Presenting...

I intended to blog almost daily from The Seeing Eye as I did the first time I attended, but this year I tried something a little different, and it wound up preventing blogging.

I tried testing the all-encompassing accessibility features of the ipad. I brought it, and not my laptop, to TSE. One can’t very well blog from an ipad without a keyboard, which I don’t have, so I planned to do my writing from TSE’s accessible computer lab. Turns out, though, that their computer lab, while very accessible, doesn’t use headsets with their screen readers, and the only headset I brought operated on Bluetooth so I couldn’t pair it with their computers. So everyone in the lab can hear your screenreader. I, like most visually impaired and blind people, use voiceovers at a much faster pace than most sighted people can understand, but this is a school full of blind people! They can all hear what they’re all typing and mousing over! And I am far too much of an introvert for that, I’m afraid. So instead I dictated notes to the ipad so I could log when I got home.

Have I wasted enough time yet? Are you bursting with anticipation for the details/ Name, breed, age, personality, pictures, cute stories! Of course, some of my readers already know the details but that’s because my readership includes my parents, husband, and grandparents, and when one brings home the near-equivalent of a new baby, one texts or calls about those sorts of details to one’s family. But I think I shall request a drumroll, anyway ;)

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…-gong!- Greta Garbo, German shepherd, 22 months old!

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My new Seeing Eye dog is a lovely little chestnut and black German shepherd, originally named Garbo, for the Swedish-American actress of the 1920’s-40’s. I have renamed her Greta; I like the phonetics of the name better, and it is similar enough to her original name that it hasn’t proven too difficult thus far to transition her. I am making an effort to use Garbo for the first couple of weeks home to reduce the number of dramatic changes she has to undergo, but I hope she shall be Greta quite solidly by June.

She is a playful, curious little thing with a passion for her work and her nylabone. She is very affectionate, loves giving not-slobbery kisses and hugs – she actually tightens her paws or neck around whatever bit of you she has hold of – and eats like a lab! In my husband’s words, “slurp – more please!” And yes, I said chestnut. Not a typical shepherd colour, but where she ought to be tan, her colour is tinted red-brown. She had a brother in class with the same colouring, only he was a little bigger. Greta is 24 inches tall and 56.8 lbs. She’s shorter than Prada, but the same weight-class. I shall keep her in the same target weight range, 55-60 lbs.

I have many stories to share with you, including my adventure getting from my layover in Atlanta to Newark, and I look forward to detailing them nearly in full in the coming weeks. And I have a lot of training information to share, and a lot of misunderstandings – mostly my own – to correct. I have learned so much – more than I knew there was to learn – this time around. I am truly astounded by how much my understanding of canine psychology and training methods has changed and improved in the last month! But for now I shall leave you with what I’ve written above. More to come soon, I promise! And I shall get someone to take decent pictures so I can post them for you, as I am, understandably, not an excellent photographer. The picture above was taken by a volunteer hostess at the Downtown Training Centre. A heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who take the time to help and guide and serve all the students and dogs at The Seeing Eye. Our experience is considerably enhanced in terms of comfort and enjoyment by your presence!

And for now, farewell, my fine furry friends! More stories, pictures, and information to come. As always, your questions and comments are welcome.