Always Busy

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As a puppy I always new that I was special. I got lots of praises, met very interesting people and got to fly inside aeroplanes and play with lots of other puppies.

Today as a qualified and working guide dog I always draw lots of attention when I  go out with my human, William.

William has a little bet with himself wherever we go. He listens out for the cries of little children calling out, "Doggie!"

The most "Doggies!" we have ever encountered was in a supermarket last week, where I raised twenty-one such cries in just thirteen minutes.

William always says how he would love a dollar for each cry of "doggie!" He would have a fortune. I just say if I had a piece of kibble for those cries, I would have a full tummy.

Did you know there is now a theory that we Labs have a missing gene? That missing gene told our wolf ancestors that our tummies were full and that we should stop eating.

Stop Eating! Wow I could never do that. Can you imagine how thin and gaunt I would look, a mere shadow of myself. I need to eat constantly to maintain my energy. I am constantly on the hunt for food. Whether it be kibble, an apple, popcorn or cedar chips. All find their way into my tummy at some time or other.

A few months ago, William found himself with a new hobby, his job is to feed me, his hobby is television production. He even has his own television program, 'Blindside Fresno' This program is produced each month and  talks about blindness and low vision issues. It has been interviews with people in the blind community in the first programs but later he promises a major role for me. But this may just be him making bigshot producer promises just to get me to work harder for him.

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When I haven't been working hard with William at the television studio I have had some nice days with doggie pals at the local dog park swimming pool. With temperatures here getting into the low 100 degrees F level it is much too hot to walk outside so it is nice to spend time cooling my paws in the pool.

Well tomorrow is a hard walking and working day for me. A doctors trip with William then out to speak to some prospective guests on his TV show.

I Was On Television

A few days ago, I was invited by my friends at Fresno Far Sighted Puppy Raisers to go on a night walk around the Fig Garden Village shopping center.

My puppy pals Doyle and Eagle were there along with their puppy raisers. When  William and I arrived we did not know that the evening was also planned to be filmed by Jonathan, a journalism student at Fresno State University.

As we walked around the shops and restaurants we were filmed and I think I did a pretty good job of showing what a guide dog does for a living.

The link below will take you to the finished news report as broadcast on Fresno State Focus on 12/14/15.   Please share if you enjoy it.

How to tell your Partner You want a Treat

Post by Guide Dog Leif.

Merry Christmas

As part of my job I get to meet some important people.

The First Year

This week has seen my first anniversary with William, my partner whom I guide.

I cannot really complain about my life. William lets me do all sorts of fun things.

This year I have, since graduating from Guide Dogs for the Blind;

Created a Facebook Page. I actually have more friends on my Facebook page than William. Awesome!

Attended council meetings to ask the council for more accessible road crossings for the disabled, my cuteness wins over the councillors everytime.

Been to give talks on Guide Dogs for the Blind at the local library, scout and girls groups.

Trained with and supported the local middle school boys soccer team and been their very lucky charm.

Won our families fantasy football game trophy, without even knowing a single player.

Appeared on stamps, greetings cards and mugs. How handsome I look in my harness.

Guide Dog Mug by Bretsuki
More Guide dog Mugs

Black Lab Stamp by Bretsuki
Look at other Black Stamps at zazzle.com



 

Black Lab and Flag Greeting Card by Bretsuki
Find other Black lab Cards at zazzle.com

Fantasy Football Star

Here we are coming into week seven of the NFL season.

Your favorite guide dog is pretty much sitting pretty at the top of the Elliott household NFL Fantasy Football League.

Before the season started, William, or He Who Feeds Me, decided he wanted to have a good chance to have an active interest in Football this year.

He has been a Chicago Bears fan since the mid 1980's when the first regular season game highlights were shown in England on Channel 4 TV. Sadly he still gets excited when the Bears play on TV. I of course being from the San Francisco Bay area have to be a 49ers fan. Well they have pretty uniforms in red and gold. Plus they win some games too.

Darcie, also know as, My best tuggy toy friend, and William's wife is a Denver Broncos fan. All I can say there is Payton Manning.

Anyway. they set up a series of teams based on favorites and then they set up a team for me, taking my yawns and grunts as cues to approve or disapprove.

Being the superior animal that I am, in week one, I slaughtered the opposition and this has continued through week six.  As this weeks plays begin it is eyes down in this house, not to brag but they are now resigned to me winning and looking between themselves to see who will come second.

I am steadfast in my support of the 49ers.   But am glad to see the Giants are through to the 'World Series" in baseball.

"Old Glory" Photographic Print by Bretsuki
View more Black lab Photography

Gonuts 2 Tug Toy

Back in July 2014, I went back home to San Rafael for a Fun Day with William.

While there we saw my favorite toy stall.

The Gonut stall.

William had bought me a Gonut stick toy before our graduation last year and I have loved to play with it everyday since.

On display at the Fun Day toy stall was this Gonut 2. Though at that time they were thinking of calling it the "Infinitoy" We actually tried it out there. I have to say it was much more fun, William is able to hold one of the rings while I tug and pull as hard as I can. It is great fun for both of us now. No slobbery fingers for William and less chance that I can bite him by accident as my mouth and his hand are not on the same part of the toy.

It has the same Gonut guarantee that the toy will be replaced without question if your dog breaks through the outer layer with his teeth and provides great fun for dogs like me who like to play tug.

I love it!  Buy it here: