Dante is in the Building

Outside the FedEx Forum

This past weekend Dante got to experience his first professional sporting event.  

One thing that should be noted is that not every puppy should be brought to such a busy venue.  Dante is very confident and I am not that into watching basketball, so I knew I could spend the whole time really working him, and could leave if he got overwhelmed.

The most annoying thing in the world fun part was before we even got in the building.  We were standing on the sidewalk while our friend went to go get the tickets.  This is when the parade of security started.  I don't really know why they were obsessed with us, but it seemed like they were just excited that they finally got to use what they had been taught on how to treat service animals.  We were the lucky recipients of this "enthusuism."   

Enter Security Guard #1.

Security #1: "Is that one of those service dog?"

Me: "Yes, he is a service dog in training."

Security #1: "Are you gonna take him inside?"

Me: "Yes, I am."

Security #1: "In to watch the game?"

Me: "Yes."     

Security #1: "Well, before you go in we are going to need to check and verify that, and will need to see and document all of its paperwork and stuff."

 Now I am getting a little annoyed.  The thing about service dogs and dogs in training, is that fully trained service dogs do not need to have any kind of identification.  Puppies in training do, as we go on the goodwill of business owners. This arrangement can get a little messy, because people generally don't get the difference between the two, so it leaves me in an awkward spot of having to comply, but still educate, so that the next service dog team that comes through their doors is not met with the opposition that "the last dog had ID, so you should too."


Security Guard #1 walks away.  Three minutes later Security #2 and #3 come over.

Security #2: "This is the service dog, right?"

Me: "Yes, he is in training."

Security #3 looks at his vest: "Ok, can I see his paperwork."

Me: hands over ID card and tries to educate them.

Security #3 proceeds to read the entire card front and back, and then...PEOPLE!  She copies every. single. word. on that card onto her little notepad. "11703...this is his tattoo number?"

Me: "Yes, do you need to see it in his ear?"

Security #3: "No.  (reads my mom's name) That's you?"

Me: (points to my name right under my mom's) "No, I'm Hannah"

Security #3: "OK.  Oh, this card is expired."

Me: "No it is not. It doesn't expire until August when I return him to Canine Companions."

Security#3: "Oh, I read it wrong.  Can I see you tickets?"

my mom hands over my ticket.

Security #3: "This is your ticket?  You are sitting in this exact seat?  And you're gonna have the dog?  In this exact seat with you?"

Me: "Yes."

(The funny thing is, I only sat in my seat for about 15 minutes.)

Security #2: "Ok, thank you." 

Security Guards #2 and #3 walk away.  My mom, Dante and I go to sit on a half wall to wait for the rest of our group to come back.  And then... Security Guard #4 comes over.  We are still OUTSIDE the building.  He starts the same thing as #1, and I tell him we did it all already, at which time Security #3 yells to him that she "Got it all already."  "Ok," he says, and walks away.

We get through the actual security, and make our way inside, where another plethora of security are heard radioing about "the dog in the building."  Add in the dozen or so (literally) screaming people because this is the last place they expect to see a Retriever, and we have made quite the entrance.  

Now we can get to how Dante did.  He was a rock star.  This dog is amazing.  We took a few minutes to sit and take it all in, and he was great.  We sat in our seats for a little, but it got too loud for him, so we spent some time at a table in the hall/concession area, and walking around with some friends.  It was a lot to take in, and aside from a few distracting moments, Dante did fantastic.

One thing about this crowd is that there were no drive-by petting attempts (petting while walking by, without asking), but full on trying to embrace him, and running up head-on with outstretched arms.  This was probably the busiest place Dante has ever been, so I said no to all questions about petting and to everyone else who didn't ask.  

 By half time, Dante was starting to wind down, and we decided to leave on a good note and while he was still doing well.  So proud of this boy and the situations he has proven he can handle!

 

View from our seats | People watching | Watching from our seat

How do you give them up?

Is the most frequently asked question puppy raisers get.  Every single person Dante and I meet asks how I'll give him back.  As annoying as answering that question 54835987 times a day is, it is a good daily reminder that he is not mine.  

I have two answers to this.  One is long and explanatory, and the second straight to the point.  We'll start with the former.

First of all, puppy raisers know we have to give them back going into it.  We know that our pups are only on loan to us for an all-too-short amount of time.  And we sign up for it anyways with the hope of having the privilege to be a small part in helping someone gain independence.  If there is one thing we do not want to hear it is "I could never do that."  Yes you could.  It won't be any easier for me to give back a dog that I have taught, mentored, loved and has been with me almost 24/7 for the last 16 months, than you would.  We all will cry and sob and question the decision we made over a year ago to take this puppy in the first place.

But I have to tell you: these puppies bring so much to our lives in the time that we have them, that if you ask me (or anyone who has raised a puppy), I would definitely do it again.  If I had the choice to never have to give him up and never have known him; or having him in my life for even a short amount of time, I will do it again in a heartbeat (and I plan to :-).

I have heard it put this way "the pride lasts a lot longer than the sadness."  And even though I have not had to turn in a puppy yet, I think this is very true.  To see the puppy you have raised go on to reach their fullest potential and be such an important part in someone's life must be an amazing feeling.  As much as I will miss Dante when he goes back to CCI next year, I truly want him to succeed in whatever career he chooses.  

The second answer I have is much, much shorter and straight to the point.  But I think it will be the one I remind myself of the most in the weeks and days heading up to Dante's turn in.  So, here it is:  I think giving them back is one of those things that you never really know how you do, but God gives you the strength to do as you're doing it.  And that is truly comforting.  

So, puppy raisers, what is your answer to this question?

11 week old Dante

Question: Getting Out

Dante is pretty high-energy.  When he first came, I thought that getting him to new places every other day or so, would be enough to keep us busy, but not overwhelm him.  After three or four weeks, I realized that I really needed to start taking him out every day. 


Since we are not supposed to walk more then a mile-and-a-half at a time, it has been really challenging to tire him out.  When I walk him down the same road more then twice, it gets "old" to him.  He really needs to work his mind at the same time in new places.  I try not to walk him down the same streets more then every couple days (there are a lot of sidewalks here), and getting on busier streets, but it will still take him over an hour of running (he really does run the whole time) afterwards in the yard to wear him out.  


This last week has been especially hard to try to think of new places to get him to.  What makes it harder is that we have only been here three-and-a-half months, so I can't think of anywhere else that is dog-friendly that we can bring him.


We have been to the parking lots and fronts of a ton of stores; the town-square; walked around the outside mall; two different parks where we even watched baseball practices and tennis matches; Petco; outside garden centers; and a number of other places.  I only have one month until I can start bringing Dante in public, but until then, where are good places to take him?