Out in the Big World

I can't begin to tell you how much fun I had last weekend in Jerusalem.  I know that Bracha promised me travel and adventure when we first met, and it seems to be coming on fast.  We arrived at a wonderful hotel with a grassy lawn, a place for my friends and me to run, and places for Bracha and her friends to eat, sit, and relax.  There were so many of my friends there: Petel, who was Suki's best friend and whom I really like a lot, Peter, Tango, Wendy, Alice, Casey, Polo, and many many others.  We all went on a tour on Friday that was very difficult work for me.  I did everything: stairs, ramps, tunnels, crowded alleys, and all the places in Jerusalem.  There was only one place that I would not let Bracha cross, and that was a place in the tunnel where there was a wide abyss in the floor going deep deep underground!  Bracha started telling me it was covered with glass and that I could walk on it, but there was no way I was going over that hole.  So she told people to stop coaxing me forward and we turned around and went back.  I was glad to get home to my own soft bed, but it was a wonderful weekend.  Unfortunately, by the time I learned my way perfectly around the hotel, even knew which room was ours, it was time to leave.
Now, Bracha lets me lounge on the patio in the sun by myself with the fence gate is closed.  But today she was surprised to find me out in the yard.  I didn't go far - just upstairs where there is a lovely view.  But Bracha soon discuvered the hole in the fence where I had slipped out, and to my disappointment she repaired it.  So no more wandering.

But I did hear her talk about building a special place outside, just for me, to, er, do my busy.  I hate walking on the wet grass in the morning.  I work hard and try to be good.  Can't I be a little spoiled in one small way?

Coming Along All the Time

I've been handling things a lot better lately.  I've had three big problems:  getting into cars, pulling on my leash, and agreeing (or rather, not agreeing) to go into the avocado orchard.  Getting into cars has been a lot easier for me, and Bracha encourages me with the clicker every time I get in properly.  So I hope I have that problem licked.  Now I would love for Bracha to stop putting that darned Halti on me, but I know she won't unless I stop pulling on my leash.  So I'll make an extra effort.
Now, I see through Bracha's tactics.  She takes me around the other side of the avocado orchard and we end up coming to the entrance from inside.  Yesterday we even passed two tractors and that big yellow thing that looks like a giraffe, but it makes an awful racket.  One was standing still, and Bracha took me up to it to sniff it and explore so I wouldn't be afraid of it.  So this morning I agreed to go into the avocados!  Maybe it's not such a bad place after all.
Bracha has told me we are going on vacation this weekend.  She put several little bags of my food in her suitcase, so I brought her my rope toy and she put that in, too.  I hope I'll meet a lot of new friends there, including Petel, who was Suki's best friend.  I know that if Petel liked Suki, she'll like me, too.

It's all a mystery to me!

I think I have already mentioned that I am a very smart dog.  I can memorize a route after walking it only once, and even do it again in the dark.  But I must admit there are some things I do not understand. 
Why am I afraid to go into the avocado orchard from our end of the road, but when Bracha takes me around the other way and we approach the same place from the other direction, I don't mind?
Why does Bracha sometimes want to go to the mailbox and to benches, and sometimes not?  I know that sometimes she's happy when I lead her to a bench because she gives me a click and a treat.  
Why is it OK for people to throw garbage and cigarette butts into the flower beds in Nahariya, but it's not OK for me to, er, pee there?  Why did the man shout at Bracha?  Why didn't he shout at the people who threw the garbage there?  Beats me.
And how, oh how, did the people in the novelty store know that I was thirsty and put out a row of little water fountains with blinking lights especially for me, right at nose level, so that I could walk up and have a drink?

Learning New Routes

Part of the challenge of being a new guide dog is learning all the routes where Bracha has to go.  We've already pretty much covered Nahariya, and I know how to find the stoplight where we cross the street.  What I don't quite understand is why there are always so many people standing in front of the machine that Bracha calls "Bank".  I need to get up to this machine and put my nose next to it so that Bracha knows we've gotten there, and there are always people blocking my way.  I know this is what Bracha wants, because when I go up to the machine she clicked the clicker and gave me a treat.
Yesterday we began working in Tel Aviv, and believe me, my head was so full of new things by the end of the day that all I wanted to do was lie down on the carpet on the train and sleep.  First we marked out a route with Rafi and Natanel's help inside Azrieli center.  Bracha told me she used to go walking around and around in there, getting lost and confused.  Now all she has to do is get to the top of the moving stairs with me.  Then she can either direct me to go down the stairs to the taxi stand, go straight to the door that leads to the bridge and the bus stop, or go out the passageway to the train station.  Then we went to Ramat Gan, where we marked out the route from the bus stop into the train station sleeve.  I don't know why Bracha felt this route was so complicated, and why she used to get so upset trying to find her way inside at night. Now we can zip through there past the stock exchange and into the tunnel with me leading.  I know all these places now, because Rafi and Natanel walked us through there and when I found the places I heard the clicker and Bracha gave me a treat again!
Then we went to my grandparents' house.  They were very excited to see me, and I know they liked my wandering around exploring the apartment.  We even made it to Rotem's house in Kiryat Ono, and that was somewhere that Bracha barely knows.  So now I think we can get just about anywhere! 
Things I have to work on:
Oh yes, pulling on the leash
Agreeing to go into the avocado orchard.
Getting into strange cars with strange smells

Barking.  Woof!

Coming Home at Last

Here I am in Ben Ami at last.  I guess this is going to be my new home, and so far it looks pretty good.  The last day of the course was very exciting.  We were all dropped off in the middle of the marketplace in Ramla, and we had to make our way from there to the courthouse by ourselves.  Bracha asked directions a couple of times and we made it all the way there without any trouble.  She didn't see Rafi standing at the entrance to the market, making sure no one walked into the busy street by mistake.  A nice woman helped us cross the busy intersection and before we knew it we had found the courthouse and I walked up the steps to the entrance!
In the evening we were all sitting in the lounge and suddenly Tali, my pupy raiser, walked in!  I was so excited that I forgot all the rules and jumped up on my hind legs, but Bracha realized I was excited, and didn't tell me to stop.  Later Tali took me outside for a walk, and we were happy to see each other again.  I know my place is with Bracha now and that I have a job to do, but Tali and Bracha exchanged phone numbers and promised to meet.  Bracha wants to show Tali what a great guide dog I am by letting her see me work while I am in harness, and I hope that will make her happy and proud.. 
The next morning everyone said goodbye and Ami put me in the back of his car and we left Beit Oved behind.  When I woke up we were in Ben Ami, and Nuala was there barking excitedly.  I loved the house with its big patio, and I have a large, soft bed and a basket full of toys!  I am still a bit scared to go into the orchard with its strange rows of trees and different smells.  It's loike a jungle in there!  Bracha takes me there on the leash with  my "halti" and we can enjoy walking together there.  So far I have been to the grocery store and around the block, and we've even crossed the busy highway at the stoplight.  Next week Bracha will take me to Nahariya and Rafi and Natanel will help me learn the way up and down the main street.  And later we will take the train all the way to Tel Aviv!  I know I can handle all these places, but I admit I have a few things to polish up here at home.  I've made a list to remind myself of things I need to work on:
1. No barking at delivery men, other dogs, guests, or jackals.  I am not a watchdog.
2.  No pulling the leaves off potted plants.  I have toys to chew on.
3. No pulling on the leash when walking to heel.

I promise to do my best, and I know Bracha is happy with me and proud of me...even if I goof off sometimes.  AFter all, I am a rambunctious two-year-old dog, and Bracha would not want a dog who behaves all the time.  I know that.  She's told me so.