Sophie's Five!

Dear Sophie,
You're five already? Where did the past year go? Seems like it just started! It was a full and mostly happy year, though, wasn't it? You've learned so much and matured even more.
Your noteworthy "firsts" this year included your first puppy love affair with Amy's guide dog Ramsey, a geocaching adventure in bear country, your first traffic accident, and a live snowfall! And here's quite an accomplishment ... you racked up your thirtieth airplane flight! Think we can hit forty by the time you're six? This next year we're going to be working on a new project ... working with students and airlines to develop a teaching program on air travel with a service dog. Only once in 31 flights has a flight attendant had the faintest idea of what I should do with you in case of an emergency, specifically, a slide evacuation. I'm hoping we can help other service/guide dog teams by bringing awareness of proper procedures. Meanwhile, I'm still working on getting my paper on the subject available online and linked in this blog.
Sophie, my sweet little helper, thank you for another year of making my life so much easier and safer. I hope you know how much you're loved and appreciated, and how very precious you are to me. Happy Birthday, Big Girl!

Sharing

Dear Sophie,
I hesitate to call what we did "teaching" but we had a fun time talking about all our experiences in the air, didn't we? We've racked up 27 flights together now, so it was such a privilege to share our ventures with at least twelve budding service dogs and their high school student puppy raisers.
A good many of them are taking their dogs on vacation with them this summer and, if they're flying, it's important to do it right. I never really thought about publishing my paper I wrote about "Air Travel With Your Service Dog" on your blog but maybe it'd be a good idea so others can read it too.
I was so proud of you today! In such a whirlwind of distractions you laid quietly and cooperatively, and you even let me bounce you around to show the proper way to do a slide evacuation in the event of an emergency.
Goodness knows I'm not much of a speaker and certainly not a teacher, but it was fun sharing with such nice young people and I hope we get to do it again sometime.
After such a busy couple of hours, you weren't done yet. Taking Grandma out to lunch and then grocery shopping, you were patient and perfect, and you took care of me even as I faltered from heat and fatigue. Thanks, big girl. You'll get a tummy rub and foot massage tonight ... you earned it!

Play It Again, Sophie

Dear Sophie,
Wasn't That A Party? Your second Irish Rovers concert was just as much fun as your first back in Omaha. Being right on the end of a row you had a great little space all your own where you could sack out, but I don't think you caught a wink of sleep the whole evening. You were too busy looking around and taking in the sights and sounds of the Mesa Arts Center and the hundreds and hundreds of people.
You seemed to really enjoy the music, just as you do at home, although you had one literally hair-raising moment that had me as shook up as you were. John, the jokester of the band, was in the middle of a story where he portrayed a devil in a graveyard, with a tremendous roar amplified by the very effective sound system! You sprang to your feet, your hair stood on end, you trembled from nose to tail, and oh how you wanted to bolt! You were terrified! So was I ... I was so afraid you were going to bark! But you didn't ... I held you close and, over the next several minutes, got you settled down and all was well.
After the concert, we met up with George and John who, again, were away from their own dogs and you were only too happy to give them all the puppy-love they wanted, and then some. I told John he scared the living daylights out of you but you didn't seem to hold any grudges ... you snuggled right up next to him while he and I chatted a bit.
We'll be on the lookout for their next concert tour and hope to get to another one this fall. Until then, we've still got their CDs and lots of playtime to hold us over.
(more about the concert on Wendy-Land blog, linked at right)

The Kindness Of Strangers

Dear Sophie,
I've always been an independent person, and the quickest way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't (or shouldn't). But with my eyesight getting worse and worse, it hasn't been as easy to find or do everything myself and, lately, the two of us have found ourselves in a few sticky situations.
The first was on the way to San Jose. Our airplane had some mechanical problems and we sat at the gate for an hour or so before being told they couldn't fix it there and we'd have to take another plane. It had been three hours since you had been to the Bone Yard, there was no telling when we'd actually be on our way, and adding on another two hours flight time would doubtless find you extremely uncomfy. The folks at US Airways were awesome. Before deplaning, my row mate took my cell phone number; as I'd be outside the terminal when the new gate was announced, he could phone me with the gate change. A gate attendant walked the two of us out to the Bone Yard, stayed with us while you 'communed with Mother Nature', expedited us both back through Security, and even escorted us all the way to the new gate. Wow! Thank you, Rachel and Brian, for making this stressful situation a whole lot easier!
Going home from San Jose left us in an airport terminal we're not as familiar with, and a sweet lady named Michelle stopped to answer a simple question and ended up taking us out so you could be walked, going through Security with us, and walking us to the gate before departing on her own flight. Thanks, Michelle!
A few days ago while we strolled along a walkway by the Colorado River, you led me down a flight of stairs so we could walk right up near the water. By the time I discovered we were in trouble in a sea of unsteady rocks and mud, it would've been downright scary to turn back. And then along came Richard and Connie. They were down there for the same reason and had run into the same thing. Richard scouted ahead for an exit off that so-called beach, and he and Connie went with us to safety, pointing the way to where we needed to go next. God bless you, Richard and Connie ... He sure blessed Sophie and me by sending you along!
Y'know, I've met a few people who use service animals who seem to have chips on their shoulders and aren't very polite to people who want to help them. I suppose I can't do anything about that, except maybe feel sorry for them, but I certainly can make sure those who help me are truly appreciated. On behalf of Sophie and myself, THANK YOU!

A Nervous Wreck

December 3-7, 2008
Dear Sophie,
What do you get when you cross a fairly mature, mellowing 4-1/2 year old Golden Retriever with an 80-pound 6 month old Great Dane puppy with irrepressible energy? See answer above.
Pretty amazing, wasn't it? Little baby Padme grew up on you! I wish I could've seen the look on your face when she met you at the door, but I saw your tail, wagging a mile a minute as you merrily bounced your way up to the front door, and then suddenly slamming on its brakes when you met your match face to face! She tried so hard to warm up to you and get you to play with her but you were freaked out from the word 'go'. It's too bad you don't remember much about your own puppyhood when you terrorized us the same way!
Padme's jubilant energy was just a little over your top. While you matched her in weight and height, she sure had you beat when it came to puppiness. Just wait till next time we visit. You thought she majorly surprised you this time ... you ain't seen nothin' yet, sweetie! She's not done growing yet!
We did manage to sneak in a visit with Amy while we were there and, right away, you and Ramsey were at it again ... nuzzling and flirting and practically lip-locked.
Eventually you settled back in at Kasey's, and you were on your best behavior while Kasey and I made a triple batch of peanut butter dog cookies. Mmmmm! You'd do anything for peanut butter dog cookies! Then all of us, including Padme, went out for a very long walk through the neighborhood and looked at Christmas lights. Such fun!
You might think you came home traumatized, but I looked at it a little differently. Life can throw you fast balls, breaking balls, and curve balls and, if you're going to be a great ballplayer, you have to learn how to hit 'em. When we got home, though, the only position you were interested in playing was catcher ... of a very very long nap.

You've Got To Get One Of These!

Dear Sophie,
I hope you don't mind terribly if I use your blog as a site to write up a commercial, but I know you're a happier dog because of the Furminator, so you'll want all your friends to have one too.
Despite my sister's hearty recommendations, with dog grooming tools I was fairly happy with I saw no reason to add anything. I had a flat slicker brush, a comb, and a deshedding tool. "I didn't need no stinkin' Furminator."
I humbly and absolutely stand corrected! A couple of times a day before going out, running a brush over Sophie netted very little so, naturally, I assumed she was hanging onto her coat because of the cooler weather. This is all I had collected out of her brush for six days (left)
(yes, I save all the hair I brush out of her; just a silly thing I do). And this is what came of ONE grooming session with a Furminator (right) Unbelievable! And I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself.
Yeah, they're a little on the pricey side but, after using that thing just once, I immediately went out and bought one. It's worth it! And they work wonders on short-haired dogs too. It's amazing what this thing can do. This is one time when the product does exactly what it says it'll do. Sophie and I highly recommend it!
One Week Later ... Just a week after being thoroughly Furminated, here's what we came up with when we used it againUnbelievable, but true! Now that Sophie has been well-deshedded, we'll only need to use it every three or four weeks, along with her spring-toothed rake, her mat-splitter, and her comb. Sadly, it took me four and a half years to learn to properly groom my long-haired dog, but this is a fortunate example of better late than never.

Family Fun in Montana

Dear Sophie,
We've been home from Montana a little more than a week. Sorry it has taken so long to get this posted; it has just been one thing after another all week!
I had a wonderful time there, and I know you did too,even as hard as you worked. We had so many places to go, many things to do, and so much to accomplish, but just visiting with Ginny and Dan and Courtney, and Doug when he came home from visiting his dad ... that was the most fun.
For starters, you got to try on a guide dog harness and take me for a walk with it but, alas, with no support, it wasn't what we needed. But it did assure us the harness you're using is exactly what we need.
We got to tag along to three different places one day while Addie worked on her geocaching badge for Dog Scouts. For one of them, we went on a little hike up a trail in the deep woods near Strawberry Lake on a geocache adventure … in bear country!! Talk about an adrenaline rush, just thinking about it!
The best thing, though, was at the end of each day when we got to sit around and talk and laugh and visit and catch up.
We watched the weather reports pretty closely all week hoping for some snow, but all we got was rain. Then right before we were to take off out of Kalispell, there it was ... your first live snowfall! I just had to take you outside to be a part of it!There you were, fully harnessed and ready to fly out and you wanted to roll in the snow! But wasn't it fun? Now when we take you up to Flagstaff to play in the snow this winter, you might realize where the snow came from.
Oh, my sweet Sophie, you're truly a character, but you take such good care of me. Maybe you can't fix everything that's broken in my brain, but you give me a quality of life I couldn't imagine having without you. Thanks for one more of, Lord willing, many happy outings together.

Good Times, Good Friends, Good Dogs

Dear Sophie,
You've had one of the most wonderful weeks a dog ever had! It was back to San Jose to see Travis and Kasey for five whole days and you were in your glory!
A 737 is not exactly your favorite airplane but you did well and, just as I figured, the minute you got on board you wanted to look out the window. As we taxied on the tarmac, I finally satisfied a longtime curiosity about what you'd do if you were looking out the window on actual take-off. With your paws on my lap, you watched with wide eyes as this vehicle you were riding in actually left the ground!! The higher we went, the more your nails dug into my leg and actually left bruises! I don't know whether you were freaked or just awestruck at what you were seeing.
But then you settled in on the floor and slept through most of the rest of the flight.
Finally we reached San Jose! A few minutes after we got to Kasey's, you stood by to receive your new play pal, their 11-week-old Great Dane puppy named ... get this ... Paxton's Amidalah Taken By Chance, or just Padmé for short. You've watched Star Wars with Andy & Joe a dozen times or more. Remember Padmé? Well, Padmé took one look at you and yelped, "Holey cow, what the heck is that?!" I think she knew you were a dog but you sure didn't look like anything she had ever seen before! In just a few minutes, though, and were romping and playing together like old buddies. Honest to Pat, you had more exercise and playtime in those five days than you usually get in a month in Phoenix. Maybe we should get a puppy!
We ran over to Petco that afternoon to pick up a few things and I bought you a peanut butter filled bone, the kind you love. Well, as soon as we got home, I knew you and Padmé would be just fine together as you actually shared your bone with her! All afternoon, that bone went from her mouth to yours and back again over and over and over and over ...
Everyplace you go you have to have an 'obsession spot' and you sure found one! You saw a gray squirrel scampering up a power pole in the corner of the yard and, from that moment, you couldn't leave that place alone. It drove me nuts because you'd always come out with muddy paws.
On Friday, we went over to Amy's and, aside from the occasional fixation on her rabbit, you were on your best behavior. Her min-Pin, Turtle, gave you a run for your money ... you weren't real sure what to do about her but you handled it like a proper lady and just retreated to a nice nap near a glass door and let Amy and me get on with our chatting and visiting and catching up. Amy has a new guide dog now, a big, strapping, sleek, Black Lab and, boy, did he like you! And the attraction was mutual!
Later that evening we took Padmé out for a walk because she was balky and stubborn on leash, and Kasey hoped that watching you would teach her. It worked! She walks real well on leash now. Doesn't that make you feel so wonderful when we can help someone?
Our last night there, we went into Flames, a really nice restaurant that you didn't want to be in! You balked, pulled, and trembled! Finally, though, we got your harness off and laid you down out of the way and, after that, you did okay. But when we were all done, you wasted no time getting out. Kasey said dogs can predict earthquakes but, darn it, we didn't get one. So I don't know what your problem was, but you showed admirable restraint when I needed you to and I thank you for that.
So now, our trip is all done. Gone are the cool evenings, and the going in and out as you please, and having someone to play with, and laying out in the yard, and especially being outside alone. Time again for heat, having to ask to go outside, and most of your days spent indoors. But I have a few ideas in my head ... maybe we can remedy a few of those issues. Ya think?

So Long For Now, Auntie Carol

Dear Sophie,
What a sad week this has been for our whole family as we said farewell to our dear Carol. Now she's at rest so it's lovely for her, but it sure hurts to have to say goodbye. I know you didn't understand what was happening, but someday you will.
I can't tell you what a comfort it was to have you with me as we ministered to my brother. It meant the world and everything to me. I think you helped him a lot too. It was so sweet of you to sleep outside his bedroom door, just like last time, and to glue yourself to his side so many times during the days when you sensed he needed a loving touch. And don't think it's over by a long shot; we'll be going back up to Vegas often to be with him and support him.
You know how much I appreciate you all the time, Sophie, but you deserve a special thanks for this past week.
***Sophie says, "So long, Carol. Give the Pud a big ol' wet one from me, and I'll see you when it's my turn to get there."***

My Hero

Dear Sophie,
I could never have made it through the week in Vegas without you. You had periods of stress when you were out and about around crowds, and on Saturday in particular, but you were much more comfortable staying in familiar territory with Tom & Carol instead of a hotel/casino.
It was so touching, Sophie; with Carol being so ill, you instantly took it upon yourself to watch over her, sleeping outside her bedroom door, and going in every now and then to make sure she was okay. And when you needed a Daddy figure, you leaned on Uncle Tom for a little comfort.
Saturday, we met up with a pal from my Titus 2 women's group and I seriously wonder if I'd have even gotten halfway there without you. You held me up in terrible heat and literally blinding sunlight and supported me when we had to walk fast, and, because you were with me and I had to take care of you, I ended up taking better care of myself.
We had different kinds of fun once we were at the patisserie; while I chatted with my friends, you sacked out and had the most wonderful nap!But no nap anywhere could compare with your own little corner or your own little chair at home, and boy, were you happy to get there!

A Day Without You

Dear Sophie,
Remember I told you that you've seen the last of Las Vegas? Well, you haven't, not by a long shot. Yesterday I spent 16 long hours there, during which time I came to fully appreciate just how much you do for me and how much I depend on you. Tackling that city's streets is no longer anything I should do alone.
How does a deer feel when he's alone in the middle of a street and sees the headlights of an oncoming car? He doesn't know which way to move or where to run, so he freezes right where he's at and prays he won't get hit. That's just how I felt too many times yesterday.
Sure, I managed somehow and emerged physically unscathed but it was incredibly unnerving! Such a simple thing as crossing a street was terrifying as I got turned around and had no idea how far it was to the other side, or even if I was going straight. That's not to mention the balance and stumbling issues along the way that got me disoriented in the first place.I'm going back for a few days next week, Sophie, and you're going with me. It won't be so hard on you this time, staying with Tom & Carol, with plenty of nice grassy areas to take you outside in. Most of the trip you can be out of harness, a regular dog ... but for those occasions when I'll need you, you'll be oh so priceless!

Four Years Old Already

Dear Sophie,
Wasn't it just a few months ago you turned three? Where's all the time going? It just doesn't seem like it has been that long since you were a mischievous little pup, maybe because in a lot of ways you still are. Just yesterday you shredded a squeaky toy out in the yard. That's okay. You're getting a new one for your birthday! And string cheese, and Frosty Paws, and a squeaky bone, and a peanut-butter-filled bone, and a whole bag of Charlee Bears from Grandma Pierce. Somehow, though, I think all of that will pale in comparison to your best present ... having Daddy home after he has been gone for three days.
You've accomplished a lot in the past year, Sophie. You're a pretty decent guide dog when you have to be and, just for that in itself, I'm so grateful! You learned to pick up credit cards off a tile floor, and began picking up things you'd never touch before, specifically, metal flashlights and my wireless mouse which I'm constantly dropping. Recreationally, you saw your first snow, and just a few months ago, you swam for the first time! You attended your first music concert, and romped around with other dogs in a dog park. (Don't get too comfortable with that one; I was a nervous wreck so doubt you'll see too many more dog parks in your lifetime.)
I don't have any specific goals for your upcoming year, just perfecting the things you're already doing, and maybe getting you to listen a little better than you do. But you know something, Sophie? You're everything I ever hoped for, and more, just the way you are. Happy Birthday, Big Dog!

Summertime Blues

Dear Sophie,

Well, here we go again. Yesterday was our first triple-digit day here in Phoenix at 105 degrees. Today it was 110. And we have about six or seven more months of this to look forward to. (sigh) It prompted a discussion among some fellow service dog owners as to what we should be packing around for our dogs when away from home. So now is as good a time as any to go over your pack: bottle of water ... portable water dish ... 4-foot leash ... belt-style retractable leash ... pick-up bags & paper towels ... spray bottle of neutralizer ... first aid kit which includes a cloth muzzle, two benadryl capsules, two gauze pads, and a length of elastic bandage. Oh, I almost forgot the most important thing, a fully-loaded treat bag! In the summertime, we add your pink boots, and maybe a hat someday if we can find one, assuming you'd wear it if we could.

Sophie, I know you hate them, but your boots are the most important addition to your wardrobe. The streets outside get up over 160 degrees which could blister your paws if they're not protected. Hang in there, sweetie. December's coming!

HOW TO MAKE A CLOTH MUZZLE OUT OF AN OLD SOCK:

In rendering first aid to a severely injured dog, the muzzle should be placed first to protect the handler from involuntary biting. Cut the toe off the sock and discard it. At the top of the sock, cut the legs all the way down until you leave a 5-6-inch muzzle type cone. To apply it, place the open-ended cone over the nose and mouth and tie the long 'straps' behind the ears. For smaller dogs use a child's or infant's sock.

Beautiful Sophie

Dear Sophie,
I can't believe I forgot all about putting your special music video up here. Chalk it up to my turning the big 5-0 ... it's as good an excuse as any.
http://members.cox.net/wendyenos/sophie/beautiful_sophie.wmv

We're Famous!

Dear Sophie,

What an honor to be asked to facilitate the Assistance Animal Information page for CyberCIL! What fun! And the things I've learned along the way have amazed me. Oh, how I hope we can do it justice. Helping even one person would make the

whole project well worth it. But it's not fair, you know. I do all the work, and you just sit there and look pretty. You even get a cookie for it, but that's okay ... better your hips than mine. For more information on CyberCIL, a disability resource and advocacy website, visit http://www.cybercil.com/ .

Sno-phie

Dear Sophie,
I was a little nervous about taking you to see your first snow. I pictured you tapping your paw into the snow, pulling it back, and saying, "What in Lassie's name is this?" Nope. You jumped right in like you had lived in it all your life, romped in shoulder-deep, rolled around, kicked, ate snowballs, and had the time of your life! The Snow Bowl in Flagstaff was absolutely beautiful! I can't believe we never took you up there before today. Even with all the fun you were having out of harness, just being a regular dog, when I fell in the snow there you were to brace and pull me up, not once but three times! (Hey, it's not easy keeping your balance in two feet of snow.) Finally we left the mountain, and then couldn't resist one more romp in the snow at the bottom before heading home. In the midst of the snow and ice, our hearts were warm watching you play. Definitely worth the three hours each way on the road!

Midwestern Madcaps

Dear Sophie,
Was this a weekend to remember or what? You were perfect on the flight to Omaha, although I don't think the floor of an airplane is your favorite place to be. At the Lewis & Clark landing in Omaha, nothing impressed you much till you got to the museum with its beaver and bear skins. Lots of good sniffing there.
Friday night was the Irish Rovers concert which started out with the Omaha Symphony. When we got into the hall we endured ten minutes of deafening, horrible screeching as the musicians warmed up but, when that was over and they beautifully performed about half an hour of Irish music, you settled right in on your quilt on the floor. Finally, the Irish Rovers came out which was almost a brand new experience with their three new members.They were magnificent as always! I love their concerts!After the performance, we spent quite a bit of time with them ... George, his wife Betsy, and John, away from their own dogs for a couple of weeks, were all over you and you sure did love cuddling up with them. We got lots of pictures and lots of chat time in and, after all that, I better never dare show up at one of their concerts without you.
Saturday morning marked your first trip to a dog park and, boy, was I nervous! I'm just not one to unlatch the leash and say "go for it", especially with about 50 other large dogs around. You ran and ran and romped and did enough sniffing to keep yourself out of trouble, and only then did you make a few friends. It might even make me reconsider taking you to dog parks here at home. You weren't especially happy to run around a casino in Iowa for a few hours that afternoon, but you tolerated it and let Daddy have his fun.
All day Sunday we spent at the Henry Doorley Zoo in Omaha. What a place! It was so fun to watch you watching the animals, and even more fun watching them watch you.We weren't asked to stay out of any exhibit so we covered practically the whole park. The monkeys watched with awe every move you made. Remember how loud the cockatoos shrieked at Reid Park? Well, they had nothing on the scarlet macaws at Doorley! But even the macaws paled in comparison to the elephant who caught sight of you. He charged at us and began trumpeting so loud you could hear him in Maine! You poor thing; you jumped a foot off the ground and couldn't figure out, "What did I do?" A couple more passes by the elephant later on were mostly uneventful; guess he got used to you in a hurry.The big kitties ... orange tigers, white tigers, lions, leopards, and snow leopards all paced and tried for everything they were worth to get out of their enclosures. It didn't appear they were looking for dessert; I think they just wanted to play. And, judging from the speed of your wagging tail, you wished you could've too.Of all the exhibits we visited, the gorillas were the most amusing. A giant silverback out for a stroll saw us and made a beeline right for you. He beat his chest and slapped the glass a few times, and then stood back and watched as you visited with the juveniles who were completely taken with you.They seemed most fascinated with your tail! The aquarium was awesome too, and surprising, in that that you paid no attention to any of the fish, or the big sharks, or the jellyfish, or the sea turtle. Instead, you were intrigued by the rays, looking at them with wondering eyes!
Can you just imagine what all these zoo animals were talking about that night?
Monday morning it was time to go home. We met up with the Irish Rovers again at the airport ... we were taking the same flight! So George and Betsy got in more cuddle time and we had extra chat time, wrapping up the whole incredible weekend.
Wow, Sophie ... you were 99% perfect the whole time. I'm sooo proud of you! Let's do it again soon!

Your Happiest Howl-oween, 10-31-07

Dear Sophie,
After such a disastrous trip to Las Vegas, the journey home seemed to make up for it all. We got to the airport, got checked in, had some time outside, went through security, and made it to the gate all in one swift move. No time for stress there! You and I had a whole bulkhead row to ourselves! One of our flight attendants instantly became your "Uncle Bob" ... he was all over you and, boy, did you like him pretty fine! One embarrassing moment for me, you little stinkbug, was that in mid-flight, when they had all the lights in the plane off except for a random reading light here and there, I suddenly discovered you were no longer on the floor! You were up in the bloomin' seat looking out the window! Geez!! Everyone thought it was hilarious but I was a bit mortified because that's a big no-no! Finally off the plane after rolling up dog hair from three seats, we walked to the other side of security. We were still about 30 or so feet away when you caught sight of 'Daddy' and there wasn't a spedometer in the world fast enough to keep up with your tail. I finally had to release you and you ran straight into his arms. I'm tellin' ya, it was like a Lassie movie. As soon as we got home, we took you out in the back yard and you ran and ran and ran, and I think you forgot all about everything bad from the past four days. You only knew that, at that moment, all was well with your world.

Three Strikes

Dear Sophie,
Three strikes and you're out; unless absolutely critical, you're finished in Vegas. After the last two disastrous trips here, why did I think you might handle it better this time? Flashing lights, loud noises, mobs of people, and noplace remotely comfortable to park-it made for a stressful, miserable four days for you. With all these distractions leading to your pulling me over once and then falling over a brick planter that you walked me right into, you were more hinderance than help by a long shot. That's way out of your character. It was my fault, though ... expecting too much of you for one thing and, for another, returning you to a place I know you hate. It might be an embarrassing blog entry to admit all this, but I need to tattle on both of us to make sure I don't yield to the temptation to bring you back here thinking it'll be different the next time. It won't. Having this to reread and remind me will make me think twice before subjecting you to this again. I'm sorry, Sophie. Forgive me?

By Jove I Think She's Got It!

Dear Sophie,
You've had about three months of "guide dog" lessons and experience now, and I do believe you've got it! Today after church, you took me zig-zagging through the parking lot before we straightened out. I asked Mom, "Did she just take me through a bunch of parked cars?" Indeed you did! You've been maneuvering around all the objects in our path, stopping at curbs and steps, and you've even exhibited intelligent disobedience on two potentially dangerous occasions. Every time we're out together you amaze me with something new. Of course most problems we've encountered have been mine, as usual; it's pretty hard to let go and let you be my eyes, but I'm still pretty new at this so just patient with me and I'll learn. There seems no end in immediate sight to this eye disease so I'm especially blessed to have your two good eyes looking out for me. Thanks for being here, Sophie! I love you!

Double Duty

Dear Sophie,
The last several weeks have been insane with my defective eyes getting progressivly sensitive to light. We kept waiting for it to go away but it has just gotten worse, to where I can't open my eyes in the light. So, as usual, you stepped up to the challenge. I admit it wasn't the smartest move on my part to depend on you as a guide for tasks you weren't trained for, but I didn't have much of a choice. I need you for balance whether I can see or not so, my sweet pup, you get counted on once again to do it all.
I will say, Sophie, that you've been amazing. It hasn't been easy. It involved a whole lot of research, some private advice from my friend with a guide dog, and some serious problem-solving by our trainers. Okay, I don't think you have what it takes to be a full-fledged guide dog; you're too distractable and you don't seem to want anything to do with walking one step ahead of me. But you have your own body movements and I'm slowly learning to read them and trust you. You've only walked me into a cement barrier in a parking space and later a wall, and that's pretty doggone good for the amount of training you haven't had.
With any luck, all this won't last long and we can get back to normal around here but, as long as you have to be a guide for now, it's nice to know you can do it. You did a great job today, big girl, and did you make out like a bandit ... Frosty Paws, cheese on your kibble, and a brand new peanut-butter-filled bone! Yeah, maybe I went overboard a little bit, but once in a while you need an extra-special payday.

Longest Stay

Dear Sophie,
Wow, did you earn a cookie tonight! I'll go to my grave believing God never intended for anyone to actually live in this hot, ugly, nasty, filthy desert but, since we do, we're going to encounter some mighty ugly, nasty, filthy creatures, namely Palo Verde beetles. Palo Verde Beetle ... Every July it's the same old story ushering in the summer monsoons, and tonight we encountered two of the deadly beasties in the back yard (deadly only because they can scare you to death; not really poisonous). Of course when I found one, I freaked out and put you on a "stay" in the middle of the yard. With all the terror and panic going on for the several minutes it took to kill the bug, I was shocked when you held your stay like a champ. All the hard work we've done with your training just keeps paying off over and over and over and over ...

Three Years Old

Dear Sophie,
It's so hard to imagine you could be this old already; although, looking back, it's just staggering to ponder how far you've come in such a short time. Last year on your birthday, we made a wish together, that you'd pass your certification test before your third birthday. Funny, it seemed so far away then. You've far surpassed any hopes I could've imagined for you.
You really seemed to love your new ball on a strap you got for your birthday; you snuggle up with it in your chair just like it's a real treasure. And although you didn't get any of your birthday cake, you did enjoy a stick of string cheese that you didn't have to do anything for! Can't get much better than that.
Happy Birthday, Big Dog! I love you!

Overworked and Underpaid

Dear Sophie,
Next time someone asks you what a working dog does, you can tell them all about your day which started out at 10:30 today with my visit to the doctor's office for lab work. Afterward, we picked up Grandma and went out for breakfast, then took her to the hospital. While she got her x-rays done, you and I took a walk over to a nearby rehab center for some private, unofficial therapy dogging to my nephew there, then we took Grandma to her doctor's appointment, then to the grocery store. I bet you were secretly jumping for joy because we had frozen stuff in the car ... that meant we could go home! What a treat to get out of your harness after such a long work day. But wait, there's more! Just a quick run outside and a fresh brushing and your harness went on and we were out the door again. Had to run over to your other Grandma's house to meet up with five visiting uncles and four aunts! All the excitement and tight quarters left you a little rattled and missing a chunk of hair in your tail after you got it stepped on. See? There's a very good reason I keep after you to "tuck the tail". After that, I think you were looking forward to getting home, and so disappointed when we didn't go there. Instead we ran out to Avondale to get In-N-Out burgers, and then spent another hour in Costco. About halfway through, your tail tucked under and you really really didn't want to be in there! While Daddy continued shopping, you and I took a little walk outside to settle down and, by the time we went back in to finish up the shopping, your tail was wagging again. After such a heavy-duty day, not to mention being two hours late getting fed tonight, you remained a fairly good sport about your work. You've had one exhausting day and your only reward was a couple of lousy biscuits, and a handful of shredded cheese on your kibble at dinnertime. But you got something hopefully a little more valuable than cookies or cheese ... you got my everlasting thanks!

Two Ticked-off Tigers

Dear Sophie,
You had yourself one ginormous zoo-venture, didn't you? We drove Grandma to Tucson to get her taxes done and, while we were there, we took her, Andy, and Lily to Reid Park. You had never been to a zoo before and, from what we saw of many of the animals, they had never seen a dog before either. You started off on a good note with one of the rangers who said he didn't need to accompany us, but asked us please to stay out of the free-flying aviary. That was probably a good idea anyway because you were bred for hunting and that would've driven you nuts. Passing the caged aviary, though, you scared the daylights out of a couple of cockatoos who screeched so loudly you could hear them in New Mexico! Freaked them right out you did! I noticed the free-roaming peacocks were keeping an eye on you too. You didn't seem very impressed by most of the animals until you locked eyes with a handsome giraffe named Yebo. It looked like love at first sight. He strolled quickly over to the gate and looked at you with awe in his eyes! I think the attraction was mutual. Then gracefully, very much the gentleman, he bowed over the fence and got as close as he could to you, looking very much enthralled. [Within a month, Yebo passed away. What a privilege it was for you to be a happy part of his last days.] We couldn't even have anticipated what came next at the tiger enclosure. The pair wandered about their home, probably complaining to themselves about how hot it was getting these days ... until they caught sight of you. They bounded over to the bars hissing and spitting just like small-sized kitty cats, before growling and pacing and trying for all they were worth to find a way out of that cage. They were not happy kitties! But you sure were a happy dog ... your tail was just a-waggin' and, boy, did you want to play with them! Of course all the other zoo guests thought it was cool to get such action from the tigers; it probably made for some pretty good pictures. But when we figured it was best not to agitate them any more, we hurried along our way and began winding up the outing. In spite of all the new things to see and smell, you still gave your all to your work which was especially appreciated as I wilted from the heat and lost my balance with every other step. As the rest of us cooled down with slushies and sandwiches, I held back the extra slice of cheese I ordered for you, and you thoroughly enjoyed your reward when we got out to the car. Maybe someday we'll go back and visit your newfound friends ... someday when it's cooler.

Church Dog

Dear Sophie,
Chalk up another new experience ... your first day at church. I was so nervous inside but I couldn't let you know that. We sat in the back near an inconspicuous door to defuse any potential problems but, even when everyone stood up for hymns and welcoming, and even when you saw people you knew and wished for all the world you could get up and play with them, you stayed down and never made a sound, and you only moved to get more comfy. Sure can't blame you for that. No one seemed to have any problem with you being there, and you were very welcome. This is just one more step in a long line of places I need you to be with me, but I think this one was the most important and the most sensitive of any of them. I'm so proud of you. You just get better and better every day.

Vegas Ventures, Take Two

Dear Sophie,
All in all, this trip to Vegas wasn't nearly as bad as the first one, probably because you're now a little older and a more seasoned service dog, but there was no question you weren't an especially happy dog. On our little venture out to Fremont Street, wouldn't you know it ... they played the same show that freaked you out so badly a few months ago. I dared hope you wouldn't remember it and could get through it but no such luck. You knew exactly what was coming and we had to duck out of there in a hurry. Even when the dive-bombing airplanes went away and the pretty birds came out, you still wanted nothing to do with it. The second night, after we visited with Tom and Carol and the little eight-pound Puddle who delighted in bossing you around in her house, we went for a little walk down the Strip. You loved the fountain in front of Paris
so I figured you'd go crazy over the water show at the Bellaggio. Well, Sophie, you're just full of surprises ... you didn't much care for that one with its booms and blasts. All the neon flashy lights and noise and crowds just didn't impress you so, about the time your tail stopped wagging, I figured it was best to hop a bus and go on back to the hotel. We pulled one little side trip to Walgreens and got you a stick of string cheese ... that was one thing you did like!! You were so tired after all that, not even a string of firecrackers could've stirred you and you slept through the rest of the night. I guess the best time you had was at the airport on our way home where I dropped my drivers license. I dared to ask you to "get it" even though I knew there was no way you would ... but you did!! You got all kinds of cheers and "good girls" from all the folks sitting around our gate, because you did something you never had done before. You sure did make an impression but no one was as impressed as Mama! Finally up in the air and headed for home, I discovered I unwittingly created a monster by letting you look out the window just once. If you'd have had your way, you'd have had your nose at the glass the whole trip. Did you understand what you were seeing? Gosh, but I wish I could read your mind. We made it home safe and sound, so take a couple of days off now, Soph ... you earned them!

Cabela's - "I Want That Raccoon!"

Dear Sophie,
I must admit I was plenty nervous about taking you to Cabela's but, over the weekend, your Happy Tails friends went there with no issues so I figured it must be tame enough not to freak you out. Well, it wasn't the grizzly or polar bears that ultimately did, and it wasn't the elks with racks huge enough to fill up most of our living room. It wasn't even the massive African elephant. You didn't seem all that impressed with any of those, though I sure was!! But somewhere from deep inside that domesticated heart of yours, your hunting ancestry burst forth and you wanted that raccoon! Once your eyes fixed on it, I gave thanks for the log fence between you and him because we might've had to purchase a very expensive stuffed raccoon if there hadn't been. It is truly a remarkable place, one that I could easily spend all day in if I could. The displays are magnificent and the taxidermy jobs are flawless. Of course, you couldn't have cared less about all the technicalities of the place; you were more interested in that crate of big ol' braised beef bones ... yeah, you got one.

Work & Play On Saturday

Dear Sophie,
We had quite a day today, didn't we? A whole classroom full of students and dogs gathered for a workshop on healthy body language from 'Teacher Nancy' and how to detect little problems before they become big problems. Lots of info and plenty of great friends.
Afterward, Meg and Kovu and CJ and Emma joined us for lunch at JB's. Now there was a sight ... three of us walking in with three Golden Retrievers! Funny how no one blinked an eye except maybe the customers. haha Guess that's because that particular restaurant is a favorite of Happy Tails and they're used to it in there. We weren't seated two minutes when in came our two teachers and our pal June, with two more big dogs! It was a sight, it was! Two hours we visited with our friends, and then we went shopping! You were one tired pup (me too) by the time we got home, but wasn't it fun??!!

Sophie Knows The Way To San Jose

Dear Sophie,
You've always been such a good flyer. What happened this time? Sit and down and sit and down and trembly and edgy all the way to San Jose. If you thought you could get away with it, you'd have gladly parachuted out of that airplane. I half-expected you to get out and kiss the ground when we landed. Once there, though, you were back to normal and all was well.
Travis and Kasey are such sweethearts! They welcomed you with open arms and made you feel right at home and, after you did your share of snooping and sniffing, you acted like you had lived there all your life. You sacked out long enough to let me visit and chat with them and then slept the night through only asking to be taken out once.

On Saturday when we visited my friend Amy, you got to mingle a bit for the first time with a guide dog. With Vera being nine years old and you being two, I worried that you'd give her a run for her money, but you ended up having to stay a step ahead of Turtle, their Mini Pinscher. And the instant you saw their Dutch bunny hopping around the back porch, that was it ... forget trying to get your attention after that. I had hoped some of Vera's virtues would rub off on you, mainly that she knows when not to act like a fruitcake, but I guess nothing is going to squelch the puppy inside of you until it wears out on its own. I did appreciate your restraining yourself with a nice nap so Amy and I could catch up on the past twenty years and get in a game of Scrabble.

Sunday was all brand new for you. You've never seen the ocean before, not that you saw much of it this time, your attention too focused on the barking sea lions and the flapping of seagull wings.

It was such fun to watch the awe and wonder in your eyes at the brand new sights and sounds and smells of the fishing pier at Santa Cruz. You were trying so hard to be good and stay focused but you couldn't resist gawking at the beckoning animals. Oh, how you'd have loved to play too. Maybe we can go back in the summer and you can actually go down to the beach and into the water. By then, maybe Trav and Kasey will have a puppy pal for you to play with. I'm already looking forward to going back there, and can just imagine you are too.

Another First

Dear Sophie,
It goes without saying that your purpose as a service dog is to make life easier for me, doing things that are difficult for me to do myself but, tonight, you took it a step further. It's not the easiest job to change the sheets on my bed and, in doing so tonight, I ended up on the floor and got stuck. Instead of panicking, or awkwardly wiggling out of the tight space between the bed and the closet, I let out a "Sophie, Come!" and in you came, bracing and backing up and bracing and backing up, until we reached an open space where I could stand. Okay, maybe my life didn't depend on you doing that, but my morale sure did. Thanks, Sophie. Hope you enjoyed your cookie ... you earned it!

CERTIFIED !!

Dear Sophie,

I'm flying! Are you? This afternoon we reached the top of the mountain, the culmination of our months and months of hard work and training! You took your certification test today and you passed! It's what you were born for, Sophie! This is your purpose in life. It was an uphill battle, mostly of my problems, not yours. Even in times of doubt that we'd ever be able to pass that test, our teachers never gave up on us, seeing us all the way to certification. Our training in Happy Tails is done ... ... but it's only when we reached one mountaintop that we could clearly enough to see other heights to shoot for. My promise to you is the same one I made to our instructor, that we'll never stop growing and learning together. You'll have new goals to work on, new things to learn, and even new things to teach me. I've loved being a team with you, but it's oh so much sweeter to see the word "team" with a number beside it. Team 19 ... don't you just love the sound of that? I couldn't be more proud of you, big girl. Lord willing, there are many more miles of roads ahead, but let's you and me just rest for a minute at the end of this particular one and bask in the sweet scent of success. We'll reach for higher goals as we start down a new road tomorrow.

Sophie's Howl-oween

Dear Sophie,

I was getting rather annoyed with you tonight with your rather enthusiastic greetings to all the little trick-or-treaters around here, but 'Daddy' and I were a little concerned when you ran to the door and, totally out of character, began barking and barking and barking, deep and threatening! There was definitely something out there you didn't like. It only took us a minute or two to figure out what it was and, when we did, I thought I'd fall on the floor laughing! Many of these trick-or-treaters were using plastic grocery bags for their treat bags! You were hearing these plastic bags rustling! Funny, you're not afraid of them when we go to grocery stores, and they don't bother you at all in normal household use, but let one blow down the alley and you bark like there's no tomorrow. I'm sorry I made you feel bad by laughing at you, but if you could only see how silly you looked, you'd be howling too.

Pet Expo, 10-21-06

Dear Sophie,
It has finally started cooling down a bit, if you can call 90 degrees cooling down, so we can start attending special dog events again with our class. Yesterday was a Pet Expo in Avondale and you were such a good girl after you settled down among the hundred or so dogs who showed up. There was even a police dog demo with hollering and gunfire and everything, and you didn't seem interested in the least. Our teacher said you were doing fine, even though you broke a stay at the worst possible time, but I'm still way too much of a basket case to suit her. She said if there was any way she could give you your certification test without me around, she would! haha Still, in all, you've come so far in the past year and I'm so proud of you. After the Expo, you and I and CJ and Emma and Meg and Kovu hung out at Panda Express for two hours of chatting and visiting. It's going to be so much fun to be classmates when we go back to school in two weeks. Yep, I'm putting you back in school for some 'fine tuning' and, with any luck, you'll be ready for your test before too much longer. We're going to see this through, Sophie ... you and me.

I Can't Believe You Did That!

Dear Sophie,
It was a good thing I was sitting on the floor this evening because, if I hadn't been, I'd have fallen on it. Everybody already knows your passion for playing outside. "Outside" is the one word which must be avoided at all costs in our house if we have no intentions of going there. But this was a first ... you walked over to my kick-around outdoor shoes, picked one up, and handed it to me! When I accepted it after my eyes popped back in my head, you went over and got the other one for me too! I was always taught dogs didn't reason things out like that. You're one smart cookie, Sophie. You know what you want, and you don't take no for an answer. If you want a yes answer, you'll figure out how to get one. Yes, you got one tonight ... we went outside to play.

Above and Beyond

Dear Sophie,
Auntie Ginny has been bugging me to add to your blog more often so guess we'll mention this little item which left me especially impressed. I had this incredible craving for In-N-Out Burgers so Daddy took me out to Avondale because we had to go to Costco anyway. I knew we'd get home a little late but you'd only miss your normal feeding time by half an hour and certainly you could survive that. Well, we got stuck in traffic and it took an hour to get out there! Even though I'm sure you were one hungry dog, you laid down under the table and patiently rested while Daddy and I ate dinner. When he dropped a bit of hamburger on the floor right next to your nose, you left it. When I dropped a french fry, you left it. I was so proud! Then, instead of going home and getting fed, you sweetly walked through Costco with us for another half an hour without a balk or complaint. When we finally got home, even before putting the frozen stuff away, boy did you get fed in a hurry, with a handful of grated cheese on your kibble as a special treat. I know you were just doing your job, Sophie, but more and more you're amazing me with how much you put up with by being a working dog. It's like you really do understand how much I need you.

Las Vegas Glitter Not In Sophie's Eyes

Dear Sophie,
We had some really rough patches the past few days but, all in all, I think it was at least a great learning experience for both of us. I had to learn a lot of lessons the hard way but, somehow, we both managed to survive it.
The noise, flashy lights, traffic, and dense crowds outside had you totally frazzled, while the casino noises, crowds, and loud music had you unnerved inside. Even in the hotel room there were strange noises ... doors slamming, people in the hall, and nearby trains.
My sweet Sophie, I am ever so sorry about the Fremont Street Experience. Had it occurred to me it might scare you, I'd have never taken you out there. I've only once before seen you that royally freaked out in your whole life. Thank goodness for the Golden Nugget being right there to duck into and hide from the evil acrobatic airplanes dive-bombing your pointed little head.
Elvis and Marilyn got your tail to wagging again ... you liked them! For the rest of the evening you had a wagging tail, that is, until we got back in the casino where I quickly figured out how afraid you are of gaming and slot machine noises too.
I also learned that there are zero suitable places anywhere near Fremont Street to potty a dog. We improvised at some teeny little rock beds, but it was not fun!
The only time you seemed really comfortable was with your Uncle Tom and Auntie Carol and Puddle. She's a little spitfire she is, isn't she? Lots and lots of fun with her. I guess when you share each others' food, we can consider you buddies.
As always, you made me proud in the airport, airplane, restaurants, and stores where you were totally perfect. That's pretty impressive considering your stress level.
To sum it all up, I learned Las Vegas is not the easiest place to bring a dog, especially in the summer. I had great dreams of taking you to the Vegas Strip, but now I don't see that happening anytime soon, or possibly ever.
As I sit here watching you sleep, I'm picturing you tapping your pink shoes together three times and barking, "There's no place like home."

Here We Go Again

Dear Sophie,
I can't believe we're doing this again, this time heading up to Vegas to see your Uncle Tom and Auntie Carol and the Pud (cutest little gray poodle you ever saw). It'll be different this time, Soph ... so many people, mostly strangers, and lights and glitter and noise! It'll be different for me too ... we haven't stayed in a hotel since you were a puppy. This will definitely be interesting!

Heat Wave, 7-24-06

Dear Sophie,
I can't believe your spunk. Because of the blistering heat wave, and because you worked so hard in Montana, I tried to give you a few days off to rest. And what happened? 'Daddy' and I were on our way out the door to run a few errands when we noticed your paws up on the chair to receive your harness and leash! What could I say? Of course we took you with us.

Montana Paradise

Dear Sophie,
It had to happen sooner or later ... your first airplane ride!! I was nervous as I could be, but you behaved beautifully and I couldn't have been more proud of you. Nothing about the flight phased you at all, not the engine noises, the climb, the turbulence, or the bump of the landing. You did great, baby!!
You truly were in your glory ... running, jumping, playing, and breathing clean, although "seasonably warm" air. It just figured, didn't it ... that we'd bring all our nasty desert heat with us? But it didn't slow you down much; it bothered me more than it did you. Not much of anything bothered you at all!
You were so excited to have another dog to play with;that's a pretty rare treat! And you remembered Addie from when you were a puppy; of course that wasn't all that long ago.You adored every minute you could get of rough and tumble with her, but when your harness went on and we went out, you were all business, like you instinctively knew when to "cool it". I was amazed!
What a great time we had meeting up with our Happy Tails teacher Kristi. Thank goodness you behaved yourself almost perfectly! Not that I was all that surprised; you seem to have that out-in-public thing down solid.Wasn't it fun watching Addie in the Read To Rover program at the library? You really weren't supposed to get read to too, but one little boy just couldn't resist. I think you enjoy being read to. Maybe I'll just have to try it myself.
You were such a good girl, Sophie, even as the pilgrimage brought out the puppy in you. So much to take in and too little time to play with it all! Too soon to suit either one of us, you were back in your own chair to sleep it all away.