Going to the Dogs: Labrador Vs. Chihuahua. Which artist are You?

Going to the Dogs: Labrador Vs. Chihuahua
Which artist are you?

My Guide Dog, Kody, and I were crossing the street when a woman passed us walking two Chihuahuas. Toy chihuahuas. Little tiny things no bigger than my hand.

The dogs began growling and scrabbling at the pavement, trying to reach my sixty pound yellow Labrador Guide Dog, who promptly dove for cover beneath my skirt, and hid his face in my leg in stark terror. The itty bitty menaces were ten feet away, and yet my seasoned, fearless Guide Dog was reduced to a huddled up, crumpled pile of furry terror in the face of all that yapping, snapping power. Hmmm… not quite sure what that says about Kodak’s ability to fight off monsters, but I am sure of one thing.

We as artists are just as bad as Kody! How many times have you read through an opera score and wanted to play the leading character, but thought to yourself, “There is no way in hell I’d ever be cast for that role; I am just not good enough.” You’ve had years and years of training, you bring down the house when you do recitals, but somehow auditioning for the role of your dreams is tabeau? Yeah, you’re Kody.

Have you been ogling a window in a high-end gallery every time you walk by, envisioning your paintings hanging there with a hundred thousand dollar price tag attached? And then you go home, and refuse to pick up a paintbrush because if you took that much time away from the kids, you’d be a bad parent. Yeah, You are Kody, too.

Maybe you pick up the New York Times and scan the lists, and choke on your morning coffee because you wish it was your name on that page with the number one bestseller. Or you wish it was you walking onto that stage at the Grammy’s and holding that shiny trophy in your hot little hands. But your guitar sits collecting dust rather than fingerprints, and your finished novel sits in the closet because you can’t stand the thought of another rejection letter. You are Kody, too!

Stop hiding your face out of tiny little inconsequential fears, and start doing your job! Kodak faces down buses, huge airplanes, and things as a Guide dog that would make most of us cringe! He never flinches when a truck rumbles by inches from his paws. He just leads me fearlessly wherever life takes us. So should your creativity as an artist lead you. You have too much to do to let a little thing like fear snap and snarl at you, sending you scurring to an imagined safe haven. Kodak, after realizing that mom wasn’t going to whip out a flaming sword and slay the advancing villains, got himself under control, and realized that he had to be a big strong Guide dog. It was up to him to save his human from the scourges of little dogs, by guiding her safely away. :-d

Was Kody in danger from two walking pipsqueak bad guys? Not a chance. Are you in danger if you audition, or paint for that window spot or write? No. Will you be embarrassed if you don’t get the part the first time you audition? Yes, and the second and the third time… it’s called rejection. It’s part of being an artist. Eventually, when you learn it’s only a little nip, and it doesn’t leave your throat cut open, you’ll get up and do it again. You will if you love your art enough.

Things like fear, rejection—things that hold you back from getting your art where you want it to go, they are the chihuahuas, and you are the Big strong Guide Dog. Or are the roles reversed. Are you going to be the little guy barking at the weirdest things and chasing after things a zillion times bigger than you?

Some days you’re the windshield, and some days you’re the bug. Some days you’re the Guide dog, and some days, You are the Chihuahua.

Happy Anniversary, Kodak!!!

Good morning! It's a beautiful, chilly Spring morning in Los Angeles. The birds are just waking up outside the window. Kodak, my yellow Labradorable Guide Dog, is snuggled up in a nest of blankets on my side of the bed, with his head buried in my pilows, occasionally opening one sleepy eye to babysit me. every now and then, he twitches an ear at me when I ruffle his fur, but heaven forbid you wake up Kodak on a Sunday morning for anything less than breakfast or a walk! He'll just steal your covers and grumble something naughty in dog until you let him go back to sleep. I've never figured out how he knows which day is Sunday, but Sundays are the one day when Kodak sleeps in (much to my dismay, since I have to be up early to practice for Church.)

Today Kodak and I are celebrating our three-year anniversary. Sounds weird, I know, but I really do celebrate anniversaries with my Guide Dogs.

Kodak is my second Guide Dog. Arlin, my first Guide, was a giant black Labrador we fondly call the "king of the Guide Dogs." He is a noble monster, with a huge blocky head, big golden eyes, jowls big enough to shelter the state of Texas, and the demeanor of a king. He is an old soul. He has these yellow-amber eyes that look right into the middle of your heart. Most people say they feel like he knows everything about them. When Arlin gives you the look, you feel about three inches tall, and as if you're communing with some ancient being instead of a big stinky drooly black Lab.

Arlin was born knowing how to guide. He's a great thinker, but age caught up with him, and his mind started to wander late in his career. Twenty feet in front of an obstacle, he'd already have his chosen path around it plotted out in his head. He never hesitated, never had to think, and rarely asked for my imput, other than to take general directions. And he was hardly ever wrong. He was an honest, hard worker who really taught me the meaning of dedication and unflagging loyalty. I look up to Arlin's example every day. He was not only a great partner, but a wonderful teacher, and a very good friend.

Arlin is ten now, and lives in Phoenix with my dear friend, Wendy, since I'm not home enough to attend to him as he deserves. I do still see him, and I know he has a wonderful home with Wendy. I miss him desperately, though.

Kodak and I partnered up on March 22, 2006. Arlin had fully entered retirement the month before. If Arlin is the commander in Chief of the Guide Dogs, Kodak is the eager Private First Class--the guy who is the first to yell "Yessir, Drill Sergeant!" He's so excited about life in general, and every time I pick up his harness, you see him quiver all over, as though he's still soooo proud and excited to put on that uniform and go to work!

My dogs are night and day from one another, and yet they are both amazing guides and friends. Kodak lives to work and play, always ready to bounce up and go wherever you say. He's a dilligent worker, quick to try to figure out any problem in front of him, but he is cautious, careful and a team player when we work together, whereas Arlin guided by the seat of his canine pants, figuring everything out by himself on the fly. Kodak is an unstoppable flirt and charmer. Kids adore him, women would do anything for the chance to gaze into those sweet brown eyes and kiss that cute nose, and guys can't help but grin when they see Kodak taking down a tree to get to a squirrel!

Some of my favorite Kodak moments:
1. Kodak has flown the US Airways Airbus a320 simulator for a perfect landing at Seatac Airport
2. Kodak has visited the flight-deck of two southwest planes, and while working for US Airways, had his picture taken wearing the cap of a Southwest Captain
3. Kodak's favorite treat is a bite of your apple, and he'll do any trick to get it, including playing peekaboo, shaking hands, barking on command, and giving hugs.
4. Kodak still is trying to figure out how to get up that tree to eat the squirrel that always sits there on the corner of our street and laughs at us when we walk by every morning.
5. I have a picture of Kodak with an Easter basket stuck on his nose, looking for all the world like Pooh with the honey jar. Kodak always has to investigate everything, whether or not he's supposed to. He's insatiably curious.
6. Kodak holds the record for high-jumping somersaulting, spinning-while-airborne, falling-over-backwards-because-he's-so-excited Labrador.
7. Every dog who meets Kodak tries to be the boss of him, except for Buster. buster, my Aunt and Uncle's cocapoo, is just the perfect size for kodak to boss around. Buster is Kodak's favorite giant squeaky toy.
8. Kodak hates hospitals, but he's been in more of them than any Guide Dog I know, and he loves the chance to curl up on the foot of the hospital bed and snuggle with you, should you be sick and lonely. Nothing cures you better than a big dose of Kodybear cuteness. It's not just me he's helped, either.
9. Kodak's favorite spot in the recording studio is at the window of the control room with his wet nose pressed against the glass to the studio proper so he can see everything going on in there. He's fascinated by recording musicians for some strange reason... like dog, like owner?
10. One of the best Kodak moments: When I first met Gavin DeGraw, Kodak walked right up to him and stuck his nose right in Gavin's crotch. Gavin laughed it off, but wow, was i ever embarrassed!!!

Kodak's nicknames include but are not limited to (mine and everyone else's):
Kody, Kodybear, Bear-bear, Kodman, Kodificus, Kodydog, Guide-worm, Tigger, Little yellow man, Mr. Ko D. Bear, the Magnificent Mr. Spinny, Captain Kody, Koderama, Shmodo... others...


Kodak is the best partner, but he's also an amazing friend. He's the first to leap off the ground with all four feet and do spinnys around the room when he sees me come home from the hospital. He hates hospitals, but time and again, he goes, and sits, and loves. He even gets the doctors and nurses to play with him and it's a running joke that he's the staff therapy dog when I'm in the hospital. He's high energy and loves to play, but there's no one more ready and willing to curl up with me and read a good book or listen to some music when I need to unwind. The Kids in Sunday School climb all over him, and the babies think he's another toy to play with, and Kodak loves every minute of it.

Kodak and I have had so much fun together. even when life gets scary, Kodak can make me laugh, and remind me why life is so wonderful. I'm very lucky to have such an amazing teammate to guide me through life. The amount of love, patience and courage Kodak must have in order to put up with life with me... wow, you go, Kodybear!

So here's to the best yellow teammate ever! Kodak, you rock! I love you, little yellow man! Here's to years and years of more Kodak Moments with you, Kodybear!