Every few days, some new people join and read and comment on the blog. Thank you to you all for saying such nice things about the blog. I am quite adicted to blogging now.
Someone yesterday while I was out said that Tulia looked so sad.
She was working and concentrating. She doesn't always wag when working. She does sometimes.
I've been told many many times over the years that people feel sorry for my guides. They seem so sad.
They aren't sad generally. Very happy and calm and focused.
So, after that comment yesterday, I started thinking about it.
When we are busy working, we concentrate. We may smile but often have a serious or thoughtful mood.
When I'm concentrating, I'm concentrating.
I would imagine that this is the same with our guides.
It isn't that they don't like working, they do or they wouldn't do it.
no one makes them choose this career path. They choose it because they love it, they love us, and they love being so smart and having a job to do.
When I take the harness off and my dog gets all wiggly and wags and rolls around, people say, "That is a totally different dog!"
Well yes, that is another side of them.
Just like us. We are different when we're working or studying and different when we're relaxing.
So, next time you see a guide dog that you think looks sad, probably they are just in work mode.
Mind you, Tulia wags while working sometimes but sometimes not.
Thanks again to all of you out there! YOu are the best and send such great comments!
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I think this is a really interesting topic. I actually disagree that dogs have a choice. Dogs have been bred for years and years to do many different jobs -- guarding, hunting, herding, pulling. So yes, it's in their nature but because of how humans bred them. This was not their choice. Humans bred dogs to be loyal to us unconditionally and to find joy out of working and pleasing us.
ReplyDeleteMost dogs DO want to work, and it's dogs that aren't exercised or challenged that often have the worst problems psychologically and behaviorally. I think assistant dog trainers are amazing -- and not all dogs are cut out for being a service dog or assistant dog. They are then placed into homes as a companion pet.
Some assistant dogs will do it for a few years and the handler will discover the dog isn't enjoying it and again, that dog will be adopted. On the other hand, service dogs that may not be able to serve as a result of health changes or something physical need to be weened off their duties. Otherwise, they can become very depressed and act out.
By the way, this is from what I've read from their websites and from articles. So it's accurate to the best of my knowledge.
It does remind me of this article:
http://www.urlesque.com/2011/03/11/blind-dog-guide-dog/
a guide dog that became blind that got a guide dog! Is that confusing enough? ha!