We have a regular customer who works in training seeing-eye dogs. It’s always a pleasure to see her training new batches of puppies who start off as playful yet adorably naughty and grow into the calm and dependable eyes that blind people rely on every day.
The regular comes in one day with a little black Labrador who is a bundle of energy given form. He wants to run EVERYWHERE! Every aisle is an adventure, every item is a new smell, and every human is a new best friend. Basically, he’s failing his training spectacularly.
Me: “Wow, you’ve got a live one there!”
Regular: “Yeah, this is Splodge. He’s just started his training so he’s a bit… boisterous.”
Me: “He’s still discovering the world; I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
A couple of weeks later, the regular is back with Splodge. He seems to have doubled in size — and in energy! He actually drags the regular a bit to say hello to me since he recognises me.
Me: Laughing “Wow, hey there, Splodge! I’d say, ‘Who’s a good boy?!’ but I don’t think I’m supposed to!”
Regular: “Yeah, he’s definitely my most challenging student so far! Still, he’s making progress… sloooowly.”
Me: Trying to escape Splodge’s licks “I’m sure you’re trying your best.”
Every couple of weeks, I see Splodge. Well, actually, I see a black blur dash into the store, dart around a little, and then beeline for me in full attack-lick mode. While I am sure my regular is trying her very best, I just don’t see Splodge having the temperament for… well… I think [Regular] put it best.
Regular: “I am beginning to come to the conclusion that Splodge is going to see a squirrel and get a poor blind person killed.”
Me: “I was beginning to wonder… What happens if a dog doesn’t… uh… graduate?”
Regular: “They go to a shelter where they get put up for adoption.”
Me: “And when do you decide that they’re not going to pass?”
Absolute, Beautiful, Adorable Failure
We have a regular customer who works in training seeing-eye dogs. It’s always a pleasure to see her training new batches of puppies who start off as playful yet adorably naughty and grow into the calm and dependable eyes that blind people rely on every day.
The regular comes in one day with a little black Labrador who is a bundle of energy given form. He wants to run EVERYWHERE! Every aisle is an adventure, every item is a new smell, and every human is a new best friend. Basically, he’s failing his training spectacularly.
Me: “Wow, you’ve got a live one there!”
Regular: “Yeah, this is Splodge. He’s just started his training so he’s a bit… boisterous.”
Me: “He’s still discovering the world; I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
A couple of weeks later, the regular is back with Splodge. He seems to have doubled in size — and in energy! He actually drags the regular a bit to say hello to me since he recognises me.
Me: Laughing “Wow, hey there, Splodge! I’d say, ‘Who’s a good boy?!’ but I don’t think I’m supposed to!”
Regular: “Yeah, he’s definitely my most challenging student so far! Still, he’s making progress… sloooowly.”
Me: Trying to escape Splodge’s licks “I’m sure you’re trying your best.”
Every couple of weeks, I see Splodge. Well, actually, I see a black blur dash into the store, dart around a little, and then beeline for me in full attack-lick mode. While I am sure my regular is trying her very best, I just don’t see Splodge having the temperament for… well… I think [Regular] put it best.
Regular: “I am beginning to come to the conclusion that Splodge is going to see a squirrel and get a poor blind person killed.”
Me: “I was beginning to wonder… What happens if a dog doesn’t… uh… graduate?”
Regular: “They go to a shelter where they get put up for adoption.”
Me: “And when do you decide that they’re not going to pass?”
(Contd)