Monday, January 21, 2008
My Hearing Ear Dog Stories
Transcript:
Hi, I had a Hearing Ear dog for 11 years. I have many stories about how Hearing people react to the dog. Most Hearing Ear dogs are small like poodles or shelties. But I told the school I can't see well so I need a bigger one. They said OK and gave me a 60 lb. dog and an excitable one. When the phone rings he gets all excited and pounces on me full force. I felt like I needed full hockey gear for protection. My first experience was in the training school. The trainer said we're going downtown Toronto to train. The trainer told us to go into Radio Shack to buy timers to use with the dog at home. I went in and bought it and on the way out, in a small aisle, there was a hearing woman coming down. She didn't see me or the dog. I waved to get her attention, she looked down, saw the dog and screamed! I watched her and the dog's ears were bent back and nervous. I grabbed the dog, pulled him back and walked down another aisle. The woman was still standing there, frozen. That was my first experience. Two years later I married a hearing man. When we would go out together he'd hear different comments from other hearing people about the dog. I just had to look at his expression to know if it was a stupid comment or a smart comment. The two smart comments were: "Oh look the dog helps the lady hear" or "Oh just like a guide dog for the blind it's a guide dog for the Deaf". The two stupid comments he'd hear are "Ohhh that means the dog is Deaf" or "Why are they bringing the Deaf dog here for?". My husband would eyeroll at that. Another story is when we would go grocery shopping, my husband would go one way to get things and I would go another way and get things and then meet up. I was looking at the shelves of cans, my husband came by and saw me and saw a hearing woman behind me talking to me behind my back. He went up to the lady and said "That woman is Deaf, didn't you see the guide dog?" "Oh I thought it was a pet". Speaking to me behind my back?? Nuts! Another story was when I was standing waiting for a bus, a woman came up and started talking away to my dog, look up at me and smile, and then continue talking to my dog. She kept looking back and forth between me and the dog then talking more to the dog. I watched this and then asked her "Do you think the dog is my interpreter?" The woman looked all embarrassed and said "Oh you can talk?" that was so strange. My favorite story was when I was 9 months pregnant, due to give birth any day. I told my husband I wanted to get a lottery ticket so I waddled into a convience store. Most Asians, I don't know why, don't like my dog, keep telling us to get out "No dogs allowed". So I go in, and the Asian man yelled "Out! Out! No dogs allowed!" I said "The law permits him in, I have I.D." He said "Doesn't matter, OUT!" I said "I want a ticket". He said "No service! OUT!" My husband saw the commotion and came in. He's a big guy wearing shorts, a Harley Davidson T-shirt, bandana and mirrored sunglasses. He looked at the man and said "The lady wants a ticket" The man said "Ok ok" punched up the ticket and gave it to me. That's my favorite story, I have lots more but need to limit my time so see you later for part 2. Thanks!
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6 comments:
Cute stories.. I know how those hearing people would say something we never expected to hear.
Looking forward to your next part.
Sometime people doesnt really understand about dog guide for deaf or blind deaf have a dog guide.
It is annoyed for me once a while I have hard time to explained to people to not pet on my client's dog. somehow the deafblind compare how much cost for pans and skillet, etc. they pet on the client. They tap on me. I said No, Please dont pet.. Guess what the glass damage.. the employee saw us and told people to not pet while I am guide for my client. I feel I am responisible to tell them to not pet .. Stubborn .. I've told my client to not bring dog. I never complained. but hassle.
some people doesn't understand deaf blind are similiar as Helen Keller. It is hard to explained.
Sad that I am no longer able to guide deaf man only. I could guide for female deafblind. It is hard to burden.
WOW it is Beautiful and Hit my heart. I love your Story ..
Hilarious! Loved your description of your husband. I guess most people will not mess with either of you!
I had a Dog ForThe Deaf for several years, but my lifestyle changed and I sent her back to the trainers because I felt she was suffering from lack of use and attention.
She used to come and get me when my boyfriend would get into my fridge! A lovely dog, lots of personality, but after awhile the whole concept became burdensome.
'Enjoyed your post!
Lantana
My experience with a hearing dog likewise did not succeed, because I was not able to become totally dependent on the dog as the trainer told me to. I still alerted to flashing lights, to vibrations, to seeing children cry instead of following the dog. Old habits are hard to break.
It is quite a change of lifestyle to adapt to a hearing dog. It does not work well when one has small children to care for and a dog to keep in training at the same time.
It was funny, though, to be taking the dog out in public. It is like taking a child out, one must be attentive to the dog and its needs at all times to keep its behavior within limits. People were always telling me to get the dog out of groceries, restaurants, any public place despite its tag and harness that identified it as a hearing dog.
The trainer taught me to keep my foot on the leash when sitting down to prevent the dog from standing up or moving about. People told me how good the dog was until they noticed my foot on the leash and then criticized me for being so mean! So is life with a hearing dog.
lol, i enjoyed your story. i felt your frustration about the asian.
fyi, i am deaf asian. my wife & i went to the japanese restaurant with my certified assistance dog. the waitress tried to seat us at the table outside in backyard on purpose. we told her that we want the table inside because outside was cold. she asked the boss. the boss had no choice but allowed us to seat us at the table inside with grace. we did smile and polite to ask her in nice way.
all restaurants in general, i don't want to risk making waitress mad at us then who knows they might drop the food on dirty floor on purpose then cook it in the kitchen without letting us know before serve us to eat.
buzz
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