Water!

Now that it's summertime and it's hot I think about water all the time. If I had my way I'd be swimming in it all the time, or at least getting my paws wet. But since that's not possible, at least I've learned to find water whenever I can. That helps Bracha fill up our bottle and make sure that we both have enough to drink.
I take my share of the responsibility. I make sure to stop at the water cooler at the entrance to the train station in Nahariya. I know where the cooler is at the station in Tel Aviv, too. And There is also one in Haifa that I can find if we are on the right platform. So that's easy. All Bracha has to do is say, "Suki, ayfo mayim?" and I'll find the cooler.
Now I discovered that on our hike through the fields by the river there is one irrigation outlet that has a plastic hose that Bracha can open and let me have a drink or get my paws wet. All the outlets look alike, but I know exactly which is the right one and go up to it and wait for Bracha to turn the water on! We've been there enough times for me to recognize it. Now I know how to drink water out of the end of the hose and I'm not scared of it any more. Saoirse used to do that, too. I think I learned from her.
Now there is only one strange thing that I can't figure out. When we go to the beach, the water we swim in doesn't taste good. As a matter of fact, once it made me feel a bit sick. It's strange, but Bracha has to give me water out of my bowl on the beach because I can't drink the water in the sea. The world sure is a strange and interesting place.

A Muzzle? On Me???

We finally got back into our usual routine after Rotem was here for a few days. I guess it's hard for Rotem to walk as far as we usually do. She's not a fully grown person and her legs aren't that long yet. And it's quite hot. She seemed to be content with playing at home all day and one day Bracha took her to the pool and I stayed home and cried. Yes, I know I shouldn't. But the thought of all that water and me not being able to go in was more than I could bear. Bracha explained to me that I would not be allowed in and that just standing around in the sun would be awful for me. And today she let me go into the river, get dirty, and then have a splash in my pool. So all is forgiven.

But yesterday when we took Rotem back on the train, someone had a very strange idea. The man in charge on the train came up and told Bracha that she had to put a muzzle on me. Bracha gave him the usual speech about me being a guide dog and not having to wear a muzzle according to the law.

"But," he insisted, "If someone steps on a dog, it's instinctive for him to bite."

"Why should anyone step on her?" asked Bracha. "She's here next to me under the table. Perhaps people should be careful and not step on her."

Gee, I don't think I could bite anyone. I've been known to demolish Kongs, bones, and er, once I even chewed up a clothespin, but to bite anyone? I'd have to be a mean dog to do that.

But generally things are better. We haven't been yelled at by a bus driver for a long time. And Bracha made an agreement with the taxi station dispatcher that when I ride in the taxis SHE will bring a cloth for me to sit on so the drivers don't have to deal with my white fur. That way we should keep the peace.

Meeting Friends

Here I am with Casper. He's a golden retriever, too, and belongs to Dina. We had a very nice chat under the table while Bracha and Dina were eating salad and zuccini pancakes. I think he's very handsome. And he thinks I'm pretty, too. We giggled about the little dog at the table next to us who barked constantly throughout the meail, while we behaved beautifully. It seems that in Tel Aviv all dogs are allowed in restaurants - no matter if they behave badly!



Here we all are in a football huddle waiting for the bus. My new friends are Luccia, Wendy, and several others, and of course, Lady and Yuni whom I already know. Then I met Hugo and even Naama's dog who understands both Hebrew and English! I think we are all very special!

A Magic Dog?

What an amazing group of people we met at the bus stop in Haifa. First we met two young boys, one of whom said he was afraid of me. Bracha told him not to worry, that I would be next to her all the time and that I was not aggressive. Then a man came along and said he had worked with a search dog in the army and had been sent to Haiti to help find and rescue people. After he left another man came along and said that he had a guide dog puppy from Beit Oved at home. Bracha told them they could look forward to meeting the person who would receive their dog if she passed the training and became a guide dog. That made him happy. I guess he will be sad when he has to give the dog back to Beit Oved. And he was the only person who ever said, "I have a dog just like that at home," and was really telling the truth! The rest of them only wish they had a dog like me...

When we got to the train station we met a mother and several young children on the train platform. At first they were afraid of me and one of them shouted, "Look at that HUGE dog!" Am I huge??? Bracha told them that I was a magic dog that could do all sorts of things. At first I was a bit anxious - maybe she was going to ask me to do something that I don't know how to do like fly or disappear. But I soon realized that she was only referring to the things I really know how to do. To some people it is like magic. I really was not bothered when the children wanted to pet me. But the stroking and pleasantness soon got to be tiresome. Bracha told them to pet my back and shoulders. She knows that I don't like children stretching their hands out into my face and she knows I can't stand people fiddling around with my tail. But despite that, they started poking in places that I didn't like, so I quickly got up and shook myself. Their mother intervened and told them I had had enough. They wanted to pet me more, and Bracha said no.

Finally we got on the train, and I lay down in my favorite spot on the rug. And oh my, there they were again, and thank goodness Bracha told them firmly that now I needed to rest and that they had to leave me alone.

When we got to Nahariya we started walking...yes! To the beach! Even when Bracha saw that I was jumping around the hot pavement and stopped to put my shoes on, I was eager to keep going and get there. We had a wonderful time and I had to be told to come lay down and rest. Otherwise I think I would have stayed in the water until I was too tired to walk back to the bus. I love leaping over the waves when the water comes and rushes over my head. I could do it all day. It's even worth having to stand under the shower afterwards and get all the salt and sand washed off. I guess sometimes you have to put up with something you don't like in order to enjoy something that you love.

Petel and Me

What a wonderful day Petel and I had together! Here we are having a quiet conversation in the pool. I remember Petel from Beit Oved when we were training to be guide dogs together. Bracha remembers her because she was the first guide dog she ever walked with, and I think Petel remembers her, too. And finally the day came when Petel and Liron came to visit! When Liron and Petel got off the train we were so excited that we could harely keep from jumping all over each other, but eventually Liron and Bracha got us out of the train station and onto the street. We walked all the way down to the beach and then Bracha went down on the sand with us and let us both off leash. At first Petel was a bit timid and kept running back to Liron and Bracha, but soon I showed her the water and we were soon both wet and sandy, as dogs should be at the beach. After that we both settled down while Liron and Bracha had lunch and were unnoticed by everyone in the restaurant because we were good and quiet. Then we got into two taxis (we have not yet found a driver willing to take two dogs) and went back home. Then the fun started. Bracha gave Petel and me a nice leather chew toy and we both settled down, and then someone said something about "free run." So off we went into the avocados! Petel has no place to run like this in the city, so she had a wonderful time. And then Bracha got the pool out. Well, I don't even know how to tell you what a great time we had. We ran into the water, around the yard, back into the pool, and out to run again. I haven't had so much fun in a long time. When Bracha lets me get wet and swim it's fun, but having a friend around is even better. When Bracha left me home to take Liron back to the train station I was unhappy and barked, but Bracha came back, fed me, and explained that it was too difficult to take two dogs in one taxi. But I had done what she promised - I shared my pool and my toys and I want Petel to come back again!

Lady, Yuni, and I

Free Running in the Front Yard

It's not often that I get to socialize with another guide dog, but yesterday was very special because I got to socialize with another two! All three of us are golden retrievers. Lady is golden brown, and Yuni is a light buff color. Both are a little older than me, but I am much bigger than both of them. We golden retrievers come in all colors and sizes. First all three of us scampered around Erez's small apartment but were soon called to order and Yuni and I settled down under chairs like good guide dogs while Lady curled up in the little hutch space under Erez's desk. Then after what seemed an endless amount of time someone said something about "free run." So out we all went. Well, I guess if you live in the city you have to be content with a free run space that is very small, and I immediately tested the limits by jumping onto the entrance patio of the building and back again. But it was better than nothing and all three of us had a great time.

 

Two in a Taxi

We know taxi drivers are supposed to take guide dogs. So why should there be any objection if they take two people with guide dogs? The driver on the way was very gracious and said that he had taken Arieh Shmidt z"l and his dog Alvin quite often. Bracha and I sat in front while Adi and Yuni sat in back. But when Adi called for a taxi to take us back to the train from Erez's house and said we had two guide dogs, , the dispatcher said, I don't know whether that's possible." This is not the kind of comment we like to hear when we have to catch a train. When the driver arrived we got in and all the way he argued with Adi about the fact that two dogs were not allowed, and that he was doing us a personal favor. Since both Yuni and I were sitting quietly, I really saw no reason for him to object. Why can't two people with guide dogs travel together?

 

No Clipping – Just a Trim

This morning Bracha led me outside and showed me something new – a pair of scissors. She let me sniff them, gave me a treat, and said that she was going to give me a trim. Ami had also said that this was advisable since some of my hair is getting very long and soft and I come home from the fields with seeds and burrs caught under my ears! So Bracha began to gently clip around my ears and underneath. I saw it didn't hurt, so I just decided to cooperate and lay down and let her go at it. Soon the lawn was covered with little tufts of white hair, but the area under my ears was much more trim and neat. I guess I don't mind having my hair trimmed – particularly if it's followed by a treat!

Dog Days

I don't know why people call hot summer days "dog days." They are not for dogs at all. I guess Bracha is right in saying that my fur protects my skin from the hot sun beating down on it, but it is hot outside. And yesterday when we got back from our hike (no mud this time) I was very hot and Bracha filled up my little pool. I was glad to be able to cool off. Busses and trains are cool, but walking in the street is hot, שמג when I try and nip over to the doorways of stores where cool air is coming out Bracha makes me walk on.

Today we went on a short train ride to Acco and got into a taxi. The ride was only about five minutes long and the driver wanted a lot of money, and it turned out he had charged Bracha for an extra passenger. Bracha explained to him that this was against the law and then gave him one of those stickers that says "I take guide dogs." In the end he offered to give Bracha even more money back and they parted on friendly terms. The driver asked if someone attacked Bracha if I would become a gressive. What's a gressive? I'm a guide dog. How can I become something else?

Anyway, when we got back to Nahariya one of the customers in the bakery was not so nice. We go in there all the time and I know I am not supposed to touch or sniff anything, and the staff is always helpful and someone goes and gets Bracha what she needs. But a lady yelled, "What? A dog in the bakery where all the bread is?" Bracha was fed up and said yep, you come in with your eyes and I come in with my dog." She has no patience for people who say things like that. There is so much to teach people about us!

That's one Dirty Dog!

I know. I wasn't supposed to get dirty yesterday. We specifically chose a route for our hike that didn't have any mud. But you know me. My secret desire to be a black dog and get cool and wet overcame me once again, and I found a good mudhole...and before I knew it I er, looked like this.

Country Dog

After so much traveling it's nice to be home for the weekend and relax. I spent a lot of time sleeping yesterday in my favorite spot near the front door and was eager to get out in the afternoon for a walk. By the time it was over I was pausing every few meters and panting and Bracha encouraged me to walk slowly home, where she gave me a large bowl of water with ice cubes and then dinner. And today I got to lie on the grass with a leather chew toy while Bracha worked in the garden! What a life! There are days when I work hard in the city and don't get to run or hike at all, and days when we are at home and I'm free to live a life of leisure.

I sometimes wonder how guide dog owners manage in the city. First of all, there is nowhere to go busy! Bracha often has to walk and walk to find a place where I can discreetly go, and even then people shout at us. I think they should have a special little piece of grass on every street corner for people to use to take their dogs out, and a dispenser with those little plastic bags. That way people would not have to search for a place and the city would be cleaner.

And another thing is those hot sidewalks. When we stand at a crossing waiting to get across the road the pavement is so hot sometimes that my paws feel hot, and even dancing around from one place to another doesn't help. Bracha puts my shoes on. They are not always that comfortable and feel strange, but I guess I'd better wear them because they make my feet feel cooler.

And yet an other thing about the city that I don't like is the noise. There are car horns, motorcycles, and trucks that roar by and startle me, and sometimes there are dogs that roam the streets and bark at me. I never did like other dogs unless I know they want to play. I guess I'm just a country dog at heart!

And WOW! Bracha says tomorrow we are going to the beach! Hooray! And not only that. She also said that Petel is going to come and visit me and we can show her all the places where we hike and run. Wow! My own house guest! I promise to share my pool, my toys, and my treats and to be a good hostess.