Please Don't Pet Me...

Did any of you see the Dear Abby column right around the holidays? It was a letter about distracting assistance dogs and I'm glad that it was published. I've posted it below if you haven't seen it yet.

A lot of people (and kids!) seem to know not to pat me when my vest is on but they don't realize that talking to me is also distracting. I need to keep my focus on Suzan, especially when she is using her cane. Can you imagine if I veered off whenever someone said "what a good dog"! I could inadvertently pull Suzan over!

The other thing you can help me with is explaining to your pet dogs that I have a job to do and can't socialize when I'm on duty. Since they might have a hard time understanding, you'll have to help us both out and "do not let your dog initiate contact", #4 below. Thanks!


Don't worry, I get LOTS of off duty play time and just hanging out and being a regular dog. I have doggie play dates, go to the beach a lot and go geocaching. And even when I'm "working", it's like a game to me. I do a lot of retrieving for Suzan which I love to do. I even bring her things around the house that she hasn't asked me for because I love doing it.

Don't Touch or Feed Assistance Dog Without Asking Permission

December 29, 2007

Dear Abby: I was having lunch in a restaurant recently. Seated next to us was a family who had an assistance dog for their teenage son. I was appalled when someone from another table approached the dog, began talking baby talk to it (while ignoring the people!) and dropped a scrap of meat on the floor in front of the dog's nose.

The dog ignored the "treat," and the mother calmly asked the person to please stop distracting their assistance dog while it was working. I was dazzled by her politeness in the face of such rudeness and thoughtlessness.

Abby, people need to know how to behave around assistance dogs so they don't endanger the person with a disability or the dog:

(1) Always speak to the person first. Do not make distracting noises to the dog.

(2) Always ask before you pet. Do not touch the service dog without first asking for and receiving permission. Petting should be minimal and cease as soon as the person gives the dog a command.

(3) Never feed or offer food to a working dog. It distracts him and lures him away from his important job as an assistance dog.

(4) Do not let your dog initiate contact with a working dog while it's on duty.

(5) Do not ask personal questions about the person's disability or otherwise intrude on his/her privacy.

The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures people with assistance dogs have access to public places and businesses. Please welcome them into your establishment. -- Karyl Carmignani, Canine Companions For Independence

Dear Karyl: It's amazing how many animal lovers do not grasp the fact that when they see an assistance dog out in public that the animal is WORKING. Although wanting to reach out and touch it is natural, it is no more correct than it would be to pet a dog that works in law enforcement. Thank you for your informative letter. I hope readers will learn from it because many of your comments apply to animals in general.

Happy 2008!

Can a dog make a New Year's resolution? I guess if you're a service dog like me, you can. So, I, Logan resolve to keep my blog updated in 2008!

A belated Merry Christmas to all of you and a Happy New Year! Suzan has a great tradition of celebrating the new year by getting up early to see the first sunrise at the ocean's edge so that's what we did. It was pretty but also pretty cold, 22 degrees, brrrrr!

Each year she also takes a small, smooth stone and writes the year on it to use as a "worry stone". She then throws it back in the ocean at year's end along with all her worries and takes a new stone for the coming year. I think that's a neat tradition. Did you do anything special?

Afterwards we went to breakfast where even the people sitting at the table right next to us "didn't know there was a dog in here" until we left. They were probably only four feet away but I don't think people look down. I understand when we have a booth because I'm pretty well hidden, but these were regular table and chairs. I always find that amusing (and a testament to how good I am.)

We're back!!!!

First off, let me apologize for not blogging for a while. Suzan and I have been VERY busy and she's been hogging the laptop so I haven't been able to log on. Perhaps I should get my own? What do you call a laptop for dogs since we don't have laps?

I'll come back and blog about these individually but since I last posted a lot of things have happened. Suzan and I had our "official" service dog graduation ceremony. I won the Best Trick contest at Planet Dog's Woofminster fundraising event for My Wonderful Dog. That same weekend, Suzan and I won best costume at The Colony hotel's Howl-oween party. We also recently started Rally Obedience classes. All this while being a service dog extraordinaire!

Stay tuned for details and photos!

Wags & Woofs,
Logan

Play Ball!

I bet you thought I meant a tennis ball or something but I'm talking about BASEBALL! Suzan organized a volunteer appreciation night for My Wonderful Dog volunteers at the Portland Sea Dogs game thanks to the generous donation of tickets by Craig Cooper of Rainbow Construction here in Maine. The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. But don't ask me what a sea dog is, Slugger the mascot looks like a cross between a seal and a dog.

Here I am enjoying the game.

Some of the current My Wonderful Dog service dogs in training came with their puppy raisers. The small black pup is Freida, then my former housemate Darla and finally Flip. They did really well even when everyone was stomping and the stands were vibrating! Way to go pups!

The sign says "Welcome My Wonderful Dog", how cool is that?

Lunch Date

I had a lunch date yesterday! This handsome guy is Tom and he's a My Wonderful Dog mobility service dog. He graduated almost two years ago so he's a pro. But his mom says he is pretty silly sometimes, especially at home. He turns his metal food bowl over and pushes it all around the house when he's hungry and he's been known to bring it to the bedroom in the morning and bop his dad on the head with it. Ha ha Tom, that's a pretty good trick! That must be why Suzan has me give her my bowl after I'm done eating.

We like this new Olive Garden because the booths don't have any posts, they hang off of the walls. That makes it easier for us to get comfortable under the table. That's what most service dogs are trained to do and Tom and I did a very good job at it even though it was our first date.

This and That

Suzan was looking at some photos she downloaded off of her camera and realized that we didn't tell you about some of our recent adventures.

Most recently, like this past Saturday, we volunteered at the My Wonderful Dog table at the MS Bike Ride event. It was fun and I got to see my foster family again! I get all happy and wiggly at first whenever I see them! Suzan said to be sure to send a big thank you out to all the folks who rode in the scorching heat to help find a cure for MS. THANK YOU!

Last week, I went to see a musical, La Cage aux Folles at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Suzan won the tickets on the radio by translating a French phrase. I think people were really surprised to see me there but I was on my best behavior as usual. I curled up under Suzan & Jon's seats and mostly took a nap. It was hard to do at times though because everybody kept laughing. Don't know what's so funny about a birdcage!

And a few weekends before that we joined the My Wonderful Dog puppy raisers and service dogs in training at their monthly outing. I told everyone that it's great being a service dog and they will love it if they graduate and get to help their special person. I also told them it's OK if they don't because not every dog is cut out to be a service dog. Being a well behaved pet dog is a special job too! Here I am practicing my "down stay" while Nils steps over me. Nils is my foster family's new service dog in training, he is a tall boy! Good luck Nils!

Sign of the Times

I know I said I'd tell you about the where we went last Sunday and it's almost Sunday again! OK so here goes...

For those of you don't know it, Suzan is a Golden Retriever nut/fanatic! Which is a good thing since I'm one! She's always looking on eBay for unique Golden stuff and found these beautiful hand crafted metal hooks. Ironically they were made in Maine which is where we live! Suzan won them and was so impressed she emailed Nate, the guy who made them and had a custom sign made for Loganland. Suzan said it was easy to do and Nate is great. Suzan told Nate she wanted something evocative of the Disneyland sign, Nate emailed a concept drawing, Suzan made a few minor tweaks and voila - we have a beautiful, custom made, 14.5"x20.5" piece of art for under $40! I'm sure one lucky dog to have my own sign!

Since Nate lives near where the film festival we went to is, we stopped there on Sunday to pick up the sign! Oh and Nate has four Golden Retrievers - Kenai, Katalla, Yukon and Tess. I think Yukon has a crush on me. (doggie grin)

We saw some of Nate's other pieces and they are gorgeous. He makes plant hangers, signs, candle holders and even coffee tables! We love the Golden and dog themed ones of course but he also has great loon, dragonfly, moose, bears, horses and birds! So if you're looking for a unique, hand crafted item for yourself or for a special gift, visit Nate's web site or eBay store and tell him that Logan sent you!

Thanks Nate! I love my sign!