In November 2020, I got the call from Paws letting me know that they had a potential match for me who would be fully trained and ready to join our home in April 2021. To help me prepare, they emailed me a 100-page handbook that outlined expectations, do’s and don’ts, and a list of recommended supplies. They also included a link to a helpful video along with a couple of glamour shots of the handsome boy. It was incredibly exciting news, and I was instantly smitten. It was time to start preparing for our future life as dog owners!
In January 2021, I received another call from Paws. They had a different dog who was further along in his training, whom they felt was perfect for my needs and laid-back lifestyle. They asked me if I would be willing to be paired with this dog instead, who would be ready to come home to us in just a few weeks. Other than needing to get our house dog-ready a few months sooner, there seemed to be no drawbacks with trusting and accepting their offer of a different dog. So, I agreed to be partnered up with Gunther.
After that call, you know the first thing that went through my mind? Sh*t just got real.
There’s hoping and wishing for a service dog. Then there’s the reality of what it actually takes to bring a service dog into your home and into your life. Was I really ready for this major life change now that it was finally happening?
I should probably tell you that I’m a pretty anxious person by nature. It’s hard for me not to fixate on all the “what-ifs.” So while I was so excited and thrilled that this was finally happening, I couldn’t help but start to worry.
Would Gunther like me?
Would I even like him?
Would we bond?
How was the self-appointed “most important” member of our family—our cat, Rosco—going to handle this?
Would sleeping in on the weekends forever be a thing of the past with bathroom and feeding schedules to maintain?
Could I learn to say the name “Gunther” without using a German accent?
And most importantly, was it even possible that I wouldn’t manage to somehow screw up this dog’s training?
I’d read through that Paws handbook at least three times. I’d watch their new client video a few times to help prepare and manage my expectations. But for every question answered with the provided information, another was raised in my mind. And when you’re an anxious person, it’s the unknown that drives you crazy.
Expressing my fears to my husband, I was gently reminded of bringing our newborn home from the hospital and all the angst and uncertainty we felt at the thought of caring for this little human. And somehow, miraculously, we figured it out. Just as I would with Gunther.
The Pick-Up Artist 