When Harper gets it right, I make sure he knows it.
One thing The Seeing Eye urges graduates to do when we get home is keep our new dogs attached to us. Literally. 24/7. So picture me now, working at my computer. Harper is at my feet, his leash looped around my ankle. Any time I decide to head to the kitchen to warm up my coffee, I wake Harper up. “Harper, heel.” Harper walks at my side to the microwave. “Good boy, Harper.” When we get to the microwave, I give him another command. “Harper, sit!” Harper sits. “Good boy, Harper!” I want him to stay there while the coffee warms up. “Harper, rest.” He does. “Good boy, Harper. Good boy!
Twenty years ago I managed all that while our son Gus was little and living with us. From Long Time, No See:
Take my first morning home with Pandora. I failed to level off the dry oatmeal before putting it in the cereal bowl and it overflowed in the microwave. I shifted between the sink and microwave to clean it up, all the while with Pandora’s leash wrapped around my wrist, per Seeing Eye instructions for our first weeks together.
I succeeded on my second try, and used Pandora to guide me to Gus. Then I carried him to his highchair and wrapped Pandora’s leash around my ankle — I needed both hands to feed Gus. I needed four hands, really. Pandora kept slinking under Gus’ highchair to clean up all he dropped, and she needed correcting. And so on.
When it finally was my turn to eat I punched the button on my talking clock. It was already 10:30! I hadn’t even had a cup of coffee yet.
Anyone who knows me knows how important my morning coffee is. And anyone who has read Long Time, No See (or has been at a presentation where I read from my memoir) knows what made the coffee I finally brewed that morning so memorable!
Understanding the method behind the 24/7 attachment madness makes it easier to execute. Praise is really what it’s all about for Seeing Eye dogs, and having them at the end of the leash all the time gives us plenty of chances to tell them how great they are. If Harper sits when I tell him, I praise him. When he heals, lies down, rests on command, he is praised. On the other hand, if Harper misbehaves (sniffs inside a garbage can, nibbles at crumbs on the kitchen floor) I can catch him in the act. We can’t see our Seeing Eye dogs, but if they are only a leash away while they’re being naughty, we can correct them.
All of this transfers to our work outside, too. I praise, and often pet, Harper anytime he stops at a curb, or at the top of the stairs to the subway. If he messes up, I correct him and give him a chance to do it right. And if he succeeds the second time, guess what? He gets praised!
Let’s say we’re walking outside and Harper runs past a curb. That’s when I step into my role as teacher. I give him a correction, either verbally or with the leash, then show him where he made his mistake.
Next, I bring him back to the curb, tell him to sit, tap the curb with my foot and praise him. “Good boy, Harper! Here’s where you stop. Good boy!” We take a few steps backwards then, maybe two dog lengths, and we re-work the approach to the curb. Harper almost always, always gets it right the second time. And when he does? I praise the bejeezus out of him. “Good boy, Harper! Attaboy!” I rub him up. His tail wags. “Good boy, Harper. Good boy!” Harper eats it up, and he rarely misses that curb again.
The Seeing Eye recommends we keep our dogs on leash for at least two weeks, and today marks my two-week anniversary at home with Harper. Giving him more free time has given me more time to think. That quote from Long Time, No See? It made me realize something. In a way, that was Pandora’s book. She sat at my feet as I used my first talking computer to write and revise the manuscript. She went for walks with me when I needed to clear my head. She led me to meetings with the publisher after the contract was signed. Hanni and Beth: Safe & sound is Hanni’s book, of course.
Harper and I may not be attached at the hip anymore, but the work continues. I look at our first months together as a ten-year investment in Harper, and in our work as a team. Working with Harper has motivated me to make a New Year’s resolution. I’m getting to work on my third book. With any luck, it’ll be just like working with Harper. A labor of love.
What a great way to start the new year, with a well trained seeing eye dog who is your friend!
Happy New Year, one more day!
Penn
Good for you and Harper, finishing the “attachment” period…..and with only one thud on the sidewalk. Pandora’s book, Hanni’s book…….Harper’s book??? Can’t wait!!! Was so happy to read about that as a resolution of yours! Can’t wait to see it in print.
Maria, you are so smart to put the word “attachment” in quotes, b/c of course I know my attachment to Harper will never be over, it will last a lifetime. What a gift!
thanks for the good wishes on my book, and please be patient. I hope to get it *written* in 2011, but who knows when it will finally be published!
And Penn, thanks for the good wishes, and happy, happy new year to you, too!
And in the meantime…how is Hanni doing?
Hanni is doing very, very well, enjoying her retirement. Thanks for asking!
I had such great success having mike step in as a guest blogger while I was away training with Harper that now I’ve asked Hanni’s new companions Nancy and Steven whether one (or both!) of them might be willing to write a guest post now and then about their adventures with Hanni. Nancy is thinking about it, so stay tuned…
Beth,
Did you ever drink any of that memorable coffee again? *smile*
Happy New Year!
Ummmm, no.
But happy new year to you, too, Sandra!
Let’s see, we have Pandora, who opened the box; Hanni, whose honeyed coat kept you safe and sound; and now Harper… Harper’s Fairy? Harper’s Bizarre? (Sorry, couldn’t resist the word plays:)
…and with any luck, maybe Harper COLLINS will take notice and publish the dang thing.
Glad you and Harper are back home!
I’m excited to hear about the next book, even though I still haven’t managed to get a braille copy of long time no see. Suppose I could get an audio version? Is there one availible?
Really interesting that you have to keep the dog attached to you so closely at the beginning. I was encouraged to put O.J on tie-down when he was in his bed, and any time he was unattended for the first few weeks. I do it still if he is feeling ill, so that if he throws up I know where it is and am less likely to stand in it!
Do you find it strange now, having to give so much praise and so many commands? I mean Hanni probably did most of them automatically and you probably didn’t notice her doing a lot of them because it was so natural.
Jen
Jen,
You are a mind reader. I *do* find it strange now, having to give so much praise and so many commands. I did indeed get a little “sloppy” with Hanni towards the end, she did most things automatically and you’re right: I didn’t notice her doing a lot of them because it was so natural.
I know there are Braille copies of Long Time, No See around but as far as I know they are only available through American libraries, not in Ireland. Do you still have an old-fashioned four-track tape recorder by any chance? If so, I could mail you an audio version on four-track cassette. Or do you happen to know of any agreements between Ireland and the US Library of Congress? Audio versions of both of my books are available for free to people who are blind or physically handicapped through the Library of Congress Talking Book program. Let me know if you know of any agreements, or if you think of some way I can do something to get one of these versions your way. Hate to think there’s an interested reader out there who can’t get her hands, literally, on a copy of “Long Time, No See.”
Hi Beth,
Congratulations to you and Harper!
Congrats as well on your new book adventure!! Hooray!
Your fans are eager and looking forward to this!
I have to say, I know why seeing eye has us keep our dogs with us at all times, but it is a royal pain in the butt! I am so happy that Gordon is able to have some freedom in the house. He is still on leash if I am working in the kitchen or eating at the table. But for the most part I have several mutt mats scattered throughout the house that he seeks out and will lay on. So far so good!
He is a cute little bugger that really wants to please me so our transition has been wonderful! Now if only he would keep his shoe on. We’ve lost two booties in two days.
Harper has been weathering the Chicago streets without booties, for some unknown and wonderful reason the salt has not been bothering him a bit. If Gordon isn’t snootie about used booties, I’ll send you ours. Harper will never use them!
Beth,
This probably would have been more helpful earlier, but there is a “Hands Free,” leash on the market which hooks to your belt or waste band so that your hands can be free, and the dog is still attached to you.
Happy two-week anniversary!
And, can’t wait for the new book!
Reading your posts has been a good reminder on why we do some of what we do! I didn’t realize your first guide was Pandora. Mine was Pantera and often people would mistakenly refer to her as Pandora. Awesome re; new book to come.
Becky and Lolly, thanks for the good wishes on the new book. You are probably on to my trick: formally “announcing” my resolution here on the blog might shame me into really, actually coming through in 2011 and getting that book started.
Happy for the harpiest hound around! Did about half the day with bell and half still on leash. Went pretty well, but I’m glad we had that two weeks of leash-there were a couple naughty incidents with paws on the bed and counters. The G Man was diagnosed with a pretty narsty ear infection yesterday. Treated now and crossing fingers for a quick recovery. Scratches to the Harpster!
Ouch! Hope Garrett gets well soon…
YAY! So happy for you and Harper!!! Keep up the good work and we are looking forward to your third book!!
Love,
Tomasita
Harper sounds like an awesome Seeing Eye dog. It’s not an easy task to maneuver around all that Chicago traffic! Good luck to you AND Harper. And, Happy New Year. I wish you much happiness and good health in 2011, Beth.
Happy New Year! Your post reminded me how much I loved your novel and that I look forward to reading your next book when it comes out…hopefully you’ll have an ebook version too! 🙂 Good luck with your new years resolutions!
Cheers,
Tara
Hello. I just read your first bok and loved it. My wife and I are reading it togather as well. I’m going in a week to get my fourth pup and am excited about the prospect. How’s guss?
Oh, I envy you in some ways, off to the Seeing Eye next week. I mean, okay, the first week or so I was counting the days until I could come home. But then all of a sudden I started to appreciate being so “spoiled”, feeling so important training with this new precious dog, having the staff in the dinig room come by with coffee and such good meals, and boy, did I meet some wonderful people: both my fellow students and the SE staff. Do I recall your saying you have two young children? It’s probably been a long time since you could devote time to yourself the way they encourage you to do while at the Seeing Eye. You really forget about the outside world and okay you don’t just devote yourself to you, you devote yourself to two things: you, and your dog. Hard work, but in many ways beautifully simple. Enjoy, and please report back. Eager to hear about yor instructor, your fellow students, and, especially..your new dog!
Oh, and what fun to hear you and your wife are reading my book together — very flattering, thank you for telling me that, it makes me fell good. Also thanks for asking about Gus, he moved away to a wonderful group home in Wisconsin when he ws 16, he is doing well and the staff takes very good care of him. We miss him but visit him as much as possible and feel so fortunate to have him there where he is, well…safe & sound!
I mention him in the next blog, take a look at “Because the night belongs to Gus”!
Let’s see. I do have a blog. Although the writing is not up to your standards because there is no on-line spellchecker. The address is http://journeywithanewguidedog.blogspot.com I’m weird . I kinda almost obsess about places I’m going, or tech, I’d like to buy. etc etc.
Thanks for reading.
Beth unfortunately I don’t have a 4 track anymore.
I’ll find out if the national council for the blind in Ireland can get books from america or if there’s any way I can get it. If not, I’ll just have to come to Chicago and pick up a copy myself.
I *love* the idea of you coming to Chicago, woudl be great to meet you face-to-face. That said, I will also try to get a Braille copy of “Long Time, No See” to you in Ireland before you come. Will email you privately to get your mailing address…
Thank you for your blog Beth. I’ve been reading it for a couple of months now and I enjoy it immensely! Excited to hear Harper will be getting a book of his own. It hadn’t occurred to me before that there have been books by dog, but it makes sense. Good luck on your new endeavor!
Leave a Response