It was with fear and trepidation that I returned to Guiding Eyes for the Blind for the October/November 1998 class. I was to train with my third guide dog.

I trained with my first guide dog, Future Grace, a Golden Retriever, in September, 1989 and had a wonderful experience -- not only at the training center, but for the next 8 years. She was retired in September, 1997 because of cancer and died three months later.

I then trained with Wheaton Grace, A lovable black Lab, in February, 1998. She retired in June, 1998 because of seizures.

I felt anxious about being able to commit to another dog after such a disappointment. I had neither the naivete of the first-time trainee, nor the high expectations I had prior to training with my second dog.

Living in a dormitory with eleven men and women you've never met can cause some stress. A mutual friend put me in touch with another woman several weeks before class when he realized we'd both be at GEB at the same time. Pat and I had several phone visits and looked forward to training together. I was pleased to find we were roommates. That was one worry gone.

My February class supervisor, Lynn Robertson, was teamed up with Melinda Angstrom and Andrea Martine. These three high-energy women were professional, enthusiastic and excellent dog trainers. They warmly welcomed me back and helped me settle into the routine. I liked them immediately. Another worry gone.

During the first few days, they talked with each of us and got to know us as individuals. They learned what our personal needs were, how fast we walked and where we'd be living, working and traveling.

The previous four months, each trainer worked with ten dogs. They were trying to make the best match of canine and human in order to create a successful team. As a classmates said, "We come with two legs and leave with six legs and a tail."

I was matched with an 85-pound, black, female Labrador Retriever named Finch. We trained in White Plains -- walking on sidewalks, stopping at curbs, crossing six-lane highways and going through a revolving door.

In Manhattan, we rode the subway, took a bus, walked in Central Park and had lunch at a restaurant. I knew I'd accepted this new dog into my heart when I started thinking of her as "my Finchlee Grace."

I planned and plotted exactly how I would introduce my new guide dog to my retired dog, Wheaton. Although they're both female, black Labs about the same size and weight, I wanted to be as sure as possible that they would be friends.

Wheaton's puppy raiser wasn't able to take her back and I couldn't find a good retirement home for her. I knew that Guiding Eyes for the Blind would take her back and find her a home, and yet, our bonds were strong and I wanted to keep her.

It was about 10:00 p.m. when we arrived home from Yorktown Heights, New York following graduation. My son, Paul, stayed in the van with Finchlee, as my husband, Dave, guided me into our house. Wheaton couldn't wag her tail fast enough or rub against me enough, just like a cat. There was no sign of reproach for being gone three weeks. Is there any other reunion more open and joyful than a dog greeting her master?

I then went back to the van and put Finchlee on lead. My son guided me down the driveway and onto the street. Finchlee piddled at our mailbox and we went for a short walk.

Meanwhile, my husband leashed Wheaton and walked down the driveway, stopping at the mailbox. The dogs saw each other across the street as I headed back south and they headed north. We stopped and talked for a moment before Dave brought Wheaton across the road to us.

I talked softly to the girls as they sniffed each other. Before they started to get frisky, we walked up the driveway together and into the house.

The rest of the night, Wheaton slept at Dave's side of the bed where she'd been during my absence. Finchlee was on my side, curled up on a small rug.

On Sunday, as Dave and I held hands, we went for a walk -- with the girls on-lead -- along the street that would become my routine walk. It was a calm time for the girls to do something together and for Finchlee to get familiar with my neighborhood route. In the house, we kept each dog on-leash, letting them occasionally sniff each other. I didn't feel comfortable about letting them have free play; not just yet.

Monday, after Dave left for work, I sat at the breakfast table for a long time. Finchlee lay on my left and Wheaton on my right. What in heaven's name was I going to do with two 85-pound dogs?

Take it slowly, my trainer's words came back to me. "Do obedience everyday." And that's what I did. Each dog has a tie-down in our "training room," formerly the game room. Each, in her turn, is put through sit-stays, sit-downs, sit-recalls and several other exercises. If one barks, she hears my stern "Quiet!" After grooming and a piddle break, they get to watch me do my exercises on the floor and treadmill.

At first, I tried to heel them, holding both leashes, and going from room to room. But I found it difficult to walk when wound up like a May Pole. I soon realized that I couldn't handle this. Wheaton is so very laid-back, I tried voice commands on her and it worked.

At the top of the stairs, I say "sit" and they both sit. After "Wheaton wait," I say "Finchlee heel" and go down. At the bottom, we stop and I call "Wheaton, come," and she does. It's like choreographing a ballet. The more we work together, the more graceful we get.

Each dog seems to know her role and willingly does what is asked of her. Wheaton Grace is content to be an at-home friend and companion, while Finchlee Grace enjoys being in harness and going out in the world.

It will take six months to a year to become a really smooth working team. You can help me train Finchlee by remembering not to pet her or talk to her or otherwise distract her when she's in harness. But, I'd find it helpful if you were to tell me things about my environment, such as, "You're approaching the stairs up (or down)." "There's a loose dog on your left." "I'm holding the door open for you."

So, do hail us and introduce yourself -- but don't let her pleading "pet me" eyes get you into trouble!

Kate Chamberlin is a vivacious guest lecturer for all age groups. Contact her at kathryngc@juno.com. She is the author of a children's print/braille book, "The Night Search." Order the book from www.nb.net/~turtlbks