Tomorrow my partner and I will do our last formal route together. This is not a complicated route for me. It has streets with turn lanes, one intersection with cars coming from the left that are supposed to stop but often don’t, and one intersection with a walk sign that must be activated by the push of a button. There is an audible signal at this intersection, so when the button is pressed a voice says “Wait. … Wait … wait…” When the light changes and walk is on, it says, “The walk sign is on for xxx street.” I want some of these near the university! I find them extremely helpful in this type of intersection.
I had three dog distractions today. Remember: I am deeply afraid of many dogs. The first distraction was at an outdoor cafe. I wouldn’t have known the dog was there. It was under a table, staring at Pepper. Pepper was afraid and did not want to pass by. If my instructor had not told me what was going on, I probably would have simply turned around and gone home. There is a reason for this. Many years ago, I read a story about another graduate whose dog refused to pass a particular area. When the person went and retriefed help, they learned there was an alligator there and the dog was protecting them. So since that time, I have always respected my dog’s refusal to pass.
The second distraction was planned. A staff member had a non-working dog and when we passed she made sweet cooing noises at me, very much like what I often encounter from the general public who want to pet and play with my dog. From this one I learned that Pepper only cares about baby talk from me. Please don’t try this at home. 😉
The third distraction was in the middle of the street. Pepper and I were crossing and doing fine, and a car went by with two dogs in it. The dogs yapped a lot, and the driver did not apologize or roll up the window. I thought that if Pepper became afraid of distracted, it would be a truly dangerous situation for me. And I am terrified of yapping and growling, uncontrolled or unfamiliar dogs.
At the other side of the street, I told my partner and my instructor that I needed to take a moment to get my breath. I hugged my dog, who was fine and happy. We went on, and I gave her a command to speed up so I could work off my fear and stress.
I have been asked by a couple of classmates, when I say that I am afraid of dogs, “Why on earth are you working one?”
The answer is because I need this. I know that with Pepper, I can develop the kind of relationship in which I can trust that she will not harm me–not personally and not in her guiding. And I need the benefit of her work. I have walked three times faster with her than I can ever walk with a cane. I have walked in ways that get my heart rate up in the way it should go up when a person exercises. I am not afraid to cross busy streets because I can trust her to do it correctly and to stop if a hybrid car turns in front of me–she did it just the other day. And so I work a dog. And knowing that I can focus on interacting with her actually helps me to control my reactions to my fear of other dogs.
After we are done with this route, we will start “freelancing,” meaning that we will do some exposure to areas in town that will help the dog to learn what it is like to be in environments similar to places where we live and common city buildings. Often we go to the courthouse to learn to use a turnstyle and practice steps without handrails. Sometimes we go to a department store or grocery store, etc. Many of the places are chosen by the students, so not everyone’s freelance training is the same. Stay tuned.
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