Bert - An Up and Coming Guide Dog

Now as a working guide dog I get to go everywhere and I have heard all of my dad's presentations. It seems no matter where I go, I look handsome and draw everyone in with my cuteness.

Earlier this month I was dressed in all of my working leather and it appeared we were off to another speaking engagement.  I had not been informed of this event so I took a nap in the van and before I knew it the door was being opened and I was asked to get out.  After all of the items were gathered up, loaded onto the cart and I was dressed, we headed inside to the meeting room. As I entered I quickly realized that this was K9 delight!  Not only was dad going to speak but there were about 8 other dogs in the room. 

As I would soon learn some of these were puppies being raised to become one of me; a guide dog.  Others were therapy dogs being used and trained for all types of service. This was going to be a great evening.  Yes I was asked not to sniff and do doggie things and I worked real hard to behave, but at the end of the evening I lost it.

As dad was signing books again, there was this cute little butterball named Bert.  He was 11-weeks old and was or would be raised to become one of me; a guide dog.  As I was lying on the floor waiting for the books to be signed I would turn and sniff Bert and Bert would sniff me and then he would lick my harness. Don’t tell anyone but he even asked me what is that thing all about?  "Bert", I said, "we don’t have time right now for me to go in to it all but this is what you are being raised to do.  Mind your manners, eat lots of kibble, do what you are asked to do, be a puppy for as long as you can and then come back some day soon and you and I will discuss what the harness is all about." "But know this, you are extremely cute and you are gonna have people who want to pet you, your going to go out in public so be a good puppy and know that someday your going to grow up and allow someone you have not met yet to have a great life because of what you will do.  You will allow them to have freedom of mobility."

Thank you to all of the puppyraisers who give all of these cute little puppies a great beginning. It's because of you Guide Dogs for the Blind is able to operate the way it does and those of us who want to have a life that is full of freedom "freedom of mobility" would have a harder time obtaining it.

Thank you!

Wags To You!

Arby

Paws with Promise

Now I know most of you K9’s don’t go everywhere but I do.  Lately this has meant in and out of coffee shops as my master has been doing book signings and I have to be on my best behavior, bummer but somebody has to do it.

Yesterday we came home from a double header book signing day eager to get in the house and have my dinner.  One of the best times of day for us Labradors’ you know.  I expected to kick back and enjoy the evening either lying on my new bed – provided by Designer Duds for Dogs (a huge Wags to You for the super comfy bed!) or in my dad’s lap.  Yes I am an 80lb lap dog.

Just about the time I was ready to kick back and enjoy the evening I was summoned to the front door and my harness was coming out.  Okay, what are we doing and where are we going? Before I knew it we were out the front door and back in the van.  Motoring down the road I hear talk about books and a library.  I didn’t pay much attention to this since talk of books in the house has been common place lately with all of the work I have been doing around my book “Wags to You – Short & Long Dog Tails”.  Before I knew it the van came to a halt and it was time to exit and to my surprise there were other K9’s present.  Entering the room I quickly remembered meeting such as this and did a flashback in my doggie brain.  Oh yes these guys don’t have a clue on where they are going and what is in store for them, I was here to educate them!

I had opportunity to socialize with the other dogs that were there even though I wasn’t supposed too. I snuck in a quick sniff and even managed to clean one of the dog’s ears. It was fun to hang out with a new group of up and coming guide dog potentials!

After a few minutes passed questions were asked and before I realized a full blown meeting was in progress and dad was at the center of this room speaking one more time. I was asked to lie quietly on the floor, I knew not to snore or get bored, but would not have as it is fun to watch the reactions of people and dogs when they listen to his story. This was a different type of presentation as he was talking about dogs like me, guide dogs and how they become one of us special animals.  He explained to the people in the club the role that they have in assisting us 4-pawed animals in becoming an elite dog.

Oh yes then he brought up the leader and presented her with a book, they started asking more questions and then it was time once again for the pawparazzi to appear and I had to smile, look handsome and not be distracted by the other 4-pawed youngsters.  This didn't happen…yeah not so much.

Once again I had to just smile a great big smile, cock my head and know that I have a great life. I also know that these Puppies, these little Paws with Promise can have it as well!

Wags to You!

Arby

I know, I know, you have been missing me.  Well I have been missing all of you too!  There have been exciting things happening since I last put my paws on the keyboard to update my blog.  The most exciting thing is that our book "Wags to You - Short and Long Dog Tails" was released on
November 13, 2014.  It is DOGGONE Exciting don't you think!!  I felt like I had been chasing my tail for many months waiting for it.

Since then we have been running non stop from Book Signing Event to Book Signing Event.  I love it, as I get to bring people in with my eyes and my irresistible charm! I must admit getting used to life in the celebrity fast lane has been a challenge I have mastered.  And those pawparazzi, wow do they push the limits or what?  Oh who am I kidding, I love it!

You thought that my only job was to lead my master, Clark Roberts and get him to his destination safely. Well that is of course my main job, but now

I get to pose for pictures with people that get our book, be available for my pawtograph to be done and receive the many scritches that people want to give me.  I am a very happy and ...wait for it.... here it comes....PAWpular Dog!!!

Oh wait, I have to tell you how much fun I had when my Paw was being printed for the Pawtograph. Karrie, my master's wife (my mom) took a black ink pad and a cloth. She then put a piece of paper on the hardwood floor and asked me to lay down.  I did, on my back, to receive a belly rub... but alas she did not want to rub my belly.  Instead she took the black ink pad and pressed my paw into it, she pressed each of my toes firmly into the ink pad and then she quickly took my paw and pressed it onto the piece of paper that was on the floor. She worked so fast I did not really understand what was happening.  I wanted to then jump up and play, but she and my dad held me down.  I don't know why they would not let me go.  It was at this time that a very cold, wet, cloth was on my paw, and she began to clean out the ink. I laugh now thinking back to the picture we must have been.  Me on my belly, dad holding me down so I would not leave black paw prints all over the house, and mom holding my paw and trying to get the ink out of the pad, the hair and oh - did you know how much webbing a lab can have between his toes?, yes you guessed it... A LOT!!  It took about 20 minutes to get my paw clean, but the stamp that she made out of my print turned out great.  You will need to purchase a book from us so that you can see my "Pawtograph"!

You can do this by going to our our website and finding a Book Signing or Speaking Event in your area or by ordering from our website at ultimate-vision.org .  Remember the book is NOT available on Amazon.

Don't forget, the book is called "Wags to You - Short and Long Dog Tails", and part of the proceeds from every book goes back to Guide Dogs For the Blind (GDB).

Hope to see you at an event soon.

Wags to You,

Arby

Just Like Christmas

Just Like Christmas

Now being one of those working dogs you know I get to go and do everything.  This even means hanging out in my masters office, lying on the floor and listening to him work day in and day out.

Thursday morning for whatever reason I noticed there was an excitement and anticipation in the air.  This excitement was like Christmas not knowing what but knowing that something big was about to happen, but I went back to lying on the floor and waiting for the next opportunity to enjoy life.

I was startled from the floor with the doorbell ringing and my master pushing back from his office chair, springing to his feet and running down the stairs. Flew opened the door to greet the gentlemen standing there asking is this the residence of Clark Roberts.  Before I knew it the gentlemen who had been at the door had dropped off what appeared to be a big load of boxes yes everywhere I looked there were boxes.  As soon as this man left in his gruck there was a huge shout of joy as I soon learned this was the book.  Yes the book that my master had been working on for a long long time was now here and this was what all the excitement was about, yes like Christmas with man, many boxes.

Wags To You!

Arby

Just Like Christmas

Now being one of those working dogs you know I get to go and do everything.  This even means hanging out in my masters office, lying on the floor and listening to him work day in and day out.

Thursday morning for whatever reason I noticed there was an excitement and anticipation in the air.  This excitement was like Christmas not knowing what but knowing that something big was about to happen, but I went back to lying on the floor and waiting for the next opportunity to enjoy life.

I was startled from the floor with the doorbell ringing and my master pushing back from his office chair, springing to his feet and running down the stairs. Flew opened the door to greet the gentlemen standing there asking is this the residence of Clark Roberts.  Before I knew it the gentlemen who had been at the door had dropped off what appeared to be a big load of boxes yes everywhere I looked there were boxes.  As soon as this man left in his gruck there was a huge shout of joy as I soon learned this was the book.  Yes the book that my master had been working on for a long long time was now here and this was what all the excitement was about, yes like Christmas with man, many boxes.

Wags To You!

Arby

Just Like Christmas

Now being one of those working dogs you know I get to go and do everything.  This even means hanging out in my masters office, lying on the floor and listening to him work day in and day out.

Thursday morning for whatever reason I noticed there was an excitement and anticipation in the air.  This excitement was like Christmas not knowing what but knowing that something big was about to happen, but I went back to lying on the floor and waiting for the next opportunity to enjoy life.

I was startled from the floor with the doorbell ringing and my master pushing back from his office chair, springing to his feet and running down the stairs. Flew opened the door to greet the gentlemen standing there asking is this the residence of Clark Roberts.  Before I knew it the gentlemen who had been at the door had dropped off what appeared to be a big load of boxes yes everywhere I looked there were boxes.  As soon as this man left in his gruck there was a huge shout of joy as I soon learned this was the book.  Yes the book that my master had been working on for a long long time was now here and this was what all the excitement was about, yes like Christmas with man, many boxes.

Wags To You!

Arby

Football

Football

Hi there K9 fans it’s time to raise your paws for your favorite team and get ready to enjoy some football.

Now I know that those humans that most of us live with get excited when the temperature drops and thoughts start thinking about football.  Yes us K9’s do the same and especially this working guide dog.

You see for me it means just one more activity that I get to work through the crowd, sit in the stands with people and receive attention.  Now whats better than that, sporting event, people with attention directed my way and if I am really fortunate they will be a sucker and give me some water to drink or even an ice cube.  Aw I can’t ignore it that I am just a handsome K9 that enjoys people and their affection and especially their water and if this means a football game, then lets go!

morning routine

Morning Routine




Morning, that wonderful time of the day. Yes I know some of you K9’s begrudge this time and say oh can it really be time to rise and greet the day.



Now I love it. As I open my eyes lying on my cedar bed I look to see if there is any movement from the humans in the room. My cue is their movement. When I see them climbing out of bed I know it is time for me to stand up shake myself and breathe in a big nostril full of cedar scent from my bed. Yes it is all over my fir and I stand there straining at the end of my tie down awaiting release.



I will be greeted with a pat on my head told to wait and then I am released. Yes that great feeling of snap coming undone from tiedown to collar and I can run free.



Upon being released I head to the door which is always closed and I stand there wagging my tail in anticipation. Door opens and I am eager to leave the room and thunder down the stairs. Hitting the carpet I do a sports car turn skidding on the hard wood floor and run to the garage door.



Waiting at the garage door in anticipation I probably will leave a puddle of drool as I am anticipating what is to come. Breakfast! Awe that wonderful flavor of kibble dressed with water to cause a wonderful flavor and cause my tongue to work in a flurry. Before I know it is gone and I stand there staring at the bowl wondering do you think I can fool him to give me some more?



Well you know us Labradores really do like our food and this is really one of the best times of the day!



Wags To You!



Arby

Internet Podcast

Not to raise my K9 voice or bark up a storm - especially since I am not suppose too as a working guide dog - but I am excited. Yes I am!


Alrighty K9 friends here is the news: On March 11th I was featured on an internet radio show; which as some as you may know is called a podcast. I don't understand how a cast on a paw can play the radio but whatever, I was on it! And if it gets my master out speaking more and me traveling with him to fantastic places and people wanting my pawgraph then I give you a paw-up.

According to what my master was saying in the short time since this was done, there has been over 1000 people who have downloaded it! Yipee!! If you haven't taken the time to paws and take a listen well here is how you do: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/k9sportskonnection/2014/03/12/k9sk-author-clark-robert-wags-to-you


Have a great day and Wags To You!

Arby and friends