Guest Blogger: Leader Dog Willow

 

A Canine Perspective of Today’s Telephone

 

by guest blogger and resident guide dog Willow

 

 

Due to Alice’s being very, very busy with trying to learn how to use her new, pink i-phone, I have graciously agreed to be a guest blogger/dogger for WORDWALK this Wednesday, July 24, 2019.  Thank you, Alice, for the PUPportunity; and thanks to all of you WORDWALK readers for your attention on this lovely summer day.

 

First, I must tell you that I have been hearing a lot about “fingerprints.”  A-PUP-ently, the way Alice has to start this incredible telephone is with a fingerprint.  Trying to do so has been problematic.  I do want to help; but in the settings menu, we find no option for a PAWPRINT.  Well, this is not my idea of accessible!  After all, I, as a British Black Labrador, have smaller paws than most Labs.

 

Furthermore, Alice keeps telling somebody called “Siri” to turn on “Voiceover.”  I just got used to hearing Alexa so often; now, I am hearing this Siri lady a lot.  Unfortunately, just like that Alexa, Siri has never spoken directly to me and has never petted me–not even once, not even when I am out of my working harness!  Nevertheless, Alice is quite partial to Alexa and is trying to become acquainted with Siri.  Frankly, I could do without these two house guests very nicely.

 

Now, back to “Voiceover.”  If this pink telephone were truly accessible, wouldn’t it have a setting called “BARKover”?  On the other paw, I must confess that Alice has never heard me bark–except for the time when I was having a wonderful dream and gave out a muted bark in the midst of my running in my sweetest sleep state.  Happily, when I guide Alice past a barking or yapping dog, she gives me high praise for being a very good dog who is not a “barker.”  Alice reminds me that I have work to do and that, PUPhaps, the barking dog only has barking to do.  I love my much-deserved praise and guide onward as any proud Leader Dog should.

 

Next, I will tell you that Alice keeps checking the battery level of this so-called “amazing” telephone.  Fortunately, Alice never has to ask me about my battery level.  At any time, whenever she calls my name, I am ready to respond, go, and lead.  “Willow, come” and “Harness up” are the only words I need to hear to begin my important work.

 

If this pink phone were more appropriately accessible, I would call Leader Dog School and tell whomever answers my first canine call:  “Thank you ever so much for matching me with Alice Massa in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Even with sharing the house with Alexa and Siri, I am leading a wonderful life and love this person whom I guide every day.”  My second canine call would be to my puppy-raiser family to tell them how much I appreciate the great and loving start which they gave to my Leader Dog life.

 

Finally, whenever you meet a guide dog in harness, please remember to speak directly to the blind or visually impaired handler:  do not distract the guide dog in any way.  Thank you for not disturbing my extremely important work.  I do appreciate your not petting me, not making eye contact with me, and not talking to me.  I love my work and want to do my job to the best  of my ability.

 

 

Faithfully yours,

Leader Dog Willow, guest blogger

 

July 24, 2019, Wednesday