Finding Training Assistants

I'd like to share how we found three training assistants...

After a walk and training Freely with the harness, I was heading across the middle of the track at the middle school, aka football field. It's cooler than the track to walk on as well as provides training on not so level land and training for keeping focused rather than sniffing the grass. About halfway across the field, three boys who were sitting on the bleachers yell out, "nah nah nah nah nah nah, you're blind and we're not!" I could feel myself tense up and in an instant was not feeling too kind at all! I knew I should just keep going and ignore them, but then this quote that is on my wall popped into my mind
"we are never more than a second away from a resolution".

I found myself turning around and walking towards them. I was about 20 ft in front on them when I thought... "oh crap! what am I going to say???" Instantly it all fell into place.

"Hi there, my name is Mara. What are your names?"
"What's it to ya?"
"Nothing, I just thought maybe you wanted to talk since you yelled across the field to me."
"NOPE! we were just yelling at your stupid dog cuz you're blind"
"Nope! I'm not blind. But that doesn't really matter."
"What dya got that dog for then?"
"She assists me and helps me with balance."
"Like she's gonna pick up a fat lady like you?"
chuckle chuckle...
"No, that isn't how she helps me. Do you want to do an experiment?"
"Lady, you're weird."
"I know. So, do you want to do an experiment or not?"
"Sure, I guess"
"OK, since you have no names, you can be A, you can be B and you can be C. Alfred, Benny and Claude."
"Are you kidding? Those are terrible names! Our names are Tim, Andrew and Sean".
"Ok, who likes to go on amusement park rides the best? Sean, will go for a ride. Andrew, you will be the cheering squad and Tim, you can be the goal post."

So I had Sean close his eyes and spin in a circle on the grass for a full 60 seconds. Then, while staying standing he had to try to get to Tim while Andrew was cheering him on and encouraging him. I was the counter and he fell 12 times. When he got to Tim, I had him turn around and then had Andrew stand at the starting point. I had Sean take hold of the harness standing still and I took Freely's leash. I told Sean that all he had to do was walk beside Freely and hold the harness. I would direct her left, right, stop and with the leash. We made it to Andrew with NO falls, of course the dizziness was not as intense as in the beginning, but in the end Sean was yelling

"WAY COOL...TOTALLY COOL...THAT IS RAD!"

Then they wanted to play with Freely, so we talked about what it would be like if people distracted her while we were walking. What if Sean was trying to walk and Freely was being distracted, could he fall? would he stagger?

"WOW" they said!

So we did some training around young boys while they were skateboarding and then we practiced walking up and not being distracted by them. And also trained petting while remaining calm.

They told me what times they are at the community center and told me to come by there so their friends could meet me and Freely, the cool dog that REALLY assists. They want to tell their friends all about how she can help.

They went ZOOMING off on their skateboards. Then I got up the street from the school and heard skateboards behind me. They came zooming up yelling..
"WAIT WAIT...hey, we're sorry we made fun of you!"

"well, I bet you won't make fun of anyone else with an assistant dog, will you?"

"NO WAY! THEY ARE REALLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See ya! Don't forget to come to the community center!"

You see how that really sour situation turned around into a really great one. I don't know where it came from, but it was a gift!
Goes to show, we never know who's around the corner who may be able to help. It may just be the enemy, eh?

with gratitude for a "second"
Mara and Canine Assistant, Freely

Positive Article 2 - Our Own Best Example
Positive Article 3 - Gift of Mobility

 

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