Who Needs Disney World?

Orlando, Florida is a mecca for theme park goers. People flock from near and far to take in the sights

at Disney World or Sea World, Legoland or Universal Orlando. However, like true puppy raiser geeks, when we recently visited Orlando, we decided to spend the day downtown tagging along with war veteran Bob and his guide dog, Ranger. I felt like a kid in a candy store.


Lake Eola Park, situated in the middle of Orlando, Florida. Bob and Ranger's apartment is one of the tall buildings in the upper left side of the photo, several blocks from the park.

Young Ranger at the Washington, DC Zoo in 2010.

Ranger was the guide puppy we raised in 2009 and 2010. Dubbed my Prim and Proper Puppy, by the time he was 7 months old he had a maturity level way beyond that of his young life. Also blessed with a calm, steady demeanor, he was a natural-born guide dog. Later, when he went back to Southeastern Guide Dogs, I received his trainer's comments:  "Aces, this dog's performance renders me speechless." In another report:  "Just a supreme dog, would exceed in anything, and is as well behaved as you can hope for." It would be nice to take some credit, but in all honesty, I think Ranger simply had it in his blood.

Now, in April of 2013, we are given a rare opportunity to glimpse his life as a guide dog and get to know the man who spends 24/7 with Ranger. I was afraid Bob would not want to be disturbed and was expecting a quick visit down in his apartment lobby. But I was pleasantly surprised. As Ranger guided him, he guided us! Ambling the busy streets of downtown Orlando, we took a tour along his favorite routes, including the Publix grocery store, a nursing home he visits with Ranger, and other haunts. The highlight was a stroll around Lake Eola and the surrounding park.

Bob and Ranger

We ate lunch at an outdoor cafe, saw swans, ducks, squirrels, and numerous dog walkers, all of which Ranger gave but a casual glance.

Dorian facing off with a pair of resident black swans.

 












In the 5 hours we spent with Bob, Ranger and Bob's friend Pat, we swapped many stories of Ranger. I constantly marveled at the way the two worked together so smoothly and comfortably, the devotion Ranger showed to Bob and vice-versa. Bob, who has quite a sense of humor, wanted to thank our son for "teaching Ranger how to find pretty girls"! I was happy to discover after 2 years, Ranger still remembered his puppy raiser. Near the end of the visit, Pat noted Ranger watching me closely, as if he knew our time was drawing to a close. Thank you, Bob, Pat and Ranger for an epic day. And Disney World, you'll have to see us another time!

Keep on truckin' fellas!

Carpe Diem Dorian

 
Dorian goes back In For Training very soon. This will conclude a season both in his life and mine. Nevermore will Dorian be in my care. His new life at Southeastern Guide Dogs, with its kennels, guide dogs and trainers, will be a radical, exciting change from his present life in a rural home setting, where he has grown up following our basic daily routine.


However, this post is not about how much I already miss him. This post is not about his future. No, I am resolving to be like Dorian, who does not even know he is leaving soon. Like most happy, healthy canines, Dorian is a carpe diem dog. He is "enjoying the day". "Diem" is Latin for day. The Latin verb "carpe" means to enjoy, to make use of. It can also mean to seize, pick or pluck, but somehow that meaning does not sit well with me. When I think of Dorian "seizing the day" it conjures up images of his not-so-distant puppy hood snatching a sock, shoe or anything else that wasn't practically nailed down, and thundering through the house while we uttered loud noises in his wake. No, "seizing or plucking the day" does not describe Dorian's habits anymore, thank goodness.



Now Dorian's carpe diem attitude, like that of most Labs, is to "enjoy the day". The normal dog does not whine and fret over the past, nor does he wring his massive paws over the future. She does not lie in her crate at night worrying about tomorrow. Instead she thoroughly enjoys a well-deserved snooze. Her gaze into the future goes no further than the next feeding. I like that. So as my days with Dorian draw to a close, like the dogs, I try to adopt a carpe diem outlook as well.

Dorian smells the scent of a patch of daffodils, sometimes called "buttercups".

Dorian and I will enjoy today, and tomorrow we'll make that day count, and so on. One day at a time. I can miss him when he's gone, but right now I will try to live in the present. What's on the agenda today? We're going outside to smell some roses. Actually, just kidding. The roses haven't bloomed yet, but there are some daffodils out there. Carpe diem, Mr. Dorian!

The words "Carpe diem" written momentarily in the sand, before the next wave takes them out.

United Airlines - Two Opposable Thumbs Up!

Last week my trusty guide pup and I traveled across the United States to visit my father. From the extreme east side of the United States to the west coast of California - and back again, this is a distance of some 5,000 miles or 8,000 km.









 

Map of the US, showing our flight routes. Outward bound we flew from Raleigh, North Carolina via Houston to Los Angeles. Going home we flew from Los Angeles via Washington, DC back to Raleigh.






 At 14 months of age, and a weight of 66 lbs, Dorian is a biggish Lab. Although he can fold himself into tight pretzel shapes and fall asleep like a good sport, still I was pleasantly surprised how much United Airlines ended up caring about his comfort.

The gate

Before arriving at the gate, I steeled myself for the long, cramped flight ahead. I had been warned we would have to rough it, since we were assigned a window seat with no extra floor room, and the adjacent two seats would be occupied. For this particular flight the bulkhead row doubles as the emergency row, so bulkhead seating was not an option. Just for kicks at the counter, I tentatively asked if there might be a better seat available. One of the staff walked around the counter, took a good look at Dorian, and nodded to the other attendant. "Yep, he's big," she said.

After a few minutes of computer wizardry, I was handed a new seat assignment. To my surprise upon boarding, we had a row to ourselves. Not just two seats, but three! Dorian could stretch out a little, I could too. I sent up a thank-you to God for sending the nice angels posing as United flight staff.

Tight quarters on the flight - no tails sticking out into the aisle!

Homeward bound, the last flight was out of Washington, DC. The airport runway was a chilly, windy 30 degrees as we walked across the tarmac and ascended the stairs past the jets and onto the plane. Dorian didn't hesitate. Good Boy! It turned out our seat neighbor was a man who had just arrived from the Middle East. He had bare feet with sandals and looked rather cold. We chatted, then I settled in for a short nap. Later I woke to find the man taking a picture of Dorian with his cell phone. Dorian was fast asleep, using his sandalled feet as a makeshift pillow! I started to apologize and move my dog. He stopped me. "Please don't," he smiled. "He's keeping my feet warm."



I sincerely commend United Airlines on their red carpet treatment of service dogs in training. And if my guide pup had opposable thumbs, he might rate his experience on United Air as "Two Thumbs Up." He got to stretch out a little, meet some nice people and even use a lumpy pillow. What more could a traveler ask for?

Greetings from the Planet Zot

**Jenny's note:  This post is about our trip to California and was written by my 14 month-old pup-in-training, Dorian. I claim no responsibility for the validity of Dorian's report.

Waiting to board the spaceship for Zot.

This week my raiser and I took a spaceship to the planet Zot. Amazingly the spaceship ride was not as long as you would think. The spaceship landed at the bustling city of LAX which is the capital of Zot. How did I know I was on another planet? Because everything was so different. For starters it was night. We went out to a wide, noisy sidewalk with cars crawling by and climbed into a van. The inhabitants of LAX talk fast, walk fast and drive even faster. They are none too friendly and honk horns a lot. I was very tired and the rest of the trip that night was a blur.

We go with "Dad" to Zotco - a very busy store.

In the house we stay is a man called "Dad". He doesn't seem to walk very well and is kind of wrinkly. My raiser says he is 91 years old, but I don't believe her because that is almost 650 in dog years, which is impossible! But Dad is very nice. I put my head on his knee and he pats me. Dad has a cat. Cats on the planet Zot are very spoiled and get fancy soft food which I think is not fair. It smells delicious but I barely got to try a taste before my raiser put the bowl up high. Rats! I am making the best of the Zot cat and have not chased him once. Actually, he just stands his ground so he's not much fun.

My raiser and I make shadows across the ground.

Every day my raiser and I take a long walk. On the planet Zot the houses are in long rows with strips of grass in front and sidewalks everywhere. We do not have that many sidewalks on the planet Virginia. Also there are tons of brand new smells, which drove my raiser crazy the first day because I just had to stop and smell everything - even the dirt, the grass and the sidewalks! Behind the houses my raiser walked me on a dirt trail. That's when I smelled the most incredible object of all - poop from an animal that was like a dog...but not a dog. My raiser called its maker Coyote. The pieces were here and there and full of hair, seeds and tiny bones. Most interesting! However, although I continue to search I cannot find Coyote's house.

I mingle with a young native, known as a Zot-ling.

 Because of all the sidewalks on Zot, my raiser is practicing walking in straight lines with me when I have my Superman cape on. It sounds easy, but it can be hard with smells and distractions and all. But I am trying not to smell unless it's something very enticing. Wherever we go we also practice making right angle turns. She tells me that it must be 90 degrees - not 72 or 55 or 38 or...well, you get the idea! This is so a person who can't see can stay on course when they make a right or left turn. Such a clever dog I am to learn geometry!

Soon we leave the planet Zot and head back home. I will miss "Dad" and the Zot-ling. But not so much the Zot cat.

Tummy Time!

Puppy raisers put an awful lot of hours under their belt, working with their pups on a myriad of obedience lessons and exposures. But just as important are those quiet moments at the end of a hectic day. Those moments where pup and raiser can really bond and trust is strengthened...a time when pup and raiser can relax close together, gaze into each other's eyes and soak up the peace. One terrific way of doing this is Tummy Time.

The designation "Tummy Time" was given by my young adult son, Sam. He also happens to be it's biggest advocate. When Sam comes to our house, after exchanging the usual hellos and other niceties, it's not long before he's sitting on the kitchen floor with his legs straight out. He calls  our service pup over, has him lay down between his legs, then rolls him onto his back.

Young Dorian at 6 months.

Initially the young pups are not real keen on exposing their vulnerable underbellies to the entire world, so we start off with short, easy doses. But it doesn't take long before they are enjoying the warmth, security and sociability of Tummy Time. Many of the pups will fall asleep in this position for minutes at a time. Added benefits include giving you a good vantage point for checking and massaging paws and inspecting their neck and belly - areas not easily reached. It also teaches an excited puppy to relax!

Nene, a chocolate, who was puppy camping with us.

Sometimes Sam does Tummy Time variations, such as holding the puppy in his arms across his lap. This gets to be a challenge after the puppy goes through his growth spurt, becomes gangly and approaches weights of 40-60 lbs plus! But again, this exercise has the added value of a lesson in trust and closeness.

If you haven't tried Tummy Time, you and your pup may be missing out. Again, be sure to start out easy with your pup just downing between your legs. Gradually ask her to relax and roll onto her side, then graduate to her laying entirely on her back. Take your time so Pup enjoys it. Start with short sessions and slowly increase the duration. Before long your puppy will be looking forward to Tummy Time. After a busy day with your service dog in training, you will be too!

 


Emmy, puppy in training at 5 months of age. Now a working guide dog, her partner calls her "Princess Emmy."

 

The very same Emmy just 3.5 months later. Wow, what happened? She may be overflowing Sam's lap, but still loves to be held like a puppy.

A summer day on the deck in Alaska. Dorian appears to have fallen asleep.

I've Got Those Puppy Raiser Airline Blues

On Feb 4, I posted "Off We Go, Into the Wild, Blue Yonder!" about the positive experiences a pup in training receives visiting an airport and flying. However, there is another side to the story. Unfortunately, some airlines refuse access to service dogs in training. To name a few:  Southwestern, Delta Airlines and American. In a nutshell, since the dog's handler does not have a special need, access is denied. No special need - no access. It's enough to make a puppy raiser sing the blues.

Talking with a Delta Air rep at the airport, I mentioned that denying access denies a service dog in training valuable....training! Those early experiences flying could greatly benefit this dog and its future partner when they fly as a working team for the first time. She stopped short. Never before had this notion crossed her mind. Her expression said, "Hey, that kinda makes sense!"

Flying with Sandy, a Southeastern Guide Dog in training, May 2010. The Atlanta Airport is a huge, bustling hub but Sandy loved every minute of the trip and behaved beautifully. Later that summer Sandy accompanied me to Chicago. Now she works as a guide dog.



Last fall, I started dialoguing with Delta Airlines over their denial of access. Personally, I have a strong interest in Delta changing their policy because: 1) they fly out of the terminal nearest us, 2) they fly to Alaska where our family periodically visits and works, 3) we have a Delta Skymiles credit card and, 4) flying with our service pups is important to us.
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My annotated letter of 9-24-2012 to Delta Airlines customer care/complaint/other:

Case Number 7161582

1. It is important for service dogs in training to get the exposure of working in an airport and flying, since someday their owner with his/her particular disability may need to fly with him. The animal cannot get this valuable training if denied access. Flying as a pet in a carrier in the hold of the plane is no replacement for accompanying a person in the cabin, sitting quietly at the person's feet.

2. Several airlines do allow service dogs in training the same rights/privileges as a service dog. Continental/United changed their policy about 1 year ago. Maybe it is time for Delta to change theirs?

3. Service animals are becoming more necessary and widespread in our society, used to assist people with many types of special needs. Many of these people travel extensively. These people need service animals experienced with traveling on all modes of transportation, whether bus, train or plane, which means training them as young dogs to be familiar with the associated sights, sounds and smells. 

4. As a raiser, I've flown approx. 25 times with 9 different pups in training. Their behavior has never created a disruption or incident in the airport or on the plane. My job as a conscientious puppy raiser is to make sure this experience is positive for the animal as well as for the airline and the public. Most raisers of service dogs are equally conscientious and determined to show the best possible face to the public.

In conclusion, I ask that Delta Airlines reconsider their service animal policy to include service animals in training, granting them the same rights and privileges. It would reflect well on your company and their consideration of people who need service dogs. It would be an action you would not regret! Thank you for your attention!

END OF LETTER.

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Response from Delta Airlines. The final outcome dated Nov. 8 reads:   

Dear Ms. Cole:

We appreciate receiving your suggestion to change Delta's policy on prohibiting service animals in training from flying in the cabin. Many customers share their feedback with us, and these observations oftentimes form the basis for improvements in our service.  At this time, no changes are planned for this policy.  Be assured I will be sharing your suggestion with the responsible leadership team.
Ms. East Cole, I want to thank you, again, for writing with your request to permit service animals in training to travel in the cabin.  We value your business, as a SkyMiles member and appreciate your feedback on our current service animal policy.
Sincerely,
Molly Walton
Coordinator, Corporate Customer Care
Delta Air Lines Case Number 7161582

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Was that a brush-off?....Oh well, at least I tried. Happily, several airlines do allow access, and grant dogs in training the same rights and privileges as service dogs. I applaud their vision. These airlines include:  Continental/United Air, US Airways, Alaska Air and Northwestern Air.

For the future, the pups and I will stick with flying on "service pup-friendly" airlines like United Air. My Delta Skymiles credit card? Guess it's time to cancel it, because I'm tired of singing those Puppy Raiser Airline Blues.

Sorry Kid, He's Already Taken

Wrangell at 9 weeks.

 On February 28, our Lab Wrangell will turn 8 years old. Time marches ever on. With his roots in Guide Dogs of the Desert, Wrangell was our very first guide dog puppy, raised as a 4-H project by daughter Lena when she was 15 and 16. Our first glimpse of him was at 9 weeks of age as he toddled out of his shipping crate. He was shipped courtesy of Alaska Airlines from Palm Springs, California to Fairbanks, Alaska. 

 







Resisting temptation from a biscuit by learning "Leave It".  4 months old.

Lena and Wrangell in Valdez in summer, 2006 with Columbia Glacier in the background.

Wrangell's daddy was an English champion, a school breeding experiment. Unfortunately, neither Wrangell nor any of his siblings ever became a guide dog. And so he became a permanent member of the Cole family. 

Alaskan puppy raiser meeting, winter 2005/6. This photo was taken about 2 pm. Yes, it's dusk outside! Wrangell and Lena are in the middle. His brother KV is on the right. The PR on the left is a colonel from Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

 
Wherever Wrangell goes he turns heads. He has the classic boxy head, deep chest and solid football player build of the English Lab. With liquid brown eyes framed by distinctive eyebrows, looking into his eyes is like a window into his soul. Charisma.


Lena and Wrangell check out an Alaskan grizzly at Univ. of Alaska Museum. Good, now he's had his bear exposure. That is on the checklist, right?



Wrangell is a living testimony that a dog's life is anything but over when he gets career-changed. Instead Wrangell has been somewhat of a canine jack-of-all-trades. After his career change he turned to Search and Rescue training for over a year, finding subjects and rappelling from ropes. But that was not his true calling. 

Wrangell hangs from a harness 4-5' off the ground, while I walk/rappel down a steep slope next to him. This is valuable training for SAR K-9's who may be asked to search in extremely rugged country.

Next was the stage. As Annie's dog Sandy, Wrangell starred in 2 productions of the play "Annie," basking in the applause. But an actor's life is a fickle one, and soon he was "back on the streets" living the life of a pet. 


The Hooverville Scene. We rubbed ashes on Wrangell so he would look like a street dog.

Curtain call! Wrangell totally loved the stage. He didn't want it to end.

Yet of all the jobs on Wrangell's list, his most important has been his daily service helping our family raise six guide dog puppies. Since he knows the rules and is a canine to boot, Wrangell's solid presence sets the bar for the pups in our household. As a guide puppy crosses our threshold for the first time, Wrangell looks at me as if to say, "Well boss, here we go again!"          
        
 

Almost every day for 6 years Wrangell has faithfully mentored guide dog puppies. Here he and little Allen curl up in a tent on a backpacking trip in Alaska, summer 2007. Wrangell makes my job so much easier.

With surrogate uncle Wrangell the puppies adapt more easily to our home. And his snoring is a bonus, better than a ticking clock.



Recently Wrangell was certified as a therapy dog, so that periodically he serves in coat at nursing homes and the Chatham Public Library. It is a known fact that reluctant readers can excel given a program where they read to a dog. In the presence of a therapy dog, many children learn a love of books and reading who wouldn't otherwise. Stretched out with his massive Lab head leaning against a child's leg, Wrangell looks like a cross between Simba the Lion King and a Teddy Bear floor pillow. Children stroke his tawny sides and marvel at his big paws. He exudes calm, gentle strength. Many of these children have no dog at home; for some this is their first positive dog experience.

Wrangell listens to this reader who is a regular at the library. She stated that Wrangell is her new best friend.









Two sisters come into the library reading room, a little afraid, yet curious. I let them know they're welcome and soon they are cuddled on the floor between Dorian and Wrangell. While the bigger sister reads "Green Eggs and Ham" the little one reverently touches the hide of Wrangell the Lion-Dog. Suddenly she interrupts her sister's reading with a Great Idea. "Can you give me this dog? I will walk him every day. He can sleep by my bed!" I smile and keep listening to her sister read. But what I really want to say is, 
"I'm sorry Kid, but he's already taken."