[nagdu] How long is "successful"

[Tina Thomas]

I too don't know how to measure success with guide dog teams either. I have
had 4 guide in 26 years. My first dog worked for 10 years and had to retire
do to authorities, my second dog worked for 8 years and had to retire due to
health reasons, my third dog retired after 3 and a half years due to a
chronic illness and now I'm on my fourth dog who is sound, healthy and has a
great work ethic and it looks like she will work a very long time if there
are no health problems. 
Tina and the girls.  

-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Meghan Whalen
Sent: Friday, June 07, 2013 5:56 AM
To: NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Subject: Re: [nagdu] How long is "successful"

I agree that success is very difficult to define.

Even though I have had four dogs in just under eight years, all of my dogs
have been incredibly successful. I mean, they have all done their jobs very
well. As far as training goes, they were sound and in no way would I
complain. There is then the matter of health/genetic soundness to look at,
and in one situation, the Seeing Eye did give me my successor dog for free,
because they felt responsible for what had happened.

Jade, my first guide, worked for 19 months. She retired with two different
eye conditions. She had panis and corneal spotting. She started startling at
obstacles on her left side, and she favored taking the right-hand route
whenever possible. Panis is genetic, so TSE gave me my second dog free of
charge.

Kirby was also a fantastic guide. She never missed a beat. Sure, we had our
typical new dog struggles, but we got through them, and she was such a
perfect lady. At about five years of age, I noticed her starting to get
shaky and unsure while working at times. I was having to encourage her to
work all of the way up into curbs. I guess I just figured it was something
with her getting a little older, as she had always been sensitive. I took
her in for routine eye exams, and she had cataracts. 
There was a lot of back and forth and uncertainty as to if they were causing
her problems, but her work continued to decline. I admitted to myself that
her vision was being compensated when she walked right under several tables
at a restaurant and only realized when my arm hit the table. She took all of
her mistakes very personally, so it was unfair to ask her to keep working
when it was making her so upset every time she made a working error. Kirby
retired in July of 2011 when she was about six and a half. I still consider
her a success, though. Her cataracts were early onset age related, so I
don't really think that was genetics...just bad luck.

Dayton, my third guide was fantastic. I raised and trained him from just
twelve weeks of age. We worked together until this March. In December, he
was attacked by loose dogs, and he never could really recover. He had been
interfered with several times by other dogs, and those times had set him on
edge, but positive interactions with other dogs were able to set him back on
track. After the attack, though, he was physically ill any time he had to
work around other dogs. He was very nervous and afraid to even be in the
same room as another well-trained guide. It took him over eight hours to get
used to and feel secure about other service dogs who were completely
ignoring him. I retired him for many reasons. When I decided to owner-train,
I promised myself that I would only work my dog as long as he could behave
to the same standard as a well-trained dog from a program. I was never going
to use my love for him or the fact that I trained him as an excuse for
anything.

I now have Vrona, a little female shepherd from Seeing Eye, and she, too is
a wonderful little worker. I see no reason right now why she won't work for
years to come. I consider her a successful match. I can't predict the
future, and I sure hope that many years of the future have her at my side. I
don't think I have the heart to go through another short working career with
a dog.

Still, my point is, I had 1 dog who worked for 19 months, 1 for a little
over 4 years and 1 for almost 2 years; incredibly short careers, but very
successful as far as doing their jobs. Jade could be considered unsuccessful
due to genetics, but I still am unsure as to if I wouldn't consider her a
success. Jade, Kirby and Dayton probably all would have worked until they
were old and grey if circumstances other than their training hadn't gotten
in the way.

And, in closing, if you made it this far, here is a poem I recently wrote
about all of the transitions I have been through with my dogs.

Here she is, your brand new guide,
the first to match you stride for stride.
Her beauty striking, her eyes so kind,
When she is leading, relax your mind.
She loves her job, and it is true,
That through her guiding, she'll love you, too.
Nineteen short months, too soon goodbye, One last hug, you're too strong to
cry.
And here she comes, your second girl,
all wags and joy, a precious pearl.
She loves you deeply, you make her complete, With grace and dignity, you two
will defeat, Coast to coast, sidewalk and hall, Campus, trails, bustling
shopping malls.
With silken coat and nuzzling nose,
She walked away, and the door did close.
He stumbled in with a puppy's tread,
meant for another, but he was your third instead.
Your second girl helped you raise him steady and wise, and with pride and
gusto, he became your eyes.
You taught him sit, come, stay and down, Left, now right, easy, take me
around, Together you grew into a beautiful team, built on deepest love, the
reality of a dream.
And when he left, so young and spry,
You reached down deep, just one more try, so here she is, your number four,
Young and eager, go more more more!
Fourth to guide you, but still number one, for each team created is a
miracle done.
So hold her close, let her soak up your tears, for though she is new, she
can feel deep your fears.
Love her deeply, forever and strong,
Assure  you both that she comes along,
for the turning of pages, for the passing of time, A decade of devotion, for
you're both in your prime.
Eight short years have passed since that first dog arrived, and we know your
heart's broken, we know that you strive, To not be afraid, to give it your
all, But always remember that sometimes we fall, and your new girl will be
there, this eager new pup, She'll wait here patiently, and she will pick you
back up.
Together you'll grow, your bond will be tight, and with the pair you're
becoming, there's no end in site.
Meghan

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