Seeing eye dogs, volunteers bond during training

Diane Clarke calmly stroked the 10-week-old Labrador in her arms, but Ida would have none of it. She wiggled and wriggled, a slippery black ball of fur.

The Stevensville woman continued consoling the still-whimpering pup as she placed her into the black metal crate one January night during a training class in Bowie.

Seven months later, Ida is about four times bigger. On Saturday, she was led into a crate on the deck of the Annapolis Harbour Center. This time there was no yelping, no squirming -- Ida just sat obediently.

"She's turned out to be a wonderful dog," Mrs. Clarke said.

But Ida still has a lot of training...