Après Moi le Deluge!:

Hoping to get Suki out for a well-deserved run, I looked hesitantly at the dark clouds coming in from the west and decided to chance it. And determined to outwit my increasingly cunning golden retriever who is beginning to make an automatic left turn for the basketball court rather than go straight, I decided to go to pick up the mail first and then go for a run.

I was lucky I made that choice. As we ascended the steps to the grocery store and mailboxes, the skies opened up and within seconds a noisy and drenching downpour began. Suki stood in fascination, watching as sheets of rain poured down, and everyone came outside to watch as all the drainage ditches filled up and became rushing torrents.

“Sorry, Suki. No run today.” It was more than ten minutes before we were able to think about walking home again. We returned home with Suki determinedly shaking herself every few meters to attempt to rid herself of the drops still clinging to her fur. I couldn’t resist photographing her standing on the edge of our bridge: the noisy rushing water just slightly below the edge. A few more centimeters and we will be washed out!

Tipping the Scales at 32 Kilo 200 Grams

We had a big day yesterday: our first real visit to the vet for a shot. I didn’t really mind half as much as Bracha thought I would. She told me I had to have it so that I wouldn’t get sick.
First of all, the vet gave me a treat. That already started me off on good rapport with him. Then he gave me the shot, but Bracha held me and stroked me, so I knew everything would be OK. Then I got another treat from Bracha afterwards. So, by my reckoning, two treats was worth that little pin prick.

Then I got weighed. Wow! I gained a little more than two kilo since I left Beit Oved. That’s OK because I think I looked and felt a little thin and stressed out after those three weeks of hard work on the course. And maybe a bit is due to those avocados I keep stealing off the ground whenever I get a chance. They are irresistible, but er, I don’t think they’re very good for me because sometimes I feel a bit sick after I eat them. But I guess I’ve still got my girlish figure because people keep telling me I’m pretty. Goodness knows, I love to eat, but I don’t want to get fat! Who needs a fat guide dog?

I guess I really have a weakness for food. And the clicker. Bracha even got me to go past the corner where I thought I saw/smelled that ??? again. I kept stopping every few meters because I really didn’t want to go, run in the green field or no run, but Bracha kept coaxing me on with a click and a treat until suddenly we were in the middle of the green field again. Than Bracha let me run. I still don’t like the ??? but I guess with enough persuasion and of course, tidbits, I can forget about it and keep walking. But Bracha knows that I really, really, don’t like that flat wagon with the men on it and the buckets of funny green fruit and all those barking dogs. There are too many of them. And they all speak Thai.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Bracha got that idea of using the clicker on me when I pull the sit-down-and-don’t- budge maneuver from Ami. Bracha knows darn well she can’t move 32 kilo of golden retriever that is glued to the ground with concrete without the clicker. Ami could use a clicker to get me to do just about anything – even go up and down escalators for the first time!

And am I ever glad he did. I love them.

The Solution: Click!

After numerous instances of what I have begun to call the frozen dog episodes in which S|Uki freezes and will not move, I decided to consult with Ami. I described to him the numerous incidents in which Suki refuses to budge - all of them in Ben Ami where she evidently encounters a lot of things that she is not familiar with from her previous trainins and life with her foster family in Tel Aviv. Some of these I have not been able to identify : others such as the yard full of dogs and a wagon with buckets of anona fruits sitting on our road, are very obvious and Suki does not want to approach them.

Not surprisingly, Ami suggested that I work with the clicker and coax Suki to move forward, using positive reinforcement of the hand signal - a circular movement with a fist extended with a piece of food inside. So we set out in the direction of the green field again. This time I was determined to get Suki to go in and have a run.

At the corner Suki balked and would not turn right towards the field. It took about a half dozen clicks to get her to progress towards the entrance to the field. There she stopped and balked again. It took another half dozen clidks and rewards, short walks forward and praise and rewards, to get her far enough into the field to put on her collar, unclip her leash and harness and let her go. Suki ran happily in the field, once in a while spinning about to assess her surroundings, and she got her run. Hopefully that will be positive reinforcement enough to get her to go back there again.

So once again the clicker proves its worth. Ami also told me that three months after the end of the course they pay another home visit to see how things are going. We'll see what we have to show them by then.

A White Dog in a Green Field

Note: this is one of the pictures taken by Nurit Teitelman a year ago. Suki moves far too fast for me to follow her with my camera!

I think we are very fortunate to live on a moshav where there are so many places to run. I don't mean the basketball court: I mean the big open fields. Yesterday we went to a big empty field far from the road and I got to run free. There was high green grass and some nettles but I didn't mind because it was so much fun just to run back and forth as fast as I can. Occasionally I would come running back to Bracha and Barbi just to assure them that I knew where they were and that they were not lost in the field, and Bracha would give me a pat and a treat and send me off running again.

Today Bracha took me back to the big field again. I know she meant to let me go free again, but there was a ??? there and there was no way I was gonna go in, run or no run. I know Bracha was disappointed, but I don't think it was only the dog barking in the house next to the field that made me sit down and refuse to go. I hope Bracha will take me back there again when the ??? is not there any more. I would really like to run and leap in that field again.

Disappointed, I turned Suki around and headed home. Again, I saw nothing close enough for me to see that I could attribute as being the reason for Suki balking at the beginning of the field. Horses? An animal? A strange smell? Sorry, Suki, no run today. Your loss. Maybe some time we'll figure it out. But I will take you back there again.

If Only Bracha Knew...

The way I look at it, lots of people like dogs. In fact, they all seem to have had one. And they all seem to have had one “just like me”. I don’t understand how this can be. Lots of people come up to us and talk, and it usually goes like this:
- Oh, what a pretty dog. (in masculine! I"m a GIRL!)
- Actually, it’s a she….
- Oh, what a pretty dog! (This time in feminine). She’s a Labrador, right?
- No, she’s a golden retriever.
- Oh, I have a dog just like that.

How can everyone claim to have a dog just like me? Especially when they tell me that their dog behaves badly, barks, begs at the table, destroys things in the house, and all kinds of other things that I learned not to do ages ago. And if they have a dog just like me, how come they think I’m a Labrador like Sunny? Makes me wonder…and they all say their dog is terribly fat. Why don’t they make sure their dogs keep their trim figure like me?

Then come the other questions:
- Are you training her?
- -no, she’s my guide dog.
- Can I pet her?
- Please don’t. We’re about to cross the street and she’s working. Petting her disturbs her concentration. (Boy, does it ever! I’ve enough trouble trying to keep my mind off that little barking mouse on the corner and that piece of bread on the sidewalk without being distracted by people petting me on the head, making silly noises, and waving their hands in front of my eyes when I’m trying to look where we’re going.)

Hey, I thought "Aroma" coffeehouses were only for people, but I guess this one’s mainly for guide dogs because there’s a water bowl right outside for dogs to drink. Today the bowl for dogs outside was empty, but a nice man came to our table and brought me the bowl all filled up and held it for me while I drank. Then a lady brought coffee for Bracha, too. That was really nice of her to remember that Bracha was with me and wanted a drink, too!

I know that I am very good: getting on and off busses and trains is old hat by now and we do it like pros. Yesterday I stopped at every curb, walked nicely, evaded pedestrians, even found the way around a big scary truck that was blocking the entire sidewalk, and best of all, I decided to find our place on the bus even without being asked. I saw an empty seat and I turned right into it and lay down on the floor. Bracha praised me no end.

At the pool Bracha put me outside on an old towel in the sun with a brand new bone, and I was so happy that I didn’t even notice that she had left me and was swimming in the water again.

But that ????? at the gate of the moshav is freaking me out. When it’s there I just can’t get myself to keep going, and yesterday I sat down in the road, but Bracha said firmly that this was no place to sit and that it was dangerous, scolded me, grabbed my harness and made me go forward and get back up on the sidewalk. I was really sorry. It’s just too much to handle. After all, I may be well-trained and smart, but underneath it I’m only a dog.

If only Bracha knew what was there. Then she’d understand.

The Mystery Lurking at the Gate

Suki has been becoming easier and easier to work with. We seem to be moving closer and closer to being that “team” that everyone talks about. She anticipates many things: she leads me to the bench at bus stops, and yesterday we boarded a bus and before I could tell her to move into an empty seat, she found one, turned into it, and lay down on the floor. We have been to the pet store near Yael’s house only once, but when I approached it to buy a small sack of dog food to keep at Yael’s house, she pulled towards it eagerly. No doubt that in addition to remembering the location of the store, she also remembered the treats that the owner had given me for her. For Suki, food is a great incentive.

Suki’s great love for escalators - encouraged by Ami’s positive reinforcement during her training - has only increased with time. Each time we approach one, she eagerly pulls towards it, and stands on the metal plate in anticipation. Then we step on and the tail starts wagging as she gazes at the view of the ground below dropping away as we ascend. If she could, she’s shout “Wheeeeee!” She’s like a kid on a merry-go-round at an amusement park. She does, however, have a mind of her own, as I was warned when I asked what it would be like to have a golden retriever as a guide dog. She attempts to go places that she likes such as the basketball court or the pet store, the bakery (maybe she likes the smell and is hoping for a tidbit) and turns reluctantly away when cued to go elsewhere. I’m sure these places are well-etched into Suki’s mind.

However, there is something at the gate in the entrance to Ben Ami that makes Suki pull the “I won’t go” stunt. She actually sat down and refused to move. Since she did this on the side of the highway there was no way we could remain there, and I had to grab her harness and pull her up until we reached the safety of the sidewalk. This is obviously not acceptable, but there is something there that is spooking her. I have decided I will have to go there with a person who can see what is going on and maybe we can figure out what is bothering her.

30 Kilo of Golden Retriever Won't Budge

Yesterday the rain that had been falling incessantly for two days finally stopped, and I decided it was time to get out for a couple of good long walks. Eager to see the river after so much rain, I set out up our road towards the river. I had never taken Suki all the way up the road before because the last time I had tried it two strange dogs had come out and barked at us, and Suki had refused to go further.

Hoping for better results this time, we passed the four obnoxious pinchers at the corner who yapped at us as we passed. We then approached a house where there are no less than seven dogs behind a fence, and that was it. Suki did one of her dog statue things: she stood resolutely in place, and refused to go further.

"Suki, kadima." No go.

"Suki, yashar!" Still no go.

Forward leash correction and yet another command. Still no go.

I turned Suki around and tried a second approach. Suki went a bit further, realized what I was trying to do, and sat down firmly on the road.

I decided to try the tactic that my friend Carol had described that is sometimes effective with reluctant horses: I extended a dog treat in front of Suki and once again commanded her to go forward. Nope. She would go no further, and not even food would persuade her. She was evidently scared of those dogs, who were now all barking hysterically, either for her sake or mine. It seemed we had reached an impasse.

I turned Suki around and headed back down the road. Instead we went to the big green field on the other side of the moshav. Who am I to argue with 30 kilo of determined golden retriever?

I know that in principle it is not good to be in a situation where you have to give in to a dog. However, I saw no reason to fight this out with her. I do not have the physical strength to make her budge, and I would not have been able to move her forward without exerting harsh measures. I saw no point. If Suki thought those dogs would do me harm, than she was doing her job. And if she thought they will do her harm, well, she is a guide dog, but underneath that she is, after all, a dog.

"Take her hand and show her..." Oh, come on...

It’s all wet outside! For the last two days that water has kept coming down from the sky, and no matter how hard I shake myself it won’t stop. I keep looking back to see if Bracha will get the hint and do something to make it stop, but I guess she can’t. But it’s nice afterwards when we come home because she dries my back, tummy, and paws off and then I curl up and go to sleep.

Hooray! We went to the basketball court again anyway! There was no way I was gonna spend another day cooped up without a good run. I found something marvelous to play with over there, too: an old deflated basketball. Boy, did I have a great time! Every time Bracha called me and said “tnee” I dropped it at her feet and she made that clicking sound, praised me, and gave me a treat.

Then we went to Tzvi and I located the dowar as usual and put my nose right on the mailbox, and I got praised again, and Bracha was proud of me. Bracha tricked someone into thinking I understand those little squiggly marks on the mailboxes. She told them I knew our box was number 151. Psst! I don’t. It’s just that I know where our box is among all the boxes. Bracha opened it and there was a piece of paper in there and we went inside to get a registered letter.

Inside there was a lady holding forth and complaining to Tzvi about something or other, and we had to wait quietly and patiently until she finally started winding down. Bracha gave the piece of paper to Tzvi and he gave her the letter. Than he asked her to sign a piece of paper saying she had gotten the letter.
Bracha said, “Show me where to sign, Tzvi. I can’t see it.” So Tzvi took his pen and made an “X” near the little box where she was supposed to sign. Bracha tried to put the pen next to the X, but it was difficult for her to find the right place. Tzvi asked if Bracha wanted him to sign instead, but before Bracha could answer, suddenly the woman who had been complaining piped up again.

“No,” she said. “Take her hand and show her the right place.”

I didn’t understand why she didn’t talk to Bracha instead of telling Tzvi what to do. It was almost as if for her Bracha was a piece of furniture and not a real person and others have to speak for her and tell her what to do because she isn’t smart. It was creepy, like she saw me and assumed that because Bracha has a guide dog she also can’t hear or think for herself. (Let me tell you, I can’t even quietly chomp on a stolen avocado in the orchard without getting caught because no matter how quietly I chew, Bracha hears me and takes it away!)

Anyway, sure enough, it seemed that Bracha didn’t like her attitude at all, because she asked the lady, “Would you please speak to me directly? I don’t see very well, but I CAN hear.”

The lady must have felt just like I did when I got caught snitching the cookie off the coffee table the other day, because she didn’t answer and scuttled out the door in an awfully big hurry. Then Bracha told Tzvi she was tired of looking for the little box where she had to sign on the paper, and could he just sign it for her please? Evidently that’s what Bracha wanted in the first place. It seemed to me that was the smartest thing to do.

Then we left and walked home a new way down a street where there were lots of concrete blocks and parked cars, and I had to maneuver between them. And I know I did a good job.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

As they say, it is raining cats an dogs. This saying evidently comes from times when people had thatched roofs and if it rained hard enough, the dogs and cats who would sleep on the roof of the house, would fall into the house as the sodden thatch gave way under their weight.

Keeping an active young dog cooped up in the house in inclement weather is about as difficult as keeping small children occupied when they cannot go outside to play. Yesterday it poured all day, and today doesn’t look much better. Leaving aside our dire need for rain, it’s rough. We managed a couple of walks to the grocery store and back, and Suki longingly pulled towards the basketball court, but I quickly cued her to turn left and go back home. It was already drizzling again and the basketball court was no doubt a lake. Suki continually stopped to shake herself off and looked at me as if to say, “Can’t you do something about all this water coming down on me?” The front yard is good for kayaking and I wonder if the bridge at the end of our path will be washed out. Suki roams the house, engaging in occasional fits of running about. I kept her occupied with her favorite toy and bone and even did a couple of discipline lessons with her. I also taught her to present her paw and shake hands – just for fun. Later friends came to light Hanukah candles, and the children spoiled Suki and gave her a lot of attention. That even deterred her from the doughnuts on the table!


Last night was a three-dog night as described by the Aborigines – so cold you have to sleep with three dogs! Not only was it cold, but even Nuala, who usually likes to sleep outside, begged to come in from the downpour and try and get away from the thunder.

It's MY Party!

Well, Bracha told me it was my birthday. So naturally I assumed that, the whole party yesterday was for ME. The moment I walked into the room I saw that whole table filled with cakes, cookies, and doughnuts, and as far as I was concerned, it was my birthday party and all those people and all those goodies were there to celebrate for ME! So I did what was natural: I went up and grabbed a cookie. You can imagine my surprise when Bracha shouted a firm "No!" and took the cookie away and made me settle down in a corner. It then turned out that it was Hilla's birthday, too. But I was nevertheless treated nicely and petted and enjoyed myself, and I remembered my nice new bed at home. SO Happy birthday Hilla! We were born on the same day! And I hope you enjoyed the cakes!

Happy Birthday Suki!

The day that we met we were both scared and shy.
You looked a bit anxious, and hey, so was I!
You sat down beside me for the very first time.
I reached out to hold you and knew
That those long days of waiting were through.

So we walked in the sun and we walked in the rain
Through the gray city streets and down green country lanes.
We hiked on the sand dunes, we walked through the fields.
You led me and showed me the way
And I’m so glad that you’re here to stay.

Many paths lie before us through darkness and light.
But if you’re here beside me than I’ll be all right.
We’ll stride forth together towards what lies ahead.
We’ll work as a team, you and me
And we’ll learn what true friendship can be.

Now some people sing about fair weather friends
And others sing ballads of love when it ends
But we’ll stay together through thick and through thin.
When the going gets rough, you’ll be there
To stick close by my side everywhere.

So walk on beside me as we go on our way
Through the dark rainy nights
And the bright sunny days.
You’re my steadfast companion,
My friend and my guide
And I’ll always be happy with you by my side.

Suki,
Today you are two years old. Of those two years you have only spent the past two months with me, but it seems we already know each other pretty well and I can’t imagine what things were like without you .
Things were a lot simpler without a dog with me all the time, Getting on busses, getting into taxis, setting out without all the paraphernalia I need to get you through the day, entering turnstiles, revolving doors, elevators. People would leave me alone on the train. Now, as Ariieh z”l said, “Everyone wants to pet my dog.”

And things were a lot harder. I walk faster, I could have never manipulated myself through the dark streets strewn with motorcycles, curbs, pedestrians, and poles, not to mention those damn concrete hemispherical globes they insist upon putting on the sidewalks – without you. You are more than worth all the work and care and hassle that goes into working with a guide dog!

The nice soft cushy dog bed was delivered together with the sack of dog food yesterday, and I think you deserve it. You work hard, and goodness knows you’ll continue to work hard, and you need a nice comfortable bed to get onto at the end of the day.

Yesterday we went to the first meeting of the Israeli Association of the Blind Assisted by Guide dogs. The entire room was filled with dozens of dogs, and Yael and Rotem, entering at the end to pick me up, were totally amazed. But in my unbiased opinion you were the prettiest dog there – even the lovely black poodle Chetz (Arrow) whom I met with his striking lion haircut and his lovely owner Oriah, wasn’t half as pretty. But that’s my unbiased opinion.

So I am looking forward to many years together, Suki. I promise to take good care of you and you take good care of me and we’ll go far.

It sort of seems like any other day, but Bracha says its my birthday. I remember being with my foster family and with Ami, but I guess this is home now. That’s why I break into a mad run around the house every time we come back from one of our trips. I guess I just want to let my energy out after working all day and I’m glad to be back home.
Bracha took the fluffy bed out of its cellophane wrapper last night and put it down. She explained to me that she didn’t buy me the pink striped one because it was too small, and either my ears or my tail would be draped all over the floor.
So I’m happy with this one. At first I wasn’t sure what it was because it was so springy, but it was nice and soft. But she put it in the place where I sleep in the living room. That left me no choice but to stand and bark softly until she got the message that I wanted the bed in the bedroom next to hers where I like to sleep at night. I do like to keep an eye on things and that way I can immediately get her up in the morning when I wake up. So she moved it in there and then I curled up on it and was happy and went right to sleep.

But the best present was that Bracha wrote me a song! I’m so happy! She must love me an awful lot.

Wow, this is the life! A new bed! Thanks, Bracha!

Ugh! What a Terrible Place!

By now Suki feels at home on the train!

Ugh! What a terrible place Bracha took me to today! Everywhere we walked everyone was shouting “There’s a dog!” “Look at that dog!” (always in masculine.. when will they learn that I am a she???) You’d think they had never seen a dog before. And all the children were constantly petting me and I was startled all the time by people putting their hands all over me, even though Bracha told them to please stop and that I didn’t want to play any more. Which I did not. The whole place was filled with noise and people and flashing lights and we both hated it. The only thing good about it was that there were lots of moving stairs and I was so happy going up and down that I wagged my tail to show it. But besides that it was awful, and Bracha swore she’d never take me there again, at least not when it was Hanukah and full of children.

Later we drove to a quieter place and it seemed that the people there were not feeling well, so I put my head in their laps and wagged my tail and they petted me. They seemed to like that a lot. I hope I made them feel better..

It’s only two days till my birthday! I’ve been promised a trip to the pet store! I dropped the hint about the pink striped bed again…and I’ve promised to stop barking at the pool if I have something to, er, chew on while we are there. Get it, Bracha?


Never take a guide dog to a mall – particularly during Hanukah. There is too much noise, too many people, too many children and Suki was soon spinning around startled at people who kept trying to pet her from behind. It was impossible to fend them all off.

Later, in the rehab ward at Bnei Tzion Hospital in Haifa Suki quietly made her presence known by walking up to several wheelchair-bound patients who petted her and were delighted with her. There is nothing like a pat on a dog’s head and a wagging tail to make anyone feel better.

First Run, First Shower, and School Chauvenism

“My Dog’s Better than Your Dog”
An amusing encounter took place yesterday outside the hospital where I ran into S., a guide dog owner that I had heard about who works in the hospital. S noticed that his dog was distracted and I explained that I was passing by with another guide dog. He asked where my dog was from and when I told him he immediately embarked on a chauvinistic pep talk about how much better his dog (that came from Sasa) was and how much better trained. I coolly attributed his (supposedly) better control of his dog to the fact that he was using his second guide dog and I had been working with Suki for less than two months, told him that I had heard that both schools produce excellent dogs, and went on my way.

At the pool the life guard (a different one from the other day) insisted upon calling the manager to inquire if my dog was really allowed. When he found out she was, he immediately became friendly and said he’d keep an eye on her. He also kept an eye and gave some well deserved sharp words to an old man who shouted that dogs were not allowed and that he was going to the authorities. “No problem,” I told him. “Go ahead.” One wonders just why a dog lying quietly beside the pool is so disturbing for people. Have they nothing else to do with themselves but complain?

Free at Last!
I never thought it would happen, but I finally got to run through the fields today like Bracha promised I would if I was good. I tried really hard to make her see that I would always come back to her - including this afternoon when my leash slipped out of her hand in the yard. (I came back a little too hard and fast and Bracha fell over, but she was laughing and petted me, so I guess it was OK. Then we walked and walked to a place where there were lots of open fields and Bracha took my leash and halter off and I ran and ran! It was much more fun than the little fenced in-place. But I did get very muddy and when we got back Bracha gave me a warm shower and dried me with a towel. Then I lay down tired and happy in front of the stove and went to sleep.

When my friend Barbi showed up for an afternoon walk, I decided that this was the day I would let Suki loose in the fields. We reached the empty fields near the river where there is no traffic except for an occasional tractor, and excitedly I unclipped Suki’s leash! What followed was the sight of a happy dog racing over the furrows, leaping over the thistles, and rapidly transforming herself from a white dog to a white and brown one as Nuala and Saoirse looked on and trotted about. Once in a while Suki came back to me as she had done on the dunes in Yavneh, and I rewarded her with a treat each time and sent her running again. That was it – I had done it! But I think next time I’ll wait till the weather is a bit dryer…

What's in My Dog's Mind?

The more I work with Suki, the more I get to know her and begin to understand what goes through her head. Yesterday while working on the no-curb crossing at the end of the road again, Suki began to stop at the edge where there is no curb, but instead of standing facing the road, she insisted on turning to the right and standing in front of me. I kept pulling her around and pointing ahead. I then realized why she wanted to go that way: to the right there is a flower bed witha curb leading down to the road. Perhaps she wants me to head for the curb, which is a more logical route for her than no curb at all. She has been taught to look for curbs, but she has not been taught to avoid stepping on the flowers…

During yesterday’s play session I called Suki back to me and when she came I presented her with a treat, but she was very excited and grabbed it out of my hand too hard. I yelled “NO!”, crossed my arms, and turned my back on her for a few seconds. If a dog could begin sobbing and saying “I’m sorry, (sniff), I’m sorry!” that was what she would have done. As it was, Suki lay down, put her head on her front paws, and looked as remorseful as a dog can look.

If we reach the corner where we turn right to go to the basketball court and I give her a cue to turn left and head home instead, I can almost imagine a sigh of disappointment as she slowly resigns herself to the fact that there is no play session now and makes the left turn. .

Suki’s wagging tail and the doggie smile as she successfully leads me to a bench at the bus stop or the train station can only be an expression of happiness at being able to do her job, understand what I want and to please me. This is bolstered even more when others are looking on amazed at a dog that puts her nose on a bench when I say “Kisay!” I can almost imagine her saying, “See how smart I am. Bet your dog can’t do that.”

But the head on my knee, the eyes closing, and the sigh of contentment as we lay on the lawn at Ginnosar listening to music, says it all.

Yes, they all Get Along!

One of the most frequent questions friends ask me is: "How does Suki get along with your other dogs?" The answer is that she gets along just fine. As mentioned earlier, the Teitelman family had two other dogs, so Suki is used to living in a home with other dogs. However, it's not easy to get all three to pose for a photo...

Here are Saoirse and Suki bedded down together next to the stove on a cold rainy night.

Come on Suki...we're off to Tel Aviv again.

Mistakes and Successes

Owning a guide dog makes you aware of people’s strange ways of keeping their personal esteem when they know they have lost a fight. So it was with Yossi, the manager of the pool in Nahariya who told me I needed to write a letter asking for permission to enter with Suki, and then called me up to tell me I had been “given permission” to enter the pool with Suki.

Entering the pool today I was not hassled by the guard, and was greeted by the secretary who informed me that I had to renew my subscription. No problem. I stepped through the office door, and was told, “You know how hard Yossi fought for you?”

Riiiiiiiiight, I said to myself. What a laugh. Like a mercenary, he wants to be on the winning side. Out loud I asked what there was to fight about. I had the right to enter the pool by law from the beginning and there was no need to fight for it with anyone. No matter. I was given a discount and a very convenient payment arrangement and all was settled. And there was no way I was going to put Suki on the patio with puddles on the floor and threatening black clouds in the sky.
Today she sat next to the life guard, but unfortunately decided that an occasional bark would convince me to get out of the water. Next time I’ll have to bring her a new toy to chew on and hopefully that will keep her quiet.

Guide dogs learn to stop at every cub and wait for your command to step down into the road. Since they are “programmed” to do this literally, they have trouble understanding that there are some roads that have no curbs. This is confusing and if you are not careful you are liable to walk directly into the road without realizing it. For this reason I’ve been working with Suki on the crossing at the end of our road in Ben Ami. One side of the road has a curb. The other does not, and Suki tends to “miss” it and walk straight into the road even if I command her “straight to the curb”. Evidently a “zebra” striped crossing is not enough to signal that there is a road ahead.

We’ve also been working on locating mailboxes – not just the one where I pick up my mail (Suki knows that she has to put her nose against box number 151!) but also the red mailbox in the square in Nahariya. Today I also led her to another red mailbox in front of the post office and rewarded her with a click and a treat when she led me to that one. Eventually I hope she’ll locate any mailbox.

Next we’ll work on locating ATM machines…What word should I use to coach Suki to them? MONEY! Suki, Moooooneeeeeeee!

I guess it was a good morning though I know I goofed up a couple of times. Darn it, I keep forgetting that the place where we cross the road has no step up or down and cars come by there anyway. Why don’t they put a step there?
When we got to the swimming pool today suddenly the people were all very nice. Evidently they wanted Bracha to keep using the pool, take out that little plastic card, and pay more money. But, hey, this time I didn’t have to stay outside in the little patio, It was full of puddles. So instead Bracha tied my leash to the place where the man sits and watches the people swimming back and forth. He petted me, called me by my name, and gave me water. It was warm and dry there but then I got rather unhappy because Bracha got into that water and started swimming away! I barked and she came back and then she swam away again and I barked again. I wanted to tell her, “Either come back or let me go in the water, too!” This did not please her at all. In fact, it made her swim away again. Guess barking in the pool was a mistake.

Then I er, well, I, uh, made a mess on the sidewalk and I know that was wrong…and I had my harness on, too. We talked about it afterwards and Bracha said she would give me more time to get all of my business out of the way next time we come out of the pool and I said I’d remember to finish when I was given the opportunity. She also told me I must not bark in the pool because that makes the crabby old ladies angry and then they start the business of “This is no place for a dog…bla bla bla..."

I really do want to go swimming, though! Or get in that water where the bubbles come up…oooh!

Jig, Reels, and Soft Green Lawns

Suki sunning herself on the lawn at Ginnosar

We spent the weekend at a place where there was more water than I have ever seen before. There were boats on it and waves, and I couldn’t figure out why people kept complaining that it was smaller than it should be: it looked like an awful lot of water to me…I liked walking along the paths and up and down the little bridge that went over the river. And those lovely luscious green lawns where I spent hours lying and sleeping in the sun were lovely. Only problem was that every time I fell asleep, someone would start petting me and fussing over how pretty I am and wake me up again. And then the next morning there were people holding all kinds of strange things on their laps making that music again. I went to sleep next to Bracha’s chair, but suddenly Bracha and everyone else started stamping their feet, and I wondered what was wrong.. Bracha only stamps her foot when I make a mistake and bump her into something in the street, or when I forget to stop at a curb. Then she stamps her foot three times and shouts “Zehirut!” (Be careful!) at me, but Bracha didn’t seem to be angry at all: Actually she seemed quite pleased and happy. So I gave up wondering what all the foot-stamping was about and went back to sleep again. All those jigs and reels sound the same to me after a while…but if Bracha’s happy, well, so am I.

Suki is now sleeping, much like me, exhausted after a fun weekend at Jacob’s Ladder Folk Festival. Folk festivals are not for sleeping – neither for participants nor for their guide dogs. Suki was admired by all, and it seemed that every time she lay down to sleep someone would want to stroke her and she would stir a bit as if to say, “What, again?” and then drift back to sleep again with music playing in the room at full volume.

What to do with Suki when I am on stage? There was hardly room for her on the edge of the stage amidst the wires and microphones, but that problem was soon solved: Suki curled herself into a neat little ball at the feet of the stairs leading up to the stage, so I clipped her leash to the steps and just left her there, where, to my great chagrin, she slept through a set of polkas and a rousing version of Cunla and the full jig afterwards. She all but sighed afterwards when I woke her up and slipped her harness on to go back to the room. She also slept through most of the Irish session the next morning – apparently trying to catch up on lost sleep from the evening before. She did enjoy the attention and laying out on the grass in the sun.

Next summer when I can let Suki off leash in an open area she will have a wonderful time on the beach. She is definitely the festival dog.

A Dog's Life

I thought today would never end. First we got on a bus to Nahariya, and the driver asked why I didn't have a muzzle. Bracha explained to him that I was a guide dog and didn't need one. How ridiculous to think that I would bite someone! What does he think I am, one of those pit bulls? Then yet another bus and WOW! We met a real mobility teacher who came to meet us and show us the way to Migdal Or, and she said I was a lovely dog and was working well and being given good commands. That made me feel proud.

Then we went to a room where Bracha had to sit and twiddle her fingers in front of a screen just like she does at home. I hardly saw the point of the trip all the way there just to do that, but we got to take the train back again, and I got to ride a long flight of moving stairs, too.

I did get a run on the basketball court. Boy, I needed that after being cooped up all day under chairs on the floor. And then off to one of those lectures again. I'm tired. It's a dog's life all right.

My birthday is coming up! I will be two years old! I think I've dropped enough hints of getting that pink striped bed that we see in front of the pet store. It looks lovely and soft. I think I deserve it, too.

Suki and I Promote Guide Dogs

Yesterday I boarded the train to Tel Aviv and settled Suki down on the floor under my seat. A young man approached me and asked me if I had a guide dog, explaining that he himself was blind. He was a student at Hebrew University and came from Peki'in. We soon began chatting and he moved over to sit opposite Suki and me. He explained that he used a cane and that he had thought of getting a guide dog, had even spoken to Yael at Beit Oved, but he lived with his parents and his father was reluctant to have a dog in the house.

"Does she destroy things in the house? Does she pee in the house? What do you do when it's raining?" All these questions made me think that this young man had no experience at all with dogs and that his father was obviously afraid that a guide dog would badly disrupt the household. I gave him my phone number and told him that I was no expert: I was only beginning to use a guide dog myself, but that if he decided that he wanted a dog he was welcome to come and visit with his parents and see how well-behaved, clean, and quiet Suki was. I have a feeling tnat any guide dog would be a great asset in the campqaign to pursuade his reluctant parents. When we approached T|el Aviv I got Suki out, put on her harness, and stood her in the aisle, letting him pet her and feel how clean, brushed, and well kept she was. I hope he decides to pursue getting a dog.

Arriving at my daughter's house in Givatayim, Suki settled down in her appointed place in the house. She seemed a bit bored, so I went out to the nearby pet store, where she was admired by the owner who sold me a new sterile bone and threw in a few dog biscuits as a treat on the house. Back upstairs Suki settled down with her new bone. DId I say "upstairs?" I now appreciate moshav life even more - It's much easier to walk out the front door at home than it is to walk down three flights of stairs every time I need to take Suki out and then climb back up again! Dog owners in the city have it rough!

Sad News and a Phone Call I never Made

There are times when you regret not getting around to doing something: making a phone call, writing an email, runnin an errand, and then it's too late. My intention to phone Arieh Shmidt since I got home with Suki was one of these instances. Yesterday I read that Arieh had died suddenly at the age of 60.

Arieh Shmidt z"l became blind very suddenly and was given a guide dog named Alvin from Beit Oved. He then became an exemplary figure in the guide dog world, and was a crusader in the war of making people aware of guide dogs and the needs of blind people in Israel who use them. His name was often mentioned often at Beit Oved, always connected with some story or other, dynamic or humorous, or in talking about people who are at the front lines of the campaign that every one of us who has a guide dog is involved.

I didn't know Arieh well, but my son Itai gave me his phone number last spring when I announced that I was applying for a guide dog. I spoke with Arieh once or twice on the phone and he quipped, "Before, no one wanted to talk to me on the train. Now everyone dotn't want to talk to me either, they just want to know if they can pet my dog." Arieh reported that his dog has changed his life, that I should train with Ami, that I would definitely be given a dog, and that I should get a dog as soon as I could. He was assertive and encouraging. I had meant to call him, to tell him I have Suki, and perhaps to arrange a meeting. Now it's too late.

Arieh has left a wonderful legacy: a column on Walla in Hebrew entitled עובד כמו כלב (Working LIke a Dog) in which he tells of his life with Elvin much as this blog tells of my life with Suki.






I did not

What? That's "dowar" too?

Wait a minute…I don’t quite get it… I thought that “doar” meant that I am supposed to go to that silver hole in the wall near the place where we buy milk in Ben Ami called “zvi”. But evidently “dowar” also means that funny red box in Nahariya as well. I guess they are connected somehow because people are always taking envelopes out of them or putting them back inside…I know I did the right thing because I heard the clicker and Bracha praised me and gave me a treat and was happy each time I approached that red box in the middle of the street. I guess both are right.

Today Bracha went somewhere new in Nahariya. When we got there I was petted and given water, and then Bracha sat down in a chair for a long time. I got bored and went to sleep, and when I woke up, Bracha’s fur was shorter than before and we said goodbye and left. Mine, on the other hand, seems to be growing longer, because the nights are getting cold.

Hooray! Pet store again!! No treats this time, only some junk to put on me to keep fleas and ticks off and some goldfish. (Sigh)

Oh, that Smell!

Oh, that smell! All evening with this incredible smell of food and I was not given any. Even though I behaved beautifully throughout the evening. Admittedly I wasn’t hungry when I got there, but hey, I’m always up for another bite…I did a great job of cleaning the floor after the meal, and no one even had to sweep! And I did manage to get a tiny piece of that turkey that someone hid in their shoe especially for me. I know that Richie said that he really wanted to give me a treat, and I guess that was his way of doing it even though Bracha said no. And that very small person was lots of fun. he was just my height!

What is a Thanksgiving dinner like for a dog who is not allowed to have turkey? Suki overcame the endless temptation of the smells of roasting turkey (not at all tempting for me as a vegetarian.) She behaved beautifully throughout the evening. – even allowed year-old Liam to crawl around her and check out her ears and tail.
Shortly after dinner Suki suddenly became immersed in Richie’s shoe – persistently licking and sniffing. Curious, Richie reached inside to see what she was after and discovered a tiny piece of turkey that had fallen inside! So Suki did get one tidbit – her mere persistence was enough to make her deserve it.



Getting three dogs to pose for a picture is no simple matter, but here are all three dogs, finally photographed together: Nuala (6), Sirsha (13), and Suki (now just two weeks short of 2).

Taxi Drivers' Chutzpah Tel Aviv Style

Yesterday’s trip to Tel Aviv was uneventful and all too predictable. Suki was well-behaved on the train and in the restaurant where we went for dinner. I put my granddaughter Rotem to bed and then called a taxi, stating specifically to the dispatcher that I was traveling with a guide dog.

“Five minutes.”

After ten minutes a taxi drove by, and then another and another. Not wanting to miss the last train north, I called the dispatcher again to inform her that no taxi had arrived.

“But our driver said he picked up a passenger by mistake at Sirkin 22.”

Yeah, right...here we go again...


“NO, I'm sorry. He didn’t pick up anyone. He passed me by and didn't stop.”

Somebody was lying like a rug. Annoyed, I explained that I had a train to catch and that if I specified that I had a guide dog with me, would she please make sure that the driver she sent would be willing to take me and not cause trouble. After I had already waited for 20 minutes another taxi finally showed up, I made the train, and met my son Itai at the station to boot.

Suki Learns to Pick up the Mail…Or Almost…
I decided to teach Suki that sometimes we want to turn right to the mailboxes instead of going directly into the grocery store. The Russian assistant stood in the entry of the store in fascination as I taught Suki “Doar” and she headed for my mailbox, which is conveniently at the end of the row and just about doggie nose height! After three or four times (and a few tidbits) I saw sure she had it down pat. Does she know that the mailbox is number 151? Er, I think not…

A few more things to learn…How to handle a phone call when you are working with a guide dog and the person on the other end of the line hears a conversation interjected with “Forward!” “Slow down!” “Straight!” and other unrelated matter…

How to handle old ladies
Reminiscent of Ami’s imitations of Sabochka chorosho!” old ladies have to offer their own two agorot when you are out with a dog. If you are out with a baby, they will tell you that he or she is dressed too warmly, not enough, she can’t breathe in that carrier, put a hat on him…why are you feeding her ice cream? etc. With a dog people are no less generous with advice.

“Your dog is too thin. You should feed her more.”

“You really should let me give her a cookie…she deserves a treat once in a while…”

and (while standing and filling up Suki’s portable water bowl at the drinking fountain in the train station…”Your dog is thirsty. You should give it some water..”

And I thought I was the one who couldn’t see…

Living in Israel means everyone has to get involved and give good advice…

And what to say when someone tells you, “I’ve got a dog just like that at home…”
I doubt it.

Finally, Some Peace and Quiet!

I thought I'd never get a moment of rest this week to get some relaxation. I got taken to the pool, the store, even the clinic, and to the office of that nice guy called Yaron who wanted to give me a cookie last time and Bracha wouldn't let him. But I did get petted and there was a strange bird in a cage there that kept chirping at me all the time. Even the mean man who makes me sleep out on the patio at the swimming pool wasn't around, and the nice one that sits by the pool all the time watching the people swim back and forth and back and forth (I can't imagine why he does this all day) said I could sit next to him if it rained outside. I was really hoping that I wouldn't have to sleep in a puddle of water, but I know Bracha would not stand for that. But oh, I do wish I could go in the water! I think I can swim...but I'm not sure.

There are still some places in town that confuse me: there are no curbs but I'm supposed to stop there because there are cars. If I don't Bracha stamps her foot and yells "Careful!" and then I know I've made a mistake. I'll have to memorize these places. That should not be any problem. I'm a smart golden retriever, after all.

I still haven't gotten a rise out of that big old black dog - she's very sweet but my goodness, sne doesn't want to romp or play. And the other fluffy one just looks and smiles at me. But I guess we are all good friends.

Tonight we get to go to that lecture hall again and hear about Aramaic and Hebrew. It got a bit long for me, so I just went to sleep last time. But tomorrow I get to ride on the train again and go to Rotem's school. Whee!

But I can't figure out that round purple thing that Bracha throws and it flies through the air and when it lands on the ground I can't pick it up. If only I could catch it before it lands...maybe I'll try and do that. If I do I'll be Bracha will click the clicker and give me a treat.

Whoops! The Golden Retriever that Got Away (and, of course, Came Back)

I knew it would happen some time or other - Suki would run away from me. I also knew with certainty that she would come back. Which she did. I was in the yard trying to cope with a frightened but uninjured Nuala who has been bumped by the neighbor's car in a moment of carelessness and a nervous Saoirse who had just returned from the vet after being poked and prodded. Suki was excited over my coming home and I commanded her "artza!" (down). She obeyed, but suddenly she slipped out of her collar and was off like, well, like an energetic young golden retreiver who has been kept in the house for an hour and a half and wants a good run. Instinctively i ran for my whistle and raced in the direction of the road to make sure she was not in any danger of approaching cars. I called an blew two blasts on my whistle several times and after what seemed like an eternity, but was actually only a minute or two, she came running back. I hugged her and praised her - and tightened her collar so that it would not slip off again! She also came back to me immediately after I accidently unclipped her leash from her collar instead of the clip on her leash to adjust its length in the middle of Nahariya.

Every time Suki is loose and she comes back to me, I become more confident that she will always come back. I believe she is already far too attached to me to really run away, but the dangers of having a dog on the loose are far too great to let it happen again.

Now I think it's time for a free run - inside the fenced in basketball court!

Suki's First Irish Music Session

My goodness! What are all these people doing? Sitting around holding all these strange objects on their laps and producing these strange sounds. Some sound like that whistle that Bracha uses to call me, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out...there's no food, and nothing terribly interesting, so I think I'll just go to sleep in the sun until something more exciting comes along...

Now what the heck is that thing? Still no food...and it doesn't even sound as if she knows how to play it properly...but I do like these sounds..what did she say that was called? A jig?

There was a lot of joking at Beit Oved about the fact that Suki would be exposed to a lot of music. She seems to have made a good start, and yesterday's session outside certainly provided Suki with better conditions for hanging out than the last encounter in the pub where she barely had room to lay down. The players who gathered in the backyard of the bed and breakfast cabins at Ben Ami all loved Suki, who seemed to find jigs and reels very relaxing...in fact, she simply lay down next to me and went to sleep. We'll see how she fares at Jacob's Ladder Festival in two weeks' time.

After a much-deserved run around the basketball court where she learned "Tnee" (give me) to retrieve and drop her toy at my feet, we then went on to my friend Bill's birthday party, where Suki was petted and admired by all and behaved, in my unbiased opinion, beautifully.
(Thanks to Ayelet Nativ for the session photos!!

Here we go again...

Yesterday's visit to Haifa was yet another opportunity for the family to rain their affection and admiration on Suki, who behaved beautifully on the train on the way and crowded busses on the way home. Suki gazed out at the view from Itai and Hilla's terrace and then settled down in the sun for a rest.



We then piled into the car and went out for veggie burgers. "I'm sorry, but there's a problem with your bringing your dog in here," chanted the waitress at the entrance. Usual explanation, and she apologized and then bent down when we were seated to pet and admire Suki. It was not long before the shift head waitress sauntered over. Uh oh, I thought, here we go again.

"I'm sorry, but there's a problem with your dog here in the restaurant."

I offered the usual explanations, and added that if she would like to see the law I would be glad to point it out to her on the Internet.

"Oh, I have no problem," she quickly retaliated. "But the other customers might have a problem."

"If the other customers have a problem with a guide dog, it's time they learned the law as well," I told her. "It's their problem, not mine."

Itai and Hilla were enraged and Hilla wanted to get up and leave, but I told herwe should sit and stay right there. We have decided to eat lunch here and it's our right to stay. The shift head scuttled away, obviously aware that she had made a mistake, but too busy dealing with her ego to come and apologize. Itai promised to phone the restaurant the next day and ask them to make their staff aware of the law.

Meanwhile, a family with two young children - the other customers who were supposedly having probolems with a guide dog in a restaurant, sat down at the table next to us. The children immediately wanted to pet Suki and I gave them permission. I explained to them that I didn't see well and that Suki was a special dog who helped me get around.

"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the little girl excitedly. "I learned about that in kindergarten."

Some kids are definitely smarter and more open-minded than some adults.

It's all Worth it.

There are two responses to a guide dog in public: either one of curiosity, admiration, and affection, or that of rejection, discrimination, and downright closed-mindedness. In the short time I have had Suki and traveled with her in public, I have experienced both.
Standing in the train station waiting for a friend, I was approached by someone who asked politely if I needed help. Going into a store (once again to buy yet another purse?) a woman got down and proceeded to caress and kiss Suki, saying she had one at home just like her. (That I doubt). People driving in the moshav stop, say hello, “Titchadeshi” and say good luck. The heartwarming responses of people who simply like to look at a beautiful white dog are lovely.

But, er, not everyone has been nice. This is what all guide dog owners have to contend with. Getting on the bus this morning, the driver rudely informed me, “Dogs drive me crazy.” “They might make you crazy, but I need my dog to get around,” I replied, trying very hard to match his rudeness.
I thought I was through with the problematic cab drivers but I guess I was wrong. All the way home the driver who took me threatened to take extra for taking my dog. I informed him that I was not going to pay him any extra money because it was against the law to charge for a guide dog. He then went on to say that if you get on a plane with a baby, you have to pay for the baby, so why shouldn’t I pay for my dog in a taxi? When we informed him that the Knesset had passed the laws requiring that blind people with guide dogs be allowed on all public transport, and that no charge is to be asked for taking a guide dog, he proposed that blind people simply be offered some extra money every month to pay for transport. “Why should I lose money?” he demanded. I wondered how this quiet, well behaved dog lying on the floor of the back seat was making him lose money and decided not to argue any more.
He went on and on, and I just let him rant. One of these days I am gonna lose it, and heaven help the driver who is around when I do. I hardly think that this well behaved dog, who is clean, brushed, perfumed, and sits quietly on the floor of the taxi all the way home, deserves such treatment. It's frustrating, but it's all worth it.

I’ve seen people in taxis behave a lot worse.

Tel Aviv and Back

Suki and I took our first long trip to Tel Aviv and back where we met Ami for a "refresher" walk. Suki neatly settled herself on the bus to my daughter Yael's house and we then covered the area to my granddaughter Rotem's school. She even waited quietly in the staff room at Beit Izzie Shapiro while I swam with Rotem.

It appears that this is not the only blog about Beit Oved and Israeli guide dogs. The center has a blog as well.

Here is another treat: a short film about Beit Oved sent to me by my friend Naomi:

I Swim. Suki Sleeps.

Don't get me wrong: the advantages of going everywhere with a large, attractive, white dog greatly outnumber the disadvantages, but at times the going gets rough. I will have to become accustomed to the person on the bus, in the pool, at the store, who makes some rude remark about the place dogs should not be allowed. Often I think if I hear "What, you want to bring a dog in here?" one more time I'm going to, er, bark.

I was grudgingly admitted to the pool, where I was allowed to tie Suki up in the tiny atrium outside. I wonder how she will do there if it is raining, or very hot, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Meanwhile, I spread out my towel on the concrete floor and when I came back after a swim (30 laps, boy do I need to get back in shape!) I found Suki had contentedly gone to sleep. It seemed that I minded leaving her a lot more than she minded.

A few unsolved issues:

How the heck do you give your dog hand signals with your right hand when you are carrying shopping bags, a new garbage pail, or a bag with goldfish?

How do you try on clothes in a store when your dog won’t possibly fit into the changing room?

What do you do about those people who shout “It’s green!” at you when they have already crossed the street and you know that the light is about to turn red if you obey them and cross? (Ignore then)

How can you shop for glass coffee cups in a crowded store with a dog who has an overly-active tail?

What do you do when someone complains when you get on the bus and the entire bus begins an open discussion about you and your dog as if you were not there? (Do people think that people who don't see well also don’t hear?)

How do you feed three dogs at once when one of then is an extremely active golden retriever?

How do you get your dog to wake up a liiiiiiiittle later than 05:40 AM?

Toppling the Barricades

Oops! Suki stole a pancake out of the garbage can in the kitchen! Time to buy a new garbage can with a tight lid that can’t be opened by an intelligent golden retriever who is perpetually eager for food.

Hooray! A surprising phone call came last night from Yossi, the director of the pool in Nahariya, informing me that I now have permission to bring in my guide dog. He anxiously asked if I was planning to take the dog into the water with me. I told him I was not. So we won the battle of the swimming pool without firing a single shot (or hardly.) All’s well that ends well.

Another surprising phone call came from the head of the taxi stand in Nahariya where the incident involving Benny took place on Thursday. Jackie asked to apologize in the name of the taxi stand and understood that the incident, which involved a member of the company, was all a misunderstanding: that Assad, the dispatcher, “doesn’t hear very well” and that Benny had intended to take me but had to drive another client instead. I accepted the apology and voiced hope that the company would continue to provide good service as it had in the past. I sensed, however, that some game was going on here: Jackie was attempting to cover for Benny, who had himself not apologized, and didn’t want him reported. \No matter. The fax was sent, and I will continue to receive good taxi service. Again - all’s well that ends well.

After a long haul to the mall, I decided to get Suki and my vet acquainted. Suki tipped the scales at exactly 30 kilograms, and we will be back at the end of December for her vaccination against Park Worm.

Expanding our repertoire of walks on the moshav, I continued towards the end of our road. We first encountered the four or five obnoxious pinchers that bark ferociously and incessantly every time we pass. After that we came to the yard where there are no less than seven dogs, barking frantically and running along the fence. Suki did not like this very much, but I coaxed her to continue on until we were faced with two dogs standing in the middle of the road. That was it. Suki remained steadfastly planted in place, and my command to go straight was to no avail. There was no way I could possibly force 30 kilograms of golden retriever to move: she resolutely stood glued to the spot. I have no idea whether she was afraid of these dogs, trying to protect me, or both, but she was not to be budged, and I finally gave up, turned around, and returned to do our usual walk around the block. The only other time Suki would not move was in the avocado orchard, where she saw, sensed, or smelled something and would not go forward – something that still remains a mystery to me. A snake? A hedgehog? A porcupine? Who knows. Maybe I had better trust Suki’s judgement..

When to Leave Your Guide Dog at Home

There are places to which perhaps it is better not to take a guide dog. Reluctant to leave Suki at home for four or five hours by herself, I decided to take her with me to a benefit concert at a pub. Suki rode quietly and comfortably in the car on the 45-minute trip there, but once we got there I began to have reservations about my decision. The pub was crowded since the event was very well attended, and it was difficult to find a place for Suki between the tables and chairs where people would not step on her paws and tail. (Guide dog owners quickly become well aware of the different kinds of tables and chairs in restaurants: those you can stuff a dog underneath to sleep quietly and those you cannot.) Suki also was not sure what to do about the phenomenon of my being separated from her and going up to that high brightly lit place to sit where there were all those poles standing and black spaghetti all over the floor. And what the hell was that noisy thing I was holding and playing with in my lap? And instead of talking to her, I was making these strange noises loud enough for everyone to hear...! Bewildered, she struggled to make her way among the tables to get to me. I quickly rounded her up, since I was afraid that people would start to slip her pretzels, and got her settled under the table as best as I could. She was well behaved and admired by all, but having already been through a day of walking around Nahariya and a run in the afternoon, was mainly bent on sleeping. I imagine if I had left her at home she would have simply slept the evening away. Moral of the story: it’s sometimes better to let sleeping dogs lie and take a cane along instead...

We woke up at 6:00 this morning to pouring rain. Longing for another hour’s sleep after the late night, I bent the rules a bit by taking |Suki out directly near the house rather than trudge to the usual spot in the orchard, and then crawled back into bed again, remembering I had to buy one of those super absorbent cloths that we had on the course for drying off wet paws and fur.

Continuing clicker training, I have tried to work on “kisay”. Suki finds one place on the couch, but seems a bit confused when I place something on it and occupy one seat and try to get her to locate another empty one. Walking around the moshav this afternoon I knew we were approaching a corner where there are benches to sit. I told Suki “Kisay!” and presto! She walked up to the bench and put her nose on it! It seems this dog is capable of assimilating the rather abstract idea that a couch and a bench are both places to sit. There is probably room in the little hard disk of hers for a lot more.

"I don't take Guide Dogs!"

Since I was reluctant to leave Suki home alone for over three hours last night, I decided to take her to a lecture at a neighboring kibbutz on the Hebrew language. (I subscribed to a series of 15 lectures before I left for Beit Oved). Suki behaved beautifully, sleeping through the first part of the lecture under my seat. She as, however, much more attentive during the second part when the lecturer spoke about different words form the Biblical period and the Middle ages. I guess she found the Aramaic texts in the first part a bit too much…

All in all it was a successful day that included the entire spectrum of how people relate to guide dogs. We set out in the morning, braved the crossing at the hospital, and boarded a bus for Nahariya with an extremely pleasant driver who asked if I needed help getting off. From there we continued on to my accountant’s office, where ASuki was admired by all, accepted a drink of water, and politely refused a cookie offered by my accountant. (Petting is permitted and will be happily accepted – cookies are not. Please don’t feed her!) From there we proceeded on to the drug store, the post office, the bank, and of course, Aroma, where the waitress delivered my coffee to the table. (It’s usually self-service).

Suki worked beautifully and things went well. We ended up in the pet store where she was offered a dog biscuit that I asked to give her myself.

On the other end of the spectrum, (no day can be perfect) I arrived at the taxi station with my knapsack, a bag filled with goldfish, and a dog. There were no taxis, so I stood outside to wait. When a taxi finally showed up, driven by a certain Benny, the dispatcher told him to take the next client, who was me. Benny refused.

“I don’t take dogs!”

“I’m sorry, but according to the law guide dogs are permitted in taxis,” I said quietly.

“I said I don’t take dogs.”

By this time I was simply prepared to wait for the next driver, but the dispatcher was determined to have it out. “You are obligated by law to take a guide dog.”

As the tone of the argument became higher, Benny, intent on having his way, produced his cellphone and declared that he had another passenger waiting at the train station, and dramatically did something to make his phone ring. Staging a conversation, he was gone faster than a Katyusha could fly. The dispatcher wrote the driver’s name and number down on a piece of paper and handed it to me, demanding I report the driver the Ministry of Transportation, and another driver collected me, helped Suki, the goldfish, and me into the cab, and we returned home to fax a letter.

After that morning of hard work in Nahariya and exceptionally good behavior, I decided that Suki deserved a good run, and took her to the basketball court for the first time. Locking both gates, I took off Suki’s harness, put on her collar, and removed her leash and chain. She sat there for a moment, not quite comprehending that for the first time since she had run on the sand dunes in Yavneh, she was free to run. And that was what she did for the next fifteen minutes, stopping occasionally when I blew the whistle to come back to me. Definitely a new stage has been reached, but we’re not ready to run free in the open fields just yet. .

Suki Gets to Know Nahariya

It was finally time to get Suki acquainted with Nahariya. Ami - now suffering from a case of laryngitis from three weeks of instruction - arrived, and we set off, parked the car at the beginning of the main street, and started out on the route all the way to the pool. In my bag I had a letter that I planned to deliver to the manager of the pool, which has so far denied me entrance with Suki.

I am familiar with every store and street in downtown Nahariya, but walking through town I suddenly became aware of things in greater detail: the pattern of the stoplights, which curbs are sloping, which alleyways are liable to have cars suddenly appearing out of nowhere, and where each lamp post and telephone pole are located.

Upon arrival at the pool we were told rudely by the guard that we were not to go in with a dog and that we were blocking the entrance. We asked politely for Yossi, the manager, to come out and talk to us. We got the usual pile of rubbish - no dogs allowed. I have now written letters to the mayor, the city superintendent, and the head of the sports department. Hopefully this will work: if not it will have to hit the press, the radio, and other factors. I would prefer to solve this in a civil manner and remain on good terms with the staff of the pool.

From there we continued back up the main street. Suki sensed a car coming out of an alleyway that Ami and I did not hear and stopped. She was reprimanded only once - for not leading me around two pedestrians who ran into me. Ami then left, and I decided to remain in town to run a few errands. Stopping at the pet store I bought a bag of treats for Suki and arranged to have plants delivered for the fish pond, stopped in the camera store, and went into the bicycle shop, where I purchased a battery-operated clip on red flashing light to hook onto Suki's halter for night walking! Suki was admired and petted in all three places.

At the bus stop I sat down and commanded Suki to sit. She sat down quietly at the end of the bench, but a woman at the far end shouted "Slicha, slicha, (Excuse me, excuse me!)" at me as if to imply that my entering the bus stop with a dog was unacceptable. She quickly got up and left to stand outside. Unfortunately even a well-behaved dog - obviously a guide dog in harness - outside on public property - is too much for some people. The bus ride home was uneventful and Suki retired to her bed for a well-deserved rest.

The Three Dog Walk

The Aboriginies spoke of three-dog nights - unusually cold nights in which you needed three dogs to sleep with you in order to keep warm. Suki, Saoirse, Nuala, and I have now initiated what I call the three-dog walk. It is now becomming a common sight to see me walking around Ben Ami with Suki in her harness, Nuala trotting along, and Saoirse, who is now elderly and who has a, uh, slower pace, to be plodding determinedly behind. Only four days ago I was afraid to walk out the door with her! She has been very good in the grocery store and recognizes the turnoff to the path up to the house, pausing on the opposte side of the road waiting to get the command to cross. I've also used the clicker to teacher the word "meetah" (bed) and she goes and site on her rug.

Most commin questions people have asked me besides the usual is she male or female, what kind of dog is she, how old is she...

How does she know how to get to the grocery store? (She doesn't. I have to tell her the way, though eventually she will memorize it and no doubt go there on autopilot).

How does she know when to cross the road? (She doesn't. I have to tell her when to cross, but if she sees a car coming, she'll intelligently disobey and not cross).

How come you talk to her in masculine? This is still strange for me, but I hope to move her commands and "Good dog" into feminine eventually. Right now she has enough changes to contend with.

It is apparent that people know very little about guide dogs.

Home Training

Suki is learning the paths around Ben Ami, beginning with the grocery store and the walk around the block. Later we will take longer hikes and introduce running free in the fields. Familiar paths now take on a new dimension when seen through the angle of working withn a guide dog - curbs, sidewalks, and driveways have to be properly nagivated so that Suki will learn them and not "cut corners."

Roee and I then walked out of the gate and approached the dreaded crossing at the hospital. Here cars zoom by on the highway and the stoplight barely gives a pedestrian time to decide it is time to cross before it turns red again. We crossed with me extending a hand out to warn drivers that I am crossing and to get their attention. It is a dangerous crossing and I hope there will soon be a beeping stoplight there for the benefit of anyone crossing to the hospital.

Speaking to a friend and client in Sachnin, Islam traditionally considers dogs unclean, but I explained to him that there is now a Fatwa - a Moslem legal jurisdiction - that a blind person can enter a mosque with a guide dog! My friend was extremely interested in this. Here is an article explaining the Fatwa, which was issued in Great Britain:

After months of work by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), guide dog Vargo has become the first guide dog in the UK to enter a mosque after the Islamic Shari’ah Council issued a historic fatwa11 stating “a blind person, in the light of Shariah Law, will be allowed to keep a guide dog to help him and if required to take him to the mosque for his pr More..ayers2”.

In this momentous event today (on Wednesday 24 September), Vargo accompanied his 18-year-old owner Mahomed-Abraar Khatri to his local mosque in Leicester, seen as a massive step forward for other blind and partially sighted Muslims. Previously a guide dog has not been able to accompany its owner into a mosque as the Islamic faith recognises dogs as being used for guarding and hunting only. However Vargo – and other guide dogs – are working dogs and so necessary adjustments to encourage independent mobility are supported.

A specially constructed rest area has been set up in the entrance of the mosque for Vargo to stay in whilst Mahomed-Abraar is praying. Previously Mahomed-Abraar - who attends the RNIB College in Loughborough - had to be accompanied to the mosque by a sighted assistant.

Mahomed-Abraar and his father Gafar attended an event organised by Guide Dogs and MCB in November 2007 – held to increase awareness of how guide dogs help their owners and their high standards of grooming and cleanliness – to ask if Mahomed-Abraar could have a guide dog. Mahomed-Abraar was given the full support of local mosque leaders and the partnership qualified in June 2008; the fatwa allowing Vargo to enter the mosque was issued in September 2008.

Guide Dogs hopes the fatwa and Mahomed-Abraar and Vargo’s story will set a precedent, encouraging other blind and partially sighted Muslims to consider guide dog ownership. It is also hoped that mosque leaders both in the UK and internationally will now make similar adjustments to enable Muslim guide dog owners to enter their mosque.

Mohammad Shahid Raza, OBE, the Director of Imams and Mosques Council U.K and the Secretary of Muslim Law (Shariah) Council U.K who issued the fatwa commented:

Out of the 210 Israelis who now have guide dogs there is one person in the Moslem Arab sector in Um El Fahem, and there are no doubt many people in the Arab sector who could benefit from having a dog. My friend in Sachnin alone knows of several.

Settling In at Home

Left: Suki and Saoirse getting used to each other

Suki is lying at my feet happily transforming a leather bone into a masticated mess, and has acclimatized to moshav life with ease. Two days ago I was hesitant to take her out of the house, but soon after that we went to the grocery store for the first time, and have just returned from a walk around the block with Suki in harness and Saoirse and Nuala happily walking alongside. On the way I stopped to investigate the basketball court near the youth club and found it to be a perfect place for letting Suki run safely in an enclosed, fenced area. (The temptation to do this is overwhelming, but this will begin only after some time when I develop full trust that Suki will return to me upon command when set free).

Walking through Ben Ami Suki is cooperative and responds just like in the city in areas where there are curbs, crosswalks, and sidewalks, but walks along the road where there are none as we did in the rural walking exercise on the course. She must be terribly stimulated by everything around her – a rooster crowing, dogs barking, leaves blowing, the smell of goats, citrus fruit, and flowers - but she continues on, obeying commands, occasionally glancing behind her, perhaps to see where the other two dogs are.I imagine that her growing up in a foster family with two other dogs is invaluable in her good adjustment, and I must commend Salirse and Nuala for their good behavior as well.

Suki's Earlier Days

Suki romping last December with the Teitelman Family who fostered her for a half year. The two other dogs who were Suki's companions are Tinka and Kroovi.

Suki is a golden retreiver and was born on December 15th, 2007 at the kennels in Kibbutz Afikim. She was then purchased by Beit Oved, together with Sunny (Moshe's Labrador retreiver) and several other puppies. After that she was in a home of a woman whom I don't know for six months, and in August of 2008 she was moved to the home of the Teitelman family - Ayelet, Nurit, Neta, and Nir in Tel Aviv. She remained with them until February of 2009 and was then returend to Beit Oved for her final training period.

The Teitelmans gave Suki a warm, loving foster home and she was rainsed together with two other dogs - Tinka and Kroovi - a fact that no doubt explains her rapid adaptation to my three-dog home! Suki passed the guide dog course with flying colors and I hope the exciting evening in which they were reunited with Suki and met me, her new owner, was as rewarding for them as it was for me.

Pictures of Suki a year ago reveal her as a frisky, beautiful white-colored golden retreiver. The family marveled at how much slimmer Suki looked - they were accustomed to her being a bit more roly-poly, as you can see in the pictures sent to me by Nurit.

Homecoming!

It is hard to believe that just 12 hours ago I was still at Beit Oved, packing, eating breakfast, and going from one staff member to the other saying goodbye. All three of us could say little but we all felt the same: we were excited and eager to begin our new lives with our dogs, but more than a bit apprehensive, afraid to leave the hothouse-like, safe surroundings of Beit Oved where we had been pampered and cared for for three weeks, bereft of all responsibilities except to learn how to work with our new companions. It was not time to say goodbye and to step out into the world.

Two vehicles stood open and waiting: one would be driven by Ami who would take Liron and Moshe home, and the other by Roi who would take me back to Ben Ami and give me an additional day of coaching on Sunday. Refael appeared with our sculpted ficus trees and helped load them and our other belongings into the car. Members of the staff came out to say their goodbyes to the dogs they had worked with and to wish us good luck, and Moshe, Liron, Ami, and I posed for a last photo of what Ami now terms the first clicker training course. Emotional goodbyes were said, promises to email and write, and we were off.



Roi and I chatted as we drove down Road 6, and Roi advised me on how to best handle the first meeting between Suki, Nuala, and Saoirse. I was apprehensive - I would now be totally responsible for Suki, and the open fields and orchards of Ben Ami and the front yard would be all too tempting for an active, curious dog if the front door was inadvertantly left open for a moment!

Two hours after we left Beit Oved we pulled into the front yard. I took Suki and led her into the house for the first time, allowing her to explore all he rooms at will. We then returned to the front yard, where she had her first encounter with Saoirse and Nuala. There were a few frisky moments, bgut later in the day Saoirse and Suki were seen lying calmly side by side, a big black dog and a big white one.

Right now it all sdeems more than a bit overwhelming - I find it hard to believe that I will be able to do anythying else all day but care for dogs! I imagine things will get easier in time, and all in all, I think we got off to a pretty good start.