Sendero Group Travel Blog

Follow Sendero travelers on their adventures using accessible GPS.

Monday, February 21, 2011

 

Seeing Eye NYC trip and dog siblings

Seeing Eye class training with new guide dogs in New York CityTanker and his two siblings, Tacoma and TicoTanker and sister Tacoma snoozing in between trainings

 

Seeing Eye class

In the Seeing Eye February 2011 class of 19 students, our specific class is made up of our trainer Chris Mattoon with students Patrick and guide Vern, Dawn and Valla, Lori and Tacoma and Mike and Tanker. Our dogs are comprised of two sets of siblings.
from left to right, Patrick and guide Vern, Dawn and Valla, Lori and Tacoma and Mike and Tanker

The dog relationship is the major component of this experience on the Seeing Eye campus but the interaction among the class and staff is also very significant as we live together 24/7 for several weeks. I still have friends I am in touch with back to my first class of 1973 and a couple folks from every class since. In those days, we had roommates. We now have the luxury of a private room.

Friday, February 11, 2011

 

Adios Miguel, hello Tank

As most of you know, Miguel died January 3 from cancer of the spleen. I am now at the Seeing Eye in Morristown NJ and have just met Miguel's successor, Tanker, a male German Shepherd.

Mike and TankerTanker

For those who can't see the photo, he is a dark, black and tan, rather tall Shepherd with some darker tan on his face.

Just like a newborn, I have Tank's stats. He is 72 pounds, 26 inches at the shoulder and his birth date is March 6, 2009. His parents are Orlene and Tuck. His sister Tacoma and brother Tico are in our class.


His trainer calls him Tank but I'll see after we work together a bit about that. The name certainly fits with the concept of "Crashing Through." Miguel was a bit of a bulldozer so it is likely they have matched me up with another strong-pulling, hard-working guide. My first 3 dogs were shepherds so it will be interesting to adjust to the long stride of the shepherd versus the prancing step of the Labs/Goldens again. It feels like an arranged marriage. I will be with this critter for 12 years if I am lucky, with all of his strengths and probably a few challenging foibles.

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