habits to break.

I am having some technology issues with posting to this blog. I hope tomorrow I will have more time and energy to get things working properly and post more news.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL

My flight to SeaTac with connection to Portland left at 6:00 a.m. A GDB (Guide Dogs for the Blind) staff member met me at the baggage claim where she had already retrieved my checked bag, obvious by the GDB luggage tag. Another student was with her and the three of us went immediately to the campus. The two of us students (the first to arrive) were taken to the dining room for lunch before going to our dorm rooms.

After the first of what promises to be individualized delicious and nutritious meal options, each of us had a one-on-one orientation to our rooms. This took some time as the accommodations are large. Double rooms have been converted to single rooms. There is one side with a desk, chair, recliner, closet and a small fridge. There are two doors to the patio, two doors to the hall, two sinks, one bathroom and, of course, a second side with another closet, additional door, desk with chair, and a bed.

There is the promise of a dog by the presence of a small waist pack with grooming tool for us to take home, a filled food box and measuring cup, two tie-down areas, a plush dog bed on the bedroom side, and a rug near the recliner. My room is at the far end of the hall. To explain the dorm would take much more time and space than you would want to read, but you can see it on the GDB web site at www.guidedogs.com.

We have not met the trainers yet, but that comes later today. Breakfast is at 7:30 a.m. with no formal wake-up call. We each are expected to use an alarm. Our first class of the day begins at 8:30 a.m. We are to appear there with the leash and filled treat bag that we were issued during the lecture yesterday afternoon. Did I mention that we have study material? It is also available on the GDB web site. Check it out.

There are daily study questions that we are given via the telephone tree in our room. Yes, there is homework that begins with reading or listening to lectures before we arrive for class. I was so tired last evening that I was in bed by 8:00 p.m. Those who know me well will agree that this is not my normal.

And are you wondering about my dog? So am I. We will receive our new partners between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. More later.

Addendum: I received my caramel colored yellow lab named Mensa this afternoon.

A FURTHER WESTWARD MIGRATION OF THE PUFFIN

It was November 3, 2016 and Puffin and I had just completed our
last trip--our last flight together. She was much more calm in
her customary place, under the seat in front of me, than she had
been on her first flight west. Since then, we have flown
together many times, but this would be our final journey
together.

I was flying to SeaTac to attend the Washington Council of the
Blind annual convention. Puffin, though she did not know it, was
flying to her new home. She is now enjoying her retirement with
my nephew and his wife and their Jack Russell mix. Puffin now has
a half-acre of fenced yard where she loves spending much time
weather permitting. My nephew's wife does not work outside their
home and does not drive, so she is there to be door-person for
all the dogs. During the week, my nephew's son stays with them
to be closer to his work. With him come his two dogs; a Border Collie and a Pomeranian puppy about 3-4 months old. There is a
fifth Puffin-size dog, a mix who also has access to the property.
All get along well.

After two convention days, I spent one night and the following day
with my nephew and his wife teaching them about Puffin. I had
them do the obedience routine with her. I worked with them on
the "come" command using treats to enforce the likelihood that
she will obey this when needed. I showed them how I have been
caring for her nails--using a grinder to keep nails short and
Musher's Secret to keep pads healthy. I brought copies of all
her vet records for her new vet. She also had a familiar bed
waiting for her that they had taken home after their visit with
us in September. In short, I did all I knew to make this a
smooth transition for all concerned and to tell Puffin she was
now to see this change as her new home.

They visited us over Thanksgiving and Puffin, though happy to
greet us, was clearly their dog now. She has always loved my
nephew and the feelings have been mutual.

Some may ask "Why do dogs retire?" In her case, at 6 years and 9
months, it is earlier than one might hope. Honestly, she has had
some work-related issues throughout her career and some potential
medical issues. She does have fears and this was obvious, even
in class, when she showed extreme fear of vacuums. We worked
with treats to overcome or lessen this. At home it was fear of
the sounds at the hairdresser. We worked there with food daily
for a few weeks to help her overcome this fear. She was jumped
by a dog (no blood) early in our time together and eventually she
started lunging at other dogs--especially loose dogs. We worked
with positive training methods to overcome this. We discovered
that she also has kidney insufficiency although her blood work is
within normal range for kidney function at this time. Most
recently, she has started slowing down in her work and
hesitating. Sometimes we were only sauntering along. Early on,
she was very eager to walk fast.

Her house behavior has been excellent throughout our time
together. Her puppy-raising family certainly did very well with
this. She has remained a wonderful dog and a joy to be around.
Now my nephew is reaping the benefit of her early training. It
made the difficult job of giving her to a new home a bit less
difficult to know that she was already somewhat familiar there
because of previous visits. It has been clear that she favors my
nephew. All this, plus the fact that I still can keep track of
her makes the grieving process much less difficult for me. It
was my option to choose the date of her retirement to give me a
chance to prepare mentally and emotionally for my new partner.

In just a few short days, I will be flying to Portland to train
with my seventh dog. I have chosen to stay closer to home this
time. I received my first two dogs from Guide Dogs for the Blind
(GDB) California campus and will now be training for two weeks at
their Boring, Oregon facility. The clicker training experience I
received at Seeing Eye and on my own has made me want to learn
more about this. I decided to see how the GDB greater emphasis
on positive training methods using clicker and food rewards is
working. Let me say that Seeing Eye puppy raisers and trainers
have provided excellent dogs. Both schools are high quality
schools and the decision to change was not an easy one.

My hope is to blog my training experience again as time permits.
Check here on December 5 or later to learn about my new partner.
I hope to upload pictures as well. Training is a rigorous
experience and with two students to one trainer rather than 3-4
students, word is that we are much more actively involved
throughout the day with less down time while we wait for team
members to work with the trainer. I am not sure how well
blogging will work without having benefit of a computer--only my
BrailleNote.

WE ARE ON OUR WAY NOW

We are on our way now. Today, the ice had melted and the temperature was moderate with a sunny sky. Puffin and I did our first real solo. Our walk is one that I have done as a first venture with most if not all of my previous dogs. We walked the perimeter of two blocks amounting to about .5 miles. It is all residential with two street crossings that have actual curbs. We faced the on-coming traffic all the way. Two sides were very quiet streets. There were two work errors, but she did well over all. I think we both were glad to be out walking.

Thanks to all of you for following me on this journey. The fact that you were reading has given me support and encouragement. Now, I hope it is several years before I am in a position to write about my new dog again.

For years to come, I hope we will still be Huffin' and Puffin

THANKS TRINITY

A huge thanks goes to my previous dog, Trinity. Without knowing it, she has helped my transition to home withPuffin. WithTrinity, my friends and relatives learned to ignore her when working and to avoid making contact with her. Thanks also goes to all of you from my community who are remembering these rules for Puffin’s smooth transition to her working life with me.

I thought people would see the similarities between Trinity and Puffin. They are both yellow labs and both light in color. However, people see them as different in their body type and facial expression. This is interesting to me.

I have had some questions that I will answer here in case others may be wondering the same thing.

I have been asked how my new dog knows where I want to go. The fact is that I am the one who needs to give directional information to my dog such as Forward, Left, or Right, and it is Puffin’s job to follow these commands and negotiate crowded areas without bumping me into things. Now, she knows the basic commands. As she learns my routines, she will show me places we often go, by slowing or turning her head toward a door. It will be my command to continue on our way or turn in that will determine our course. These become very subtle and possibly seen only to those trained to observe our movements. We can travel anywhere now with the basic training she has learned if I know what directions to give her, but it will take us six months to a year to be a smoothly working team. We will learn more and more to read each other’s body language. The harness handle is a two-way communication device between us in addition to the words and gestures that she knows.

A dog’s field of vision is about 250 degrees where as humans have about 180 degrees. This means that Puffin sees farther behind her on either side and is aware of my hand movements even though I am walking farther back near her back legs.

Huffin' and Puffin

PUFFIN SETTLING INTO HER NEW HOME

With all the focus on getting home, I neglected to share what happened when we arrived. Things went pretty much as expected. First I parked Puffin and then went inside to greet our basset while my husband held Puffin’s leash. Next, I took Puffin's leash and my husband went inside to bring our basset, EZ out on leash to meet Puffin on more neutral ground. Puffin’s hair went up initially, but within minutes they both seemed to be doing well with each other. EZ has access only to our family room and the back yard, so it was easy to let Puffin explore the rest of the house on leash. She was very excited and wired. Next we put EZ outside and took Puffin into the family room where we also have two cats. They are as different as their color. Scooter, mostly white wasted no time in getting acquainted. He went right up to puffin and began rubbing himself against her legs. She on the other hand seemed a bit frightened of him and her hair went up again. Our black cat, Cinders kept her distance. Neither cat ran from her.

Puffin remains very curious about the cats and Scooter continues to make himself completely available to her. This morning I put Puffin on tie down at her place in our bedroom. I stepped out briefly and heard a strange noise. Our white cat had gotten out of the family room and gone there and was lying in another dog bed that was inside a garbage bag. It made a nice nest for scooter. Puffing was at the end of her tether, nosing him as he lay calmly purring his contentment. He seems to have no fears. Puffin did mouth him a bit and my concern is that she may want to nibble at him to see what he is like.

It is still much to icy to venture out for a walk. Puffin and I did visit a friend at the hospital this afternoon. I was able to work her from the entrance, up some stairs, and through the treatment area where my friend was.

Puffin is very affectionate. She is very curious about everything and is really cute. When she lies down, she often crosses her front legs. This makes her look sophisticated. She is a sensitive and responsive girl.

Huffin' and Puffin

THE PUFFIN MIGRATION

The short of it is that we did get home safely yesterday afternoon. There is much to tell about our journey, and I will give details below.

Thursday, January 19
Morning came even earlier than usual with my personal wake-up at 4:00. I put my own morning routine ahead of Puffin and was ready to feed and take her out about 4:30. Then there was time for a quick muffin, last minute packing details and many Good-bys. We left for the airport at 5:30. We students, soon to be graduates, were divided among the five instructors according to flight times and departure gates. Even so, it was a quick trip through security for Puffin and me. My flight was already boarding when we reached the departure gait. The 6-hour flight was rather smooth, but Puffin was not at all impressed. By the time we were ready to take off, I had almost dozed off. Puffin, though, decided to follow suit and tried a take-off of her own. Her leash was fastened to my seat belt and this helped to keep her from escaping into the aisle past the two empty seats in our row. I did manage to entice her back into position under the seat in front of me when something new triggered her and she was up and out again. This time, she almost slipped her collar because she was moving in reverse. I managed to call for help and the flight attendant retrieved my purse where some treats were stashed. With these, I managed to break off small pieces and “bribe” puffin back to me and to shape the appropriate position of “down “. I chose my battles and did not insist on perfect form under the seat in front of me. First she was stretched out full length across in front of the three seats. Gradually, she folded up and pressed against my legs until she was in rather good position by the end of that leg of our journey.

Then it was my turn for anxiety. We heard that our descent would be rough and the runway was being kept open. The airport was closed to through traffic. Some how, though, the pilot managed to make a very smooth landing on the ice and slush of the tarmac.

Once at our flight destination, I learned that the second leg of our journey was cancelled due to the weather. We had an escort who was afraid of dogs, but he was a good sport. He had visions of spending the rest of the day with me because of my long list of needs. Our itinerary was changed to a flight that was to leave for our final destination that same evening. I then went to relieve Puffin. The relief area was in a room and was a litter box arrangement. I have no idea of its size, but Puffin was not impressed and ignored it completely. I asked my escort to find me a place to sit near a restaurant while I considered my options. With that he was on his way.

After making a few phone calls, I learned that the president of Horizon was on TV stating that all flights to my area were cancelled for the rest of the day. A relative helped me by calling to make a hotel reservation for the night. My task then was to find a more suitable area to park Puffin, change my ticket for the following day, and find ground transportation to my hotel. I had only taken a few steps when a restaurant person offered to obtain another escort for me. It took about 15 minutes for that person to arrive and we set off. The outside dog relief area was a very icy patch indeed. Puffin considered it a wonderful place to play while I was in no mood to practice my ice skating maneuvers. The ticket counter was crowded, but I managed to change my flight to the following afternoon. The hotel shuttle took quite some time to arrive in the snowy weather, but my escort insisted on staying with me until it came.

Thankfully I had packed the 8-lb bag of dog food in my carry on and could feed and relieve Puffin once we had reached our room. . A plastic bag does work for giving water and I could feed Puffin from my hand. The door to take Puffin outside was next to my room making it an easy though icy trip each time.

Once settled in our room, I chose to have dinner there instead of venturing out to find the restaurant. It worked so well that I also chose to eat breakfast in my room. Luckily Puffin did not chew her leash turned tie down for the night. There was a small rug in the bathroom that I put beside the bed, It served as her “Place”. When she wakened me at 2:00, I decided that I should respond by 2:30. She demonstrated that she had good reason by producing both a #1 and #2 when we got outside. That room was difficult to heat and they brought in a space heater to bring the room temperature above 59 degrees.

Friday, January 20, 2012
Still wearing the same clothes as the day before, I set out for the lobby to meet my nephew who would take me to my gate at the airport. Puffin did the security routine very well. She sat and waited for me to go first on this and every occasion as if she had been doing it for years. We did board the plane for my final destination and we did arrive above the airport. At the critical moment, the pilot said he could not see the runway and had to abort the landing. He was still unable to see it in two additional tries and said we must go back to are starting point while we had fuel enough to do so.

We arrived at about 3:30 and the process began again. I had to reschedule my flight, relieve Puffin, and make a new hotel reservation. This time it would be for two additional nights as there was not a place on the mid-day flight on Saturday. I decided not to chance any evening flights to avoid the possibility of cancellation or return to find no available lodging. This time, I remembered to request my checked luggage. Puffin would have a toy, her Mutmat from the school, and I would have some clean clothes. Thankfully I had washed them before packing.

I felt a bit less exhausted and decided to strike out for the restaurant. I managed to be helped by a couple who invited me to sit with them. They insisted on paying for my dinner. WE had a very nice visit while Puffin snoozed at my feet. They had returned to the airport an hour and a half into their trip to Hawaii and were waiting for their next opportunity to fly. They were delayed due to mechanical problems.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

This was a quiet day for us as we did not have the possibility of a flight. The flight of the evening before had managed to land and I could have been home, but I chose what I chose. This day, the mid-day flight was full before I had a chance to make a reservation. I could have chosen the Saturday evening option, but chose against it for the reason mentioned earlier. I learned later that the Saturday evening flight was cancelled. Puffin and I had some bonding time together in the room. I spent much of the day sitting by her on the floor.

That Morning and evening, I found the restaurant for breakfast and dinner and enjoyed two delicious meals. Following dinner, I was invited to sit and visit with two flight attendants. It was a nice way to spend some time.

The hotel had 850 beds and two towers. It was sprawling and most difficult to negotiate. I tied two plastic bags to my hotel door as is my custom. Puffin knew immediately that this was a target, but I didn’t have treats or a clicker. She found it wonderfully on the first return and we had a party. However, she missed the treats and seemed less inclined to locate our room on subsequent occasions. I was forever getting turned around and needing help. This was not the way a team should begin life together. Ideally a team should go straight home and begin work together on short, well known routs. We had none of this.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

We had a leisurely morning with breakfast and packing. Then we headed for the airport on the hotel shuttle. The airport security people were much more informed and more pleasant than they had been on Friday making my day a better one. On Friday, Puffin clearly was the one setting off the alarm, but the person said they could not tell because I was holding the leash.

Our plane was late because they had hit a bird at a different airport and had to deal with the paper work and other details related to it. There was no damage done to the plane.

It was a rough ascent and descent. Puffin tried several times to crawl into the seat and get behind me. On the Friday flight, she had been very restless and I let her look out the window with her feet in my lap (her choice). I thought that looking outside might help her. My seat mate was very understanding of Puffin’s issues. On Sunday, she was still restless and shivering at times. She did want to get into the seat, but she didn’t head for the aisle.

Monday, January 23, 2012

What a day for a dental appointment. Knowing that Puffin has had some issues with sounds, I asked that my husband attend my dental appointment and take care of Puffin as needed. He did stay and she needed no special attention. She did well.

It is still very icy here. Our relieving spot is like glass and she wants to work off pent up energy there. The sidewalks are not cleared and we have not been able to walk except to get out of the car and go into places. Friends have estimated that it may be a week before the ice will melt enough to walk outside. Bad news for us.

Still Huffin’ and Puffin

GOING HOME TO A NEW LIFE TOGETHER

There is certainly a flurry of activity today. I began by doing a load of clothes in preparation for packing. During our morning trip, we walked on some very narrow sidewalks with clearance issues along our path. We also stopped at a department store for some shopping. We arrived back at the dorm in time for park and then a lecture on pet insurance options.

During the afternoon trip, our entire class worked from various routs to a creamery and had some ice cream as a sort of party.

Once back at the dorm again, I had an exit interview and met with another person to settle up for purchases that I made. I said good-by to friends and began packing for a long trip home tomorrow. Surprisingly, my suitcase is well under the 50-pound limit this time although there are still some items to be tucked into my bags.

The weather may be a factor in my going home plans. We’ll see what happens. It looks as if we will be flying into arctic-type weather conditions for sure.

It will be good to get home, but leaving here is something like leaving camp. We have been thrown together with a common goal and have had many laughs mixed with some sadness. No matter what, this particular group will never be here together again. I am sure that each class has its personality, but this has been a good one. As many of us are leaving, there are six who will be staying for one additional week. They are folks who have come to complete training with their first dogs. I’m sure that the dorm will be a quieter place.

As far as I know, Trinity is still here waiting for a match with placement to a wonderful home.

AN ARCTIC MORNING FOR THE PUFFIN

There was an ice storm during park last evening and the grounds crew had done its work at park before our 5:30 trip outside this morning.

All four of us in our class went together to Starbucks this morning and waited for each of us to do a shorter walk with clearance work on the rout. There was some ice, the dogs were wearing their winter boots and were going slower and more carefully.

We had a chance to purchase items from the school store during the lunch hour today. Then we all went again to Starbucks this afternoon. We then went to a department store and worked through the narrow aisles. This time, the dogs were wearing their gentle leaders.

We visited the statue of Morris Franck at the Green. Our hope was to find some squirrels out, but they were much smarter than we were. They were staying in out of the rain. We did get a picture of Morris and me with both of our dogs. Morris Franck is the first blind person to travel with a guide dog in this country. He helped to start the Seeing Eye. Check out http://www.seeingeye.org/news/default.aspx?M_ID=197

I had my vet visit with Puffin when we returned to campus. She is healthy and has had her teeth cleaned recently. Her only medical issue has been a left ear infection last summer. That is a non-problem now.

After dinner, we had a lecture on dog attacks and how to deal with them and eliminate them if possible.

I am told that Puffin has her tail between her legs in the picture. Her puppy raiser commented that she puts it there and wags it from there when she sits.

I groomed her after the last park today and then we took some time to play together in the room. She is very cute when she plays. I like how she rolls the ball to me and then I roll it back to her. It is very cute.

Tomorrow is the day we will be packing in preparation to strike out on our own the following day. I hope to have time to write a quick update before my computer gets packed.

Huffin' and Puffin

Meet Puffin

TURNING OUR THOUGHTS TOWARD HOME

I went right after breakfast with one other student and our trainer today. We visited a grocery store working on clearances. The trainer reserved the middle of the day to take the other two students into New Your City. Once they were back, we went out again and worked our way through an office building with narrow halls and many tight corners. On the way back to the van we stopped at Starbucks again and Puffin remembered the clicker training from before and took me right to the counter. She did fail to stop at one down curb and she did suddenly stop for a #1 along our way. I will need to be scheduling extra park times before trips to minimize and avoid these once we are home. I relate these stories to let you know that we are still a work in progress.

We had another evening lecture. This time it was on going home with a new dog. We must remember that our dogs will be leaving everything familiar and finding themselves in a strange new world. This means that others can help us by not throwing a party with lots of excitement. We will need to introduce our dogs to their new homes and other occupants in a prescribed way so as to allow the best possible acceptance by other pets.

As with Trinity, it will be very helpful for those we meet to refrain from making eye contact with Puffin. Try to avoid any interaction with her initially. We will begin with shorter routs that I know well and gradually build up to the longer walks that Trinity was able to do. Please try not to make comparisons among Sydney, Trinity and Puffin. Each dog is as different as any three people. Some work errors will be expected as Puffin learns her new job. I like to make the comparison that she is now “green broke” as in horses. She knows the basics, but can be easily overwhelmed at first. She certainly does not know my favorite stopping places. Having said that, she is a quick learner and I think she will be catching on quickly. Remember that it takes six months to a year to become a smoothly working team. We cannot rush that process.

A DAY OF REST

For those of you who do not know, “Rest” means “Stay” with our dogs. However you say it and whatever you mean, this was a quiet and restful day for this team. Our trainer had a much deserved day off today. It was nice to begin our day an hour later.

The only activity for Puffin and me was to attend church. In fact, four students chose to worship at the same church.

Lucky for me, Puffin handled it as if she had been attending there every week of her life. Often a new dog will get up every time I do, but Puffin stayed down and was totally calm. She did offer a few comments during the sermon in the form of groans. She is about the most vocal dog I have had.

When we returned to campus, it was time to water and park the dogs. The next scheduled event was lunch. The afternoon was free for me and I spent it in our room, playing with Puffin and making phone calls to friends and relatives. There is little time for this most days because of our busy schedule and the 3-hour time difference.

We also had dinner as scheduled and the last park of the day. In between, I also listened to several audio files provided to us on a thumb drive early in our training process. Much of the information that we receive as lectures is included. Early on, I copied the files to Drop Box making them readily accessible from my iPhone. They are an excellent review for me as I also listened to them when I was here training with Trinity.

Until recently, we were working with used harnesses so that there would be minimal damage to new equipment should any dog see a nearby harness handle as a convenient chew toy. Recently we got our new harnesses and will begin gradually to use them as they are stiff. Yesterday, my trainer gave me a shorter harness handle at my request. I think it works better for me.

Two students are leaving early tomorrow and will receive some continued help from trainers when they return home. Many of us will be leaving this Thursday. A lot has happened in the past two weeks, and it is hard to believe that we have only a few days left. Still it seems as if Christmas was long ago instead of only three short weeks.

This has been a very cold day with temperatures in the teens and a wind chill factor to consider. At our 6:30 park, this morning, it was about 16 degrees with wind making it a near zero experience. Now there should be some warming again if the forecast is correct. How fortunate we have been with the weather.

Huffin' and Puffin

TRIBUTE TO PUPPY RAISERS

After breakfast, our small class of four students gathered to learn the details about our dogs as written by the puppy raisers. Puffin’s puppy family included two parents, a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. The daughter was the official raiser, but as always, it is a family project. All work together to shape the tiny puppies that come to them at about 8 weeks of age into responsible adults with good house manners and good public behavior. I have known many raisers in my past and am convinced that they take their job very seriously. Although there is sadness when they must say “Good by”, there is also pride in knowing that they have helped to shape the lives of the dogs that will be our partners.

Puffin has retained the qualities and behaviors that they describe. She is bright, indeed. She is also vocal with many noises to express what she cannot use words to convey. Her meaning is often clearer than words. She is bouncy and reminds me a bit of my golden when she gets excited and springs off the floor with front feet in her enthusiasm. She is playful. Today we went to a pet store and I purchased a latex ball that squeaks and has a rough surface. Someone has taught her to play interactively. She mouths it for a while and then tosses it to me. She waits until I locate it and toss it for her. Again and again, we play this new game. Now that she can be free in the room, this new game is lots of fun for both of us. Boy is she curious. She wants to be in on everything I am doing and she wants to check things out. She is loving and affectionate and likes to be near me. She showed me within 36 hours of our meeting that she is aware of my mood. I was grieving the loss of Trinity and she rose up from where she was lying to touch me when she realized my sadness.

Things are slowing down a bit. We didn’t go out on a walk this afternoon, but staff did change the seating arrangement for meals after lunch today and each of us in our small group worked individually with our trainer to find our new location in the dining room. We practiced the clicker training we have been learning to teach the dogs to target our new chair.

The trainer then worked with me individually on desensitizing Puffin to the vacuum. She is progressing well with this. Today she was able to work past it while it was on at a distance of ten feet by my estimation. This is a huge relief to me.

A Seeing Eye grad came with her husband and a friend again to visit with some of us this afternoon. After dinner we watched two Seeing Eye videos.


There were snow flurries today and this evening with a dusting when we went out to park.

Tomorrow is a quiet day as my trainer has the day off. I have requested to take Puffin with me to church tomorrow morning. Word is that we will be able to sleep in until 6:30.

Huffin' and Puffin

A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF NYC

Several of us, two trainers, the class manager, and 4 students piled into one van with our 4 dogs while another student and instructor went by separate vehicle to New Your City today. We left campus about 9:15 and returned at about 2:00. We parked at the Port Authority and took escaladers and stairs down to the subway and divided into groups of two or three. I went with another student and our trainer on the subway to Columbus Circle and walked from Central park several blocks back toward Time Square. We then took another subway and met others for lunch in a restaurant at the Port Authority before returning to the campus.

It is always amazing to me that the dogs can guide us through the crowds of people, massive traffic, pigeons, horse-drawn carts, and all that is going on. They tolerate the noisy subway stations and turn styles. For me it is a real lesson in trust of my dog and of my trainer. He says “OK Joleen, you lead this time. The light is in our favor.” Off Puffin and I go with the other student starting soon after and the trainer silently following unless there is something of interest or safety to be said. Sometimes, as in the subway station, there is so much noise and the trains are whizzing past that I do as I am told, give the appropriate commands and trust that Puffin goes as directed. Things happen very fast there.

In my day-to-day life, I have no need to negotiate such an environment, but there are times when I do travel. One of us does negotiate similar situations in her daily commute to work. If I were to do it regularly, I would need to learn the layout of the station, but today it was just a way of learning that my dog is capable of working in very busy and distracting circumstances. It is always a highlight of my training experience.

We rested this afternoon while the trainer went with the two students who stayed behind. They did something in town closer to campus before and after our trip. Next week, things will be reversed and they will be the ones to experience the Big Apple.

Today is the first day that Puffin had freedom in our room without being on leash or tie down. She is wearing her bell so that I can hear where and what is happening with her. From the first day that I got her, we have been going straight to her “place” when returning to the room. I have been using the command “Go to your place.” And today, I was to send her there with the knock on the door and arrival of the food dish. She did go there and she did stay there until I retrieved the food and set it before her. Only when I said “OK” did she begin to eat. Good Girl!!! She is playful and it is easier to play with her now that she can move about a bit more. She has made no move to get on the bed or chew anything inappropriate. There is a big thanks to her puppy raisers for her good manners. She is very affectionate and she seems very bright. She has already learned to reach down to the bell that is hanging from her collar and hold it in her mouth.

There was another lecture at 6:30 until Park Time. Then I learned that I was scheduled to go on a night rout. This rout was the South Maple rout done backwards. There was a strong wind and the temperature was cold. We were bundled up and were comfortable. My little bird seemed to be energized by the cold—true to her name. The other person declined to take this optional trip. It was about 9:30 when we returned to the dorm this evening.

Huffin' and Puffin for sure.

THIS PUFFIN FAMILY HAS HAD A BUSY DAY TODAY

We woke to rain this morning and it continued intermittently throughout the day. Still, the weather is very mild as compared to what it might be.

It was a long day today beginning as usual at 5:30. I was told to be ready to go out at 9:30 and decided to take advantage of the early morning to do my laundry. As it was washing, I groomed Puffin in the grooming room nearby. I also had some time for some stretching exercises before the clothes were ready for the dryer.
I met with a person on staff and soon it was time to go out. My clothes spent the day waiting for my return. That is something I would rather not do as others may want the machine. There are three washers and dryers for the 20 of us.

We went into town and walked a few blocks to a hotel and practiced negotiating the revolving doors and the various floor surfaces and halls.

We arrived back at the dorm just in time to park the dogs and give them water and then go to a lecture at 11:00 on access laws regarding our dogs. Soon after that there was lunch.

This was the day that we could purchase items from the gift store set up in a room near the dining room. I waited my turn, but my time to go out came sooner than my time to be waited on.

This afternoon, we went to Starbucks and practiced clicker work again. Then we went through the courthouse. It gave us two opportunities to practice going through the metal detectors and negotiate narrow halls with stairs throughout.

On our arrival back at campus, two in our small class were dropped off at the vet’s office to learn about the health histories of their dogs. My turn is still to come.

We got back to the dorm in time for me to retrieve my laundry and begin putting it away before feeding and parking the dogs. Then came dinner and a lecture at 6:30. It was instructions for beginning to leave our dogs in the rooms for brief periods on their tie downs and to gradually extend the time. They need to remain quiet and to not be destructive. We were given a bell that can be clipped to the dog’s collar so that we can hear them moving about as we begin to give them some freedom to be off tie down in the room with us present. We have been working on teaching them to “Go to your place.” I think it is tomorrow evening when they will be expected to go there and stay there as the food is delivered to our rooms by the trainers.

We have been using old harnesses and tonight, we were issued the new ones that we will be taking home. The leather is stiff and we will begin gradually to increase the time that the dogs will be wearing them as the leather softens.

There was a birthday party scheduled for one of the students after the evening park, but Puffin said “No!” She was on her bed and did not budge so I yielded to her fatigue and chose to finish putting my laundry away. I did not insist that we do this one additional thing. I am also very tired and will be glad when sleep comes for me as well.