President's Message
By Judy Wilkinson
Editor's Note: President Judy Wilkinson spent her entire month of February attending the Seeing Eye Guide Dog School, from where she recently graduated with her new pup Kirsten. Avid writer that she is, she kept a journal of the experience in 3 parts. Here is part 2. Those BC readers who have never experienced guide dog school, training and lifestyle will find this piece informative and entertaining. You may even be inspired to investigate the guide dog lifestyle for yourself. Those who already have dogs will enjoy comparing Judy's reflections and experiences with their own.
Tuesday, February 11
A new student joined us yesterday. She will stay through the 27th of February. New students stay a week longer than retrains for added training. Also two of our class members had to get new dogs and so they must start from the beginning and will also stay added days beyond what was originally scheduled.
There are all kinds of reasons for this kind of mid-class change: one of the dogs was repeatedly distracted by the same "planted" poodle sent to test all our dogs during our Elm Street route Monday - Wednesday morning. And the dog was relieving too often while working. Occasionally the dogs of course need to relieve while working and usually head us to the curb, but this was excessive. Remember when the dogs join their handlers is the first time they've been with someone 24/7 since they lived in their foster environment. And those people were basically socializing the dogs and teaching them basic manners. After their training, it's a whole different ballgame to be working with one person for days in a row.
Another dog turned out to be too slow for her handler. Again, such changes happen all the time.
Rain was a big factor Tuesday, slowing us down considerably.
We had lots of fun late morning working on brushing teeth. Most of us start out using dental wipes wrapped around our finger, and hope to graduate to real toothbrushes and maybe even doggie toothpaste (yum!) though the vet tells us that these days, brushing without toothpaste seems okay. I who have been really bad about this (and lucky that my first two dogs' teeth stayed in good condition) promise all of you that I will brush Kirsten's teeth, well, if not daily, then mostly!
We also cleaned their ears and learned to "pill" them. The little stinkers can get rid of pills if we don't actually put the thing far down the throat and close the mouth and massage the throat. When the tongue pops out to lick: pill success! Once I tried to give Carly a pill in her food. The little rascal ate every morsel of kibble, leaving the one lone pill in the bowl! So no trusting about pills.
That evening we learned massage techniques. Kirsten basically flopped on her side and was perfectly happy to let me stroke/massage her one side. Then the instructor showed me how to "flip her over like a pancake" by taking her two paws near the floor and literally flipping her over!
We had an extremely successful conference call with the Director of Library Services for the visually-impaired and print disabled: nearly 60 people on the call. I was exhausted. I had had two calls Monday night, one in California so ending after 11 PM. And yes, 5:30 comes early!
Wednesday, February 12
Yippee! Our final official route: for me the modified Elm Street route. And in the afternoon "FREELANCE!!"
Our instructors have a checklist of things we must do, but often depending on which other small groups the trainers want to join together, and the weather activities vary.
Most of our groups went into town to the one old-style department store with escalators and worked with the dogs on the escalator. Kirsten is definitely a pro! The dogs are taught to love escalators, and our instructors only cared that we'd figured out a safe way to get them on and off. Since I ride escalators a bunch, this was pretty easy. My instructor told me a story about one of her trainees in her last class, a man of 77 who had an 80-pound dog who told her he never takes escalators by himself and carries his dog down them. So by gosh, she watched him pick up the dog, safely balance it and going down the escalator (and back up!) Not my idea of a safe way, but hey, it worked for him and she in fact saw that he could do it safely! Well, to each his own!
I'm working more with Kirsten on obedience: something I witness here that I will do regularly with Kirsten. All too many handlers skip obedience. As my first trainer told me, "Obedience tells the dog 'It's another day, and I'm still in charge!'"
Obedience is having the dog sit, then down and sit; then heel, come and sit. Finally ending with the "rest" command. "Rest," comes from the French "rester" (stay). And since Mrs. Dorothy Eustes who originally trained Morris Frank, the founder of The Seeing Eye with these German/French commands, they are still used by The Seeing Eye today. I learned to work with Kirsten on a long flexilead for the "rest" cycle so I could get many feet away from her and still have her stay at "rest" until I returned to her side.
Later with her at "rest," I went to the length of the leash and called her to "Come" She is getting better at this each day.
Our Wednesday evening lecture from the vet Dr. Holly was informative and shook some of our (well my) commonly-held notions: for me about what kinds of toys should be allowed (no antlers; no bones) and, alas, probably no ice, which my dogs have loved. It can crack their teeth.
My knitting goes with me when we meet in these large-group meetings. I have my favorite corner easy chair, and the current afghan is progressing nicely.
Thursday, February 13
This morning's outing was to a grocery store where of course the dogs must behave and keep noses out of the produce!
Sarah and I worked on what's called "high collar" correction where you push the chain as high as it will go and give a hard tug. It briefly cuts off the dog's wind, and is very quiet and effective. I never used this technique, but I now realize how effective (and quiet) it can be. But honestly, it doesn't damage the dog; but really gets her attention. I now feel I know how to safely and confidently perform this maneuver.
Fairly heavy rain in the afternoon as we rode a bus and took a train! The kind of train with four high steps to get in and out! And the trainers showed us how the dog resisted when we asked her to move toward the tracks! This "intelligent" disobedience means the dog has been taught to fear the edge and not go near it. There have been unfortunate incidents where handlers have ignored their dog's warning and have even been killed. Kirsten definitely wasn't letting me near that edge! And I had enough terror of my own having once fallen between two muni cars in San Francisco.
Our vet visit went well. I got all her records. It turns out that Kirsten is three fourths lab! One of her parents was already a 50/50 yellow lab golden retriever cross; then was mated with a pure lab. So Kirsten is mostly lab but with her beautiful retriever curls!
This was a red-letter evening as we now have permission to measure out water between official drinking time, only a cup though; we can also let the dog free in our room (with bell on of course) and we're allowed to start leaving the dog alone in the room: starting with two minutes and working up to longer; not hours and hours though!
Kirsten keeps losing our Kong, but only once did I have to ask someone to find where it ran away to! Carly used to bark when her toy went under the sofa as if to say, "Get that white thing and get my toy! That's all it's good for!" Yes indeed, my cane has already gone fishing several times over recent days for that sneaky kong!
Friday, February 14
No chocolate shop today as the lines are sure to be long! But this cold, sunny morning (around 30 degrees) we went to the park, put the gentle leader on, and hoped to find squirrels! Most of them were too sensible to be out in the cold though we saw a few. My girl was brilliant and didn't chase a one!
Sarah and I worked on clicker training for Kirsten to find my exact chair in the dining room. We will change chairs soon, and I will teach her with the clicker how to find the new target: my new chair. This is the only time we reward with food. So handy when I get home and want to find the pole to cross East 14th to go to Aunt Vita and Uncle Frank's house!
The temperature today had a high of 32 degrees, so for the afternoon, we headed to the Mall! We sat in the food court while, one by one, Sarah took us around the mall. I ducked into Old Navy seeking socks (nah) then a candy store to look for peanut butter or mint chocolate (nah). A man was petting Kirsten without my catching it; Sarah let me know and before I said anything, Sarah let him know (with great clarity) she was a working dog. He said, "Oh I thought it was a therapy dog." As if that gave him permission to pet a strange dog! It takes all kinds doesn't it?
I had work with me, but somehow the smells of the pretzel store, my classmates chatting, work didn't happen!
Just before Sarah left for her well-deserved day off (we get one too!) she showed us where the free run area is. It is an enclosed area about 15 X 20 feet: small to us but the dogs love it. We are to take them (bell on!) inside with a flexilead to make sure they come back to us. Kirsten pulled the flexilead out of my hand she was so excited. Now free, she ran around like a maniac! And yes, she had an accident! Thank goodness Sarah was with me! I plan to bring her back tomorrow on our day off, but the temperature is once again supposed to be no higher than 32 degrees.
We had interesting films to watch: one showing orientation and mobility instructors how teaching students using dogs is different from teaching cane users. The second film? Well I can't tell you since I slept through the entire thing. In fact a trainer came up to me at the end and whispered, "You're dog is wandering!" She had sneaked away without my knowing the little stinker!
As you might guess, I was in bed by 8:30!
Saturday, February 15
It was 11 degrees when we took the dogs out at 5:30 AM. I had a day off and did a lot of catching up on email and writing a couple of articles in the morning.
During the afternoon I took a nice nap but roused myself around 3 and took Kirsten to the free play area. She whined because we had to wait for a couple of folks to learn about that area. Once in, she got the "zoomies" and raced around and around. She brought me a little "donut" toy which I threw for her. What a happy, waggy dog!
Then we walked on the leisure path: a loop of around one third mile. It was the very first time she and I had been absolutely alone working as a team.
We got back safely if somewhat cold, the temperature having risen to around 30 degrees.
The after dinner lecture was a fascinating one given by Lukas Franck, an expert on mobility as well as dog training. He has also become a renowned expert on clicker training. He discussed the fascinating concepts surrounding this so-often misunderstood Skinner-style reinforcement training to find a specific target. We have learned to have the dogs go to our chair in the dining room.
I told Lukas about my great story with Carly who during our visit to the kennels for TSE's 90th reunion last August, ran up and rang the target bell on a door across from kennel C where the dogs are when first in training. If they can't signal a target, that is an early clue they won't succeed as guides. But little Miss Carly remembered what to do: ringing the bell as she did nearly 10 years before, even though I had done almost nothing with clicker training during her time with me. They never forget because, of course, food is the guaranteed reward for ringing the bell. But alas, I had no treat for her that day, but was I ridiculously proud!
Sunday, February 16
"Country work" this morning! This is where there are no sidewalks and the dog must trail the left-hand edge thus facing oncoming traffic. I use my cane (to make sure Kirsten is indeed right on that left shoreline). Sarah showed me my right foot works too, just not quite the reach of the cane. We really have to trust the dog when making "left" turns as so often there is no traffic.
This afternoon was a red letter day! No, not because for several hours I placed first in my Dice World 3's tournament, not because I ultimately came in fourth, but because we got to hear our puppy profiles!
These amazing folks who foster our guides from around 8 weeks until they return to TSE for evaluation, between 14-18 months. In addition to the heartbreaking wrench of giving the dogs back after loving and training them so well, they send us a profile describing the type of family and living environment, favorite toys and how the dog indicated the wish to relieve, but all the fosterers in my group sent additional lengthy letters, pictures and gifts! How things have changed with electronics! My girl apparently was rehomed at around 7 months to this second family who sent me all the goodies. She lived with two teenaged boys (one at college), but the Mom mostly cared for her. I already suspected she'd be the kind who would tear up toys with squeakers in them! I'll write more about this aspect of her history when I do the third part of this journal about our first two weeks at home.
The lecture, about going home, reminded us that none of these dogs have ever flown before, so in addition to everything else that's new about their being with us, we'll be having that new adventure Thursday.
Monday, February 17
Today we went into Manhattan. Including an hour ride each direction and lunch at "5-napkins burgers" we spent just four hours, but that was enough time to get a lot of exposure to different kinds of activities. We started at the Port Authority, riding two escalators (one very long), and an elevator down to the subway level. We took a local from 42nd one stop to 50th, but that allowed us to experience boarding and exiting a crowded subway on this President's Holiday. But the good news is the streets weren't nearly as crowded: we breezed over to 9th Ave and down to 45th. After a fabulous lunch (I had a cookies-and-cream milkshake, matzo-ball soup and brussel sprouts with a balsamic/wasabi sauce). I whined and got a couple of onion rings from one of my classmates.
My adventures included: children wanting to pet the dog; a woman asking me why I "hit the dog" when I was correcting her for snatching food off the sidewalk. I explained I was an experienced handler and I wasn't hurting the dog, just getting her attention. Sarah stepped in as well; she reminded me to administer a quiet, high-collar correction, (which the woman witnessed) then I loudly praised Kirsten as we moved on. She was still with us at the corner, now asking what kind of dog it was. We really do spend a lot of time educating the public, especially about how we're not torturing the dogs.
Did I mention construction on one of the cross streets? Did I mention traveling carts being trundled along? Kirsten was stellar, and even though the literal trip was only a few blocks, she, at 6:30, is now sacked out in her crate.
We got her brand new lovely leather, beautifully-oiled harness today, and I put it on her for the first time to walk down to the dining room for dinner: I didn't think I was hungry, but I managed to choke down the shrimp and broccoli stir-fry and the egg roll. I did resist the apple turnover! (After all, I did have that scrumptious milkshake!)
One of our classmates was sent home today Whispers were all over the dining room. We never know why a student is sent home though sometimes behavior gives clues. The reasons are kept strictly between the student and the class's trainers and training supervisor. This does happen from time to time. I am always amazed at how astute and professional our trainers are to catch behavior that could create problems down the line.
Tuesday, February 18
This morning we took a trip into town with a number of activities including a block of "country" work. But Kirsten's original trainer, Julie was with us. Kirsten went bananas when she saw her. All the way in the van, she wanted to go up to the front seat. Julie told me about her: that she was "queen of the hill" in the play yard, yes, that like her foster family said, she eats soft toys with squeakers wanting to get to that squeaky thing inside!
She described her to me: her ears are the darkest part of her: a caramel color. Her chest and belly are the palest. She definitely has a golden retriever's curls.
We have the rest of the morning off: I did some obedience; tried brushing teeth; I did get my finger in her mouth a bit longer today. then the free play area. She found a ball a bit too large for her mouth, and now and then, she let me have that "OOkey" ball to throw! And oh yes, I went to coffee break at 10: which I've only been to once before since I'm mostly not here at 10. Of course I really needed those chocolate chip cookies: did I mention the two desserts today are lemon cake at lunch and pecan pie at dinner?
THE PET STORE: Probably the dogs' favorite trip of the entire class!
And I dropped a bundle: a rope, a squeaky ball with "ribbons" for me to hang on; a benebone (softer than nylabones); and her ID tag. The include name camps: put no name: no one can entice the dog with its name; the "name" included camp (my thinking) that it would comfort her to have someone know her name: obviously an important individual decision I also included the word "microchipped" as an added bit of insurance in addition to my name and our two cell numbers.
The lecture was about dog attacks: a conceivably difficult situation. Key: Make Noise! Do our best to get beyond the other dog: even a blind person can use the camera and get some clues, especially once they buy National Braille Press' coming-soon up-to-date revised "Get The Picture" book by Judy Dixon! And the thing I'm most careless about remembering to do: carry at least a small "ID cane" (a pencil-thin cane which could allow one to be independent in a pinch say if the dog is hurt and you have to take her to the vet.
Wednesday February 19
It's clearly time for me to get out of Dodge! I didn't gain any weight this past week in spite of all the carbs I've been indulging myself with. But as if it knew and has been lying in wait, the Monster Pain switch got turned on: as if the battery ran out on my steroid injection (which I got just four weeks ago today)! The bursitis pain in my right hip is back. Jim Kessler the training supervisor and my trainer Sarah have been wonderful! They could clearly see I was in pain. I have really done most of the things required: I'll deal with revolving doors when I find one, and I've got the clicker thing down (mostly). I have the morning off and Sarah even took Miss K out to "park". "Park time" the term is the standard TSE command for the dog to relieve: the provenance is somewhat unclear! Is it the reverse and variant of "krap"? Was there a "park" near the original seeing eye school and so "Let's go to the park?" The antecedents are lost in the mists of time.
Sarah has even offered to drive me this afternoon directly to The Creamery: a general stampede there by most training groups as a final treat, and some of the best ice cream I've ever had!
After dinner I packed (and repacked) cramming in all the added dog goodies I'd acquired.
And so to bed after "park time" and up at 4 AM for my 7 AM flight.
I'll be sending along Part Three about my first two weeks at home with Kirsten: she is supposed to be with me at all times, attached via leash, on tie down, or in her crate.
