We’d had Charlie for a couple of weeks, when my grandparents-in-law and aunt-in-law decided to pay me a visit at work. My husband’s grandfather loved dogs, and was really anxious to meet Charlie.
Because I had felt bad about leaving Charlie at home all day while Bob and I worked, I had been bringing him to work with me. We hadn’t had him very long, and we weren’t yet sure about leaving him alone in the house for so long each day. He was still a puppy – a 95 lb. puppy – but a puppy nonetheless. He would stay in the car, and I would go out on my breaks and at lunch to take him for walks. I figured it was better than leaving him in his crate all day. It was autumn, so the weather was cool outside. And he loved (still does!) being in the car.
Anyway, the family showed up at my workplace, so I went outside with them to introduce everyone to Charlie. My husband’s grandfather was very excited. He had heard us talking about Charlie the blind dog, and how we had driven all the way to Utah to get him. I attempted to explain to them that he was still a bit nervous around new people, because of all the changes he’d been through recently. And I asked them not to crowd around me while I got him out of the car.
So much for that! I opened the door and reached in to put on his leash. When I backed up to give him room to get out, all three of them were standing right behind me. Charlie didn’t know who they were, and didn’t like them all crowded around us. So, before I realized what he was doing and where they were, he lunged out at them and snapped at Bob’s grandmother.
Fortunately, he didn’t connect with her, but he did just about give her a heart attack. I felt really bad for both the family and Charlie, for different reasons. I felt bad for them, because I know that that was a pretty scary first impression of our new child. And it took quite a while before the grandmother ever trusted Charlie.
However, I hated that Charlie had made such a bad first impression with them. I had explained to them that they needed to stand back and not crowd him, but I guess in their excitement, they didn’t hear me. I really do feel that if they had stayed where I asked them to, their first meeting would have gone much better.
All I can say is thank God for second and third chances, because as you will read in future stories, they all became good friends. Charlie loved the grandparents, and enjoyed visiting them in their home and, later, in the nursing home. Even Bob’s grandmother trusted and loved Charlie, saying that she thought he was a really good dog.