Have Dog, Will Travel

Have Dog, Will Travel is a memoir by poet and scholar Stephen Kuusisto about getting his first guide dog at age 38. The book chronicles his journey from reluctantly hiding his blindness to embracing life with a guide dog named Corky. The narrative follows Kuusisto through the intensive training process at a guide dog school and his early experiences navigating the world with his new companion. His transformation includes learning to work with Corky, adjusting to increased visibility as a blind person, and discovering new independence. Through his story of bonding with Corky, Kuusisto explores disability rights, public perceptions of blindness, and human-animal relationships. The memoir offers insights into the complexities of disability identity and the profound impact of the human-animal bond on personal growth and self-acceptance.

Readers connect with Kuusisto's honest portrayal of gaining independence through his guide dog Corky. They appreciate his poetic writing style and descriptions of how a guide dog partnership develops. Readers specifically note: - Clear explanations of guide dog training - Insights into the blind experience - The bond between human and animal - Balance of humor and emotion Common criticisms: - Too much focus on poetry and academic life - Some sections feel repetitive - Wanted more details about daily life with a guide dog Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (346 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (116 ratings) From readers: "He captures the transformative power of the human-animal bond without being sentimental" - Goodreads reviewer "Could have used more practical examples of navigating with a guide dog" - Amazon reviewer "His lyrical descriptions helped me understand the blind experience" - LibraryThing reviewer

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Trusting Calvin by Sharon Peters A blind man's journey with his guide dog provides insights into the training process and daily realities of working with a guide dog.

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Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson A blind man and his guide dog's escape from the World Trade Center on September 11 reveals the depth of the human-animal bond and the capabilities of working dogs.

A Dog Named Beautiful by Rob Kugler A Marine veteran's cross-country journey with his terminally ill dog parallels themes of companionship, mobility, and finding purpose through human-animal connections.

🐾 Stephen Kuusisto was legally blind since birth but denied his disability for decades, refusing to use a white cane or guide dog until he was 38 years old. 🐾 The author's guide dog, Corky, was a yellow Labrador trained by Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York, one of only 11 accredited guide dog schools in the United States. 🐾 After getting Corky, Kuusisto's life changed dramatically - he went from barely leaving his apartment to traveling extensively and eventually becoming a public speaker and disability rights advocate. 🐾 Guide dogs are taught "intelligent disobedience," meaning they must sometimes refuse their handler's commands if following them would put the team in danger. 🐾 The title "Have Dog, Will Travel" is a play on the 1950s TV series "Have Gun, Will Travel," reflecting how the guide dog gave the author newfound freedom and mobility.