FA+
Shop
Returning To The Seeing Eye
a year ago
hOI!!!!!!
Back in October 2017, I headed off to Morristown, NJ to get my very first Seeing Eye Dog. It was here that I spent the next four weeks living and learning how to best work with my dog, Uri / Buddy, before returning home to see just how well a service dog worked compared to a White Cane.
I was nervous to put my trust in Uri for my travels about town, but I soon began to realize that he really did know how to navigate around obstacles while being very safe when it came to making all sorts of street crossings. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t ever think of going anywhere without him.
Now, nearly seven years later, Uri / Buddy is ready to retire from being my sighted guide to all those places I would ever want to go that are within walking distance. The trainers at The Seeing Eye informed me that the dog will let you know when he is ready to retire and Uri / Buddy is just not all that excited about going on adventures like he used to be.
Earlier this year, I began to notice the signs of Uri / Buddy getting ready to retire. It started around his eighth birthday and has only become more obvious by the day. Knowing it could be a long time before I would be able to get back in to get a second Seeing Eye Dog, I called the school, explained Uri’s / Buddy’s status, and was invited to apply for my second Seeing Eye Dog.
Flash forward to this past Tuesday, July 9th, and I got a most surprising call from the manager of admissions at The Seeing Eye. The wait for getting a service dog to take over for Uri’s / Buddy’s duties was already over! Not only that, but I was asked to return to the school in Morristown, NJ on Monday, July 22nd to begin work with one of two possible dogs who will be best able to keep up with all the walking I like to do on a regular basis!
Needless to say, I’ve been scrambling to get paperwork together so that I can successfully attend the, for returning students, three week session to acclimate myself to the new dog. Upon my return, which is approxated as being Thursday, August 8th, Uri / Buddy will be 100% retired and, hopefully, happy to have a new friend to play with who is far more excited about going out for a long walk than he has become after nearly seven years of service.
I’m quite nervous to be gone from home for such a long period of time, but it is necessary if I want to continue using a Seeing Eye Dog instead of a White Cane. Personally, I can tell you all that having a Seeing Eye Dog is extremely liberating compared to using White Cane techniques to go from place-to-place. I also can say that people are more likely to talk to me / acknowledge my presence with a Seeing Eye Dog than they ever were when I’d travel with the White Cane.
***
Thank you all for your support and for all the amazing times we’ve shared since the last time I attended school at The Seeing Eye. It amazes me how much has happened over the time in which Uri / Buddy and I began our journey together. I look forward to sharing even more good times as I journey off for my new, canine companion and start working towards acclimating him to where I live as much as I have acclimated Uri / Buddy to the area. These dogs are truly amazing and seeing mine ready to retire is sad, but I am very grateful for everyone who supports The Seeing Eye to allow those, like myself, to acquire such an invaluable aid / friend.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
Back in October 2017, I headed off to Morristown, NJ to get my very first Seeing Eye Dog. It was here that I spent the next four weeks living and learning how to best work with my dog, Uri / Buddy, before returning home to see just how well a service dog worked compared to a White Cane.
I was nervous to put my trust in Uri for my travels about town, but I soon began to realize that he really did know how to navigate around obstacles while being very safe when it came to making all sorts of street crossings. It wasn’t long before I couldn’t ever think of going anywhere without him.
Now, nearly seven years later, Uri / Buddy is ready to retire from being my sighted guide to all those places I would ever want to go that are within walking distance. The trainers at The Seeing Eye informed me that the dog will let you know when he is ready to retire and Uri / Buddy is just not all that excited about going on adventures like he used to be.
Earlier this year, I began to notice the signs of Uri / Buddy getting ready to retire. It started around his eighth birthday and has only become more obvious by the day. Knowing it could be a long time before I would be able to get back in to get a second Seeing Eye Dog, I called the school, explained Uri’s / Buddy’s status, and was invited to apply for my second Seeing Eye Dog.
Flash forward to this past Tuesday, July 9th, and I got a most surprising call from the manager of admissions at The Seeing Eye. The wait for getting a service dog to take over for Uri’s / Buddy’s duties was already over! Not only that, but I was asked to return to the school in Morristown, NJ on Monday, July 22nd to begin work with one of two possible dogs who will be best able to keep up with all the walking I like to do on a regular basis!
Needless to say, I’ve been scrambling to get paperwork together so that I can successfully attend the, for returning students, three week session to acclimate myself to the new dog. Upon my return, which is approxated as being Thursday, August 8th, Uri / Buddy will be 100% retired and, hopefully, happy to have a new friend to play with who is far more excited about going out for a long walk than he has become after nearly seven years of service.
I’m quite nervous to be gone from home for such a long period of time, but it is necessary if I want to continue using a Seeing Eye Dog instead of a White Cane. Personally, I can tell you all that having a Seeing Eye Dog is extremely liberating compared to using White Cane techniques to go from place-to-place. I also can say that people are more likely to talk to me / acknowledge my presence with a Seeing Eye Dog than they ever were when I’d travel with the White Cane.
***
Thank you all for your support and for all the amazing times we’ve shared since the last time I attended school at The Seeing Eye. It amazes me how much has happened over the time in which Uri / Buddy and I began our journey together. I look forward to sharing even more good times as I journey off for my new, canine companion and start working towards acclimating him to where I live as much as I have acclimated Uri / Buddy to the area. These dogs are truly amazing and seeing mine ready to retire is sad, but I am very grateful for everyone who supports The Seeing Eye to allow those, like myself, to acquire such an invaluable aid / friend.
Your Pal,
---Yosh E. O’Ducky ;)
I'm hopeful the new doggo not only works great, but is able to be friends with Buddy. I'm sure he'd like a friend to play with after working so hard to keep me safe out there on the streets. :)
What I'm hoping for is that Lucca will walk with me to keep Buddy in shape despite his retirement. I don't believe he'd want to walk far, if much of anywhere given how he seems to not be all that thrilled about taking me places, but I definintely want to make sure he does more than just lie around the house.
***
As far as how a Seeing Eye Dog retires, they just start to show less interest in wanting to go on adventures with you. As they put it at the school, "One day, you'll get out the leash and harness and they'll be like 'No'." :)
***
I'm glad you got to meet Buddy when he was in a genuine mood to work. I know he had a great time during our 2019 BronyCon adventures. :)
The most important thingis to always remember to ask, "May I pet your dog." before giving the dog any attention. This will allow the user to put their dog into a position of rest that will go along with their training and not throw off their work effort.
***
I hope you have been doing well. I'm having a bit of a struggle with inspiration, but I feel my time away in Morristown will help me feel refreshed and back in a creative mood.
***
As for Uri, he will be staying home with Lucca while I am gone. The Seeing Eye aims to immerse you with your new dog and only your new dog. This means, upon returning home, I have to be careful to make sure that the new dog is ever-ready to go on adventures while Uri stays behind and just acts like an everyday dog. (I think this will be the hardest part, but it shouldn't take long to get a routine down that works where I have a great, new, travel companion who is good friends and not impacted by Uri's retired state.).