It happens any time Hanni and I find ourselves in a closed space with other people. On buses, in line somewhere, on elevators — someone inevitably asks what my dog’s name is. I’m not a gambler (thank God, because I sure do embrace every other vice), but you can bet that if someone asks your dogs name, the next thing they’ll do is talk to your dog. Usually in some saccharine sweetie-pie voice. Not good for a Seeing Eye dog. They’re working. They need to stay focused.
And so, I lie. “Wags!” I say.
“Hi, Wags! The stranger coos. Hanni doesn’t respond. “They sure know how to train those dogs,” the stranger marvels. “Wags didn’t even look up at me!”
When I know I might run into someone again sometime, I do divulge Hanni’s real name. Her name is so unusual, though (by the way, it rhymes with Bonnie, not Fanny) that most people forget what it is. That comes in handy – if people can’t remember what Hanni’s name is, they can’t call out to her and distract her from her work.
An excerpt from my first book, Long Time, No see helps explain how Hanni got her name in the first place. Note: Robert is the guy who trained Hanni, Pandora was my first Seeing Eye dog.
At a private interview on my first night, Robert asked “Is there a certain breed, a certain gender you need to have?” I didn’t know what to say. My real concern was getting a dog with a good name. The puppies in each litter born at the Seeing Eye are given names that start with the same letter of the alphabet. Pandora was from the “P” litter, for example. To avoid repeating names too often, the Seeing Eye sometimes gets a little too creative. I didn’t know what might happen to my self-respect if I were given a dog named Yorba, or Bouquet, or Gremlin. My need for a well-named dog, however, seemed too juvenile to admit. “No,” I finally answered. “I’ll take whatever you think is best.” As Robert stood up to leave, I added one last thing. “I really would like a faster dog this time, though. I’m tired of walking so slow.”
Be careful what you wish for.
My new dog is a one-year-old yellow ball of energy, a cross between a golden retriever and Labrador retriever. It’s amazing to think we’ve only been home together for one month; she is extremely attached to me, and I already feel tremendously confident with her. She loves to work, often nudging my wrist as I sit at the computer, anticipating our next trip outside.Our walks must look comical —she pulls with such enthusiasm that curbs seem to surprise her. She stops, but often not until the very last millisecond. I imagine us in a Hanna-Barberra cartoon, the sound of my rubber soles squealing on the pavement, sparks shooting from behind my shoeheels at every stop. Her tail stands straight up as she works, and I often find myself laughing with joy at her exuberance as we walk.
The only thing I struggle with about this dog is—surprise—her name. Born in the “h” litter, her brothers in our class had great names: Homer and Herbie. Their sister wasn’t as fortunate.
“Honey, that’s nice!” I said to Robert when he first introduced us. I was already on the floor with my new dog, rubbing her belly. “
Not Honey,” he said. “HAHnee”
“Huh?” I furrowed my eyebrows. “How do you spell it?”
“H-a-n-n-i. Pretend you’re from Alabama and you’re saying ‘honey.’”
I scratched Hanni’s ears, and she sprung up to give me a kiss. Okay, I smiled. I can live with the name.
I thought about giving a fake name to my dog guide, Julia, in public, but realized that it would be a wasted effort. Someone would inevitably hear me correct my dog and would learn her name.
The only time I tried to give her a fake name was when I found out that someone in my department was obsessed with the name Julia. When we were introduced at the beginning of the semester, I lied and told this person that my dog’s name was Juno. That didn’t last long because he heard me correct her with her real name. I couldn’t keep Juno and Julia straight so realized that this was a futile effort.
I’m on a college campus where people are very good about ignoring Julia while she’s working. I think that’s probably because I’m in the Blindness and Low Vision Studies department so people have more knowledge than the genral public.
I’m very thankful the school gave me a dog with a decent name. I feel sorry for some of the other members of my class because their dogs’ names are so strange. The strangest name is Octane. When I tell people about this dog, I joke and tell them that I hope he has lots of energy since his name is a type of fuel.
I have never had any problems giving my dog’s name out. jI love the name Major because it fits him so well. He is 97 pounds and stands 30 inches at the shoulder, so he is definitely Major. He and all of my other dogs have been really good about focusing while in harness so I have never really minded people knowing their names and if they talk to him while he is not working, it is good for him and he loves it. I do mind and will ask people nicely if they try to distract him while I am working him to not talk to or pet him and usually that suffices, but there have been times with all three of my dogs that I have had to get forceful with people because they just would not lsiten to me.
Hi, Beth,
I have never provided fake names for any of my five dogs. Griffin is so friendly that even if I gave him a fake name, he would most likely respond. Just giving him eye contact results in a wagging tail, and the “Oh you have noticed me” look. So I do enforce the no-petting rule the vast majority of the time. On very rare occasions, I will let someone approach him while he is in harness. I do know other handlers who either give a fake name or will not disclose any name at all. I suspect it depends on the handler’s preference and the nature of the dog. In my case, I accept the fact that Griffin is a social butterfly and lvoes attention. therefore, I have to firmly stay on top of thei situation and make sure he is not distracted by those who want to try to interact with him.
Vanessa and Seeing Eye dog, Griffin
The comment from Alexis reminds me of one very GOOD thing about Hanni’s name: when I say, Hanni, forward!” after leaving an elevator full of people who think her name is Wags
Oops! Got interrupted when leaving that last comment. What I meant to say was that the comment from Alexis reminds me that there is indeed one very good thing about Hanni’s name. When I give her a forward command, strangers just think I’m being affectionate, that I’m telling “Wags” she’s a honey.
My dog’s name is Geisha. When I first heard it I was not sure how it was pronounced and I thought it strange, but now, after just 7 months together, I love it. I don’t lie well, so giving a fake name would not work. Besides, as others have mentioned, I would use her real name when giving a command anyway.
My first dog was Henna, and it took me time to get used to that too, but I did. My second dog was Grover, and he looked like a Grover. smile
Henna? That’s just like hanni!
My first dog’s name was Flo. A very majetci shepherd. My second was Jarvis. Hated the name, but was a big dopey black lab. My current dog is Walker and I love it. Though everyone in the public calls him walker texas ranger.
Whether I disclose my dog’s name depends on the situation. There are some people I can tell can handle knowing his real name and others I give the name Juno. Walker has gotten good at not responding to people in general who make nosie to him so lately I don’t give out fake names. But I immediately say, please don’t pet him.
Another comment I get that I can tell that they want to pet is the question “does your dog bite?”
So when they ask if Walker bites, what do you say?
Hi – I’ve received email messages directly from other guide dog users who’d like to comment here but don’t know how to reply to a blog post. I’m putting together a cheatsheet to help them and am leaving this comment as a test. Thanks!
My guide dog’s name is Elvis, and I got him in 2002. My parents liked his name, when I told them about it, and the students at Leaderdog’s noticed that that was a cool name for a dog. When I think of my dog’s name, Elvis, I think of Elvis Pressley, and the saying, “Elvis has left the building!
Elvis. Now, THAT is a cool name. I wrote a story for a magazine about Leader Dogs in Michigan once, do I have it right that Leader Dogs allows the puppy raisers to name the dogs?
My first dog’s name was Indigo. The second ones name was Amigo. I used fake names in public with both of these dogs. My current dog’s name is Chesley. I usually give his name because people don’t get it right anyway.
I was releived when Chesley was given to me, because his name didn’t end in g o.
Amigo and Indigo. Yikes! I for sure would have gotten those mixed up.
When I heard that my first Guide was a black lab named Eddie, I thought it was a strange name for a dog. I later learned that Eddie was named in memory of a boy that lost his young life to a brain tumor. This made the hair on the back of my neck stand up; my vision loss was due to a brain tumor. From that moment on, I loved the name Eddie and there was no doubt in my mind that we were suppose to be together. I later thought of the show “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”; the theme song was “You’re My Best Friend”. A friend called me shortly after I lost my beloved Eddie. She said I know you are not ready to think about this yet, but 2 dogs just went in for their harness training. When she gave me the 2 names, bells and whistles went off upon my hearing one of them. I attended Open House and had arranged for a “test drive” while I was there; asking for these 2 dogs. They brought out dog 1 and he was OK. There was some discussion, then they brought my bells and whistles guy. He immediately walked up and gave me a kiss…I was hooked. They finished him for me. He was named by a home owners group; Royal Gate Community where all of the street names are royalty (King, Queen, etc.). I’m often told how regal my Duke looks when he’s working…the name suits him. When Duke was 6 months old, his puppy raiser came up for a fund raising walk we were having. This was at a fairground where we could close off the fence and let the dogs run. Duke ran and played with my Eddie. I always give my dog’s name. It has never been a problem for me for others to call my dog by name; even when working. Actually, I’m asked more often if my dog bites, than for his name.
My dad’s name was Eddie. A GREAT name!
Beth, Though I am not a grad of Leader Dogs or Fidelco, I do know from talking with grads from those two schools that the raisers name the puppies. I also know that someone donates a rather large sum of money to The Seeing Eye, that person is given the oppportunity to name a pupppy. So it would be interesting to know which schools take care of the dog names and which schools allow the raisers to name the puppies.
Vanessa and the Grifster
Beth, hopef7ully, you have been following the thread on the GDUI list about how the dogs are named depending on the school where they were from. I’m learning that some schools take care of the namin gprocess, some schools have the raisers name the pups, some schools give the names, but raisers can also name the pups, and so on. Some schools, like TSE, allow folks who donate money (sometimes based on a particular dollar amount name a dog. This is a very interesting list and/or blog topic.
Vanessa and Mr. Griffin, who really likes his name.
P.S. In fact, of all of his litter mates, he probably has abouta the best name. he does have one brother who name, if I recall correctly, is Gunner, and that is a pretty cool name.)
You know, this *did* turn out to be a very good topic! Who would have guessed?
PS: You’re right. Griffin is a very good name!
beth i am a puppyraiser for fidelco currently on hiatus because my plate is full with 2 retired fidelco guide dogs cole and freidal ( soon to be joined by tiekert my second foster pup being retired). i chose to name all my fidelco pups german names, freidal, tiekert, kerstan and my last foster git ander. normally fidelco prefers 2 syllable names but made exception to git ander because of the importance of her name. she was named in memory of k-9 git ander who worked valiantly at the world trade center disaster on 9-11, and for some days after, with his partner john gillepsie. they returned to work in new jersey and on sept 26 2001 k-9 git ander was shot to death in the line of duty. you can read the sad story on the web under k-9 git ander. we were getting a pup from the g litter and asked if we could name her in memory of this hero. we also contacted john gillespie who was honored to have the memory of his dog carried on in such a special way. fidelco guide git ander came to me at a very dark time in my life. i had a devastating diagnosis a few weeks before i was to get her. but with the help of my friends and fidelco family took her and she was the BEST medicine any doctor could have ordered. she went on to graduate and be matched and placed with mike in portland maine. we also have become good friends and spend time together weekends when i am there. this little girl, with the heart of a lion, carries the special name she was given with so much pride. we always called her git at home but when in public called her git ander. people always asked where her name came from and we always tell the sad story of the dog she memorializes. only 1 dog was killed that horrible day at the wtc disaster and that was port authority dave lim’s dog sirius. his remains were found later. dave also was honored with a guide dog puppy from another school was named in memory of hero sirius. such a heart warming way to remember very special dogs in life. donna and my heroes retired fidelco guide dogs cole and freidal soon to be joined by tiekert
Wow. What wonderful stories. Thanks for taking time out to share them on my blog. So nice to hear from a puppy raiser — to those of us who use guide dogs, you guys are true heroes.
I like my dog and his name, Chief. Although, my dog is 7 years old, and doesn’t look more beautiful than before. But It is important thing that we stay for 7 year and have a lot of happy time.
Dogs are just much better pets than cats 😛
Like you i also have dog and his name is Frankie. I always go with him every morning when i have my jogging session.
He is an 8 year old dog, while watching TV he is always at my side. I really-really love him very much. My dog is my friend. 😀
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What’s Your Dog’s Name? | Safe & Sound blog
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