Guest Blogger Willow Writes Again!

Guest Blogger Willow Writes Again

by Leader Dog Willow, as DOGtated to Alice Jane-Marie Massa

                Alas!  During these “dog days of summer,” My Alice is allowing me to have another paw at writing her blog post for this week.  I cannot believe that only one week of August remains on the canine calendar!  Where do these doggie days go?

                Here is a little explanation for you!  I like to call that person at the other end of my guide-dog harness “My Alice” because she is always referring to me as “My Willow.”  Since I previously was a guest blogger on WORDWALK, I have become completely fluent in English; so, watch what you are saying around me.  Most likely, I will understand you!  However, I must admit that I do still like to hear a little  canine conversation once in a while.  I even miss the puppy talk.  Oh, last Saturday, while on a very nice walk with My Alice, a little puppy paused in front of my path.  As usual, I remained perfectly quiet; and even my new little puppy friend did not even let out a whimper.  Of course, My Alice heard that something was in our path.  Then, she heard one of those too quiet persons off to the side of the sidewalk.  You know My Alice.  She had to ask:  “Is your dog on a leash, or are you holding your dog?”  Yes, My Alice is a strict enforcer of the leash ordinance in our territory.

                The previously silent young lady responded, “Yes, I am holding my dog.  She is only eight weeks old, and I have just had her two days.” 

                Since my new puppy friend and I were behaving so especially well, My Alice had to ask what breed my friend is.  The formerly silent young lady shared that her pup is a Golden Retriever/ English Springer Spaniel Mix.  Well, I have seen a lot of pups in my days, but I have never met a Golden/Springer previously.  Naturally, My Alice had to say that the little pup will grow quickly into a leash.  Yes, she had to get one more comment about the leash ordinance into a pleasant conversation. 

                Now, each time I lead My Alice down the sidewalk near Prospect, I walk very slowly just in case the new little puppy friend is around for a brief visit.  Surely, our paths will cross again in the nearest future of doggie days.  A British Black Labrador can only hope!

                Here is another happening during my doggie days of August.  I believe this past Sunday afternoon when I was leading My Alice down Juneau Street sidewalk, I came to a respectful stop—complete stop—to allow an older lady with a walker to safely go around My Alice and me.  As the older lady headed in the opposite direction, she happily told My Alice, “Your dog always stops for me.” 

                My Alice proudly smiled—one of those maskless smiles—and said, “Yes, take care, and have a good day.”  My Alice is always going on and on about my being the most polite dog in the USA!  I do my best.  My Alice has told me stories of how her second Leader Dog Heather took a completely different attitude:  Heather, the Yellow Lab, treated My Alice like a Queen.  Whenever they went down a crowded hallway or sidewalk, Heather wanted to clear the way for the Queen!  Well, each guide dog is a little different.  I know—without a doggie doubt—that my doggie daddy Sergeant and my doggie mom Holly would be proud of my very polite ways also.  Again, today, after we had left the post office and were walking down Milwaukee Street, we met an elderly lady with a walker.  Once again, I stopped to let her pass by with confidence that I am a very steady and well-behaved guide dog.  As she was slowly passing by us, the elderly lady quipped a strong “Thank you.”  Most assuredly, My Alice praised me again.  Then, she goes on in that English conversation for the rest of the block about what a polite Leader Dog I am.  Well, some of the sidewalks are rather narrow for the safe passage of a person with a wide walker, My Alice, and me.  I am just doing my job.  My Alice says that I am her most cautious Leader Dog of the four guide dogs she has had since March 21, 1990.  I learned my lessons extremely well at Leader Dog School in Rochester, Michigan, and am a proud graduate. 

                This morning, when we first started off on a walk, I took My Alice right up to the “bumpies” (tactile markings) at the intersection of Jackson and Kilbourn; fortunately, no trolley was in sight on Kilbourn nor Jackson, but we did have to wait for the traffic light.  A gentleman who identified himself as Bruce seemed to be ready to cross the boulevard, but he told My Alice, “I see you two walking often.”  People so frequently make this comment to us.  Of course, we walk often:  we try to walk four miles each day.  After a few more exchanges of comments about what a good working dog I am, I was DOGlighted (delighted) with what Bruce said next:  “Your dog really loves you, I can tell.”  You betcha (as the Wisconsinites like to say)!  then, Bruce spoke those most frequently heard words, “Your dog is so cute.”  Yes, that is the word—“cute.”

                The traffic light changed.  With the onset of parallel traffic, My Alice gave me the command, “Willow, forward.”  I proudly and carefully led My Alice over four trolley tracks, as well as two traffic lanes and two parking lanes, to the next tactile markings—you know, what used to be a curb.  Praise and a treat from My Alice!  “Willow, right,” My Alice said; and we were off for more adventures in Trolley-land.

Enjoy the last week of August!

Leader Dog Willow—and Alice, too!

August 24, 2022, Wednesday

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