Just for Kicks and Giggles

The other day I was reflecting with some fellow-apprentices on the funny moments that we have experienced particularly early into our apprenticeships as we all are awkward in the beginning.  I thought I'd list them bullet-point style...random as they may be.  And leave your mind to the imagination...

• I've been sat on by a very large man while in a public bus.  I don't think he realized I was even there until I squeaked.  The look on my mentor's face though....priceless.
• I dropped my leash probably 25-30 times each route my first string, about 20 times my second string, about 15 times by my second string....aaaand I still drop my dang leash at least once per route in the first couple of weeks of training.  There are just some things that become "your trademark".  Yup, I've found mine.
• A client and I have been "clothes-lined" by a daycare school (a bunch of toddlers hanging onto a rope) while attempting to cross a street together in downtown Portland.  
• While teaching my dog escalators, I've observed the negative effect that texting while attempting to board a "wrong way" escalator can have.  Definitely entertaining if you are not the participant.
• While working in downtown Portland, a VERY large rat ran under my dogs nose.  TWICE.  Causing me to squeal and my dog to think it was "game on!"  That day, he almost became a dully licensed guide dog AND a mouser.

Boston Terrier Guide Dogs?

I own two adorable short-nosed, snorty, bug-eyed Boston Terriers, affectionately referred to as “da boys”.  Everything about them would not be suitable for the job that a guide dog does.  They snort loudly (would not be good for an office-setting job), they fart (again, not good for an office job), they are under 25 lbs so clearly not suitable to effectively guide a  handler, and their fur does not provide adequate protection in the cold and they easily overheat on hot days.

I enjoy socializing them in the public and taking them to stores that allow dogs (Petco, Petsmart, Home Depot, Lowes, etc). 

While driving home from work one evening, I remembered I needed to make a quick stop at Home Depot for a painting project.  Still wearing my Guide Dog jacket and treat pouch, I decided to take my Bostons in with me for the socializing aspect.  Might as well.

Many shoppers would stop and pet the boys or make comments on how adorable “the twins” were.  Some saw my guide dog logo on my jacket and struck up a conversation about my  line of work.  As I cruised down one aisle, I passed a father with his approximately 3 year old daughter; she clearly couldn’t decide whether the dogs were exciting or a little bit scary to her, so he picked her up.  Just as I was almost out of ear-shot, I heard the father say, “Look, Sarah…she’s training those dogs to be Guide Dogs!”

Clearly he was putting two and two together.  Lady with a guide dog jacket on, with two dogs.  Totally makes sense right?  All I could do was turn the corner of the aisle before I doubled over laughing.

Boston Terrier Guide Dogs?  Dear Lord.

Dogs Reduce Stress

It's just a fact; dogs reduce stress.  Multiple studies have been conducted over how interactions with animals can decrease the production of stress homes cortisols in the body.
The past couple months have been particularly stressful due to some developing personal family issues.  My father had a past history of panic attacks before we moved to Oregon (some 22 years ago); I was aware of this but always just assumed it was a "mind-over-matter"type of thing.  I thought one could "stop" a panic attack mentally...but I found out I was wrong.  I experienced my first-ever panic attack.
My mom and I had talked earlier that morning on the way to work and I had just been told some particularly disturbing news that is effecting my family dynamics greatly.  All that day, I felt like I was in a murky cloud as my mind was trying to grasp and understand the news.

I was walking down Broadway in downtown with one of my dogs, clipping along at a nice pace, not even thinking about the developments in my family.
 
Then it hit me.

I felt like someone was pressing with all their might against my chest.  It was hard to take a full lung's worth of air.

I stopped the dog and pulled over to the side of the sidewalk, grabbing the wall of the building next to me. My hands were shaking.  I had to focus on breathing.  Breathe in, Breathe out.

Then I got really scared.  This overwhelming fear came over me.  I knew I was having a panic attack, but at the same time, I kept wondering, "What if this isn't just a panic attack, maybe this is something actually very medically wrong and I just keel over right here on the sidewalk and die?" (gotta love how the brain thinks of the worst case scenario at the worst time ever, right?)  I panicked a little more. (and that probably didn't help the situation)
I saw my little Yellow Lab was intently looking up at me.  I slid down the building wall, gathered her up into my lap and just held her tightly.  She willingly obliged and snuggled her head gently under me chin.  And there we stayed for a good 10 minutes.

People walked by me and smiled at the "seemingly picturesque moment" of a trainer and her dog, unknowing of what was really happening.

That little Yellow Lab got me through one of the scariest moments of my life so far.  Within a couple of minutes, I felt my heart rate slow down and return to normal.  I could take deep breaths and my hands were no longer shaking.

Thinking back on it, I'm glad the panic attack happened when it did, where I could safely just "pull over" and be with someone who wouldn't ask questions, wouldn't freak out, and wouldn't judge me, but would just be there with me to help get me through.  And she did just that.

I still get a little teary-eyed thinking about it.