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