Great take on the topic, I wish I'd thought of it! I don't/didn't have a guide dog, but when my old Lab was young - say from about 6 months until 3 years - he loved people so much that whenever I walked him and he spotted someone he knew, he would literally take off running down the street and drag me with him! LOL... I miss the loveable guy.
Oh, Topaz sounds like a wonderful friend, if a guide dog of unlimited speed and questionable focus. Having grown up with dogs that were incapable of following even the most basic instructions (and who were great gourmands), I am always so impressed with the obedience of service dogs. I always wonder if, secretly, service dogs long for blueberry muffins and other table food. It sounds like the answer, at least in Topaz's case, was a resounding "yes."
I've been making a habit of sharing songs that entries make me think of. "Topaz" is also the name of this B-52's Song (from the same era as "Roam" and "Love Shack").
My dogs all have had a sense of humor. Maybe I'll have the opportunity to write about others. But given that Topaz was my first and such an unruly beast she is very memorable. haha. Thanks for the song. Gotta love the B52s!
I love these RL stories! I'd read a book about your life. I've got these two pugs who are nowhere near as good as Topaz. They'd run me into walls because they smelled a hot dog.
How on earth did Topaz ever pass her training? The running while on leash and randomly attacking food are both big "No"s!
It sounds as if she settled down a bit as she got older, and thank heavens for that. I can just imagine her getting you lost in Boston, which is easy for just about anyone to do-- but moreso if you're flying after an animal who possibly doesn't know where she's going either!
ha! Well, Topaz did guide. She just moved very fast and she had a food obsession. Knowing what I know now about dog behavior and working with a guide I would have had an instructor out working with us more than I did. I was young. She was my first dog and I tolerated more than I would now from my dogs. And nope, she never got me lost. She handled the subway and heavy traffic like a pro. She was just a hard headed stubborn, but wonderfully lovable dog.And admittedly she got me home after drinking a few times! hahahha.
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I loved the line "shrink wrapped poop" and the idea that she was flirting more than you were.
(Though I totally get that. I don;t think I;m capable of flirting.)
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I've been making a habit of sharing songs that entries make me think of. "Topaz" is also the name of this B-52's Song (from the same era as "Roam" and "Love Shack").
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It sounds as if she settled down a bit as she got older, and thank heavens for that. I can just imagine her getting you lost in Boston, which is easy for just about anyone to do-- but moreso if you're flying after an animal who possibly doesn't know where she's going either!
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