I have been a cat person all my life and a dog person since about my mid-20s.
I was afraid of dogs for many years. We never had one growing up, so I didn’t really understand them. Plus, I was bitten by a neighbor’s troubled white shepherd when I was 12 and that was highly traumatizing.
But I had an experience with a big dog in my late-20s that moved me and changed my life. It opened me up and allowed me to truly see and appreciate dogs for the amazing, pure creatures they are.
Back in those days, I led North American Communications for The Iams Company, a premium pet food manufacturer based in Dayton, Ohio. We worked with many worthwhile pet-related organizations by providing sponsorships and supplying them with our high-quality Iams and Eukanuba dog and cat foods.
Our work with Mira, the first-ever French-Canadian guide dog organization, was particularly impactful. That’s why I got to travel to Quebec to meet the Mira team and see the dogs at work.
Traveling to Montreal was a terrific experience in and of itself, as it’s a beautiful city and we got to experience some amazing restaurants. The best part of the trip, however, was when our local colleagues drove us out into the countryside to visit the Mira facility.
We toured the campus to learn about Mira and the special dogs they train as guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired. Our company’s sponsorship meant that Mira was feeding the very best premium pet food available – and boy did it show in those glowing, healthy puppies and dogs.
Mira began training Labrador retrievers and Bernese mountain dogs for their respective strengths. In 1996, Mira’s founder crossed these two breeds to create the Labernese, a unique large-breed canine that combines the best of both breeds in order to provide maximum help for people with disabilities.
I was in heaven that day – we got to meet and pet many friendly Labernese puppies and dogs. But then came the most special part of all: a graduation ceremony where Mira guide dogs went through their final evaluations and were paired with their new person. It was a very emotional day!
As part of the experience, a few sighted people were given the opportunity to be blindfolded and walk through an obstacle course with a guide dog. The obstacle course was brutal – I saw it before my blindfold went on. I knew that my shins and knees would end up bruised and battered if this dog didn’t do its job well.
The Mira instructor who placed my blindfold on put the guide dog’s harness handle into my hand. She then told me, “Relax. Trust the dog. Walk at normal speed. Don’t walk slowly – speed up to your regular pace.”
Then, thrust into pure blackness by a dark blindfold and holding only onto a handle that moved as the large dog beside me did, I was expected to let go and trust the dog to guide me through a long field of obstacles. Trust only in a dog! It was utterly terrifying at first.
I was so fearful about banging into the many wooden and concrete structures I had seen. I took only small, hesitant, slow steps. The instructor kept urging me “Trust the dog! Walk faster. Trust the dog!” Finally, I took a deep breath, put all of my faith in the wonderful, warm creature at my side, and stepped forward normally.
It. Was. Electrifying. We became a seamless team – like one organism. The dog gently pushed my leg to tell me which way to go. He pulled me hard if I was going to bump into something. Once, when I didn’t respond quickly enough, the dog put his body immediately in front of me, completely stopping me with his softness instead of allowing me to hit a painful obstacle.
I didn’t touch or bump into a single concrete block or wooden barrier – that dog protected me with everything he had.
I am in tears again writing this. I was moved to tears that day. How can I describe to you the feeling of handing over your entire trust, faith and physical safety to dog – even one that is a loyal, highly-trained and 100% committed canine companion?
It was breathtaking the way that dog served and protected me during our obstacle course walk together – me, a total stranger. What had I ever done to deserve that loyalty and complete devotion? And how beautiful that these dogs are trained to help those who cannot see. What an amazing treasure that dog would be to their chosen handler!
Those few minutes together changed me forever. I felt the purity and sanctity of that dog’s total love and devotion for its human master – even a temporary one whom he has never met before. That dog would have done anything for me – he would have saved my life by giving his own, without question.
After our walk, when the instructor took my blindfold off and saw my tears, I asked if I could pet the dog. They are not supposed to be petted when they have their working harnesses on, but because I was in the handler role, I could.
I knelt down and rested my head against that glorious, solid, furry body. I hugged him and petted him and told him over and over “Bon chien! Bon chien!” (French for good dog – the Mira dogs are trained in French primarily, but they do understand English commands as well). I only wish I could remember the dog’s name – it was something French that escapes me now.
After an experience like that, I’ve never looked at dogs the same way. They are sacred vessels for the greatest love in the universe. They only want to love and serve us. Their loyalty and faithfulness to us is unconditional and unwavering (unless we’re talking about my dogs and someone else in the family rustles a treat bag).
I liked dogs a lot before my Mira visit. I have loved them wholeheartedly ever since!
Have you ever been blessed with the opportunity to be around a highly-trained working canine and see what they’re truly capable of? Every dog has a purpose; the key is to know what it is and then help them live their best lives.
