Norine's Notes

My Life and Work – Moses’ Story

Oh good! I finally get to have my own page and write about my life and experiences as a guide dog.

My life began on June 15, 1999. I was born in the comfortable kennels of Leader Dogs in Rochester, Michigan. My mom, brothers and sisters were the greatest. The bigger we grew the more active and rambunctious we became. We played race around the kennel, chase the tail, bite the ear, and see who could be first to nurse. When I was five weeks old my brother bit the tip of my left ear real hard and I still have a scar keloid in there.

A nice lady came to see us several times a day. She kept everything real clean and brought us nice soft baby blankets. She played with us and took turns holding us. She gave us food and water, but I liked the food from my mom best.

One day in August the nice lady came in and picked me up and scratched my tummy. That’s my favorite. Then she walked away with me. I could hear the others squealing and having fun, but figured I’d be back to join in soon enough. We went out into this big room and there was a lady and a little girl there. They both took turns holding me and it was kind of nice but I wanted to get back and play.

The lady’s name was Coleen and the little girl’s name was Rachel. They all stood around and peopled talked for a long time so I started whimpering. I really wanted to go back to my mom and litter mates, but I didn’t. The next thing I knew I was in this noisy, moving contraption sitting on Rachel’s lap. After a while my stomach felt queasy but we kept going and going.

Rachel told me she had to wait over a year for me. She saw an ad about raising a Leader Dog puppy and wanted to do this to earn her Girl Scout Silver award. She worked it out with the Richland Center Lions Club so that explains how I came to be here. I’d rather have been back with my mom.

We finally stopped in Wisconsin at a place they said was my new home. I wasn’t very sure about all this. I missed my mom and brothers and sisters. I knew they would be looking all over for me.

It turned out that Coleen and Rachel were very nice and there was another nice girl there too named Emily. Later I met Coleen’s good friend Susan and liked her a lot.

Coleen had a special bed for me in her bedroom and nice warm soft blankets. Every night she said a prayer and blessed me. I remember that. I still like having my own special bed and covers

I even had a special house and play yard outside. I like getting to go out and play. When the weather got real warm they let me swim in the pool. That is still about my favorite thing to do.

Most of the times they were very nice, but sometimes they were hard on me, and almost unreasonable. I just love soft things like beds and sofas but they would scold me bad and pull me off every time I tried to get comfortable. People clothes, especially socks, are so nice to smell and chew, but they wouldn’t let me do that either. They always gave me nice toys but sometimes I just wanted a shoe, or remote, or something real like that, but if I got it they would firmly take it away from me. They wouldn’t even let me get those delicious treats they hid in the garbage can.

I used to have great times playing with Mattie, the Scottie who lived in my house. I also got to plays with Susan’s Bostons, Streaklily and Bear. There was a neighborhood lab named Sandy. I could hardly keep up with her and after we played I would be dog tired, but then I would have to do training exercises.

I guess it was hard to train me because Coleen and Susan even had to enlist the help of a trainer, Jay. Jay was great. I have always liked men. I had to wear a choke collar, (I didn’t like that idea at first, but Jay convinced me it was real macho thing.) Then I had to walk on a leash and not pull the human, even if the human was going way too slow, or there was some irresistible tantalizing aroma ahead. I learned to heel, sit, stay, come, and give back a toy that they had let me fetch. They never let me get away with anything. I always had to do it right. But every time I did right they praised me, loved me, and gave me treats, so I liked doing well.

At least once a week I got to go to work with Coleen. I don’t know why she called it work. She spends the day with seven year olds. She teaches second graders and I loved being with them. They really know how to have fun. They got to take turns walking with me and playing with me at recess, and I got to ride the school bus with them. Kids are great. They are a lot more like dogs than grownups.

I had to wear a funny looking vest whenever we went out in public places like to stores, church, or out to eat. I guess because people wear clothes to those places they think dogs should too.

We went to football games and that was great fun. Everybody made noise and seemed happy. Emily was a cheerleader, but I refused to be dressed up like one too.

Those girls took me shopping a lot. Shopping and stores is not my thing but when you get a treat for walking well beside a cart in Wal-Mart it is worth it. I don’t think I will ever go into retails sales work. Playing with little kids (what they call teaching) is much more up my alley.

Here is a picture of me in October, 1999. What a stud! With those good looks I may end up in Hollywood. Move over Rin-Tin- Tin and Lassie – here I come

This was my first Christmas. It was fun but filled with lots of mixed messages. It was very cold and snowy in Wisconsin then so I thought it was quiteconsiderate of them to bring a tree into the living room for me. But the first time I lifted my leg and used it I got in really big trouble. I did get lots of toys and special treats. But once again they were real strict, and wouldn’t let me chew up everything under the tree. There was just so much to learn there in Wisconsin.

When spring came and the weather got nicer we played outdoors more. I got to ride on a big float all through town with Rachel, and all the people clapped and cheered for us. Boy, did I feel special. I was feeling good to be a part of this family.

That spring and summer we worked extra hard on my training and play. When the weather was warm I had a great time in the pool and chasing Sandy all over the place.

This is a picture of Rachel and me in June. See how happy we are. Rachel was my best friend. She thought it was neat to roll me over on my back and rub my tummy and arm pits; so did I. Sometimes she even let me get up on her bed

You can see here that I was getting my family trained real well. They knew I preferred rugs to cold tile floors so they scattered some throughout the house for me. I was lucky to be living in such a loving home.

On August 1, 2000 a strange and dreadful thing happened. Rachel and her mom called me to get ready for a car ride – sounded like we would be off for a fun adventure. As soon as we got in the car something didn’t feel right. I saw all my toys and stuff in the back seat. They didn’t usually bring all this when we went out. Rachel and her mom were real quiet except for sniffling a lot.

Coleen reminded Rachel that they knew this day would come. She told her it was just like what she went through every May with her class of children in the school. She had worked real hard with them, loved them, seen them learn, and change, and grow up all year. But, she knew she would have to let them go on, and that now they had to let me go on. I couldn’t figure out what this kind of talk was all about so I just closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep.

She said another strange thing that I didn’t understand at all. She told Rachel there was always the chance I wouldn’t make it, that I wouldn’t qualify for training, or make it all the way through guide dog training. If that happened they would take me back home with them. I had never heard such talk and could not comprehend this vocabulary.

We drove and drove. They sniffled and cried. I felt confused and insecure. Finally they stopped the car and we all got out and went in a big building. It smelled remotely familiar. It felt good just to be able to move around a bit. Then a man came out and said his name was Larry. He took my leash and told them to wait.

Larry tried to be really nice to me. We walked like I love to do. He made me do all those things I had learned like “sit,” “come,” stay,” and “heel.” Larry kept telling me how good I did everything. He even patted my head and gave me treats from his pocket. I did all that perfectly and knew mom and Rachel would be real proud, and tell me about how good I was all the way home.

Larry took me to this funny looking, metal, circular stairs and we walked up and down it a few times. He said it was a fire escape and seemed real impressed that I could handle it just fine.

He took me in a room and petted me. All of a sudden there were loud noises, likes lots of vacuum cleaners. I just sat there and paid attention to Larry. I was used to noises. He seemed surprised.

Then we walked out along Rochester Road. There were a lot of trucks and cars honking their horns. I tried extra hard to listen to what Larry was saying so I would do every thing right. I got another treat and pat on the head. By then I had had enough and was ready to go home. Larry was nice and all, but you know, there is no place like home.

We went back in the building. Larry talked to Coleen and Rachel. They cried even more. I wondered what he told them, because I thought I tried hard and did everything right. Why would they cry? They hugged me and gave me wet slobbery kisses and walked out the door.

Wait a minute, I thought. Don’t forget me. I need to go home with you. I heard the car engine start and heard the car drive off without me.

Larry took my leash and we walked back to a big room with lots of cages and other dogs. I kept trying to turn Larry around so we could go back to the front door, but he just kept going the way he wanted to go. Larry took me to a cage and put me in it after taking off my collar and leash. What was happening, I wondered. He brought me food and water but I didn’t want any. I cried all night. I wanted mommy Coleen, Emily, Rachel, and Susan, and all my family.

Every day Larry came to see me. He always brought me food and water. He brushed me and rubbed my tummy and arm pits. He took me for walks and talked to me. All in all he seemed pretty nice, and best of all he was a guy, a cool dude. It took a while, but some of that male bonding thing started to happen between us.

We started to leave the campus and do more exciting things. We walked downtown Rochester and he taught me that any time I came to a curb I had to abruptly stop. He tried to explain to me that I was being trained for very special work. I would be helping a person who could not see. I did not really understand this but tried to do as he said because I loved the treats he gave me and especially the praise and pats on the head. I loved Larry.

I had to learn more difficult things like “right” and “left.” Most humans don’t know these well but I was expected to go right at the next place to do so, or left as he instructed. Larry said I did better at this than most. He didn’t realize how easy it was for me. When he said “left” I thought of my left ear that felt different. He was right about most humans not knowing this as well as I do. I can’t tell you how many times Norine says “right” and then yanks me to the left.

I had to learn lots of “find these” like “find the chair,” “find the door,” “find the restroom,” “find the trash.” I even had to learn to stand with my nose pointing to the toilet seat in restrooms. It was fun.

Norine has taught me many more, like “find my purse,” “find Jenny’s car,” “find Dale’s truck,” “find the coffee,” find our pew,” or “find the podium.” She even expects that I should be able to find her friends in a room full of people She says “find Jean,” “ find Barbara,” “find Jenny” or “ find Cathy.” It’s easy. All of I have to do is sniff. They each smell different. She is always amazed and makes a point of showing me off to everybody she can when she says “find our room” on a long hotel corridor and I take her right to it. It’s so easy. It just smells like her, but she would never want to think she had a particular smell.

I have to admit I still can’t “find the lost file” on the computer. Who knows, maybe someday!

Larry and I did lots of walking. We walked the city streets of Rochester and other communities. We even walked in down town Detroit. His favorite, and mine, were our walks in the country. I learned “right shoulder” and “left shoulder” so I could walk him down what ever side of the country road he wanted.

Larry and the other trainers had to take me and the other dogs in the class shopping. Then I knew how lucky I really was. The trainers, Cathy and Tracey, made their dogs go with them into little dressing room to try on clothes. The made their dogs walk through every aisle of the store. The dogs had to sit while they sniffed perfumes, fondled lingerie, and checked out every counter that had a sign on it that said “Sale.” Not Larry. When the bus dropped us off in front of a big super store, Larry and I headed straight for the tool department. We stayed and walked around it for about thirty seconds and then made our way straight back, without any diversions, to the coffee shop. Larry really knows how to shop.

Even though I know how, I refuse to find the “Sale” rack, no matter how hard mom tries to teach me. I might have handled the finding the size 8, if that’s all she wanted, but no, one month it’s the size 6, then the size 10, then the petites. Do the stores keep changing the size of things, or does she change size?

Larry had to teach me some other funny things about big stores and malls. I had to learn how to get on and off escalators and elevators. Some of these places were enormously big but I always had to be able to find and go back to the door we came in. I had to always walk to the far right (even if there was perfectly good food dropped on the far left.) I had to learn to ignore all the people who said “Oh is that a dog?” “come here, I want to pet you; I just love doggies,” or “Oh no, that dog is going to bite me.”

Larry had a lot to teach me about finding my way around obstacles. At first I thought it was real easy. You know, the shortest way between two points is a straight line, but then Larry taught me I had to think more like a human. Humans don’t like to walk through puddles and messy things. They really dislike bumping into things and knocking them out of their way, so I had to find the human equivalent, rather than the logical equivalent, of the best way around things

This is a picture of Gayla learning the “intelligent disobedience” thing.

Larry did a great job of teaching me to obey him and commands. I even had to do the same things with other trainers. The hardest thing I had to learn was what was called “intelligent disobedience.” That meant if the human said “forward” which means go, I had to stop and turn to block them if I saw a car was coming or there was some other obstacle.

That lesson was hard, but the hardest lessons of all had to do with food. If any human dropped food, I learned that I could not pick it up, not even to keep the environment clean. To learn this, Larry took me to mall food courts, restaurants, and the dorm dining room. Even if there was food on the floor that smelled deliciously good I had to ignore it. When Larry or a human ate at a table or restaurant if any food dropped on the floor I could not touch it. That really was the hardest thing to learn, but if it made Larry happy, then I did it. I loved Larry.

Like I say, Larry and I had a great thing going. He loved to teach. I loved to learn. He loved to give praise and attention, I loved to get it. As much as I missed my family in Wisconsin, I had to admit, life with Larry was great. I just wished he would take me home, let me sleep in his bed, and eat some of his people food, but you know, hope springs eternal.

One day, it was November of 2000, Larry came and got me. He apologized for not having seen me for a few days and explained that he had been busy working with and getting to know Norine. I figured she was another dog in the kennel. I still didn’t understand a lot of people talk but didn’t let on. Earlier that morning I had had a bath. Then Larry brushed me. Ohhhh it felt good. Larry and I got on the Leader Dog bus so I figured we were off for training in town. But the bus didn’t go very far. We got off. I think I had been here before, but wasn’t sure. We walked down a long hall with many doors. Then Larry opened one and we went in. He said “Norine this is your dog Moses.” Norine cried and hugged me.

I wasn’t sure about what Larry had said. I was his dog. Was he giving me away again? I guessed the answer was yes because Larry left, closing the door behind him.

Norine played with me on the floor and petted me, but I kept watching the door, waiting for Larry to come back and get me, but he didn’t. Norine knew I was sad and upset. She tried to comfort me. She did the doggy massage thing all over me and I liked that. She stayed on the floor and let me sleep with my head on her lap. Later she gave me food and water and took me for a walk. She was nice, but I kept looking around for Larry.

Later she took me with her for her dinner. A bunch of my doggy friends were there with other people. We were all kind of scared and not sure about this change in routine. Larry walked in and I jumped up to give him a big kiss ‘cause I was so happy to see him, but he just ignored me and told Norine to get me under control. What did I do to Larry to make him do this to me?

When we went back to the room Norine showed me a rug and blanket she had gotten me. She said that would be my bed. It was nice but I would have rather been in her bed. I cried myself to sleep that night.

The next day Norine and Larry and I went for several walks, but he never talked to me or petted me. He just talked to Norine, and told her the things to tell me like “forward,” “right,” or “sit.” She praised me every time I did what she said, and I could tell she really liked me. I also could tell she needed me, because she couldn’t see all the things I could.

For the next four weeks Norine and I, and the other people and dogs went lots of places. We rode on the bus and then got out and did different things. We walked in quiet parks and noisy downtown Detroit. We went to restaurants, stores, malls, office buildings. We went through revolving doors, and rode escalators and elevators. We even went in exquisite little shops with all kinds of fragile glass things all around. We went in grocery stores where everything smelled good and stood by meat counters for five minutes or longer. I had to sit still and not sniff. We walked in neighborhoods and around schools where children played, and I had to act “mature” and not run after them or their balls. We rode trains and monorails (they are like a funny bus that go very fast high up above the ground). Norine got better at telling me what she wanted me to do, rather than expect me to read her mind. Sometimes at night we would have good times playing and singing in the dorm.

This picture is me with my best doggie friend Grace – she was really special.

This is the gang.

Every night, immediately after dinner, Mom and me, and Dave West and Dillon, would make a beeline for the phones. Dave talked real sweet to someone. Mom said it was his wife Velma. Mom talked real sweet to someone she said was her husband Dale. She kept telling me how nice Dale is and how much I would like him.

All in all this new life was getting to be ok. I really liked Norine, and Larry was a bit nicer to me, but still mostly ignored me. The other dogs and I had lots of fun when the people would let us play.

Then one day we all got on big vans. Right before we did I noticed mom packing up all our stuff in big suit cases. Larry came to our room and told Mom and me that we were a good team and he was proud of both of us. We went for another long drive and they took us to a very noisy, busy, people filled place in Detroit. Mom said this was the airport and we were going home.

Everybody and every dog from our class went in different directions but mom and I stayed together. She promised she would not leave me. No one ever said that to me before. I hoped I could believe her because by now I realized I loved my mom Norine.

All that day we got on and off planes and maneuvered through busy airports. A place called Atlanta was really challenging. We rode in a jeep around runways where big jets were revving up. Then we had to stand on a sidewalk that moved while people with suitcases hurried by us and didn’t even care if they almost knocked us over. Finally, 15 hours later, we got off a plane and mom said this was Tallahassee. We were home. A very nice man hugged and kissed mom and then talked to me a little. Mom said this was Dale. He really smelled and sounded great!

We got all mom’s stuff and us in Dale’s truck and drove home. Home looked great – a huge fenced in yard, lots of trees and bushes, even a swimming pool. Then we went inside and I met Molly and KC. KC seemed like a nice old black cat. Molly the sheltie was real happy to see mom, until she saw me. She didn’t seem glad to see me at all and for several days she wouldn’t have anything to do with me or mom. I tried to play with her, but I guess I am bigger than I realize, and she didn’t want to play with me.

Our first few days at home were quiet and pleasant (except for Miss Priss, or Molly as they call her). I learned my way around the house and yard, but I always had to be on leash, so I never got to really explore. Mom and I went for several walks and I even learned my way around the neighborhood, so I could always get her back home. Dale usually came with us and we went to some stores and restaurants too. I tried to do everything just the way I was taught, and when we would get back home and mom would take off my harness, Dale would play with me. Dale knows how to play fun rather than dainty like mom.

Mom and I went to some Christmas parties with her nurse practitioner friends. I could tell most of those people had never seen a working dog before and didn’t know how to act around me. Some tried to pet me or slip me bites of food, but mom would get real mad at them and me if she found out.

Christmas eve we got in this big thing that was parked in the driveway. It was as big as a bus on the outside, but fixed up like a house on the inside. Mom called it the motor home.

We drove to Jacksonville and all the way over there mom told me about the kids, her grandkids. There names are Ashley, Vance, and Sean. She said her mom, Kit would be there as well as mom’s daughters and their husbands. Mom was really excitied. She said it would be a really fun Christmas. Dad rolled his eyes.

Sean knew how to play and have fun.

Ashley played the violin real pretty.

Vance liked to play trains with his daddy.

This was Vance with my funny looking cousin Bo.

The day after all the Christmas fun Dale, mom, Molly, KC, and I drove off in the RV. I made it clear to everyone that my place in the RV when we are driving is that warm spot on top of the engine, right between where mom and dad sit. We stayed at Suwannee River State Park for four days and it was great.

We walked lots of trails and Dale was surprised to see how good I could guide mom around rocks, roots, and stumps. Dale stumbled all over the place but not mom. I thought they both could have hiked at a brisker pace. They really are pokey.

One funny thing happened. We went out for a walk and I was on the leash rather than in harness, so I didn’t have to be perfect. We walked down a boat ramp to the river and as soon as I saw the river water I couldn’t resist all my natural instincts and made a bound for it. No catastrophes, but I got a strong "phooey" and jerk on the leash. (I hate the word “phooey” more than anything). The next day we did the same walk and I was in harness and on my really good behavior. When we got about three feet from the waters edge I stopped and would not let mom take another step closer. I even had to turn sideways to block her from going any closer to the water's edge. Mom and Dale praised me, petted me, and told me I was great and wonderful. Now that’s the way I like it.

When we got home Dale had to go to work every day and Mom and I settled into some new routines. Mom went to her rehab classes and the people there laughed a lot and seemed to have fun. They cooked and learned Braille

I just sat and listened. It was nice when mom remembered to bring my blanket. It’s so comfy.

Mom and I went to Grace Mission once a week. It is an inner city church that provides meals, classes, and activities for poor people. We had dinner there every Friday night and mom stayed a long time and talked to the women there. Sometimes we got to do fun things with the kids, and I liked that much better than just sitting around and talking.

We went back to Jacksonville several times that winter and spring. I always had fun playing with the kids. We all went to the circus. I had never been around real elephants before. They smell awful.

We did lots of other fun things in Jacksonville like hang out with family, celebrate birthdays, and go to the beach.

A really big, special occasion happened that spring. Mom had to go to a Stephen Ministry Conference for a week in Orlando. We stayed at a big hotel and I always took her back to our room.

There were about six hundred people in the conference room and I always got mom back to the table and chair she was sitting at that day.

Well, I didn’t know it but she had a special surprise for me planned in Orlando. One night, instead of going to another lecture, we went to a different hotel. We were standing in this big lobby when I heard my name. I looked around and couldn’t believe my eyes. Coleen and Rachel were there.

They even brought me my favorite old toy. I still play with it. Mom took off my harness so we could love each other and play with each other for a while. I was so happy to see them, but I knew now I belonged with mom. We all went to a restaurant for dinner and the people talked and talked, and it was all about me. Everybody had such a good time, and I will never forget the wonderful smell of all those feet under the same table

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Last modified: 03/25/05