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Irwin knew to go to the backdoor and quietly whimper  when he needed to go out to get busy (pee and poo).  He also knew that I would take him out upon request, so he began to do the same at the front door when he wanted to go play with his friends. I could not always go immediately; however, I assured him that we would go soon—which probably sounded like, “Blah blah, Irwin, blah blah blah blah.”  Irwin didn’t want to wait; he wanted to play!

"LEAVE  IT!"  is a stern command to teach any dog to "never touch that again as long as you live!"  This is necessary for poisonous substances or stray food - anything that might be dangerous for your dog.

In our next episode, Irwin learns to "LEAVE" something less hazardous to him, but not to my pocketbook.

Next time:  Irwin learns a key command: "Leave it!"

One afternoon, after he had wiggled his request, I told him to wait and finished my paragraph;

I then went to the front door to take him for a visit, as promised.  A deep sigh registered my  shock—as shocked as I could be after the crate escape. 

The front door was standing wide open.  Irwin had opened the door on his own.  He had watched me open it many times and simply echoed my actions, just as he had done with the crate latches.  The handle door latch was no challenge for him.

I didn’t panic.  I just quickly dispatched a prayer, grabbed my shoes and his

lead, and scurried outside. I looked down the street just in time to see his wagging

tail round the corner to Casey’s.  I did not run, which would merely complicate

the task by creating the illusion of a chase. I hurried down the walk and calmly

told Irwin to “SIT!”  Thank goodness, "Sit"  was a command he did know and

obeyed.  He sat on command, and I was able to re-attach the required leash

“when out of doors or fenced areas.”  I breathed a sigh of new found

understanding that this dog was as smart as books say Labs can be.  

Even when I bolted the door and changed the handle to a nob, Irwin had little

trouble figuring out how to turn the bolt and the nob to open the door sans master.

Once again, I would have to be more clever than he.

A locksmith eventually added a chain.  The chain made the difference.  He could

not squeeze through the small opening with the chain in place, even if the door were open.  “The chain is too high,” I thought, “and requires thumbs.”  I was right.  From that day forward, Irwin had to wait for my companionship when he wanted out the front door to visit friends.

In the neighborhood, Irwin eagerly shared with Casey, but not Kimi. He seemed to know that the Akita was not as interested in toys; she preferred a good romp and play, which often included Irwin’s head inserted in her mouth. Akitas have a soft mouth and love to carry things around in it, including puppys’ heads. Irwin was fine with that; he liked the drama.

I’m sure Irwin thought we should visit his friends more often, so he took matters into his own paws.

The thing about Irwin, he loved to play, especially with

Casey and Kimi ("she who is without equal"),  which led

to yet another challenge. When Irwin received a new toy,

he bolted to the front door and wiggled a request to visit

his friends. I usually obliged, and we happily jogged

down the street for him to share his new toy.  Casey was

not that interested.  “Been there, done that,” she seemed

to say, but Irwin always offered his new treasure in good

faith and waited patiently until Casey would nudge the

ball with her nose.  Irwin bounced with glee and responded with a happy lap around her. 

She sat and watched, knowingly.  Irwin loved Casey.

Irwin had more toys than many other dogs, I suppose, because the college students

(where I worked and he spent his days) showered him with stuffed balls of their favorite

sport—baseballs, soccer balls, footballs, tennis balls, basketballs, even a hockey puck. 

When they ran out of balls, they turned to holiday toys—snowmen, hearts, ducks, rabbits,

pumpkins, turkeys, and Santas. Of course, these were in addition to the usual bones and

squeaky toys. I admit it. I was one of the culprits who showered him with tokens of affection

—it was easy.  Giving was even more fun as we watched Irwin share his toys with others

with such glee. 

Leash training—and door locks!   Irwin's Next Challenge.

No fence in the yard, meant Irwin had to be on lead each time we went outside. A 25-foot chord worked well in the yard as we retrieved balls or  hung out in the sunshine or shade.  A six-foot lead worked better for his daily walks. We walked the neighborhood at least twice and day: at least once in a disciplined walk and other times to explore

grates or other wonders of the world.  Neighborhood dogs

greeted Irwin as we passed, and he quickly made friends.

Casey, a 14 year-old Golden Retriever Grand-mom, who

lived three houses away on the same side of the street, and

a four-year old Akita female next door to Casey soon

became Irwin’s BFFs.  

Irwin ~ from Puppy to Guide Dog - Episode 3

INTRODUCTION:    In 1997, in New York, a kind, 40-year old man, Willie, had a heart attack.  When he awoke, he was blind.

In 1997, a few miles north of New York City, puppy Irwin was born blind. In about two weeks, he awoke to sight, just like puppies do. His nine Labrador puppy brothers and sisters were soon enlisted in a special training program for exceptional puppies. They would study to become Guide Dogs for the blind, someone like Willie. In time, Irwin and Willie became partners, and Irwin shared his sight and insights with him. Irwin seemed to generate miracles ~  for me, for those around me, and for Willie and his family.

Irwin came to my home in early July to begin his training.  Irwin cleverly made himself at home and showed us all his intellectual prowess by opening his crate locks (Episode 2).        I wondered if he would have any challenge with door nobs.  This episode relays the answer.