When you said that “Let him know that this is the last time he’s leaving Mira, that he’s never going back there” I BROKE down. He’s so lucky to have such an amazing fur-ever home
Yup ditto . I had chills watching this video the whole time. You are so special Molly you just are. And Mr pup was there for you . Everything happens for a reason.
I found this hilarious. Such a mum thing to do. I have a deaf dog and after 3 years still catch myself verbally instructing her before I click and realise wrong dog then switch to sign for her.
I’m a walking paraplegic and don’t have sensation of my legs and I’ll get hurt my legs or I’ll have a slight drop in motor function and I’ll go see my main doctor. The doctor will walk in and the dirt thing they ask me if my legs feel different. As of now my spinal cord injury is permanent🤦🤦🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
The way Bennix looks at you, it's like he's thinking, "This is my Molly. She is special. I am special because I have a Molly". He clearly loves you and I think you bring as much joy to his life as he does to yours.
I don’t have a service dog, but once, when I was dog sitting for my sister, I had a pretty bad toothache. I was in tears, crying from so much pain and my sister’s dog could tell. That night, she came into the bedroom with me (I left the door slightly ajar so I could hear her if she needed to go in the middle of the night). She stayed in there with me for a few minutes and then went back out. Instead of going to her bed, she laid right outside the door, like she was making sure I was ok. Whether it’s a service dog or just a pet dog, it’s amazing how intuitive dogs are.
Gallop was an amazing guide dog, andis an amazing dog in general. Bennix is who you need right now. Neither pup is better than the other. Both are awesome boys. I’m glad you can breathe now.
Jesus christ that airport staff. Honestly, you should report it. Not to get the person in trouble but hopefully to have the management educate the people that work there on how to approach a dog. As a dog owner to a very excited and social dog, having someone do that to my dog is literally a nightmare. It WILL result in jumping and biting and you don't want a 30kg dog jumping and playbiting at your arms. I was once literally being squeshed against a car, because I was holding back my excited dog that weighs more than half my bodyweight, because a grownup wanted to say hello and kept coming closer, hands outstraight insisting on saying hello eventhough I told to please back the eff up. Don't EVER greet a dog without the owner's permission first.
Couldn't agree more! I have people calling and try to pet my dog all the time and then complaining because she jumps ( she is a very friendly pup). When this happens I am taking no shit and literally shout at them " you shouldn't have called her in first place". Please always ask the owner if you can pet the dog. If a service dog please don't even try, your distraction can cause so much distress.
Even aside from how to approach a regular dog, they should not be approaching or talking to a working service dog at allll. They should know better especially because they literally knew he was a “mira dog”
Absolutely agree. The best thing you can do for a dog when you see it out and about is to ignore it. Let it continue its calm walk, let it continue sitting at that Cafe table quietly and nice and still. I am that person that will say no you can't pat my dog or that will smack away your hand if you don't ask. One of my dogs is deaf and this is how she developed severe anxiety and leash reactivity from people touching her when she didn't know they were there. She now wears shirts and jackets when we walk that say do not touch in fluoro orange.
I would expect with Mira being so famous more people knowing how to behave around service dogs. 😔 That's really disappointing and especially from an airport staff. So good to hear you're both settling fine.
I was just thinking the same. But apparently it’s still not the case. I am confused anyway about the fact that so many people don’t seem to know that the guide dog is working when in his harness. I mean, as a human, you don’t like it either to be distracted when you are working or the quality of your work might suffer. And if the quality of a guide dog’s work suffers, it might have serious consequences for the dog itself but also for the blind person. I just can’t understand it.
@@corgimom5626 For real. I have taught my kids that you never approach ANY dog in public because they could be a working dog not wearing a harness or vest or they could be aggressive or overly friendly and accidentally hurt my kids. If my 2 and 3 year old can figure that out, adults sure can.
@@corgimom5626 Yes, it’s rude, I completely agree with you. But I can tell you, that you can go way deeper than that show disrespect to an amount I wouldn’t have believed before I read this in an article in one of our newspapers here in Switzerland: Some stupid idiots actually STOLE a working guide dog in broad daylight from his owner. They just didn’t care about the danger they left the blind person in or the discomfort of the guide dog. I am mentioning that here to show that some people are just egoistic scumbags, who don’t care about the safety or the possession of others, let alone the safety of a disabled person. They just have their own pleasure in mind or - as you suggested - are too stupid to get it right.
But the beer is called after the countries BElgium NEtherlands LUXembourg.. So in honor of Bennix you have to visit these countries with him 🥺 I live in the Netherlands by the way and love to go on vacation in Luxembourg, so I kind of would love to see you vlogging your experience. In NL, please go further than just the big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague & Utrecht. I recommend Zwolle (my current city of residence, I believe it is fairly accessible and most people do speak English), and hit up some smaller towns, if you need recommendations please feel free to reach out.
It might be an idea to keep an eye on him re: separation distress as there has been a few little flags that have popped up in the last few videos and if he is getting adrenaline surges when away from you then his body goes into fight/flight and therefore blood goes into muscles and away from his stomach and skin. This is why a lot of dogs that are anxious have skin issues. Could be a reason for his itchiness despite no medical cause. Especially given he sought comfort in your slippers previously and gets very excited upon seeing you even after you've only been out of sight a short time. It could be worth videoing him when he is alone in a room and seeing what he does (can he eat/drink/sleep) etc. Not as much of a concern for a dog that will be with you almost 24/7 but something to be aware of if it is a stress trigger for him. Loving the videos and wish you and the pup all the best!
It’s such a powerful thing to be recognized by people who are experts in what you do. It’s totally different, I know, but for example I keep farm animals and when people who have never seen chickens and goats and whatnot say that they look good I’m kinda like “oh thanks, I’m doing my best”. But when like, a 70 year old farmer dude tells me my goats look really healthy and my chickens are so friendly it always makes me cry haha. It’s important to be recognized and complimented by people who know what they’re talking about! It’s a whole new level.
I know how you feel. I keep llamas (and goats but they’re just pets and don’t leave the farm haha) But when another person who shows llamas or who breeds says they love how my llamas look it truly means a lot.
Kinda similar, I was out with my SDIT today and an old man complimented how well trained and smart he was when we were waiting in line. Didn't try to distract my dog at all, just laughed and complimented how attentive he was to me giving him commands. Felt great
I’ve actually felt myself tearing up when you were in the hotel room talking about feeling the stress and anxiety wash away from getting beautiful Benelux. I have watched every episode of this getting a new dog journey and could feel the love you have for all three of your dogs, it’s utterly beautiful.
Unpopular opinion: Benelux doesn't remind me of Gallop at all. His body language and the look in his eyes are completely different. More playful, or more energetic maybe? I love him though, he's very cute!
It was the first impression and his working mode that is similar to Gallop. Also his foster parents commented that they trained him to be calm which means his normal personality is more playful, wants challenges, and a foodie. Different from Gallop who naturally is calm, sleepy, and uninterested in many things like toys without training.
All this dog content was giving me puppy fever and we’re FINALLY getting a puppy! She’s a golden retriever mix and we’re thinking about names now! Love you molly ty for the adorable videos🐝 Edit: hey! Just for anyone wondering we got the puppy! We named her Junie and she is a clumsy goofball puppy. She is super sweet and has met our other pets safely and has done super well transitioning from her old home to her new one. 💜🥰 Note: I know that this doesn’t have much to do with this, but PLEASE adopt don’t shop for pets!
congrats on the puppy! Don't get frustrated with potty training it'll come eventually even though I have both puppies for close to a year and they still very occionally have accidents. To help get the whole potty training into the puppies head put your dog out every 20-30 mins even if it doesn't do anything every time. When you take them potty have them on a leash so you can easily redirect them to there "potty place"
@@jessicas2379 love your patience and understanding with your fur baby! We need more people like you ! We have 7 fixed and litter trained rabbits that our pit “mothers” and they often are asleep on the couch together! Love speaks to all languages!
Molly your little blurb about not feeling like you're doing good enough as a blind person really hurt my heart. You are doing SOOOOO MUCH good for the blind community. Speaking just from my own experience with consuming your content, I knew almost nothing about what it's like to be blind in the world today. I have learned so much valuable insight from your content and things you've shared. You are a gift to youtube and I am just so happy there are creators out there like you who are opening doors to important, meaningful experiences people otherwise never would have known about.
Exactly, Molly you're doing amazing and don't let other blind people put you down. I'm from the UK and have noticed that for some reason, some people in America who are blind love to put others down and i don't understand it at all. Keep living your best life and remember; you are loved.
Please, report that staff member. Since airports are so commonly used by people with all forms of disabilities, staff (whether security, gate attendants, concierge, workers at restaurants or shops, cleaners, pilots, flight attendants, etc.) are specifically trained to know how to handle an encounter with a service dog. This goes for airports in North America (United States and Canada) at least. Although I’m sure the employee meant no harm, their actions are quite concerning when they should know better. Either the person who trained that person dropped the ball and didn’t train them properly or the staff member specifically chose to ignore their training. Either way, that needs to be addressed.
If I’m ever in the area and visit that hotel I’ll happily support them they went above and beyond. And when other people don’t want to work or provide bad service this hotel treated you like a queen and your dog like he’s living luxury. I loved going on this journey with you and will continue to support you
It's an indication that they'll _probably_ give good service, but don't forget that if they know Molly is a sizable youtuber (which seems pretty likely to me) it's just advertising. Consider your options is all I'm saying.
@@Huntracony true you got a good point but I just in general would check out this hotel in the future the rooms look pretty good and looks like it has decent space
I think a HUGE example of how using a guide dog is constant training and a never ending task of practice and work is how Gallop basically ended up retiring. I remember in a video Molly explained that during the pandemic she practiced safety and stayed inside for the most part, thus never giving Gallop the opportunity to do the job he was trained to do and in turn losing his motivation to work.
Tip to cool any canned drinks quickly- wrap a damp (not soaking) paper towel around the can and stick in the fridge (or freezer) for 10-15 minutes and it'll cool it pretty quickly
Being from Quebec I’m really disappointed that someone did that to Bennix… We get so much education all the time and that an adult did that anyway seeing that he was Mira is just sad!
I am so curious as to why he was sent back. Molly said that she didn't mind it at all, but said she didn't want to disclose the reason. I respect her privacy, but I still can't help my natural human curiosity. Bennix is so perfect and sweet. I can't imagine a fault bad enough to warrant sending him back.
Aww, Bennix seems so emotionally in tune with you during this video. When you were on the hotel bed he looked like he wanted to jump up and comfort you. I know it’s been a hard journey but I’m glad for you that this leg of it is over.
I love seeing his energy, he is just such a cutie. Molly, I am incredibly proud of you! I thought you needed to hear it. PS I would absolutely report the staff member. I believe all airport staff should be trained on the proper way to interact with guide dogs/ working dogs. NOt that hard, I taught my daughter when she was very little that she may not pet or get the attention of dogs that are wearing their harness and are working.
And even if not explicitly being taught so (I was not), in general it is not advised to approach a dog (you don’t know) without permission of the owner anyway. I thought that was common sense but then I realized maybe I know that only because I grew up with dogs big and small. I don’t know about staring though. I don’t know how distracting it can be for working dogs to be looked at, while casually looking at an average dog is usually fine obviously.
Absolutely!!! I am always distracted by doggos, But no matter if they are services animals or “regular doggos” I always stay away unless I am given permission! Very unprofessional! I would be super upset
Getting praise from people who actually know what they're talkiing about is so heartwarming! Like so many times if you get compliments as a blind person it's for the weirdest things, like being able to dress yourself... So to actually hear that you have done something "properly" within the means available to you, it'ss rare to get tht feeling of getting real praise and coming to terms with the fact that you might actually be deserving of it. Dogs and toys are so funny... My pup's favourite game is tug, so he will play tug with anything soft or anything rubber. But if I leave a tug rope out, he will chew it to smitherines! At the same time he has this big teddy bear that he is so careful with and only chews on just before bedtime. And he usually brings the teddy to me if he thinks it's time to go to bed (and has at one point brought it to me when I was sick, trying to make me feel better). But my parents' dog, same breed, is an absolute marodeur and will destroy basically ANY toy.
Negative comparisons are the thieves of joy thank you for clarifying the difference between comparisons because there is so much negative comparisons that just causes toxicity and hate; which the world is full enough of. We need more positivity kindness and love towards each other and towards animals. Positive comparisons is totally healthy because it lets everyone see the good in everyone.
I have to laugh when your talking about the tail wags. My first service dog, a German shepherd, was and still is all business and very seldom wags her tail. My second dog, a poodle mix, came to me only for me to put task work on him for him to move on to his family and ended up mine when the contract fell through. He was VERY much like Gallop, did not wag his tail pretty much at all UNLESS I asked him “who has a happy tail?” He would then wag that tail so hard I was sure he would fly away lol. He unfortunately suddenly passed away very suddenly in July. He retired about 2 years ago from public but still LOVED to work at home. I again have a poodle mix and he’s not quite middle ground of the two but close to it. I wish you all the best with Bennix
He seems like such a sweet, wonderful dog and he already seems so bonded with you, it's crazy! I'm so very glad that he can find his working partner and forever home with you!
Molly I just wanted to tell you that I am a kindergarten teacher and we were reading a book that had a person who is blind. In the illustration they had a guide dog and a cane. My students had so many questions about it and we talked a lot about these tools. I had lots of information to tell them about it because of watching your videos. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
As a fellow woman with a disability it really hit me in the feels when you said “I worked really hard growing up to have the skills that I do.” Same sister, same. I totally relate to the power of being complimented by people who know from professional experience how difficult navigating your life is.
congrats! im physically disabled and hope to get a medical detection service dog for my fainting :) im so happy to see you get your freedom back and hope i can have something similar soon! lots of love from the uk!
Good luck on your journey towards a service dog! Do know that alerts for fainting are natural alerts, so a dog either has it or not. It cannot be trained, unless they know for sure that you give off a certain smell right before you faint and sadly that is something that is rarely ever found. Any service dog school saying that they deliver dogs that alert perfectly before placing (except for diabetic alert dogs) is a scam. Service dog schools that train for seizures or fainting actually train a response and/or micro reaction in the dogs. I have an alert and response dog myself and I got very lucky that my boy alerts to all that I need perfectly, but originally his main training was in response to my medical issues and not as an alert. When we got linked he showed potential alerts within the first month, though. Of course at the time I didn't call it an alert, as you need a minimum of 5 months of logging potential alerts before truly being able to call it an alert. I just got very very lucky and I hope you can get what you hope for/ need in a service dog too. If there's anything you'd have questions about feel free to ask me anything either here or on my service dog's social media (@koda.the.helper.dog on fb and ig). I know the laws for the UK by heart too, so that shouldn't be an issue even though I am from Belgium and not the UK (used to travel there and hope to go back to the UK soon)
You know I think that for Molly, this time around, having a dog that was a little more experienced and had extra training is even more helpful. She's in constantly changing environments with all her travels so Bennex had a little more exposure to help with that. Honestly, all of Molly's dogs have always been amazing and been exactly who and what she needed when she needed it. Welcome home Bennix
i don’t think you could ever compare dogs. each dog served you the love and assistance you needed for that time in your life❤️ all unique in their own ways
I love the bond that you and Bennix already have 💕 but please report the airport worker because it’s not okay she did that! She needs to learn not to disturb a working dog
I'll never understand people's bad comments about animals. It reminds me of people's negative comments with children. It's pointless. They are the most innocent and pure thing on this planet. Stop with the negativity.
The way bennix was smiling so big at you while you were crying about how happy he makes you, literally brought me to tears💕🥺 this is the first step into a beautiful happy life with your new baby👏🏽 I cannot wait from gallop and bennix to meet👏🏽
As a black lab owner, I am glad that you have gotten another Labernese. They really are so sweet and loving and great at sensing when you need a cuddle because you are upset.
I really appreciate you keeping in the part where you got emotional after graduation. I am not blind and I definitely romanticized the idea of having a guide dog and this series has really educated me and set me straight on what having a guide dog would be like and the struggles as well as the fact that having a guide dog gives you so much freedom but you work so hard in order to get a guide dog and achieve that freedom.
Beside the fact you're such a good guide dog handler, you're an amazing owner to your dogs - some people get dogs just to put them outside and alert, when somebody comes nearby their house, but you're giving them the most important thing - love
I’m picking up my service dog in less than 3 weeks! All of these videos are definitely giving me new pup fever, I can’t wait! You two seem to have settled in nicely, I can’t wait to see you both grow together!
I started crying when you said “I can’t believe someone could bring him back.” I have a cat who was given up when she was 7 years old bc the owner’s partner was allergic 😾 she’s a lovely russian blue who is very needy. She’s been my friend through this whole pandemic situation and I will never give her up
I can’t imagine your relief on finding your Bennie. Being without your eyes for so long….. congratulations again. May this relationship be long and beautiful.
Glad Bennix did so well with the overly excited airport staff person. I don’t have a guide dog, do have a large german shepherd. I’ve been so fortunate recently with people asking if they can greet him. A person stopping and asking first is considerate, and much safer. Also, I was taught to ignore a dog who was working. Surprised an airport employee didn’t know this.
It completely makes sense that praise from someone with experience in the field is extra impactful. So glad for you getting that validation, and taking it to heart!
Bennix is gorgeous 😍 I'm not surprised the veterinarian was impressed with how healthy & beautiful he looks. I love his spunk Molly, I think his sass is just enough to keep you smiling as you navigate the world together. So happy for you. Has he met Lavender yet?
Molly, you are incredible-- being this vulnerable on the internet while also dealing with all those feelings, after having put in all that work. Incredible. So happy that you are having the silliness you need in your life with Bennix. It sounds like Gallop was all the seriousness you needed at that time of your life and you're getting this with Bennix.
When you were crying about how getting Bennix gave you your life back, I started crying too - because that's how I felt when I got my wheelchair, and my disabled parking placard. I still want to cry sometimes when I use them. It's so much more trouble to deal with - but it's also so liberating (my wheelchair is actually named Libby for that reason). I think something people don't understand about a lot of disabilities is that the accommodations we have aren't actually 'easy.' They make OUR lives better, but if someone who didn't have that disability tried to use them, it would end up being WAY more trouble than it's worth. But for us it's lifechanging. I'm so happy you have the tool you need to live your life fully.
Still can't get over the fact that there's a beer called Benelux. As a European, I only associate BeNeLux with Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg (the political union of these countries is called BeNeLux-Union). Anyway, Benelux is an amazing dog and he definitely will do an amazing job in guiding you and being your companion. Just like Gypsy and Gallop, but in his own way ❤
I’m loving that baby B is a great guide dog but also seems to be a great emotional support animal. When you were crying, he was just right there staring at you and making sure you were ok. He’s so sweet and attentive for you.
You and his bond is a unique one that will never be broken. Bennix is a one of a kind that God made especially for you. With the current state of the world people tend to be prone to depression and sedentary lifestyle. Bennix’s personality will be great and not allow that to happen. I have 2 80+ pound part lab/Rottweiler fur babies that sleep with me at night, a brother/sister rescue pair. This is my first time having a dog, much less 2, sleep with me but what great comfort! I look forward to watching y’all’s journey unfold.
Ahhh, I am so excited to see all the videos with your new guide dog. Thank you for making videos and having all of that positivity, in the time of COVID and social distancing you really make me smile!!! Love you!
Bennix smiled in the background at one point and because his fur is so dark I couldn’t see his eyes and I could only see his big happy smile! He is an adorable pup and I hope you and Bennix are settling in nicely to home 😊
The itching could definitely be a stress/tension release. He’s been going through lots of changes so I wouldn’t be surprised if that goes away on its own as he settles in.
I didn’t know Gypsy at all, and haven’t had too long to get to know Gallop since subscribing. So really, I *couldn’t* compare them even if I wanted to. But something about the way he jumped up on the bed with barely a hand motion, and the way he looked up at you from the floor of the airplane, I instantly fell in love with Bennix. Oh my goodness, he’s just the absolute SWEETEST and I’m SO incredibly happy you both have each other! 💜 Could you please give him an extra little squeeze & a cuddle - and maybe an extra treat for me? 🐾
I'm bawling happy tears right now with Molly. It makes me so happy to see Bennix giving Molly the love she needs at this point in her life, especially after such a rough year. He really has a stress relieving presence, just like Gallop. He brings so much joy! I've loved seeing the bond grow between Molly and Bennix and I think God saved him for Molly too. They're a perfect team. ❤
Bienvenue chez toi Molly et Bennix! Molly I thought of you yesterday when our aquabus driver had on 'killer bee' pants! Gold coloured with little bees all over them! Wish you all the best with Bennix and all your work to come re condo.
You can tell a huge difference in your happiness/stress level. Your voice sounds more upbeat and certain and you are smiling a lot more too. So happy for you!
Awww Bennix was adorable when you were crying, he was like ‘is Mummy ok? Her eyes are leaking, I think she needs me, but oh I can't jump up until she says so. Maybe if I go to the other side she will ask me to come up, Mummy are you ok, I love you Mummy. Oh thank goodness, I can get up, oh she is ok - why we're her eyes leaking then - I know, I will give her cuddles so they stop leaking’ watching his thought process was adorable!
I appreciate that you felt comfortable with your audience to share that emotional speech. Just because a change is good doesn't mean that it isn't difficult to process. I recently witnessed a dear friend moving out on her own for the first time, and she has been doing so much to make sure she is financially ready while also doing full time grad school. I have been trying to be helpful in reminding her to give herself grace. Not everything she does will be perfect the first time and that's ok. Her family and I think she is doing great, but as many of us, she is usually harder on herself.
You are so blessed to find your dog guides. All of them have been so special for you and even for us that have seen your journey. Bennix is such a special guide dog and so beautiful and lovable and I am glad he is bringing a smile to you again such as Gypsy and Gallop did, which are the dogs I knew by seeing your videos. I love your smile Molly and all good things come when is God's time and we are patient. I am glad that you didn't rush to find the right match and now you have it. God Bless you always. I can't wait to know more about Bennix. I am a disabled 59 yrs old lady and I had a cat for 12 yrs that made me so happy and emotionally made me feel so special. When I heard your story about Gypsy which made me emotional I felt like someone felt the same way almost as when I lost Coco, Coco was not guiding me physically but he guided my emotions in accepting my disability with his love and companionship. Like you said about Gypsy, maybe someday I can have another kitty that might fill my heart as much as Coco did without thinking about replacement. I can't ever replace that kitty ever in my life. Your story inspires me. Thanks a lot.
Absolutely!! And from people who really know what they're talking about! It's one thing when your mom or best friend say something nice, but it's totally different when someone knowledgeable on the topic validates your efforts!!
@@MollyBurkeOfficial Yeah it totally hits different. Congratulations on getting where you are today. Most of us don't stop and really allow ourselves to take in how far we have come in our individual experiences. I glad for you that you where able to hear that and really take it in.
Thanks for mentioning the bit about being praised for your skill by Mira. It's definitely one of those "you don't know, what you don't know" things and really helps sighted people understand that there is so much more going on than just adopting a well trained dog.
You do such a beautiful job with your dogs. Your tears are a wonderful detox for your stressful experience. Blessings and happy times with your baby beni🥰🤗🙏🦚🐕🦺
You are not a good dog handler. You are an awesome dog handler, Molly. Belive it. We can all see it on your videos. And you're so sweet. I'm so proud of you. Bennix is so lucky to have you as his mom. Lots of love and hugs to both of you from Norway.
Bennix is so HAPPY!! I think the personality he has is so big! 💙💙💙 I can't wait to see more of you two together. I also can't wait to see Gallop meet Bennix!! 😁😁😁
The Seattle Airport has the best dog area! Its completely enclosed, has a water spout for you to use, a nice large seat against the wall, the grass area is huge and theres plenty space around it so a wheelchair could fit and not go on the grass and then theres a sink so you can wash your hands!!
I've been showing my daughter these vlogs and using it to educate her about guide and service dogs. She absolutely things bennix is the cutest and most amazing dog on the planet (I've got to agree he is pretty darn awesome!)
Aw I'm so glad that Bennix is settling in well and loving his new home. He's going to be spoiled rotten by you Molly and all us Killer Bees are loving him!
Hi Molly! I know this is probably pre filmed and Nico has already left, but since I watched the video where you talk with Nicholas about training I've been so interested. I am a sighted viewer from Argentina and service has always been my passion. Right now I am finishing my studies to be a flight attendant but I know it is not a career for life since is very tiring and taxing on your body. This series you've been doing made me realize the amazing work that is done with guide and service dogs and I would love to, in a future, help train this beatiful companions! I was wondering if you could ask Nico what skills or carreer paths would be necessary or convinient for someone like me who would like to train dogs. Love you, Molly! Keep the nice work and sending you the best luck with sweet Bennix! PS: as an almost flight attendant (hehe) I cannot believe the airport staff would be so unprofessional. This is something we are taught from the very begining of our studies and you should absolutely report it!
Hi Marcia: I'm not Molly, but I am a guide dog handler with over two decades of experience as well as intimate knowledge of the guide dog field. I hope what I am about to share will be of some help to you. First, while it is great that you are interested in training service/guide dogs, you need to know that it is an extremely physically and emotionally taxing job, in some respects much more so than being a flight attendant. In guidework for example, depending upon the organization, you can be working up to ten dogs at a time, all at various paces and levels of pull. You are out in all weather conditions--rain, snow, sun, etc. But while loving dogs is great, you MUST love working with people more to do this job well. You must be okay with the amount of stress that say, a guide dog, must be put through to learn to be someone's eyes. Your ultimate goal is to help make the lives of humans better, which takes priority over dog training. This does not mean that the dogs' well-being isn't important--it is, but the clients for whom the dogs will be providing service must always be the first reason you do this. You must be comfortable with being around all kinds of people and obviously, people with disabilities. You would be working with a variety of people, and people come with baggage. As Molly has said in numerous videos, getting a guide dog is an intense and emotional experience, and each handler deals with it differently depending on a variety of factors. You must be very comfortable with yourself emotionally because you will have clients who are angry, hurt, don't like their dogs initially--or never--and who may take some of that out on you. The bonding process isn't always smooth, and I know this from firsthand experience. (It took two years for me to completely bond with and love my second guide, for example. We ultimately had a successful and long relationship together, but I nearly gave up multiple times; it helped that I had incredibly patient and empathetic trainers who never took my misgivings, despair, and frustration personally.) You also must be comfortable with the idea of failure. In guide dog work for example, the failure rate can be very high; many teams will graduate, then for a number of reasons not work out. Matching a handler and dog is not an exact science, it is part science and part art. Dog matches don't always work out in class, even when you think you've made the best choices. I can't speak for other areas of service work, but as a guide dog instructor, you are also expected to travel and provide follow-up support for graduates as well as interview prospective applicants. It is a rewarding career but can require plenty of time on the road, so having a good support system is critical. Most service dog trainers have some kind of college degree, but the important thing is they have worked with and love people; volunteer get involved with something in the disabled community is a good starting place. If you are specifically interested in guide dog training, there is a book called Forward Together: An Inside Look At Guide Dog Training by Christie Bane that is worth reading. It is very long and technical, but it was written by a senior guide dog mobility instructor who now has over three decades of experience in the industry. You can find it on Kindle/Amazon. Other suggestions: Reach out to other service dog trainers, get to know a variety of service/guide dog teams, and if possible raise a service dog puppy. It isn't easy, but if you have the passion and determination, it can be a rewarding career. Good luck.
@@khanhhm5762 oh my god Khanh, thank you so so much for this detailed response! I will be absoltely taking every suggestion, starting with that book! The more I read about this, the more interested and passionate I get. Best wishes!
@@marciapatt4428 I am glad you found it useful. Good luck. It is an extremely difficult area of work to get into, and I do not know if there are any guide dog schools where you live. It is one thing to read about it, though I am glad that you are interested (which is a good place to start). I will tell you that having spoken with many young instructors over the years and worked with them, many do leave because of burn out.. You really don't know if this is the right kind of work for you until you actually get into it. Do not just read about it. Get involved in the disabled community. It is not just about dog training, more about people training. The most critical part of a guide dog mobility instructor's job, for example, is making the right match between dog and person. The most well-trained dog can look like the worst dog if placed with the incorrect person.. One can be the best dog trainer, but not necessarily make an effective guide or service dog instructor. In her book, Christie Bane freely admits that she is an average dog trainer, but she loves this career because it is all about people. (You can look up her website, and email her if you are very serious.) Even if you ultimately do not become an instructor, there are still many ways to contribute to the service dog industry. Puppy raising, for example. That can be incredibly rewarding, and it is the hardest part of the dog training aspect because you are shaping a young dog to potentially be a future worker. But the wealth of experiences and lessons you will learn along the way are invaluable, not to mention there is an incredible community of people out there. I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending many wonderful puppy raisers, some who have gone on to become trainers, many who are content to do what they do. I mean, who doesn't love cute little puppies?
Molly, I love you so much! I’m so happy for you both! 💜💜💜 I could listen to you talk all day because you’re so real and authentic. We don’t know what it’s like to be each other, but we both know what it’s like to feel pain and joy… 🙂
I can relate to getting emotional when you're being praised! I studied art therapy in graduate school, which has been my passion since high school. I did really well at first, getting good grades, making friends, and showing proficiency in my clinical skills. However, I experienced something during my journey that shook my faith in my abilities so badly that I almost quit. I decided to stick it out and I'm so glad I did. I was given a lot of praise in my last year in the program as I completed my final art show, my thesis, and my internship. People recognized strengths in me that I was too down on myself to see. I see you. I see your strength and skills. You rock!
Baby Bee Bennix Burke is safely home and loving his new life!
Hi mom I love the video so emotional and amazing
Can you help me get through some of the hardest points of my life thank you
This is most beautiful amazing video Molly ur is so cute and amazing 😻
Your pride in how well you did is entirely warranted and deserved! You work so hard and it shows
Would you please add captions next time? it is hard for those of with hearing issues to enjoy your content
@@shayleeboger2558 I think they have to be added after
When you said that “Let him know that this is the last time he’s leaving Mira, that he’s never going back there” I BROKE down. He’s so lucky to have such an amazing fur-ever home
Aw, thank you so much
Yup ditto . I had chills watching this video the whole time. You are so special Molly you just are. And Mr pup was there for you . Everything happens for a reason.
@@Romy--- but he won’t be returned to Mira :)
@@Maddym365 sad reading that now
Mom -- "just push that to the side and eat the other stuff"
Molly -- "I'm trying, I'm BLIND, so.."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😘❤
I found this hilarious. Such a mum thing to do. I have a deaf dog and after 3 years still catch myself verbally instructing her before I click and realise wrong dog then switch to sign for her.
I'm constantly telling my non-verbal 2 year old to use his words when he starts throwing a tantrum... its like.. facepalm
@@kiarakeeper2154 little dude just needs to pick another way to express himself 🥰
I have severe allergies and I have to remind my parents of my allergies 😂
I’m a walking paraplegic and don’t have sensation of my legs and I’ll get hurt my legs or I’ll have a slight drop in motor function and I’ll go see my main doctor. The doctor will walk in and the dirt thing they ask me if my legs feel different. As of now my spinal cord injury is permanent🤦🤦🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️
The way Bennix looks at you, it's like he's thinking, "This is my Molly. She is special. I am special because I have a Molly". He clearly loves you and I think you bring as much joy to his life as he does to yours.
the way this made my eyes start to well up 🥲😭
When you were crying bennix was looking at you and looked concerned. I love how service dogs bond so quickly to the owner/user.
Yes! Btw the word you should use instead of owner/user would be handler! The handle is basically the owner of a service dog :)
I don’t have a service dog, but once, when I was dog sitting for my sister, I had a pretty bad toothache. I was in tears, crying from so much pain and my sister’s dog could tell. That night, she came into the bedroom with me (I left the door slightly ajar so I could hear her if she needed to go in the middle of the night). She stayed in there with me for a few minutes and then went back out. Instead of going to her bed, she laid right outside the door, like she was making sure I was ok. Whether it’s a service dog or just a pet dog, it’s amazing how intuitive dogs are.
Gallop was an amazing guide dog, andis an amazing dog in general. Bennix is who you need right now. Neither pup is better than the other. Both are awesome boys. I’m glad you can breathe now.
I second this ❤️
Jesus christ that airport staff. Honestly, you should report it. Not to get the person in trouble but hopefully to have the management educate the people that work there on how to approach a dog.
As a dog owner to a very excited and social dog, having someone do that to my dog is literally a nightmare. It WILL result in jumping and biting and you don't want a 30kg dog jumping and playbiting at your arms. I was once literally being squeshed against a car, because I was holding back my excited dog that weighs more than half my bodyweight, because a grownup wanted to say hello and kept coming closer, hands outstraight insisting on saying hello eventhough I told to please back the eff up. Don't EVER greet a dog without the owner's permission first.
Couldn't agree more!
I have people calling and try to pet my dog all the time and then complaining because she jumps ( she is a very friendly pup). When this happens I am taking no shit and literally shout at them " you shouldn't have called her in first place". Please always ask the owner if you can pet the dog. If a service dog please don't even try, your distraction can cause so much distress.
Yes agree, she needs to report what happen.
Even aside from how to approach a regular dog, they should not be approaching or talking to a working service dog at allll. They should know better especially because they literally knew he was a “mira dog”
Absolutely agree. The best thing you can do for a dog when you see it out and about is to ignore it. Let it continue its calm walk, let it continue sitting at that Cafe table quietly and nice and still. I am that person that will say no you can't pat my dog or that will smack away your hand if you don't ask. One of my dogs is deaf and this is how she developed severe anxiety and leash reactivity from people touching her when she didn't know they were there. She now wears shirts and jackets when we walk that say do not touch in fluoro orange.
@@reneephillips1880 yessss, same here!! i dont think it’s ever okay to approach any dog without permission!
I would expect with Mira being so famous more people knowing how to behave around service dogs. 😔 That's really disappointing and especially from an airport staff. So good to hear you're both settling fine.
I agree knowing the place learning about it and acting in that way is scary
I was just thinking the same. But apparently it’s still not the case. I am confused anyway about the fact that so many people don’t seem to know that the guide dog is working when in his harness. I mean, as a human, you don’t like it either to be distracted when you are working or the quality of your work might suffer. And if the quality of a guide dog’s work suffers, it might have serious consequences for the dog itself but also for the blind person. I just can’t understand it.
I’m sorry but how stupid are people. Like Even if I see a normal (non service) dog I would never go up to them in public. It is just rude.
@@corgimom5626 For real. I have taught my kids that you never approach ANY dog in public because they could be a working dog not wearing a harness or vest or they could be aggressive or overly friendly and accidentally hurt my kids. If my 2 and 3 year old can figure that out, adults sure can.
@@corgimom5626 Yes, it’s rude, I completely agree with you. But I can tell you, that you can go way deeper than that show disrespect to an amount I wouldn’t have believed before I read this in an article in one of our newspapers here in Switzerland: Some stupid idiots actually STOLE a working guide dog in broad daylight from his owner. They just didn’t care about the danger they left the blind person in or the discomfort of the guide dog. I am mentioning that here to show that some people are just egoistic scumbags, who don’t care about the safety or the possession of others, let alone the safety of a disabled person. They just have their own pleasure in mind or - as you suggested - are too stupid to get it right.
But the beer is called after the countries BElgium NEtherlands LUXembourg.. So in honor of Bennix you have to visit these countries with him 🥺
I live in the Netherlands by the way and love to go on vacation in Luxembourg, so I kind of would love to see you vlogging your experience. In NL, please go further than just the big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, the Hague & Utrecht. I recommend Zwolle (my current city of residence, I believe it is fairly accessible and most people do speak English), and hit up some smaller towns, if you need recommendations please feel free to reach out.
That is what I kept thinking.... I was like "Beer?What are they taking about? It is countries!" 😀
@@denia1594 thank you! I am glad that I'm not the only one to think that!
It might be an idea to keep an eye on him re: separation distress as there has been a few little flags that have popped up in the last few videos and if he is getting adrenaline surges when away from you then his body goes into fight/flight and therefore blood goes into muscles and away from his stomach and skin. This is why a lot of dogs that are anxious have skin issues. Could be a reason for his itchiness despite no medical cause. Especially given he sought comfort in your slippers previously and gets very excited upon seeing you even after you've only been out of sight a short time. It could be worth videoing him when he is alone in a room and seeing what he does (can he eat/drink/sleep) etc. Not as much of a concern for a dog that will be with you almost 24/7 but something to be aware of if it is a stress trigger for him. Loving the videos and wish you and the pup all the best!
It’s such a powerful thing to be recognized by people who are experts in what you do. It’s totally different, I know, but for example I keep farm animals and when people who have never seen chickens and goats and whatnot say that they look good I’m kinda like “oh thanks, I’m doing my best”. But when like, a 70 year old farmer dude tells me my goats look really healthy and my chickens are so friendly it always makes me cry haha. It’s important to be recognized and complimented by people who know what they’re talking about! It’s a whole new level.
I know how you feel. I keep llamas (and goats but they’re just pets and don’t leave the farm haha) But when another person who shows llamas or who breeds says they love how my llamas look it truly means a lot.
Yes!!
Kinda similar, I was out with my SDIT today and an old man complimented how well trained and smart he was when we were waiting in line. Didn't try to distract my dog at all, just laughed and complimented how attentive he was to me giving him commands. Felt great
You can tell Bennix is just exuding an "I found my person!" vibes! What a good boy!!
You two are SO BLESSED to have each other!
Amen
I’ve actually felt myself tearing up when you were in the hotel room talking about feeling the stress and anxiety wash away from getting beautiful Benelux. I have watched every episode of this getting a new dog journey and could feel the love you have for all three of your dogs, it’s utterly beautiful.
Molly: *sobbing*
Bennix in the background with a large goofy dog smile
Unpopular opinion: Benelux doesn't remind me of Gallop at all. His body language and the look in his eyes are completely different. More playful, or more energetic maybe? I love him though, he's very cute!
Same, just seems like a completely different dog despite the physical aspect
It was the first impression and his working mode that is similar to Gallop. Also his foster parents commented that they trained him to be calm which means his normal personality is more playful, wants challenges, and a foodie. Different from Gallop who naturally is calm, sleepy, and uninterested in many things like toys without training.
I agree, but he probably reminds her of gallop when he was younger. That’s what I’m guessing
All this dog content was giving me puppy fever and we’re FINALLY getting a puppy! She’s a golden retriever mix and we’re thinking about names now! Love you molly ty for the adorable videos🐝
Edit: hey! Just for anyone wondering we got the puppy! We named her Junie and she is a clumsy goofball puppy. She is super sweet and has met our other pets safely and has done super well transitioning from her old home to her new one. 💜🥰
Note: I know that this doesn’t have much to do with this, but PLEASE adopt don’t shop for pets!
OMG YAY!!! So exciting
congrats on the puppy! Don't get frustrated with potty training it'll come eventually even though I have both puppies for close to a year and they still very occionally have accidents. To help get the whole potty training into the puppies head put your dog out every 20-30 mins even if it doesn't do anything every time. When you take them potty have them on a leash so you can easily redirect them to there "potty place"
Congrats on your new baby! Sending love and cuddles ( with permission) to your new fur baby! Molly is a great pup name if you have a girl!
@@jessicas2379 thanks apparently she loves to poop on the floor lol, so tips like these are really helpful💜
@@jessicas2379 love your patience and understanding with your fur baby! We need more people like you ! We have 7 fixed and litter trained rabbits that our pit “mothers” and they often are asleep on the couch together! Love speaks to all languages!
Molly your little blurb about not feeling like you're doing good enough as a blind person really hurt my heart. You are doing SOOOOO MUCH good for the blind community. Speaking just from my own experience with consuming your content, I knew almost nothing about what it's like to be blind in the world today. I have learned so much valuable insight from your content and things you've shared. You are a gift to youtube and I am just so happy there are creators out there like you who are opening doors to important, meaningful experiences people otherwise never would have known about.
Exactly, Molly you're doing amazing and don't let other blind people put you down.
I'm from the UK and have noticed that for some reason, some people in America who are blind love to put others down and i don't understand it at all.
Keep living your best life and remember; you are loved.
Please, report that staff member. Since airports are so commonly used by people with all forms of disabilities, staff (whether security, gate attendants, concierge, workers at restaurants or shops, cleaners, pilots, flight attendants, etc.) are specifically trained to know how to handle an encounter with a service dog. This goes for airports in North America (United States and Canada) at least. Although I’m sure the employee meant no harm, their actions are quite concerning when they should know better. Either the person who trained that person dropped the ball and didn’t train them properly or the staff member specifically chose to ignore their training. Either way, that needs to be addressed.
If I’m ever in the area and visit that hotel I’ll happily support them they went above and beyond. And when other people don’t want to work or provide bad service this hotel treated you like a queen and your dog like he’s living luxury. I loved going on this journey with you and will continue to support you
It's an indication that they'll _probably_ give good service, but don't forget that if they know Molly is a sizable youtuber (which seems pretty likely to me) it's just advertising. Consider your options is all I'm saying.
@@Huntracony true you got a good point but I just in general would check out this hotel in the future the rooms look pretty good and looks like it has decent space
Him going straight to that bed was adorable and made my day 🥺💜
HE'S JUST SO CUTE!!!!
I think a HUGE example of how using a guide dog is constant training and a never ending task of practice and work is how Gallop basically ended up retiring. I remember in a video Molly explained that during the pandemic she practiced safety and stayed inside for the most part, thus never giving Gallop the opportunity to do the job he was trained to do and in turn losing his motivation to work.
I'm so glad you and the sweet baby boy found eachother. It's a perfect fit. I'm so excited to see how well he'll adjust once you get home
He’s been training for her for years :) that’s how I see it! They been waiting for each other :)
Tip to cool any canned drinks quickly- wrap a damp (not soaking) paper towel around the can and stick in the fridge (or freezer) for 10-15 minutes and it'll cool it pretty quickly
ALSO make sure if you put it in the freezer, you set an alarm, carbonated drinks explode in freezing areas
Being from Quebec I’m really disappointed that someone did that to Bennix… We get so much education all the time and that an adult did that anyway seeing that he was Mira is just sad!
I am so curious as to why he was sent back. Molly said that she didn't mind it at all, but said she didn't want to disclose the reason. I respect her privacy, but I still can't help my natural human curiosity. Bennix is so perfect and sweet. I can't imagine a fault bad enough to warrant sending him back.
Congratulations on the journey you’ve both had together this far, but this is still only just the beginning, so I can’t wait for more 🐾🐶❤️🐼
It truly is just the beginning
Aww, Bennix seems so emotionally in tune with you during this video. When you were on the hotel bed he looked like he wanted to jump up and comfort you. I know it’s been a hard journey but I’m glad for you that this leg of it is over.
I love seeing his energy, he is just such a cutie. Molly, I am incredibly proud of you! I thought you needed to hear it. PS I would absolutely report the staff member. I believe all airport staff should be trained on the proper way to interact with guide dogs/ working dogs. NOt that hard, I taught my daughter when she was very little that she may not pet or get the attention of dogs that are wearing their harness and are working.
And even if not explicitly being taught so (I was not), in general it is not advised to approach a dog (you don’t know) without permission of the owner anyway. I thought that was common sense but then I realized maybe I know that only because I grew up with dogs big and small. I don’t know about staring though. I don’t know how distracting it can be for working dogs to be looked at, while casually looking at an average dog is usually fine obviously.
Absolutely!!! I am always distracted by doggos,
But no matter if they are services animals or “regular doggos” I always stay away unless I am given permission! Very unprofessional! I would be super upset
Did you know that Benelux stands for “BElgium, NEtherlands, LUXemburg”? It’s a term for those 3 countries in Europe. 😊
Getting praise from people who actually know what they're talkiing about is so heartwarming! Like so many times if you get compliments as a blind person it's for the weirdest things, like being able to dress yourself... So to actually hear that you have done something "properly" within the means available to you, it'ss rare to get tht feeling of getting real praise and coming to terms with the fact that you might actually be deserving of it.
Dogs and toys are so funny... My pup's favourite game is tug, so he will play tug with anything soft or anything rubber. But if I leave a tug rope out, he will chew it to smitherines! At the same time he has this big teddy bear that he is so careful with and only chews on just before bedtime. And he usually brings the teddy to me if he thinks it's time to go to bed (and has at one point brought it to me when I was sick, trying to make me feel better). But my parents' dog, same breed, is an absolute marodeur and will destroy basically ANY toy.
Negative comparisons are the thieves of joy thank you for clarifying the difference between comparisons because there is so much negative comparisons that just causes toxicity and hate; which the world is full enough of. We need more positivity kindness and love towards each other and towards animals. Positive comparisons is totally healthy because it lets everyone see the good in everyone.
I think it's important to acknowledge the differences. The reason being if there isn't a "Gallop 3" next time it's going go be way harder
I have to laugh when your talking about the tail wags. My first service dog, a German shepherd, was and still is all business and very seldom wags her tail. My second dog, a poodle mix, came to me only for me to put task work on him for him to move on to his family and ended up mine when the contract fell through. He was VERY much like Gallop, did not wag his tail pretty much at all UNLESS I asked him “who has a happy tail?” He would then wag that tail so hard I was sure he would fly away lol. He unfortunately suddenly passed away very suddenly in July. He retired about 2 years ago from public but still LOVED to work at home. I again have a poodle mix and he’s not quite middle ground of the two but close to it. I wish you all the best with Bennix
Absolutely love Bennix! He’s a cutie boo❤️ Hope he’ll be the most amazing guide for you Molly❤️❤️
So far, he's incredible!! I couldn't have asked for a better one!
He seems like such a sweet, wonderful dog and he already seems so bonded with you, it's crazy! I'm so very glad that he can find his working partner and forever home with you!
Molly I just wanted to tell you that I am a kindergarten teacher and we were reading a book that had a person who is blind. In the illustration they had a guide dog and a cane. My students had so many questions about it and we talked a lot about these tools. I had lots of information to tell them about it because of watching your videos. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
As a fellow woman with a disability it really hit me in the feels when you said “I worked really hard growing up to have the skills that I do.” Same sister, same.
I totally relate to the power of being complimented by people who know from professional experience how difficult navigating your life is.
congrats! im physically disabled and hope to get a medical detection service dog for my fainting :) im so happy to see you get your freedom back and hope i can have something similar soon! lots of love from the uk!
Good luck on your journey towards a service dog! Do know that alerts for fainting are natural alerts, so a dog either has it or not. It cannot be trained, unless they know for sure that you give off a certain smell right before you faint and sadly that is something that is rarely ever found. Any service dog school saying that they deliver dogs that alert perfectly before placing (except for diabetic alert dogs) is a scam. Service dog schools that train for seizures or fainting actually train a response and/or micro reaction in the dogs. I have an alert and response dog myself and I got very lucky that my boy alerts to all that I need perfectly, but originally his main training was in response to my medical issues and not as an alert. When we got linked he showed potential alerts within the first month, though. Of course at the time I didn't call it an alert, as you need a minimum of 5 months of logging potential alerts before truly being able to call it an alert.
I just got very very lucky and I hope you can get what you hope for/ need in a service dog too.
If there's anything you'd have questions about feel free to ask me anything either here or on my service dog's social media (@koda.the.helper.dog on fb and ig). I know the laws for the UK by heart too, so that shouldn't be an issue even though I am from Belgium and not the UK (used to travel there and hope to go back to the UK soon)
You know I think that for Molly, this time around, having a dog that was a little more experienced and had extra training is even more helpful. She's in constantly changing environments with all her travels so Bennex had a little more exposure to help with that. Honestly, all of Molly's dogs have always been amazing and been exactly who and what she needed when she needed it. Welcome home Bennix
i don’t think you could ever compare dogs. each dog served you the love and assistance you needed for that time in your life❤️ all unique in their own ways
I love the bond that you and Bennix already have 💕 but please report the airport worker because it’s not okay she did that! She needs to learn not to disturb a working dog
I'll never understand people's bad comments about animals. It reminds me of people's negative comments with children. It's pointless. They are the most innocent and pure thing on this planet. Stop with the negativity.
The way bennix was smiling so big at you while you were crying about how happy he makes you, literally brought me to tears💕🥺 this is the first step into a beautiful happy life with your new baby👏🏽 I cannot wait from gallop and bennix to meet👏🏽
For*
As a black lab owner, I am glad that you have gotten another Labernese. They really are so sweet and loving and great at sensing when you need a cuddle because you are upset.
I really appreciate you keeping in the part where you got emotional after graduation. I am not blind and I definitely romanticized the idea of having a guide dog and this series has really educated me and set me straight on what having a guide dog would be like and the struggles as well as the fact that having a guide dog gives you so much freedom but you work so hard in order to get a guide dog and achieve that freedom.
Seriously convinced that’s the best hotel on earth. They are so sweet.
Beside the fact you're such a good guide dog handler, you're an amazing owner to your dogs - some people get dogs just to put them outside and alert, when somebody comes nearby their house, but you're giving them the most important thing - love
I’m picking up my service dog in less than 3 weeks! All of these videos are definitely giving me new pup fever, I can’t wait! You two seem to have settled in nicely, I can’t wait to see you both grow together!
Best of luck to you and your new pup ❤️
I started crying when you said “I can’t believe someone could bring him back.” I have a cat who was given up when she was 7 years old bc the owner’s partner was allergic 😾 she’s a lovely russian blue who is very needy. She’s been my friend through this whole pandemic situation and I will never give her up
I can’t imagine your relief on finding your Bennie. Being without your eyes for so long….. congratulations again. May this relationship be long and beautiful.
He seems like such a perfect guide for you Molly!!! I'm so happy God saved him for you🥰🥰🥰
He is perfect
Glad Bennix did so well with the overly excited airport staff person. I don’t have a guide dog, do have a large german shepherd. I’ve been so fortunate recently with people asking if they can greet him. A person stopping and asking first is considerate, and much safer. Also, I was taught to ignore a dog who was working. Surprised an airport employee didn’t know this.
It completely makes sense that praise from someone with experience in the field is extra impactful. So glad for you getting that validation, and taking it to heart!
Whoever does the voice-over deserve a gold star I don't know why but I love it.
Bennix is gorgeous 😍 I'm not surprised the veterinarian was impressed with how healthy & beautiful he looks. I love his spunk Molly, I think his sass is just enough to keep you smiling as you navigate the world together. So happy for you. Has he met Lavender yet?
I love that he loved gallops hedgehog toy so much, I bet it’s cause he smelled gallop and it’s like he knows how important gallop was to you 💖
Molly, you are incredible-- being this vulnerable on the internet while also dealing with all those feelings, after having put in all that work. Incredible.
So happy that you are having the silliness you need in your life with Bennix. It sounds like Gallop was all the seriousness you needed at that time of your life and you're getting this with Bennix.
When you were crying about how getting Bennix gave you your life back, I started crying too - because that's how I felt when I got my wheelchair, and my disabled parking placard. I still want to cry sometimes when I use them. It's so much more trouble to deal with - but it's also so liberating (my wheelchair is actually named Libby for that reason).
I think something people don't understand about a lot of disabilities is that the accommodations we have aren't actually 'easy.' They make OUR lives better, but if someone who didn't have that disability tried to use them, it would end up being WAY more trouble than it's worth. But for us it's lifechanging.
I'm so happy you have the tool you need to live your life fully.
Lots of love and good luck to you and Bennix on your new journey together 🥰
OMG Molly! Bennix is so cute! I definitely love Bennix already. He seems like a sweet boy
Still can't get over the fact that there's a beer called Benelux. As a European, I only associate BeNeLux with Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg (the political union of these countries is called BeNeLux-Union). Anyway, Benelux is an amazing dog and he definitely will do an amazing job in guiding you and being your companion. Just like Gypsy and Gallop, but in his own way ❤
So cute! Bennelux smiled at the camera as you set down his water and told us how he doesn't have to be told to drink. Awww. Smotchies!
I’m loving that baby B is a great guide dog but also seems to be a great emotional support animal. When you were crying, he was just right there staring at you and making sure you were ok. He’s so sweet and attentive for you.
You and his bond is a unique one that will never be broken. Bennix is a one of a kind that God made especially for you. With the current state of the world people tend to be prone to depression and sedentary lifestyle. Bennix’s personality will be great and not allow that to happen. I have 2 80+ pound part lab/Rottweiler fur babies that sleep with me at night, a brother/sister rescue pair. This is my first time having a dog, much less 2, sleep with me but what great comfort! I look forward to watching y’all’s journey unfold.
Ahhh, I am so excited to see all the videos with your new guide dog. Thank you for making videos and having all of that positivity, in the time of COVID and social distancing you really make me smile!!! Love you!
Bennix smiled in the background at one point and because his fur is so dark I couldn’t see his eyes and I could only see his big happy smile! He is an adorable pup and I hope you and Bennix are settling in nicely to home 😊
The itching could definitely be a stress/tension release. He’s been going through lots of changes so I wouldn’t be surprised if that goes away on its own as he settles in.
THANK YOU FOR NOT APOLOGIZING FOR CRYING AND FOR KEEPING THAT PART IN.
Love Bennix, but am not a beer fan no matter how cute the canine namesake is. So happy for Molly to have successfully moved on in this journey.
I didn’t know Gypsy at all, and haven’t had too long to get to know Gallop since subscribing. So really, I *couldn’t* compare them even if I wanted to. But something about the way he jumped up on the bed with barely a hand motion, and the way he looked up at you from the floor of the airplane, I instantly fell in love with Bennix. Oh my goodness, he’s just the absolute SWEETEST and I’m SO incredibly happy you both have each other! 💜
Could you please give him an extra little squeeze & a cuddle - and maybe an extra treat for me? 🐾
I'm bawling happy tears right now with Molly. It makes me so happy to see Bennix giving Molly the love she needs at this point in her life, especially after such a rough year. He really has a stress relieving presence, just like Gallop. He brings so much joy! I've loved seeing the bond grow between Molly and Bennix and I think God saved him for Molly too. They're a perfect team. ❤
Bienvenue chez toi Molly et Bennix! Molly I thought of you yesterday when our aquabus driver had on 'killer bee' pants! Gold coloured with little bees all over them! Wish you all the best with Bennix and all your work to come re condo.
I've been absolutely loving this series. Thank you for all that you do Molly ❤️
Molly I understand the pain of loosing a service dog. We lost my grandson first service dog. We have a second on but we love her very much.
I hope you two have a great life together
I'm confident we will
He is the new king of the beehive. Amazing bonding between you 2
You can tell a huge difference in your happiness/stress level. Your voice sounds more upbeat and certain and you are smiling a lot more too. So happy for you!
Awww Bennix was adorable when you were crying, he was like ‘is Mummy ok? Her eyes are leaking, I think she needs me, but oh I can't jump up until she says so. Maybe if I go to the other side she will ask me to come up, Mummy are you ok, I love you Mummy. Oh thank goodness, I can get up, oh she is ok - why we're her eyes leaking then - I know, I will give her cuddles so they stop leaking’ watching his thought process was adorable!
I appreciate that you felt comfortable with your audience to share that emotional speech.
Just because a change is good doesn't mean that it isn't difficult to process.
I recently witnessed a dear friend moving out on her own for the first time, and she has been doing so much to make sure she is financially ready while also doing full time grad school.
I have been trying to be helpful in reminding her to give herself grace. Not everything she does will be perfect the first time and that's ok.
Her family and I think she is doing great, but as many of us, she is usually harder on herself.
You are so blessed to find your dog guides. All of them have been so special for you and even for us that have seen your journey. Bennix is such a special guide dog and so beautiful and lovable and I am glad he is bringing a smile to you again such as Gypsy and Gallop did, which are the dogs I knew by seeing your videos. I love your smile Molly and all good things come when is God's time and we are patient. I am glad that you didn't rush to find the right match and now you have it. God Bless you always. I can't wait to know more about Bennix. I am a disabled 59 yrs old lady and I had a cat for 12 yrs that made me so happy and emotionally made me feel so special. When I heard your story about Gypsy which made me emotional I felt like someone felt the same way almost as when I lost Coco, Coco was not guiding me physically but he guided my emotions in accepting my disability with his love and companionship. Like you said about Gypsy, maybe someday I can have another kitty that might fill my heart as much as Coco did without thinking about replacement. I can't ever replace that kitty ever in my life. Your story inspires me. Thanks a lot.
It is always nice to have validation from people you look up too!!!
Absolutely!! And from people who really know what they're talking about! It's one thing when your mom or best friend say something nice, but it's totally different when someone knowledgeable on the topic validates your efforts!!
@@MollyBurkeOfficial Yeah it totally hits different. Congratulations on getting where you are today. Most of us don't stop and really allow ourselves to take in how far we have come in our individual experiences. I glad for you that you where able to hear that and really take it in.
That hotel is the sweetest and most thoughful
i can't wait to see Gallop and Bennix meeting. that should be verry cute
Thanks for mentioning the bit about being praised for your skill by Mira. It's definitely one of those "you don't know, what you don't know" things and really helps sighted people understand that there is so much more going on than just adopting a well trained dog.
You do such a beautiful job with your dogs. Your tears are a wonderful detox for your stressful experience. Blessings and happy times with your baby beni🥰🤗🙏🦚🐕🦺
"Still not my jam, but its somebodys jam"
So happy for you and Bennix!
Bennix is doing so well. I am so glad you have both found each other.
You are not a good dog handler. You are an awesome dog handler, Molly. Belive it. We can all see it on your videos. And you're so sweet. I'm so proud of you. Bennix is so lucky to have you as his mom. Lots of love and hugs to both of you from Norway.
Ahhh, im not crying... you are 😭😭 Hugs and love to you & our new baby!
Bennix is so HAPPY!! I think the personality he has is so big! 💙💙💙 I can't wait to see more of you two together. I also can't wait to see Gallop meet Bennix!! 😁😁😁
The Seattle Airport has the best dog area! Its completely enclosed, has a water spout for you to use, a nice large seat against the wall, the grass area is huge and theres plenty space around it so a wheelchair could fit and not go on the grass and then theres a sink so you can wash your hands!!
I've been showing my daughter these vlogs and using it to educate her about guide and service dogs. She absolutely things bennix is the cutest and most amazing dog on the planet (I've got to agree he is pretty darn awesome!)
He is such a cutie and seems to be a wonderful sweetheart.
such a great pair!!! I can't wait to see more of Bennix
Bennix is gorgeous and seems like a total sweetheart. So happy you got him and are very happy with him!
Aw I'm so glad that Bennix is settling in well and loving his new home. He's going to be spoiled rotten by you Molly and all us Killer Bees are loving him!
Every dog has their own individual personalities and energy.
I love your new dog!!! He’s beautiful!!
Hi Molly! I know this is probably pre filmed and Nico has already left, but since I watched the video where you talk with Nicholas about training I've been so interested. I am a sighted viewer from Argentina and service has always been my passion. Right now I am finishing my studies to be a flight attendant but I know it is not a career for life since is very tiring and taxing on your body. This series you've been doing made me realize the amazing work that is done with guide and service dogs and I would love to, in a future, help train this beatiful companions! I was wondering if you could ask Nico what skills or carreer paths would be necessary or convinient for someone like me who would like to train dogs.
Love you, Molly! Keep the nice work and sending you the best luck with sweet Bennix!
PS: as an almost flight attendant (hehe) I cannot believe the airport staff would be so unprofessional. This is something we are taught from the very begining of our studies and you should absolutely report it!
Hi Marcia:
I'm not Molly, but I am a guide dog handler with over two decades of experience as well as intimate knowledge of the guide dog field. I hope what I am about to share will be of some help to you.
First, while it is great that you are interested in training service/guide dogs, you need to know that it is an extremely physically and emotionally taxing job, in some respects much more so than being a flight attendant. In guidework for example, depending upon the organization, you can be working up to ten dogs at a time, all at various paces and levels of pull. You are out in all weather conditions--rain, snow, sun, etc. But while loving dogs is great, you MUST love working with people more to do this job well. You must be okay with the amount of stress that say, a guide dog, must be put through to learn to be someone's eyes. Your ultimate goal is to help make the lives of humans better, which takes priority over dog training. This does not mean that the dogs' well-being isn't important--it is, but the clients for whom the dogs will be providing service must always be the first reason you do this.
You must be comfortable with being around all kinds of people and obviously, people with disabilities. You would be working with a variety of people, and people come with baggage. As Molly has said in numerous videos, getting a guide dog is an intense and emotional experience, and each handler deals with it differently depending on a variety of factors. You must be very comfortable with yourself emotionally because you will have clients who are angry, hurt, don't like their dogs initially--or never--and who may take some of that out on you. The bonding process isn't always smooth, and I know this from firsthand experience. (It took two years for me to completely bond with and love my second guide, for example. We ultimately had a successful and long relationship together, but I nearly gave up multiple times; it helped that I had incredibly patient and empathetic trainers who never took my misgivings, despair, and frustration personally.)
You also must be comfortable with the idea of failure. In guide dog work for example, the failure rate can be very high; many teams will graduate, then for a number of reasons not work out. Matching a handler and dog is not an exact science, it is part science and part art. Dog matches don't always work out in class, even when you think you've made the best choices.
I can't speak for other areas of service work, but as a guide dog instructor, you are also expected to travel and provide follow-up support for graduates as well as interview prospective applicants. It is a rewarding career but can require plenty of time on the road, so having a good support system is critical.
Most service dog trainers have some kind of college degree, but the important thing is they have worked with and love people; volunteer get involved with something in the disabled community is a good starting place.
If you are specifically interested in guide dog training, there is a book called Forward Together: An Inside Look At Guide Dog Training by Christie Bane that is worth reading. It is very long and technical, but it was written by a senior guide dog mobility instructor who now has over three decades of experience in the industry. You can find it on Kindle/Amazon.
Other suggestions: Reach out to other service dog trainers, get to know a variety of service/guide dog teams, and if possible raise a service dog puppy.
It isn't easy, but if you have the passion and determination, it can be a rewarding career. Good luck.
@@khanhhm5762 oh my god Khanh, thank you so so much for this detailed response! I will be absoltely taking every suggestion, starting with that book! The more I read about this, the more interested and passionate I get. Best wishes!
@@marciapatt4428 I am glad you found it useful. Good luck. It is an extremely difficult area of work to get into, and I do not know if there are any guide dog schools where you live. It is one thing to read about it, though I am glad that you are interested (which is a good place to start). I will tell you that having spoken with many young instructors over the years and worked with them, many do leave because of burn out.. You really don't know if this is the right kind of work for you until you actually get into it. Do not just read about it. Get involved in the disabled community. It is not just about dog training, more about people training. The most critical part of a guide dog mobility instructor's job, for example, is making the right match between dog and person. The most well-trained dog can look like the worst dog if placed with the incorrect person.. One can be the best dog trainer, but not necessarily make an effective guide or service dog instructor. In her book, Christie Bane freely admits that she is an average dog trainer, but she loves this career because it is all about people. (You can look up her website, and email her if you are very serious.)
Even if you ultimately do not become an instructor, there are still many ways to contribute to the service dog industry. Puppy raising, for example. That can be incredibly rewarding, and it is the hardest part of the dog training aspect because you are shaping a young dog to potentially be a future worker. But the wealth of experiences and lessons you will learn along the way are invaluable, not to mention there is an incredible community of people out there. I have had the pleasure of meeting and befriending many wonderful puppy raisers, some who have gone on to become trainers, many who are content to do what they do. I mean, who doesn't love cute little puppies?
Molly, I love you so much! I’m so happy for you both! 💜💜💜 I could listen to you talk all day because you’re so real and authentic. We don’t know what it’s like to be each other, but we both know what it’s like to feel pain and joy… 🙂
Oh this hurts now
It really does.. just watching this crying
I can relate to getting emotional when you're being praised! I studied art therapy in graduate school, which has been my passion since high school. I did really well at first, getting good grades, making friends, and showing proficiency in my clinical skills. However, I experienced something during my journey that shook my faith in my abilities so badly that I almost quit. I decided to stick it out and I'm so glad I did. I was given a lot of praise in my last year in the program as I completed my final art show, my thesis, and my internship. People recognized strengths in me that I was too down on myself to see. I see you. I see your strength and skills. You rock!
❤️