Yara, The Ever Impressive
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I’m indulging myself in a bit of ego-stroking today, but I think it’s well deserved. And since technically I’m stroking Yara’s ego, you can’t fault me too much.
I mentioned to my boss today how I was somewhat apprehensive in bringing Yara with me to my interview. Memory failed us both and we couldn’t recall if I’d mentioned during the interview itself that she’d only been my guide dog for a mere six weeks.1 I explained to him that it was mostly out of “new dog paranoia;” meaning that as we were such a new team I wasn’t entirely sure how she would behave even though she hadn’t given me any sign that she would be less than the perfect guide dog.
This hasn’t entirely gone away in the sense that we’re in a radically new environment and she’s still a young dog, new to guide work. For the most part, though, she’s been very well received at VESID. But I knew before I started that there were three other guide dog users at the Central Office and I wasn’t sure how we both would compare to those teams. I like to think I’m a competent and responsible handler and I’ve personally been nothing but continually impressed by my little GSD. However, I’m admittedly biased.
There’s been a few comments on both sides of the fence about her over the few weeks since I started. Mostly favorable ones and the few that aren’t seem more based on stereotyping her than taking anything of merit into consideration.2 I’ve gotten the routine questions about her — name, sex, age, training school — but precious few have really paid attention to the fact that she has only been with me just shy of four months.
Today, however, five separate people discovered this fact, including two of my direct superiors. To say they were impressed hardly gives credence to one person’s shocked reply of: “Wow! And here I thought you had been together for five years or more,” when I admitted she was only three months out of formal training. I have to say, I’m a proud mom even if I didn’t play much of a part in Yara’s amazing behavior and sweet temperament. What truly warmed my heart, though, was the admission of a coworker that she is very afraid of dogs, especially German shepherds; yet Yara’s sweet expression and calm demeanor put her at ease.
You won’t hear me complain about anyone’s exclamation of how great she is. As impressed as they might by, I’m easily ten times that.
On a daily basis.
1. I did mention it; and Louise and Mike were duly impressed by the fact.
2. I’d go into detail, but we’ll just leave it be as I try to avoid delving into the rumor mill.
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