Holiday Hints

While out shopping this holiday season, you may see someone with a service dog -- here are a few tips.

Service Dog Manners.

When you meet a person with a service dog, please remember that the dog is working. Don't do anything to interrupt the service dog while it is performing its tasks.

Some Rules for Interacting with People with Service Dogs.

1. Speak to the person first. Do not aim distracting or rude noises at the dog.

2. Do not touch the service dog without asking for, and receiving, permission.

3. Do not offer food to the service dog.

4. Do not ask personal questions about the handler's disability, or otherwise intrude on his or her privacy.

5. Don't be offended if the handler does not wish to chat about the service dog.

What if you don't like dogs or are afraid of dogs?

Place yourself away from the service dog. If you are a business person, discreetly arrange for someone else to wait on the person. You may ask the person to have the service dog lie down if it does not interfere with its work.

What if other people complain about the dog being present?

Explain that the service dog is medically necessary and that federal law protects the right of the person to be accompanied by the service dog in public places.

Taken from The TRUTH About Service Dogs on Facebook 

☆Katie

The Bread Thief Strikes Again

So we are at my parents for Thanksgiving and since we are here my parents are hosting.

Part of Thanksgiving dinner is stuffing, and making stuffing involves leaving bread out to dry.

I hope y'all see where this is going.

So last night we carefully laid out several loaves of bread on the dining room table.This morning my furry yellow beast deside he can't wait for breakfast and the bread is right there so he steals a slice. Twice. Once at breakfast at 6 and again at 8 when we came down for the humans to eat.

Get Outta w/ That Shit

Two situation in one weekend.

1) At the post office Saturday and a woman comes in w/ a doy in her arms, dog starts growling a t Happe. Thus sparking the clerk to say no dogs and the owner to snottly argue that  there is no 'no dogs' sign. Like its the businesses job to tell your stupid, entitled butt what you can and can't do, get real and some common sense.

2) At the Cheesecake Factory on Sunday, they went to sit someone w/ a purse dog near us, causing a lot of barking from the purse dog. Being the rockstar he is, Happe didn't bat an eye. -How do you not see the dog? 

-Why did you reseat them? Kick em out.

-Aren't you afraid it'll pee in your purse?

Service dogs get a bad reputation over shit like this. Grow up and get some common sense.

Thank you for making my life harder, NOT!

Thiss is the Face

This was written by a fellow Leader Dogs for the Blind alumni and is so true 

This is the face of a hard-working boy, who just finished a long day at work.

This is the face of a sweet boy, who wants to get home to his toys.

This is the face of a patient boy, who is waiting for his Lyft to take him home.

This is the face of a confused boy, who doesn’t understand why cars drive away when we approach.

This is the face of a hopeful boy, when another lyft pulls up.

This is the face of a sad boy, who is starting to recognize the words, no dogs.

This is the face of a sensitive boy, who will try really hard not to shed if someone will just please take us home.

This is the face of my well behaved service dog, who is legally allowed to accompany me everywhere.

This is the face of my well groomed service dog, who Is much cleaner than most of the people, children, food, drinks,  and personal belongings that are frequently transported in lyft vehicles.

This is the face of my beautiful service dog, whom Lyft drivers agree to transport when signing up for the platform.

This is a guide dog, who belongs to a Handler that is sick of being discriminated against for the same reason, over and over again.

 That being said, no matter what platform you drive on (lyft or uber) please read all the rules and laws  before you decide to become a driver.

☆Katie

Week of 9/12

I'm so bored!  Our trainer from Leader Dogs banned us from crossing the big road near us after mom called to tell them someone almost ran into us. 

♤Happe

We worked with the O&M instructor Monday, but  didn't do much just walked down the road. We noticed if I don't hit the crosswalk squarely he'll block me which is weird. I've also noticed he has started walking along faster, even in places we know.  I only say that because when I got him the trainer told me that he will walk fast through new places and slow down in familiar places.

☆Katie

I had an interview Friday and Happe did great while we were there, everyone loved him, he didn't complain or get clingy.

☆Katie

On Saturday night I got complimented by a bus driver on how well behaved Happe was. Now this never happens, so its a big deal.

☆ Katie

Finally! A chill day! I didn't do much but that interview took a lot out of me. Then yesterday we  went and walked along the river and boy was that too much activity for me 

♤Happe

I'll never be

My friend took me to a poetry event last night and it made me think oof this.

This is from years ago when I had my first guide dog,  Ori. Based on a poem written by someone in one of my classes. I'm pretty sure I never finished it.

I'll never be the perfect dog

That I hope mom knows

I sniff and sniff at everything

Even on the go 

I stare at all the other dogs 

And drive mom up the wall

I'll never be a perfect dog 

I get distracted by everything 

☆Katie

Things we've all heard

I don't remember any of the stupid things people have said to me over the years, but I have gotten many. These are funny and aren't from just non- dog people

》Person pointing to our Sussex spaniel telling friend:  “That’s one of those Cumberland spaniels.”   Me:  “There’s no such thing as a Cumberland spaniel.  This is a Sussex spaniel.”   Person:  “No it’s not.”

》Dog park expert: what breed is that?

Me: Bernese Mountain Dog

DPE: Lady, you got ripped off that’s a Saint Bernard crossed with something 

Me: 😳 

Are you sure you're an expert

》been asked "what model is that?" uhm Rottweiler 2016......

Its a dog not a car.

》Thinking I need to spank my puppy when she has accidents. They say "How else will she learn?" Smh

》My cousin's ex said Dalmatians are bred to run into burning buildings and rescue people.  Just yesterday someone said drug dogs are trained to sniff out drugs by getting them hooked on drugs then withholding it.

I didn't know you could breed a task. Why are you giving dogs drugs?

》You have to pee on your dog to make them know you’re alpha. 

Sorry, I will not pee on my dog, David.

That is disgusting. How about some tough love

》My girl is a rottweiler but gets called a cross all of the time as she is fit and people think rottweilers are 'big'

The worst was a lady whose dog had no recall. He had came running up to my dog who was on lead at the time. My dog ignored him. The owner came up to me screaming and yelling that my dogs harness should not be blue. Girl dogs are not allowed to wear blue harnesses apparently - they HAVE to be pink. Her dog picks fights with male dogs and she was scared her dog would be nailed by my dog (a rottweiler) thinking she was a male as she was in blue.

Thank you for your thoughts.

》“Training your dog is cruel.  You should just let them be dogs” 😐

Letting your dog get fat because it doesn't work is even cruelest.

 》"Your dog is clearly aggressive and untrained because he needs a muzzle" 

But I had to train him to wear a muzzle🤦‍♀️

》"The dog will be wild and get rabies because of eating uncooked meat... "🤣🤣🤣

》Don't teach a show dog to sit or it'll never learn how to stand 🙄🙄

》“Pitt bulls are aggressive because they get headaches

 

》(In the 1980s) That Dobes were mean because their narrow skulls squeezed their brains and caused great pain.

》Raw meat will make him mean

》 walking n g with my dog this guy leans out his car window "it's ok I won't hit you."

Thanks for your vote of confidence.

Aug 29-Sept 5

Sorry I missed last week. It was mons birthday and her parents (grand parents, that might get me killed next time I see them) came out. We did a lot of walking and I was completely done on Sunday.

♧Happe

I was also so done. We went to the natural history museum, on a sunset city cruse, and to the statue of liberty.  Honestly it was cooler to see the statue lit up on the sunset cruise than actually going to the island. Happe was a rockstar through it all and we did A LOT of walking, 56,016 steps worth of walking in fact, no wonder he's dead.

☆Katie t ie

Week of Sept 4

Yay rain! We so need you, now if you stay much longer a day or so will be sarcastic.

 It's gotten a lot more hectic around here as school is back in session and we live in a collage town. They have also closed down a major road near us so our street is a mess. 

☆Katie

MOM BOUGHT ME A SQUEEKY T OY AND I LOVE IT!

♤Happe

And I couldn't stop laughing

☆Katie

Let Your Kids Àsk Questiond

https://youtu.be/02Y6VnKQVyo

Just ask

MY ice cube

Last night daddy went to get some water and he put the ice cubes in my bowl not expecting me to get them. And when I jumped up to get them mom died laughing at my late night antics.

♤Happe

Names

It is crazy how fast people get used to the names our dogs have. Like I thought Happe was strange name at first but now, it's just normal to me. Ann's dog name is Mint.

There are also just some weird names out there

-My friend has a dog  names Pretzel 

-Someone who works at leader dogs has a dog named nutmeg

-a different friend has a dog named Clutch

-when I was getting Ori there were some weird dog names like: Bunker, Delta-April, Magic, Stutz (gymnastic move), Olympia (typewriter brand), Zooy (shoe brand).