Day Eleven: City Girls!
Today was the big New York trip. For the most part, Vrona did a fantastic job weaving her way through the
mayhem. At one point, she looked back over her shoulder to make sure the other teams were coming, and she
slammed me right into someone. I felt awful about it, but I am hoping it was a life lesson that little
miss won't forget. In her defense, the person was walking in our direction and looking behind her at another dog in our group, but still, little one could have and should have stopped or made a move to the left. She was awesome at guiding me on and off of the subways, and she worked the Port
Authority like a champion! We went to a little restaurant for dinner. I can't remember the name of it, but it was something I have never heard of. It was quite delicious, and she worked very well in there, too.
We got back a little after 1:30, and I spent the afternoon finishing reading "Love in the Lead", which is a history of the Seeing Eye. It has always been on my I should read that some day list, but now it can go on my I read that list.
After dinner, we talked about how starting this Saturday, we should start adjusting the dogs to being left alone. We should, of course, kennel them so they don't get into any trouble. We can also start giving them off leash time and start offering free water starting on Saturday as well.
After our last time out to park, we went on a night trip, and it was the perfect evening for it. Vrona was so very good, other than trying to greet one person. She got so waggy and happy. "Oh my goodness random stranger! Look at me and how smart I am! Wanna come with us?!" I got her moving again, and she did a lovely job! I love traveling at night, because I can't use any of the little bit of pretty much useless and deceptive vision that I do have.
We are now back in our room, and I am pretty exhausted. We have been using training harnesses while in class. They are very old and broken in harnesses. We start with these ones, since they are more comfortable for the dogs. They are used to only wearing the harnesses for two training walks a day, and now they wear them any time we go anywhere outside of the hallway where our rooms are. They guide us to and from lectures, to and from meals, to and from the training vans to go into town and to and from the park area. The new harnesses will be much more rigid, and they may be a little bit uncomfortable for the dogs, so we avoid that discomfort until they are a little more settled with everything else, but we will get them tomorrow.
Now, I am exhausted, and I have learned from much experience that it will be 5:30 before I even know I have fallen asleep.
Two more brief thoughts. I find it fascinating that a week ago, I had barely known this dog for a day. She was whining and dragging for her trainer. She wouldn't relieve if her trainer was outside, and she kept a constant eye on her as she followed behind us. Today, we were able to sail through an amazingly crowded city in which I know absolutely nothing, and we were safe and effective. A week from now, I will be settling down with her for the second night at home. We will have completed our first big day as a team. Next Thursday, I have to go back into work bright and early in the morning, so we have to jump right in. No getting our toes wet!
Okay, bedtime for real now...after I post this everywhere.
mayhem. At one point, she looked back over her shoulder to make sure the other teams were coming, and she
slammed me right into someone. I felt awful about it, but I am hoping it was a life lesson that little
miss won't forget. In her defense, the person was walking in our direction and looking behind her at another dog in our group, but still, little one could have and should have stopped or made a move to the left. She was awesome at guiding me on and off of the subways, and she worked the Port
Authority like a champion! We went to a little restaurant for dinner. I can't remember the name of it, but it was something I have never heard of. It was quite delicious, and she worked very well in there, too.
We got back a little after 1:30, and I spent the afternoon finishing reading "Love in the Lead", which is a history of the Seeing Eye. It has always been on my I should read that some day list, but now it can go on my I read that list.
After dinner, we talked about how starting this Saturday, we should start adjusting the dogs to being left alone. We should, of course, kennel them so they don't get into any trouble. We can also start giving them off leash time and start offering free water starting on Saturday as well.
After our last time out to park, we went on a night trip, and it was the perfect evening for it. Vrona was so very good, other than trying to greet one person. She got so waggy and happy. "Oh my goodness random stranger! Look at me and how smart I am! Wanna come with us?!" I got her moving again, and she did a lovely job! I love traveling at night, because I can't use any of the little bit of pretty much useless and deceptive vision that I do have.
We are now back in our room, and I am pretty exhausted. We have been using training harnesses while in class. They are very old and broken in harnesses. We start with these ones, since they are more comfortable for the dogs. They are used to only wearing the harnesses for two training walks a day, and now they wear them any time we go anywhere outside of the hallway where our rooms are. They guide us to and from lectures, to and from meals, to and from the training vans to go into town and to and from the park area. The new harnesses will be much more rigid, and they may be a little bit uncomfortable for the dogs, so we avoid that discomfort until they are a little more settled with everything else, but we will get them tomorrow.
Now, I am exhausted, and I have learned from much experience that it will be 5:30 before I even know I have fallen asleep.
Two more brief thoughts. I find it fascinating that a week ago, I had barely known this dog for a day. She was whining and dragging for her trainer. She wouldn't relieve if her trainer was outside, and she kept a constant eye on her as she followed behind us. Today, we were able to sail through an amazingly crowded city in which I know absolutely nothing, and we were safe and effective. A week from now, I will be settling down with her for the second night at home. We will have completed our first big day as a team. Next Thursday, I have to go back into work bright and early in the morning, so we have to jump right in. No getting our toes wet!
Okay, bedtime for real now...after I post this everywhere.