KathyRN137
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,882
Pre-Trip #16:
The Dog Days of Summer
Did I just hear the front door slam? Yes, I’m sure that was the front door. Let me just put two paws up on the windowsill and see. Is she gone yet? Yes, I think she’s gone. The big metal box on wheels isn’t in the driveway anymore. I thought that human would never get off the DIS! Now all I have to do is jump up on this…..whoa!! Hey, this chair moves! I’d better just stand on my hind legs. Ah, that’s better! Now it’s my turn! Good thing she left this thing on…..
So, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Aimee, and if you haven’t already guessed, I am a dog.
Kathy may have already mentioned me, but I want to make sure that all you DISers know just how important I am to this family! It’s been two years since I decided to adopt them and I honestly don’t think they could imagine life without ME!!
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My life began almost a little over three and a half years ago in Chester, N.J. I was born at the canine maternity center for The Seeing Eye, North America’s pioneer dog guide school, in Morristown, N.J. I don’t mean to boast, but I am told that I was bred for the qualities that would make a good Seeing Eye dog: intelligence, good health, moderate size, sound hips, and gentle temperament.
When I was about seven weeks old, I went to live with a volunteer puppy raiser. I got lots of love and was taught basic obedience. I was a very happy pup! At 18 months of age, I began a four-month course of training at The Seeing Eye with a sighted Seeing Eye instructor. Here I learned all the basic commands that I would be given in my job as a working guide dog. I also learned how to lead in a harness and stop at curbs. This was a lot of fun! My classmates and I practiced all over the streets of Morristown; progressing from the quiet side streets to the busier downtown area.
Finally, we were taught “intelligent disobedience”: to disregard a command if it would lead to danger. We learned to use our own initiative and judgment to carry out a command. At the end of my training, I took my final exam. My instructor wore a blindfold and walked with me through the streets of Morristown where auto and pedestrian traffic was at its heaviest. A training supervisor gave me my final evaluation.
And…….I flunked!
Oh no. I just couldn’t help myself. Whenever a stranger came too close to my instructor, I felt compelled to give them a little “woof.” I really didn’t think he should get that close. But, a good Seeing Eye dog can’t do that sort of thing. And so, my guide dog career was over before it had even begun.
At first, they offered me the family that had raised me as a puppy. I would have liked to adopt them as my permanent family, but they were unavailable. So I remained in the kennel at the Seeing Eye for two months, waiting and hoping to find a nice family to adopt. I knew that the Seeing Eye would find a good home for me; but I secretly hoped that it would be with a family that had a special need. After all, I had been bred and trained to be of service, and I desperately wanted to fulfill my destiny.
Just when I was beginning to think that I would never find a family to adopt, my wish came true! One day my caretaker brought me to the Canine Adoption Service office. A man and woman were there to meet me. I was so excited! I scampered all around the office and sniffed at everything new. I sniffed the man and the woman. They both seemed nice; the man was firm and spoke with authority. Good, I could tell right away that he had experience with dogs. The woman, well, she seemed a bit unsure at first.
She had an almost worried look until I settled down a bit and sat by her feet to be petted. Mmmm. She had a nice touch. I pegged her as the easy one right off, a marshmallow for sure. I could see lots of treats and tummy rubs in my future if I adopted her. 
The three of us went for a walk together and I let them lead me around the grounds. It felt good to be out walking and I made sure that I showed off my best behavior. Even when we passed close to one of the gardeners tending the flowers, I resisted the urge to growl at him. That’s what did me in last time!
The man and woman talked quite a bit among themselves in hushed tones. I could feel that they were about to make an important decision. I had already made mine. I was definitely going to adopt them.
But then, they went away!
Oh. Oh well, that’s too bad. I really liked them, too.
The next day, however, they were back again. This time, they had two children with them! This was even better! I like kids; kids love to play! The little girl laughed a lot and threw a tennis ball so I could fetch it and bring it back. I love that game!
But, I sensed that the little boy was different. I’m not sure why, but he seemed to be terrified of me. Every time I came near, he cried out and struggled to get away, even when the man kept his arms tight around him and tried to reassure him. So, I stayed closer to the others and let them pet and play with me. But, I kept my eye on him, nonetheless.
Something wasn’t quite right about that child; I just couldn’t quite put my paw on it. He didn’t interact with me the way the rest of the family did. In fact, he didn’t interact with the other people the way people usually do. He had sight, I could tell that. He didn’t need a guide dog. But yet, he seemed so isolated and alone, even among this family who obviously loved and cared for him.
The man took me by the leash and led me outside. Hurray! Another walk! But wait, what was this? This wasn’t the way to the walking path; we were headed to the parking lot….we were getting into a big metal box with wheels…together! I was going home with this family! They had agreed to become adopted!
Suddenly, it all made perfect sense. The meticulous care that went into my breeding, the months of obedience training, even the failure to pass my Seeing Eye exam. I was destined to be of service, but not as a guide dog. These people couldn’t bring just any dog into their home. They needed a gentle, intuitive, and well-trained dog like me who was bred to be of service. My life would be devoted to this family and their special little boy who seemed to need so much extra patience, understanding, and love.
I quickly acclimated myself to my new den, er, home. It wasn’t a large house, and it wasn’t, I was relieved to discover, an immaculately clean house. The woman didn’t seem to mind if I shed a few hairs or tracked in a bit of dirt. Thank goodness! I personally feel that a den should have that lived-in feel. But, I digress. Let me tell you about Billy. That, I discovered, was the boy’s name. I came to hear his name quite often throughout the day.
“Billy, take that out of your mouth!”
“Billy, sit down and eat.”
“Billy, sit down!”
“Billy, please don’t stand in front of the TV, no one can see!”
“Billy, get down from there!”
“Billy, put your clothes back on!”
Hadn’t these people ever heard of obedience training?
After a while, though, I came to realize that Billy was not being disobedient. It seems his brain doesn’t work the way other people’s do. Don’t ask me to explain how a human brain is supposed to work; I really don’t understand it that much. After all, I’m just a dog!
And so, I set about doing what a good dog does best: I gave my boy Billy lots and lots of unconditional love. When I realized that he was afraid of my teeth, I tried not to show them to him. When I realized that he got upset if I moved suddenly or ran toward him, I tried to slow down and move very deliberately when I was around him. When he got very excited and jumped around, and made lots of noise, I realized that he was not trying to play….that’s just the way he is. And so, I learned not to get excited and jump around, too, because that frightened him. When his mother or father showed him how to pet me and how to brush my coat, I sat very, very still.
Slowly, Billy became used to me and I became used to him. I slept in his room at night. That really helped him to be able to sleep alone in his own bed because he seems to need the presence of someone else in his room when he goes to sleep. He even came along for walks sometimes and held the leash.
He had to be reminded of things quite often: to hold the leash tight and not just drop it, to keep a quiet mouth when his voice became too loud, to tell me to heel when I got a little distracted by an interesting scent. (Okay, it happens to the best of us!)
It felt a little strange, at first, to have him holding my leash while he alternated between waving his arms around and letting the leash go completely slack (or dropping it altogether), but as the months went by, it felt as though he gained more confidence. It took me two years, but I think that I have trained him to be a fairly good dog walker!
Sometimes when we are out walking, we get to talk to the neighbors and their kids. I don’t think that they would try to strike up a conversation with Billy and his mother or father if they were just out walking together and didn’t have me along. Billy gets to use some of his social skills that he learns in school, and his mother and father get to meet new people that they wouldn’t have met if I had not been there. We dogs are great for bringing people together.
Now, when we get home from a walk, Billy hangs up my leash and gives me a treat. He’s not afraid of my teeth anymore! He even tells me to “sit”, and when I sit he tells me that I’m a “good girl.” I like that. Sometimes, he even gives me extra treats when his mother, Kathy, isn’t looking. I really, really like that!
Have to watch out, though. I got carried away with the treats the other day and had a little tummy trouble….
Uh-oh! I hear the metal box on wheels pulling into the driveway. She’s back!! I have to sign off quickly now; it was nice barking with you!
Aimee
The best dog in the world!
The Dog Days of Summer
Did I just hear the front door slam? Yes, I’m sure that was the front door. Let me just put two paws up on the windowsill and see. Is she gone yet? Yes, I think she’s gone. The big metal box on wheels isn’t in the driveway anymore. I thought that human would never get off the DIS! Now all I have to do is jump up on this…..whoa!! Hey, this chair moves! I’d better just stand on my hind legs. Ah, that’s better! Now it’s my turn! Good thing she left this thing on…..
So, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Aimee, and if you haven’t already guessed, I am a dog.
Kathy may have already mentioned me, but I want to make sure that all you DISers know just how important I am to this family! It’s been two years since I decided to adopt them and I honestly don’t think they could imagine life without ME!!*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
My life began almost a little over three and a half years ago in Chester, N.J. I was born at the canine maternity center for The Seeing Eye, North America’s pioneer dog guide school, in Morristown, N.J. I don’t mean to boast, but I am told that I was bred for the qualities that would make a good Seeing Eye dog: intelligence, good health, moderate size, sound hips, and gentle temperament.
When I was about seven weeks old, I went to live with a volunteer puppy raiser. I got lots of love and was taught basic obedience. I was a very happy pup! At 18 months of age, I began a four-month course of training at The Seeing Eye with a sighted Seeing Eye instructor. Here I learned all the basic commands that I would be given in my job as a working guide dog. I also learned how to lead in a harness and stop at curbs. This was a lot of fun! My classmates and I practiced all over the streets of Morristown; progressing from the quiet side streets to the busier downtown area.
Finally, we were taught “intelligent disobedience”: to disregard a command if it would lead to danger. We learned to use our own initiative and judgment to carry out a command. At the end of my training, I took my final exam. My instructor wore a blindfold and walked with me through the streets of Morristown where auto and pedestrian traffic was at its heaviest. A training supervisor gave me my final evaluation.
And…….I flunked!
Oh no. I just couldn’t help myself. Whenever a stranger came too close to my instructor, I felt compelled to give them a little “woof.” I really didn’t think he should get that close. But, a good Seeing Eye dog can’t do that sort of thing. And so, my guide dog career was over before it had even begun.
At first, they offered me the family that had raised me as a puppy. I would have liked to adopt them as my permanent family, but they were unavailable. So I remained in the kennel at the Seeing Eye for two months, waiting and hoping to find a nice family to adopt. I knew that the Seeing Eye would find a good home for me; but I secretly hoped that it would be with a family that had a special need. After all, I had been bred and trained to be of service, and I desperately wanted to fulfill my destiny.
Just when I was beginning to think that I would never find a family to adopt, my wish came true! One day my caretaker brought me to the Canine Adoption Service office. A man and woman were there to meet me. I was so excited! I scampered all around the office and sniffed at everything new. I sniffed the man and the woman. They both seemed nice; the man was firm and spoke with authority. Good, I could tell right away that he had experience with dogs. The woman, well, she seemed a bit unsure at first.
She had an almost worried look until I settled down a bit and sat by her feet to be petted. Mmmm. She had a nice touch. I pegged her as the easy one right off, a marshmallow for sure. I could see lots of treats and tummy rubs in my future if I adopted her. The three of us went for a walk together and I let them lead me around the grounds. It felt good to be out walking and I made sure that I showed off my best behavior. Even when we passed close to one of the gardeners tending the flowers, I resisted the urge to growl at him. That’s what did me in last time!
The man and woman talked quite a bit among themselves in hushed tones. I could feel that they were about to make an important decision. I had already made mine. I was definitely going to adopt them.
But then, they went away!
Oh. Oh well, that’s too bad. I really liked them, too.The next day, however, they were back again. This time, they had two children with them! This was even better! I like kids; kids love to play! The little girl laughed a lot and threw a tennis ball so I could fetch it and bring it back. I love that game!
But, I sensed that the little boy was different. I’m not sure why, but he seemed to be terrified of me. Every time I came near, he cried out and struggled to get away, even when the man kept his arms tight around him and tried to reassure him. So, I stayed closer to the others and let them pet and play with me. But, I kept my eye on him, nonetheless.
Something wasn’t quite right about that child; I just couldn’t quite put my paw on it. He didn’t interact with me the way the rest of the family did. In fact, he didn’t interact with the other people the way people usually do. He had sight, I could tell that. He didn’t need a guide dog. But yet, he seemed so isolated and alone, even among this family who obviously loved and cared for him.
The man took me by the leash and led me outside. Hurray! Another walk! But wait, what was this? This wasn’t the way to the walking path; we were headed to the parking lot….we were getting into a big metal box with wheels…together! I was going home with this family! They had agreed to become adopted!
Suddenly, it all made perfect sense. The meticulous care that went into my breeding, the months of obedience training, even the failure to pass my Seeing Eye exam. I was destined to be of service, but not as a guide dog. These people couldn’t bring just any dog into their home. They needed a gentle, intuitive, and well-trained dog like me who was bred to be of service. My life would be devoted to this family and their special little boy who seemed to need so much extra patience, understanding, and love.
I quickly acclimated myself to my new den, er, home. It wasn’t a large house, and it wasn’t, I was relieved to discover, an immaculately clean house. The woman didn’t seem to mind if I shed a few hairs or tracked in a bit of dirt. Thank goodness! I personally feel that a den should have that lived-in feel. But, I digress. Let me tell you about Billy. That, I discovered, was the boy’s name. I came to hear his name quite often throughout the day.
“Billy, take that out of your mouth!”
“Billy, sit down and eat.”
“Billy, sit down!”
“Billy, please don’t stand in front of the TV, no one can see!”
“Billy, get down from there!”
“Billy, put your clothes back on!”
Hadn’t these people ever heard of obedience training? After a while, though, I came to realize that Billy was not being disobedient. It seems his brain doesn’t work the way other people’s do. Don’t ask me to explain how a human brain is supposed to work; I really don’t understand it that much. After all, I’m just a dog!
And so, I set about doing what a good dog does best: I gave my boy Billy lots and lots of unconditional love. When I realized that he was afraid of my teeth, I tried not to show them to him. When I realized that he got upset if I moved suddenly or ran toward him, I tried to slow down and move very deliberately when I was around him. When he got very excited and jumped around, and made lots of noise, I realized that he was not trying to play….that’s just the way he is. And so, I learned not to get excited and jump around, too, because that frightened him. When his mother or father showed him how to pet me and how to brush my coat, I sat very, very still.
Slowly, Billy became used to me and I became used to him. I slept in his room at night. That really helped him to be able to sleep alone in his own bed because he seems to need the presence of someone else in his room when he goes to sleep. He even came along for walks sometimes and held the leash.
He had to be reminded of things quite often: to hold the leash tight and not just drop it, to keep a quiet mouth when his voice became too loud, to tell me to heel when I got a little distracted by an interesting scent. (Okay, it happens to the best of us!)
It felt a little strange, at first, to have him holding my leash while he alternated between waving his arms around and letting the leash go completely slack (or dropping it altogether), but as the months went by, it felt as though he gained more confidence. It took me two years, but I think that I have trained him to be a fairly good dog walker!
Sometimes when we are out walking, we get to talk to the neighbors and their kids. I don’t think that they would try to strike up a conversation with Billy and his mother or father if they were just out walking together and didn’t have me along. Billy gets to use some of his social skills that he learns in school, and his mother and father get to meet new people that they wouldn’t have met if I had not been there. We dogs are great for bringing people together.
Now, when we get home from a walk, Billy hangs up my leash and gives me a treat. He’s not afraid of my teeth anymore! He even tells me to “sit”, and when I sit he tells me that I’m a “good girl.” I like that. Sometimes, he even gives me extra treats when his mother, Kathy, isn’t looking. I really, really like that!
Have to watch out, though. I got carried away with the treats the other day and had a little tummy trouble….
Uh-oh! I hear the metal box on wheels pulling into the driveway. She’s back!! I have to sign off quickly now; it was nice barking with you!
Aimee
The best dog in the world!
Anyway...
I also got my husband a backpack - since we usually just carry around our kids bags if we need to use one. And of course I had to get something for the kids - I previously got Alex a rolling backpack from the LLBean outlet near us so I bought Zachary one from shoebuy. They just HAVE to have cute little rolling backpacks to pull through the airport... right? That's what I'm going to tell DH when he sees everything I bought... 
Will post 'em ASAP.
