Poor Dog!

Dear Friends,

A fellow Seeing Eye Dog owner requested that I write about dogs' feelings in regards to working. This is a common problem for many dog guide owners. I have heard it said many different ways:

"Aww, poor doggy!"
"That harness looks uncomfortable!"
"Doesn't she just want to play?"
"Oh, you shouldn't make her do that."

The list goes on and on, but they all mean the same thing: You are not doing it right.

Dogs are kind of like people when it comes to working. There are many people in the world who do not like their jobs for one reason or another. Perhaps the hours are long and the pay is not high enough to compensate for the time and energy given to a particular task. Other people love their jobs, at least most of the time. These people have a certain passion that they are able to follow each day or have skills that are utilized in their work. One type of person might feel fulfilled through his or her job while the other may feel overwhelmed.

Dogs are similar. Just like people, I believe every dog has a purpose in life. Every dog's purpose looks a little different, just like every person's. A sweet little lap dog might have the purpose to comfort her owner who has just lost a loved one. A large husky might help his owner hunt. A German Shepard might assist a police officer in locating a problem. A fluffy lab might be a little boy's best friend. A beautiful golden retriever might guide her owner who is blind.

All of these jobs look different but are all equally important. I can't help but think of my parents' Weimaraner named Coda in this case. He is roughly 75 pounds of pure muscle. His breed was historically meant to hunt bears and other large animals. Coda plays rough in a friendly but intense way. He would make a terrible guide dog! But does he have a purpose? Absolutely! He is meant to be part of the family full of love, cuddles, and fun.

Dogs can love or hate their jobs, just like humans. If Coda, for example, was asked to be a guide dog, he would hate it! He would be stressed, because he would not be able to use his skills in a way that would help. As a pet, however, he is a very happy fella.

Working dogs are the same way. Renee loves to play with Coda and take long naps when she is not guiding me, but she loves her job! She eagerly hops into her harness, which does not hurt her in any way. She is very sad if I go somewhere without her! Renee's job is to be with me, and that's all she wants to do!

There is dissension among dog owners about types of collars and harnesses. Schools like The Seeing Eye work very hard to make sure the tools used for training and guiding are helpful but not harmful. One example is the gentle leader. This is a soft material that wraps around the dog's nose and clips behind their ears. This tool does not hurt the dog at all, although most dogs do not like the gentle leader. They only don't like it because it makes them behave! Gentle leaders and leash corrections (snaps of the leash) are like nudges on the shoulder...They are used to sort of say, "Hey! You need to focus!" Sometimes I think a few people need gentle leaders...

Comments like those that my friend and I have heard are very difficult to take. People need to understand that we absolutely love our dogs! We want what's best for them. In Renee's case, being a Seeing Eye Dog is the best for her, as she loves her job. If there is suspicion of abuse, this should of course be reported. But understand that corrections and the use of a harness are there to help the dog not hurt it.

If you have any questions about equipment or the working dog life, please email us at SeeingLifeTogether@gmail.com

Sincerely,
Sara