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

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Becky & Cricket Transitioning

Retirement for a guide dog team is a process (cognitively, emotionally, socially, physically, spiritually - it probably covers all five realms :).  Guide dogs teams do this transition differently - sometimes it comes unexpected - sometimes like Pantera you plan it out and have a little time and sometimes like Cricket it comes a little sooner than anticipated.  Whatever the circumstances, its not easy!  Cricket and I have been a team going almost everywhere together for almost seven years.  Now ... that has changed. She is staying home majority of the time - she still makes visits to my office, goes for walks on leash with Steve, visits to family and friends, and any other opportunity she can think of to get out and about :). She was ready to stop working as a guide dog so which helps the transition slightly. However, she still loves to go and comes to the door when I am getting ready to leave.   I recognized I needed to make a change in the routine when I left.  Now as I'm getting ready to leave: I tell her 'go find your red kong' (she's still working on this) then we take a few moments with some loving time and fill the kong with a few carrots and a little kibble. She is loving our new little tradition. I am leaving not feeling quite so bad about leaving her.
She loves her red kong.  
She loves to nap by my desk in the office/laundry/dog room.  
We have moved one of her beds in the laundry/office/dog room. The other bed is now on Steve's side of the bed to make room for my new guide.  My class date has been moved up so I will leave March 23rd and graduation will be on April 5th in San Rafael.  We will come home and introduce Cricket and __________ at the park near our home.

In the meantime, I am adjusting to using a cane as my mobility.  Its not a guide dog but it is certainly helpful.

We have been going down memory lane of the last seven years.  The Becky and Cricket team have had quite the adventures.  We will do a blog recap on some of those adventures shortly!

Happy Sunday! 

2 comments:

GOOSE said...

Oh Becky I know it must be hard to leave in the morning with our Cricket. My MOM says she is not sure she could do it. Bless you both.
Blessings,
Goose

3 labs 4 me said...

How lucky am I to have shared in a few of Cricket's adventures. Love from Oregon.