The Surprise

Last night before I went to sleep Bracha promised me a surprise. I could hardly settle down. At 06:15 I got up and attempted to nudge Bracha, who promptly told me to go back to sleep. "IT's Saturday!" So I went into the living room and chewed my bone for a while, wondering what was in store. Finally at about 10:30 Bracha took me out into the yard, and a car pulled up. I could hardly believe it! Nurit and Nir! My foster parents! And their two dogs TInka and Kroovi whom I grew up with!!!
I was so excited I didn't know what to do first: run with the dogs or jump up on Nurit. I did the later, and was quietly calmed down by Bracha. But soon I was racing around the yard with Tinka and Kroovi, and Tinka did the usual thing she used to do: she attempted to jump on top of me. This is what I grew up with, and Bracha was about to find out a few things she never knew about my childhood.
Soon we set out for the river, and I showed Tinka and Kroovi the swimming hold and how to get nice and muddy on the way. Nir and Nurit laughed when I came out of the mud half brown, and then got all clean again in the river. What a great time we had!
Now, there are a few months that I barely remember when I was a puppy and Nurit told Bracha all about it. The first foster family I went to did not work out. They sort of shuttled me about from one house to another and didn't do their important job of raising a guide dog puppy properly. By the time I was a few months old and was moved to Nurit who would care for me, I still didn't know, er, how to do busy outside, and once I did it on the stairs and it all ran down like a little waterfall! But soon Tinka and Kroovi showed me what to do, and I soon learned "busy" was only outside. They also had another name for me at the beginning, but after that I became Suki. I got used to Tinka's climbing on top of me and roughhousing a bit, and to sweet little Kroovi as well, and there I remained until I went back to Beit Oved.
Bracha asked Nurit if it was hard for her to see me again, and she said no, that it made her happy to see that I was well looked after and help Bracha and have a good home. And they invited us to come to Kfar Saba and see horses! I hope we can go!

Spring is Here!

Here I am in the tall green wheat field. This is the best place for running. And I even whispered to Petel under the table last week that I would take her here during Pesach so that we can run together! Hooray!

Happy Purim - but Rough on Guide Dogs

I knew it was a mistake to go into town yesterday. Hoping to meet Carol and wipe up a humus out in the sun and spend a pleasant Friday afternoon, we soon discuvered that the Purim celebrations were underway already and that no quiet was to be had. Purim is lots of fun - but not for guide dogs. We made it into town after being dropped off far away because no taxis were allowed in. There were no cars on the streets, but I had to push Bracha aside from several bikes on the sidewalk. But there was loud music, the sidewalks were crowded with people, and strollers were everywhere. It was lots of fun for the people, but not for me. First of all, large balloons kept lobbing in front of me, and boys fired off little guns that made loud explosions that made me jump and startled me constantly. Little children shouted and grabbed at me all the time. I was not trained for this and soon became very worn out. Loud music played everywhere, making it impossible for me to hear what Bracha told me to do. Maneuvering among the people on the sidewalk was nearly impossible. Bracha soon realized that I was having a hard time and decided to leave. I was so happy to get in a taxi and head for home, where I stretched out happily in the sunshine.

So Happy Purim everyone! Enjoy yourselves! I think I'll stay home.

My Favorite Kind of Morning

After a week indoors it was good to get out again this morning. The sky was a cloudless blue and there was a brisk wind blowing that was drying up all the puddles. We set out for town. The first thing I did when we got there was head for Yaron's office. Yaron is Bracha's accountant, but he also loves me a lot, and today he didn't seem to have a lot of work to do, so he asked Bracha if he could take me outside for a drink of water. Bracha took off my harness and gave him my leash and soon we were romping around the yard and Yaron was throwing pine cones for me to chase. Soon we left there and I got even more excited because we soon got to the beach! I found the gate for Bracha and we zipped along the sand. There were not many people there and Bracha let me run free on the beach until I couldn't run any more. And then Bracha got her treat - a cup of coffee and croissaint. Everyone at the restaurant asked about Bracha's friend, and I know they meant Liron and Petel who have been there with us several times. I lay basking in the sun while my fur dried and I was soon fluffy and clean. What a life!
After that there was only one thing missing, and we did that too - the pet store! Bracha bought me a new bone (no, I don't know where my other one, or the one before that, nor the one before that, nor...all are) and they even threw in a free bag of dog biscuits! Hooray!

Dog in the Rain

It hasn't stopped raining for four days. The entire front yard is a muddy mess, and the drainage ditch at the edge of the road is filled with running water. Bracha would love to take me to the river to see all the water, but we can't seem to get that far without getting caught in the rain again. She's promised me that we'll go as soon as the rain stops, but it doesn't. Even in Tel Aviv it rained, and I stood dejectedly at the bus stop watching cars speed by spewing water up onto the sidewalk. It was nice to lie in the office of the Aguda with Turner, Lady, and Alice, all three of us under the table keeping warm and dry.

Petel and LIron got caught in the middle of Menachem Begin Blvd. this week and a passing car halted just short of them. Petel had not exercised her job of disobeying a wrong command, or did not hear or see the car coming. These new cars are very quiet, and we have to be extra watchful! It is harder for dogs who live in the city to remain alert when there is constant heavy traffic. Me, I'm a country dog, and notice oncoming cars more. It must be harder for Petel, who must constantly remain on alert. Even Ami understands how hard we dogs work and how difficult our job is and how easy it is to be lax for a moment when we constantly have to watch for cars.

Now, I was very good yesterday and everyone we met on the train cooed over me, petted me, and admired me. I popped out from between the seats at Binyamina and made my usual appearance, first shaking myself as noisily as I could, and then stretching with my front paws on the ground and my rear end in the air. Then I proceeded to get all the petting I could get. And on the way home the driver in the taxi was afraid of me, so I sat quietly with Bracha on the floor of the back seat on my little towel, and he didn't mind.

And oh my. It's still raining.

Life as a Large Dog

Lately there's been a lot of talk about large dogs versus small ones, black dogs versus light-colored ones. Now, I admit it. I'm large. Bracha thinks that they gave me to her for many reasons, but size wise, we are a bit of a surprising pair. Besides Rocko and Casper, who are both male golden retrievers, we have never seen any guide dogs who are bigger than me! I weigh 35 kilos, and most of Bracha's friends' dogs don't even weigh 30.

Now I know that some people find this difficult. It's, er, a little bit more difficult to squeeze into little places like taxi cabs and private cars. But usually I manage to scrunch in under the glove compartment and fold up like a jack knife and pop in like a cork into a bottle. But I admit it's not always easy.

But the color thing is just beyond me. Why don't people like black dogs? Nuala is Black, and Saoirse was black. And so are Turner, Dessa, Disney, Hugo, and lots of other dogs and they are pretty. And if I were black taxi drivers would complain a lot less about my hairs in their taxis. People are so strange. Bracha explained to me that the dark colored dogs have different jeans. First, in order to be black you have to be a Labrador retriever. And you have to have jeans that make black or brown fur, and jeans that make the color actually appear in your fur! Now, why would they wear jeans?

Now I have to mention that the Rotem was here. She couldn't even go to school because she was sick, and did a lot of sleeping. So I slept with her and kept an eye on her, too. And now she's better and we took her back home on the train again. And it's pouring rain outside. Think I'll stay by the fireplace until it dries out outside.

The Pool - Where everyone likes me!

Guide dogs are allowed in the area of a swimming pool (not in the water!). You bet! We've got it down to a set routine. First I get in the back of the car and lie quietly on the way to the pool. When we get there the guard says good morning and holds the side door open so that we don't have to go through the turnstile. After all, they know who we are. Then I trot straight to the locker room to our special corner, where Bracha opens our little locker and takes out her swimming gear, rubber clogs, and my water bowl. Usually there's someone in the locker room to say hello - even ask what my name is or how old I am. Then we trot out to the pool.
There is a special place where Bracha clips my leash to the fence and puts my water bowl down next to me. Then I have to start work. I have to keep an eye on Bracha while she is in the water. Sure, they have a lifeguard there, but I consider myself far more competent and effective. I turn my head back and forth and everyone comments on what a good jog I do watching and following Bracha in the water. And maybe Bracha doesn't know it, but there is one man who comes by and kisses me on my head.
Now the funny part comes. Near where I sit is a little house. It's made of wood and smells like warm wood, and Bracha gets out of the pool and goes in there. It must be very hot inside, but I now know that in a few minutes she'll come out again. SO I'm no longer frightened when Bracha goes in there. I sit quietly until she comes out. Then I wait quietly in the locker room until it's time to pack up and leave.
Now, I'm curious as to why the man who owns the pool once told Bracha that I might bother people there and that he wasn't sure I could go in because he might lose business. How silly! Everyone loves me at the pool. Yesterday it was raining so hard that Bracha left me home where I would be safe and dry, and she said everyone missed me and asked about me!