Lady Belle - Adventures of a Blind Doodle #4

[Thomas, Chari, & Lady Belle]

Belle here,

Another week has gone by.  This is a picture of me enjoying MY deck.  I’m gaining confidence that I’ve finally found my forever home – enough that I’m beginning to reveal my naughty side.  Everyone thinks I’m so sweet and nice – especially my fan club members.    But before I went blind I was a feisty little girl.  I can feel my mojo coming back.

Take the couch and upholstered chairs in the family room for example.  Mom Chari doesn’t think dogs belong on chairs.  What am I?  A second-class citizen of this household?  Not if I have anything to say about it.  She lays stuff on the couch so I’d be uncomfortable laying on it.   I chuckle at that.  If I’m uncomfortable lying on it, they are uncomfortable sitting on it.  It’s a standoff.  Either I get to use the stuffed furniture or nobody does!

Then there are the morning walks, which I really love.  We’re up to two miles per day most days, and three miles per day some.  At the end of a three mile walk Wednesday, Tom & Chari stopped to talk with a friend.  He was sitting in a Mini Cooper.  I could tell because it makes the same vroom vroom noise as dad’s.  They were talking about going for a run in their Minis.  They weren’t paying attention to ME!  I figured I needed to redirect their attention.  So I jumped straight up in the air as high as I could jump.  I’ll bet I was eye level with Dad Tom and well over the top of Jud’s little MINI.  I couldn’t see their reaction but I heard all three of them gasp!

Then there are the baths.  Dad has this kiddie swimming pool he sets up on the dog yard and fills with water.  He caught me by surprise with the first bath.  Suddenly I’m in this pool of water, and he’s sloshing water all over me. Then he rubs this soapy stuff all over me.  Then more water sloshing.  This is not my idea of fun.

Yesterday was the second time and I was ready.  As soon as I smelled the water in the pool I headed in the other end of the dog yard.  As soon as I sensed him near me, I took off.  It’s really unfair that I’m blind because I could easily evade this fat old man.  But he can see me and I can’t see him so he was able to grab my collar.  I immediately went into my four stiff leg stance.  “If you want me in the pool, you’re gonna have to drag me to the pool.”

That didn’t work too well because the stiff leg routine doesn’t work when you are picked up, carried, and dropped in the pool.  But he made the mistake of taking my collar off.  He needs two hands to wash me.  So there are no hands left to hold me.  So I escaped at least three times and led him for a chase around the yard.  He kept saying “sit” when he got me in the pool.  I know what sit means, but you have to be crazy if you think I am going to sit in a pool of water.

He finally rinsed the soap off.  Then he squirted this stuff in my ears.  OK, I can’t see and now you want to take away my hearing.  Does anyone have the phone number for the ASPCA?

When he was done I didn’t want to have anything to do with him.  I went in the corner of the dog yard and rubbed my head against the grass to try to get that nasty stuff out of my ears.  After a while, I settled down.   He’s pretty good to me except for the bath thing. 

I have no complaints about the food.  I’m on 100% Orijen Adult, baby.  But occasionally I want a little variety in my diet.  I’m not allowed in the kitchen, which is one step up from the rest of the ground floor.  So they think that’s my boundary.  But occasionally, just for fun and to let them know who’s in control, I put my two front paws at the top of the step.  Most of me isn’t in the kitchen, just my front feet.  Just over the step up is the garbage pail.  I’m too much of a lady to eat out of the garbage pail but yesterday there was this piece of paper on top with a bit of butter.  I love butter – the real stuff containing animal fat.  So I snuck this piece of paper off the top figuring they would never notice.  When I was done licking, I walked quietly away.  Busted.  How could they accuse me of snatching the paper out of the garbage pail when they didn’t see me do it.  You can’t convict a girl based on circumstantial evidence.

Yesterday they had a party to celebrate Mom Chari’s retirement.  There were all kinds of people to meet.  Lots of ear scratching happened.  Then this older lady showed up.  She was wearing a pretty short dress.  When she bent over to pick something up, I stuck my head up under her dress to investigate.  She made this EEK noise.  It scared the heck out of me.  What did she expect me to do when she exposed her bottom.  Then she said, “I guess its OK, she’s a girl.”  Sometimes these humans are really hard to figure out.

Dad took me to a different dog park last week.  I guess my big dog park will be closed next week so they can expand the parking lot.  This new dog park is much smaller.  There were a lot more dogs.  I’m getting pretty comfortable around a lot of dogs.  I’m having so much fun that I don’t always come when I am called.  I’m sorry but I’m full of energy these days and want to explore.  I’m a lot less afraid of running into things than when I came.  Dad always seems to know where to take me and when to rein me in to keep me out of trouble.

He’s talking about a personal trainer.  I guess there are a few things I need to lean like off-leash “come”, “stop”, and “settle”.  He’s talking about qualifying me to be a “Pet Pal” at the UW Childrens Hospital.  I guess we’d go into the hospital and bond with kids being treated for cancer and other serious medical issues.  He feels those kids could relate to me because I’ve had a few medical issues to overcome myself.  I love kids and I hope they’ll love me.

I’m not sure why people make such a big deal out of my being blind.  I’m a dog like every other dog.  I can do nearly everything any other dog can do and a few things they can’t.  Put a blindfold over their eyes and let’s see how well they maneuver around obstacles.  My dad found this neat poem at a blind dog web site.  It pretty well sums up how I feel.

 

A Blind Dog's Poem by Sherrill Wardrip

 

I cannot see you Mommy, when you cuddle me so near.

And yet I know you love me, it's in the words I hear.

I cannot see you Daddy, when you hold me by your side

But still I know you love me when you tell me so with pride.

 

I cannot see to run and play out in the sun so bright

For here inside my soft furred head it's always dark as night.

I cannot see the treats you give when I am extra good

But I can wag my tail in Thanks just like a good dog should.

 

"She cannot see. The dogs no good" is what some folks might say

"She can't be trained, she'll never learn, She must be put away."

But not you, Mom and Daddy You know that it's all right

Because I love you just as much as any dog with sight.

 

You took me in, you gave me love and we will never part

Because I'm blind with just my eyes, I see you in my heart.

[DJ & Chance]

Good to "see" her feisty

[Lisa and Tucker]

Love love love the poem! Belle has certainly found the right place to be and I love reading about everything shes learning and doing and can't wait to see how far you take her!

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

Love reading about you!  and the poem is lovely, too.  

[Ethel and Bob Fisher]

Belle, You are an inspiration!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Robin and Libby Louise]

Love you and your poem, Belle!

[Leslie J]

I love your poem, Belle! I agree- baths are horrible! My mom gives me baths in the bathtub, but I hate getting wet. I also hate getting brushed, as a matter of fact. These humans are so obsessed with hygiene and grooming! I'm glad you've been training your humans!

Love, Cocoa

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Belle, it sounds like you are really feeling feeling at home and letting your true colors shine! I love your blogs! 

[Gail and Bailey]

Beautiful Belle,  you are such a sweet soul!  Love the poem!