Guide Dog Training: Day 3!
The second day of training went well. Deana decided that it was time to introduce traffic awareness work to Sunny and I. We had an unplanned traffic check right in the middle of the street our very first time crossing, and Sunny did what she could do to get us out of the situation. At first she tried to go around the car, but when that did not work she tried to block me with her body. When that did not work she made a very quick decision and got us out of the street as fast as she could. Deana was so mad at the driver! I did not know a lot of what was going on until after the fact, but when Deana explained what Sunny did for me I got on the ground and gave my girl a big hug! The entire exercise of traffic awareness and obstacle clearances was a learning experience for both of us.
After about an hour of working with street crossings, we went to WalMart and worked indoors for the rest of the morning. I cannot believe how Sunny and I fly together! On our way home I asked Deana how Sunny and I were doing thus far, and she said that we are both learning and becoming a team. I told her that I kept envisioning something happening and her taking Sunny back for one reason or another, but she told me not to worry and that Sunny was here to stay. This made me feel better. I think that my experience at Guide Dogs For The Blind is causing me to have doubts about my abilities as a Guide Dog handler, but I trust Deana because I know she knows what she is talking about. I will try not to worry about the past, because the past is over and I cannot go back and change anything that has happened. Nor would I want to.
Deana came back later in the afternoon and we expanded working in my neighborhood by adding a new route leading from my house up to a nearby road and back to my house again. Up until now we have only been working in the culdasac, getting Sunny used to shorelining the curb on the left. Now we are beginning to introduce her to new routes and incorporating shorelining on the right when needed. I am now using verbal corrections, leash corrections, harness corrections, hand signals, foot work, and search techniques while working her.
I keep getting asked, "Why is the Guide Dog Foundation allowing you to do Home Training as a first time Guide Dog handler?" I have not known what to tell people when this particular question comes up, and so I decided to ask Deana for assistance because it seems like some people have a big problem with the fact that I am doing Home Training as a first time Guide Dog user. Deana responded by saying, "The Guide Dog Foundation feels that you are mature enough and that it is the best thing for you because of your lifestyle."
Tomorrow we will be doing more traffic awareness work and more indoor work.
Love,
Kolby And Sunny!