My little red tether is my anchor in running with my friends. A beautiful guide dog has been my tether/anchor in mobility and independence for 17 years: 1. Pantera 2. Cricket, and now my beautiful 3. Georgina (Georgie). A life of family and friends is my joy and anchor in life.

The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it. CC Scott

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Guiding Adventures of the Day

Today it was SO beautiful and yes after such encouraging news on Cricket I found myself skipping along our walks today. Someone asked me today to describe more of Cricket's guide work on my blog: after all she does much besides being 'cute as a bug'. A few moments in her work today: *On our first walk there is a place that for the last four months (okay, that might be a slight exaggeration) on the sidewalk has had a big mound of icy snow that Cricket has stopped at because I need to drop her harness to go around (narrow area that she can't guide through). Today she stopped, I prodded with my feet and realized that there was no icy mound - she was just in habit mode to stop there, get a little kibble and proceed. In my sternest voice I can muster with Cricket, I said hop up (there was no reason to stop or get a kibble - but you can't blame her for trying!) *On our next walk of the day, we crossed a street and evidentally a lady was waiting to make a left turn and had pulled way past the cross walk ... she saw us walking across and hollered to me - Sorry! At that point, I had no idea why she was sorry until Cricket stopped and was waiting patiently mid cross walk for her to back her car out of the crosswalk! Cricket was not about to go in front of this running car and luckily there wasn't a car behind her so the lady could back up. Cricket seems really casual about traffic but when it is required she does what she needs to do to keep us safe. *Cricket is so smart and I think she knew tonight was yoga night. I changed my clothes at work and then we walked over to Connies. I told her halfway on our walk, we were going to go find Morton and she picked up her step and walked right to his (and Connie's) doorstep. No wonder she is tired on the floor here, she had important work to do. Not to mention down dog at yoga.

5 comments:

Steve said...

Thank the Greater Power above that Cricket is OK for now and that she kept you safe in the crosswalk. She sure is a good and caring dog.

OSU 98 said...

What a good girl she is. As far as finding Morton, THEY KNOW. I ask Chelsie where Truth is...and her ears perk up and she looks to the garage door to if Truth is coming thru. When they lived down the street from us, Tru would walk Sharon up to the garage and over to the key pad to get in...and then up to the door to get in the house...and then all dogness broke loose!!! Yes indeed, THEY KNOW.

Lacey said...

Such fun stories to read about.

Karen said...

It is amazing to me how Cricket (all guide dogs) obey and at times disobey in order to be the guide that they are trained to be. Think of the times that a safe journey is routine, but really not at all.
dad

Lisa and pups said...

What a neat look into your walk! I love it - thanks for sharing.