My little red tether is my anchor in running with my friends. A beautiful guide dog has been my tether/anchor in mobility and independence for 17 years: 1. Pantera 2. Cricket, and now my beautiful 3. Georgina (Georgie). A life of family and friends is my joy and anchor in life.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. CC Scott

Thursday, September 2, 2010

All in a Guide Dog's Day, #4

As a person who is blind finding things is a challenge. If only Cricket could find my two missing credit cards. That is not in her job description. However, when she is guiding, she knows Find the Car, Find the Door, Find the Counter, Find the Chair. Today, I was walking into Office Depot. Near where I know the door is, I am going to tell Cricket, Find the Door. She will put her cute little nose to the door.

This second picture is find the door on our way into Chipotle for lunch. She navigated to the door but then ha, through taking this picture she is caught putting her nose down to the floor - must of been something on the ground that she was a little interested in. Hop up (get back in focus), Cricket.
Are there other finds that your guide dog knows?

7 comments:

Kathy said...

I would be distracted at Chipotle's too! One of my favorite places!! I can't believe I never run into you (not literally, that would not be good but you know what I mean) we seem to frequent the same places!

Anonymous said...

Troy can:

Find the step (or stairs)
Find the room (I used to go to a room in a University library where there was a computer with Jaws)
Find Chris (my University lecturer)
He can specificly find food shops e.g, Brumbies, Chinese restaurant
Specific people (takes quite a while to train into him)
etc

About finding the lecturer: About three weeks ago, I told Troy to find a doorway into a building where my classroom is. Then I said, "Find Chris! I wonder where Chris is? ..." etc. Then I stopped talking to see what he would do. He kept pulling at his harness, so I said "Find Chris!" a couple more times in the space of a couple of minutes. When he took me to the classroom, the students confirmed that it was the correct room. Then to make me even more astounded, Troy just had to walk right up to my lecturer and wag his tail at everyone! What a show-off of a dog I've got.

Tell Cricket that I'm wishing her well and she's a good girl! Keep helping your mistress my friend!

Michelle

Becky Andrews said...

Michelle; Such a great list. Love what these beautiful guides can do - so smart! Good boy, Troy.

Katrin said...

James knows-

Find Ivys, Starbucks, Shaws, David's (optical shop), The Cafe, the bank, and a bunch of other places

Find "inside"

Find "outside"

Find mum, pop, Li, Gram, Ena, Ista and Julie

Find our seat

Find the stairs

Find the escalator

Find the car (he will find what ever car we were driven in parked in a parking lot)

Find home

and I think that's it. I really like the "find" command!

Cricket is such a good girl!

Becky Andrews said...

Katrin; Such a great list! James you have been an incredible guide. When Cricket hears the word find she gets a little excited like its a fun new adventure.

Kathy - fun! I hope we cross paths one of these days!

Jen said...

I love when OJ finds the car we were travelling in. It doesn't always happen but is impressive when it does!

Beth and Alfie said...

I like that we get to teach the puppies to find things in the bathroom: the stall (handicap one preferably, for space to park the dog!), sink, paper (can be paper towels or one of those blowers), trash can. I think if I couldn't see, those finds -- not to mention the ones you listed Becky! -- would come in super handy!