Guest Post: Hi, I’m Greta! It’s My Story, Too

Ah, I should calm down and introduce myself. I’m Greta, and I’m a Seeing Eye dog! My partner is Anneliese, and together we go on lots of adventures! Or, we used to, but things have been different lately. Can I tell you about that? Cool! I’m excited!…and I’m calming down now. Ok, here’s our story.

How I Learned to Make More than Lemonade

Don’t you remember on earth there were things too hot to touch with your finger but you could drink them alright? Shame is like that. If you will attempt it—if you will drink the cup to the bottom—you will find it very nourishing; but try to do anything else with it and it scalds.

Flashback Friday: How Blindness Might Help Your Mental Health

The moment of darkness when your eyes fall closed can become an avenue of peace, rather than just another blink in your hectic day.

Flashback Friday: A Holistic Approach to Dog Foods

I lost nine months’ worth of training time. How much of Greta’s lifespan have I lost because her body is simply more worn down than it should be at her age?

Interview with Julie Johnson, Creator of the Sport-Style Guide Dog Harness

I believe this industry wasn’t possible before the internet because communication between the scattered blind population was prohibitively complicated. But now we meet in forums, on social media, through blogs, and we discuss our needs and struggles, share unique ways of solving these challenges, and inspire each other to ask better questions that can change the world.

Dress for Success

This harness looks pretty good in theory, doesn’t it? Support’s the dog’s natural range of motion, each piece is custom-fitted for the individual dog, still nice and professional-looking, with maybe a slightly sportier flare….but do these two changes really make a difference in a dog’s working comfort?

The Zen Pack Leader

No matter how old you are, your brain is still a puppy. It responds far better to encouragement and boundaries than self-criticism. Training it to return to a particular thought or mental posture takes just as much time, and patience, as teaching basic obedience skills to a dog.

Lessons I Learned From A Chicken

You’re not as lazy, impulsive, or short-fused as you think you are, and once you start asking yourself this question your creative brain gets involved, generating other options for meeting that need. There’s a lot of wisdom buried in our behavior, just waiting to be unlocked.