REALITY CHECK: ON WORKING WITH A GUIDE DOG
During a visit to Woodland Mall in southeast Grand Rapids, I was done after hitting up TeaVana, Bath and Body Works, and the food court. When I first entered the mall, I had stopped a person to ask them which stores were by the doors so I knew what to look for when I left. Not knowing if it was the right way, I headed down a random hallway to leave the mall. I neared a set of doors and stopped. Listening, I didn’t hear anyone nearby. Unsure, I turned around and headed back the way I came. Paying attention to the music around me, I noticed one shop was playing heavy electronic music and another was playing punk rock. I didn’t recall hearing such music upon my entrance into the mall. I exited that hall and turned down another. Twangy, exotic music met my ears, letting me know I was most likely going the right way. I reached the doors out, but I wanted confirmation. I tried to turn around to ask some people exiting a store. Kipling would not budge. “Let’s turn around,” I said gently. I tried to turn and make him turn with the harness, but he would not listen. I dropped the harness handle and turned around, thinking he would move with me. He continued standing there, looking out the doors. Deciding to listen to my dog, I exited the mall. He’s right when he’s right. The Bonding Period Bonding takes place from the moment a handler receives their guide dog. Handler and dog learn one another’s strengths, weaknesses, quirks, habits, and comfort zones—and how to deal with all of it. I learned that my dog needs plenty of praise to stay motivated and assured he is doing the right thing. Kipling learned that I am directionally challenged, and that when I point right and say “left,” he must always go with the hand signal. I learned Kipling has a moderate-to-strong dog distraction, and that we must walk faster to get by the dog and refocus. Kipling learned that I am overwhelmed in noisy environments, and that he must guide confidently despite my uneasiness. Another aspect of bonding is teaching the dog that you, the handler, are the provider and leader. The dog must understand that all good things come from the handler, and that the handler’s instruction is above anyone else’s. The biggest struggle guide dog handler’s face with this part of bonding is opposition or uncooperativeness from family members or roommates. I snapped at almost everyone in my family about petting my dog in harness or playing with him without my permission. For the first two weeks after getting home with my new guide dog, I had control over every interaction 113