[NAGDU] {Spam?} Our Introduction

[Lisie Foster]

Hi!

OK, I was a bit nervous to join the list though I've lurked for a while! I wasn't sure we belonged here; but, I sent a note to to the amazingly kind Marion Gwizdala who assured me that we would be welcome, and so here is our intro!

My name is Lisie Foster (I'm using my middle name, for privacy reasons, since the list archives are public) and I'm partnered with my third hearing service dog and cross-trained guide dog named Finn. Finn was trained by a small ADI-affiliated school in Ohio, and because I live so close to the school, I was able to choose and "adopt" Finn as an 11-week-old puppy, become his puppy raiser, "co-trainer", and eventual partner! He's an almost 15-month-old, light blond Golden Retriever, 23" tall and just over 70 lbs. He is such a goofy, sweet, funny, intelligent dog and is the most gentlemanly dog I've ever met! 

The program that trained Finn taught us how to do hearing alerts and service tasks. Right now I have a severe hearing loss, but my hearing loss is variable and progressive, and it's impossible to know how far it will progress. It's caused by Meniere's Disease in combination with a pre-existing mild, genetic hearing loss.

My hearing loss is strange. At high pitches and low pitches, my loss is severe/profound. So, I won't hear a fire alarm or tornado siren; I can't typically hear growling dogs or thunderstorms. But, the sounds in the middle ranges -- like people's voices, especially women's -- are still in the moderate loss range. So, as long as I can see the person talking, and the environment is fairly quiet, I'm able to follow along fairly well.

He also helps with medical assistance because the chemo treatments I underwent in 2010-2011 caused permanent heart failure, so I have problems with exercise intolerance and fatigue, despite being on two medications. But, because of Finn, I was able to go from walking about 100 feet alone to now, easily walking 1/2 mile with him walking in guide position, either while guiding or while exerting the same pull that he does while guiding (he never pulls me, like a mobility dog might; instead, just a straight pull into harness somehow counteracts the fatigue I experience). 

Next, to show how Finn is even more eerily mature when working, he is also cross-trained as a guide dog. I did this part of his training; he's actually the third dog I've trained as a guide. Knowing my vision had the potential to deteriorate due to progressive myopia, I studied, learned, and worked to teach both of my first hearing service dogs to guide, as well. But, Finn is my first true guide dog. Even though he doesn't guide full-time, he loves every chance he gets to guide (usually every night) and performs this role beautifully. The rods in my eyes are damaged either from progressive/degenerative myopia and/or radiation, chemo, and the adjuvant medical treatments which didn't fully end until early 2015. This means I have a severe deficit in night vision; I can't see well enough to navigate in dim and dark conditions on my own. I am nearly totally blind, but with light perception, under those conditions. But, my daytime,
 best-corrected central visual acuity is still 20/30 (decreasing but at a much slower rate). The night-blindness I experience is a strange condition: I can't walk around my own neighborhood at night without my dog guiding, a person walking with me, or without using a cane to navigate, unless I'd like to fall (which I have *grins*). But, once I come into a brightly-lit area, my vision goes back to 20/30. So, say I'm on a long walk at night and, after crossing a dark parking lot, I would reach a brightly-lit building. I'd have walked there and crossed the parking lot with Finn working as a guide dog, but then, after entering the store and allowing my eyes extra time to adapt to the change in lighting, my vision would go right back to 20/30, and Finn's role would change from guide dog to hearing service dog! Ha! 

I believe Finn thinks that humanity was created to adore him, to pet him, and for him to kiss, especially kids. The hardest part of for us has always been turning down people who ask to pet him, because it makes him so happy! But, I can only allow this to occur at the right time and right place, or else I end up with a Golden Retriever lying upside down, wagging exuberantly, with people petting his sparkly tummy feathers while his mind goes ... wherever Goldens minds go when they're being social Goldens! He has more than enough off-duty time -- most of his time is spent not working -- to be a totally unprofessional-looking sweetheart of a dog! 

His favorite toy is his plush soccer ball, which he once used to ease his gums while teething, but now still loves the feel of while holding it in his mouth. He prefers elk antlers over deer antlers, though if the deer antlers are an interesting shape, then he likes them a bit more, though I do have to stop him from throwing his antlers at me (he likes to throw his toys and his aim is far too accurate for his targets to be accidental -- he likes throwing his toys at me and into his water and even from across a room, he can do it).  He is equally adept at play and working retrieves, is an amazing swimmer who is a bit water-obsessed, is the only dog I've ever had who never slips on icy surfaces, is best friends with a yellow Lab who the demo dog at the program where we trained, and has had two dogs who he appointed his "girlfriends". I thought it was interesting that both of them, the only two dogs he's ever shown any romantic-type
 interest in, were both black, female Golden/Lab crosses with fur more like a Golden's than a Lab's, and that one was a Service Dog in Training and the other was an adolescent being raised for CCI. He shows his crushes he loves them by constantly following them around, looking at them adoringly, and bathing their faces as much as they'll let him. It was an interesting day in advanced obedience class when the instructor had to call out both Finn and I, and his "girlfriend" and her raiser, to try to get Finn to pay attention to me while she was there. *laughs* I really didn't appreciate the day in that class, either, when Finn -- who had won the "beginning obedience" class's contest to see which dog could hold a down-stay for the longest period of time -- broke a down stay first, then ran across the ring to his girlfriend, diving and sliding at her like a baseball player sliding headfirst into home plate, stopping
 right at her face so he could bathe and worship her. Really, Finn? Really? I was mortified. It happened about six months ago, and I'll never forget it! 

I believe his favorite part of his "work" is guiding. Note: I put work in quotes because I don't think he quite realizes he's working; he enjoys learning, thinking, interacting, and what most would call working so incredibly much that it's actually a very integral part of his life and his existence. Without that, he would NOT be a very happy dog! I have tested his guiding under sleepshade, with and without simultaneously using my cane, and he is absolutely incredible. He stops at the apron of down-curbs, which at first I confused for him stepping into the street, but I soon realized was simply a part of his very precise way of working. Just last night, I realized that one obstacle he has always worked around, which I'd always assumed was a fallen tree branch on the sidewalk, was actually a place where lightweight overhead tree branches hangs down not to FINN'S level, but hang down to where thy would be an overhead obstacle
 at MY level. He's done this for at least a month; I only finally figured out what it was last night because I happened to turn my head to the left and lean down at just that moment to check something on his harness, causing the branches to brush against the side of my head. I had no idea he was looking for overhead obstacles. I don't think I give him enough credit sometimes! Two weeks ago, now, we had our first natural traffic check and Finn responded as he'd been trained, acting so swiftly, decisively, and accurately that I hardly knew what was happening until, safely back against the curb we'd just stepped from with Finn beside me, I saw the lights of a car swing around the street corner and drive swiftly over the part of the street where we had just been crossing! 

That was a long introduction; I apologize for that! Sometimes, I think I could write for hours about my dog *grins*. Thank you so much for having me on your list, and if you've read my story before, but with a different first name, more than likely, it was me using my first name. But, out of concern for privacy and safety for my dog, I'm using my middle name online now instead. But, if you want to be sure of who I am, feel free to send me an off-list email and I'm glad to reply!

Sincerely and thank you,
Lisie and Finn






Lisie and Finn, CGC, NTD

Sent from my iPhone