After a day in which Gracie and I did what I might have done in one day during summers past--run, visit a few stores briefly, take a long bike ride, shop for groceries, eat dinner with Bruce, watch some TV, read--I realized that we were indeed beginning to function as a team. What Gacie and I were doing was the focus of each activity rather than the focus being my doing them with Gracie. A few times, I realized I wasn't even thinking about her being there! As I learn to understand her better, we communicate without using words by knowing each other's habits and establishing a routine. Employees in stores and restaurants understand what her orange vest means; they do not bend down to pet her. I am still working on dealing with the other shoppers, though, who not only want to pet her but want to talk to me about her. Though "Do Not Pet" is written on Gracie's vest, she is small, below eye-level, and quite a few people seem to not see this message. Should it be on the top of her vest for them to see when looking down? This would probably be a good idea for a smaller service dog! Gracie loves to be petted. That isn't the problem. The problem with allowing others to pet her is that petting is distracting. We are not in the store for that. In addition, once someone was petting her, Gracie would not want that person to stop! After a while, Gracie would begin to think of stores, restaurants, and eventually the college campus as places to go to be petted. She would actively seek people's attention and be distracted from her work. In thinking about this, I am reminded of the Beefeaters who guard the Tower of London and acknowledge no one, not speaking to or even making eye-contact with visitors. That some make a game out of getting their attention is telling. Part of Gracie and my work as a team is to be a dogged about not giving in just as those British Beefeaters are!
| Admiring a Beefeater |
Hi Laurie,
ReplyDeleteI have been reading your blog and have enjoyed it. My name is Cathy and I have a helper named Walle. If you get the IHDI news letter, that was him and I on the cover.
This particular entry was very familiar to me. Because Walle is a cute smaller black dog and looks nothing like a typical service dog, people want to pet him all the time! I finally ended up writing Don't pet on his orange vest where people can see it. I also get asked all the time if he is training. I guess because I have no visible disability and he is so "puppyish". It does not happen as often now because I am relaxed with him in public. In the beginning, I was so tense and worried about doing everything right that people did not take me seriously. Now he is just an extension of me.
He is always in working mode, but people are always amazed at the difference in him when in serious working mode. He is an ornery, silly guy all the time, but put the vest on and he becomes the perfect little gentleman!
The two of us have been a team for almost a year now. August 9th will be the year mark. I cannot express how he has changed my life. I used to be so nervous walking around, and when I did I was always on high alert. Now, I can relax and enjoy a nice walk because I am so in tuned to him and what he hears. Even sitting at home relaxing, I am 99% more aware of my surroundings because I am so in tuned to his every move. If he lifts his head because he hears something, so do I. My family are very pleased with the positive effect he has had on me.
I just wanted to wish you good luck and give Gracie a hug from Cathy and Walle.
If you want, email me at dizzcat@gmail.com.
God bless you,
Cathy