Celebrating 28 Years with My Leader Dogs

 

Celebrating 28 Years with My Leader Dogs

 

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

As in 1990, March 18 of this year was on a Sunday; thus, on this past Sunday, I was especially recalling arriving at the Detroit airport and going to Leader Dog School for the first time.  Undoubtedly, going to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan, was the biggest and most important step of my life.  For a long time, I had thought a guide dog would be in my future:  I just did not know when.

 

Twenty-eight years ago today–March 21, 1990–at 1:11 p.m. (Eastern Time), my trainer at Leader Dog School brought to the entrance of my dorm room a beautiful Golden Retriever.  As instructed, I was eagerly waiting beside my bed–several yards away from the door, where Tom said, “Alice, call your dog.”

 

With my voice tight with emotion, I managed to say, “Keller, come.”  She ran directly to me and immediately nuzzled against me.  Quickly, Keller was ready to lie beside me on the floor and enjoy being petted as I introduced myself to her.  On that day, I truly began a new stage in my life.  Keller had so much to teach me about guide work and trust,.  So much of what my first Leader Dog taught me is still with me–Willow and me–today.

 

Although learning to handle and work with a guide dog was not always easy, I distinctly remember the first time Keller and I walked outside the downtown training center, turned left, and walked toward Fourth Street in Rochester.  “Keller, find the curb,” I told my new guide dog.  Just as Keller was trained to do, she stopped at the curb of Fourth Street.  My happy and grateful words of praise were “Good dog, Keller.”  Throughout my whole being, I was overjoyed with this one step of progress of our working together as a team.  I no longer had to worry about not seeing a curb or a stair.  Leader Dog Keller was leading me, guiding me; and I was on the path to giving her my complete trust.

 

As the harness passed from Keller to Heather (my Yellow Labrador), to Zoe (my Black Lab/Golden Retriever Mix), and now to Willow (my Black Lab)–one of the biggest changes and challenges for guidework is curbs.  Unlike those curbs that Keller found for me from 1990 to 1997, today almost each curb is fashioned differently.  At some intersections, “Find the curb” means find the traditional curb (with a short drop-off), or find the sloping sidewalk to the street, or find the tactile markings to denote the end of this span of sidewalk.  Perhaps, you have noticed that too many ramps lead diagonally into the intersection–rather than allowing for a straight-line crossing by the person with a guide dog, white cane, or wheelchair.  I believe  that due to the differences in curbs, my third and fourth guide dogs had to learn much more in training with the professional trainer than did my first two guide dogs.

 

When I received Willow in the June class of 2016, much more training involved the “quiet vehicles.”  Most assuredly, guide dogs of this generation have so many more crucial lessons to learn than did earlier guide dogs.  As much as I prefer quiet levels of sound, I certainly do not prefer vehicles that are too quiet.  Ironically, while large vehicles are becoming more quiet, snow and leaf removal equipment is becoming louder and louder.  Since today is my 28th anniversary, I will not even mention c-o-n-s-t-r-u-c-t-i-o-n nor the s-t-r-e-e-t-c-a-r.  Certainly, Zoe and now Willow have had to work around more obstacles and loud noise.  Speaking of noise, I know that my third and fourth Leader Dogs have endured many more sirens than did my first two guide dogs.  I am always grateful for all that my four Leader Dogs learned so very well before their harnesses ever came to my hand.  My daily task is to maintain the high level of training which my guide dog received at Leader Dog School and to adapt that superior training to the new environment and new challenges.

 

The difference in what we today call “curbs” and “quiet cars” translates into the guide dog handler’s having an even higher degree of trust in one ‘s guide dog in order to be a part of a successful and happy team.  Despite the higher level of challenges of working with a guide dog today–especially in the city–I most thoroughly know that my decision to train with my first Leader Dog led me on the absolutely  best path my life could take.  On this 28th anniversary of my working with Leader Dogs, I celebrate this incredible opportunity, I marvel at the talents and devotion of each of my four Leader Dogs, and I abundantly give my heartfelt thanks to all who make possible these amazing Leader Dogs whom I trust and love.

 

Cheers for Keller, Heather, Zoe, and Willow!

 

WORDWALK NOTE:  Last week, I posted two pieces on WORDWALK:  one on the typical day of Wednesday and a second post on Friday.  If you missed my March 16 tribute to Leader Dog Zoe, please continue reading after the closing for this week’s anniversary post.

 

God bless all guide dogs on this special day!

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

March 21, 2018, Wednesday

 

 

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