The following afternoon, Grandfather drove the children to the guide dog school. The Aldens looked out the window with interest as they headed up the school’s long, winding driveway. A brick building sat at the top of the hill. On the beautiful green lawn in front, several people walked about with dogs.
Grandfather stopped the car in front of the main entrance and the children piled out eagerly.
“Welcome!” called Jason, who’d been watching for the Aldens. He took the suitcases from Violet and Benny’s hands. “I’ll take you up to your rooms.”
“I have to get to work,” Mr. Alden said, getting back in the car. “I’ll pick you up in a week! Be on your best behavior for Mrs. Carter. She’s going to look after you.”
“We will, Grandfather. Good-bye!” the children called as he drove off.
Jason led the children across the wide, sunny lobby and into the elevator. He pressed the button for the fourth floor. The children noticed that along with the number, each button had small bumps on it.
“Those bumps say the number in braille,” Jason explained. “Blind people feel the bumps to know which button to push.” As they passed each floor, a bell rang. “If you want to know what floor you’re on, you don’t have to see the number. You can just count how many times the bell rings,” Jason told them.
At the fourth floor, they got off the elevator and walked down a hall lined with doors, like a hotel.
“What are all these rooms for?” asked Jessie.
“Remember I told you that I teach dogs?” Jason replied. “Well, I also teach people. When someone gets a guide dog, they have to learn how to work with the dog. So they stay here for a few weeks while they’re learning. We had a couple of extra rooms for you.”
Jason brought them to two small but comfortable rooms, side by side. One was for Henry and Benny, the other for Violet and Jessie. Each room had two beds, dressers, desks, and chairs. They dropped off their suitcases, and then Jason continued their tour.
“This building is shaped like a U,” he told them. “If you ever need me, my room is on this floor, on the other side of the U.”
“You live here?” Violet asked.
“Yes,” Jason explained, “because I’m responsible for the dogs day and night. It’s easier to live on the campus.”
The third floor held offices, including Mrs. Carter’s. The dining room and lounge were on the second floor.
“But where are the dogs?” asked Benny.
“Don’t worry, that’s where we’re headed right now!” Jason answered, as he led the children out the back door of the main lobby.
Behind the main building, surrounded by dense woods, was a smaller building with a fenced-in yard. The yard was filled with dogs: German shepherds, golden retrievers, and Labrador retrievers. Some of the dogs were sniffing about; others ran back and forth barking.
“The dogs get their exercise out here,” Jason explained. “Inside there’s a separate area for each dog, with the dog’s food, water, and a place to sleep.”
“All of these dogs are going to be guide dogs?” asked Benny.
“Most of them will,” Jason said. “We start with very special puppies, who are raised by local families. In their first year, the puppies get used to being around people, traffic, and things like that. They also learn to be obedient, to follow simple commands like ‘sit’ and ‘stay.’ When they’re a little over a year old, the families bring them back to the school to be trained.”
“You mean they have to give the dogs back?” asked Violet. “How sad! I know I couldn’t give Watch up.”
“It is hard, but the families know the dogs are being trained for important jobs,” Jason said.
Jason walked over to the gate. “How about if I show you one of the dogs I’m working with now?” He slipped into the yard, careful not to let any of the dogs out. He took a black Labrador by the collar and led him out to greet the Aldens.
“This is Zach,” Jason said. The children sat down on the grass and stroked Zach’s sleek coat. The dog rolled about on the grass playfully.
“The training takes a few months,” Jason continued. “Our instructors decide whether the dogs are fit to be guide dogs. They have to be friendly, smart, obedient, and hardworking. The ones that pass the final exam, as Ginger did yesterday, are then matched with people who want a guide dog.”
“Are there some dogs that fail?” asked Violet.
“Yes. Some dogs are too shy or too aggressive, or just don’t follow the commands. They’re given away as pets,” Jason said.
“Is Zach going to be a guide dog one day?” asked Benny.
“I hope so. How would you like to watch me train him?” suggested Jason.
“That would be great!” said Henry.
Jason went into the kennel. The children noticed that Zach sat up alertly when Jason returned carrying a leather harness. “He knows when he sees the harness that it’s time to stop playing and start working,” Jason explained.
“They take their jobs very seriously, don’t they?” said Jessie.
“They have to,” Jason said. “People depend on them.”
Jason let the Aldens feel the harness before he strapped it onto Zach. The straps around the dog’s body were soft and comfortable, but the handle was firm, with a metal frame inside. Jason explained that a regular leash would be too loose and wouldn’t allow the person and the dog to work together as well.
After he’d strapped on the harness, Jason stood up. “Come,” he called to Zach, his voice firm.
Zach moved to Jason’s left side and stood next to his left leg, waiting for the next command.
“Forward!” Jason said. Zach began to walk forward as Jason followed. “Notice how he walks slightly ahead of me, to lead me,” Jason pointed out. “Other trained dogs are usually taught to heel, or walk slightly behind. But guide dogs need to lead their owners.”
“Watch walks ahead — but usually it’s because he’s chasing squirrels,” said Benny, and they all laughed.
“Right,” Jason said to Zach, and the dog turned to the right. “Left,” Jason said, and Zach turned left.
“What a good dog!” said Violet.
Then Jason dropped a leather glove on the grass as they were walking. He walked a few more steps and then stopped. “Fetch,” he said, letting go of the harness. Zach ran back and picked up the glove in his mouth. Then he came back and stood waiting at Jason’s left leg.
“Good boy,” Jason said, taking the glove from Zach’s mouth. “Fetching is an important skill, in case a person drops something when he’s out with his dog,” Jason told the children. Then he turned his attention back to Zach.
“Sit!” Jason said, and Zach sat right at his feet. Then Jason said “Down!” and the dog lay down on the grass.
Jason broke into a grin. He was obviously very pleased with Zach’s performance. “Good boy,” Jason murmured over and over in a warm, kind voice as he rubbed Zach’s head and back. “We don’t reward the dogs with biscuits when they do well,” he explained. “We just give them lots of praise.”
The Aldens watched as Jason worked with Zach again and again on the same commands. Almost every time, Zach behaved perfectly.
One time a bird hopped across their path. Zach began to bark and chase after the bird, until Jason scolded him. Immediately, Zach returned to his position next to Jason.
“We don’t punish the dogs when they misbehave, we just speak to them in an angry tone of voice,” Jason said. “Soon he’ll learn not to get distracted when he’s working.”
When Jason decided that Zach had worked hard enough, he took off the harness and led the dog back into the yard with the others. When Jason came back out, he had another dog with him.
“Hey, Ginger!” cried Benny.
“I thought you might like to say hello to her,” Jason said. “Let’s take her harness off now, since she’s not working.”
“I’ll help,” offered Jessie, bending over. Benny crouched down next to Ginger, petting her back.
Ginger lay down in the grass next to the Aldens. Jessie stroked her long, golden fur, and Ginger closed her eyes. Suddenly, her eyes opened and she lifted her head.
“Ginger!” they all heard a voice calling.
Ginger got up and raced down the hillside. The children watched as a big black car pulled up at the curb, and a tall well-dressed blond woman got out. “Ginger!” she called again, opening her arms as the dog raced toward her.
“Mrs. Davis!” Jason said angrily, walking briskly down the hill. When he reached the woman, Jason began speaking to her in low tones. While they couldn’t hear what the two were saying, the children could see how angry Jason looked.
“I wonder what’s going on,” Jessie said.
“Jason seemed so nice and friendly, but now he looks like a different person,” said Violet.
The children watched in surprise as Jason grabbed Ginger’s harness and began pulling her back up the hill. “Please stop this, Charlotte,” Jason called to the woman. “I’ve told you it’s just not a good idea! You did a great job with her, but she belongs here now!”
The chauffeur of the car, a young blond man, stared straight ahead.
Mrs. Davis stood silently. Finally she got back in her limousine. “Take me home, Glen,” she said, and the car pulled away.
“Jason — ” Benny called out as he approached.
“I’m sorry, but I have work to do now,” Jason said, walking past the children. He still seemed angry.
“Can we do anything — ” Jessie began.
“Go eat dinner or something,” Jason said. “I’m busy.” And with that he led Ginger into the kennel and shut the door.
“I wonder what that was all about,” Henry whispered to Jessie.
“I don’t know, but there’s definitely something going on,” Jessie replied. |