Ahhhhhhhh! This is the good life!

Good morning, my fellow guide dogs "career-changed,"

Ahhhh, basking in the winter sun in southern California. This is the life. I recall all that hard work while I was a puppy in training with the Johnpeers telling me not to do this and not to do that. I had to learn to sit and stay, not chew on the furniture, not jump into bed, not eat everything in sight, stay away from the socks (oh how I love socks!), just about anything I really wanted to do was a BAD idea.

Are you a career-changed guide dog? I hope you are having as much fun as I am. I get to play with this other puppy-in-training named Sayer and we battle over chew toys and plastic pipe and affection. BUT Sayer has to obey all those rules that I used to have to obey.

Ahhhhhhh, this is the life!

But it seems that I am still being taught commands. Can you believe it? The latest command that I have been taught is UP. Now that seems quite harmless right? Does that means I can jump UP on people? No. Does that means I can jump UP on the counter to rummage for more food? No. Maybe it means that I can jump UP on the couch and stretch out? No, but guess what, I do that now anyway, especially when no one is home.

This UP command is strictly enforced about my getting into bed!

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, this is the life.

But Gary wanted to make sure this was clear so he said, "Some clarification is needed with regards to Zane's bed-sleeping habit. You see, technically Zane is only there for a couple hours each night and maybe an hour each morning so he really isn't breaking the rules that badly."

Hmmmmmm, not breaking the rules that badly. Maybe, those rules that I learned as a pup are not as black and white as I thought they were? They are subject to some form of interpretation? I think guide dogs should maybe unionize and get one of those stinking lawyers to represent us. Yeah, I think his name is bad, bad, Leroy Brown!

Gary went on, "You see, Vicki usually retires before I do and when I go to up to bed there's usually a big black furry object in my spot. I guess he thinks he's warming up my spot, which he certainly does. But once I push him over (closer to Vicki who is already on the edge) so I can crawl in, he usually gets disgusted and jumps out of bed, onto the floor, and crawls into the cubby-hole of Vickie's office desk next to the bed where he spends the night."

OK, I'm a bed warmer now. Are you kidding? I was fast asleep when you go and push me over and then I don't have room to sprawl out on the bed. You know, this is just not right!

Gary continued, "Lately in the mornings, when he wants to get up for breakfast about 5:30 AM, he will begin to nuzzle Vicki, who has been heard to give a new command "Zane - UP". He then jumps up onto the bed and again snuggles between us, but he's obviously more interested in getting us woken up than going back to sleep (he has food on his mind by this time). He is a skilled rooster in some ways."

Well, there you go. The new command, UP. Of course, when I was back in Colorado, Dad never let me jump up on the bed. And he always got up by 6:00 AM to feed me. I miss the good ole days. But, at least, Gary does get up and feed me good. In fact, I think I'm getting a little fat and lazy.

Ahhhhhhhhhhh, this is the good life.

Zane

Sprinklers Tinkling Timing

Good morning,

I have a beef. May I share? I don't know how many of you have been caught in a sprinkler shower, but it has been happening WAY too much for us lately.

One evening a week or two ago,Dad had to work late. We were heading home about 6:30 PM. (Normally we head home between 5:00 and 5:30 PM.)

So off we go, north on Dayton , and we hit our first sprinkler.

I did a 90 degree turn trying to stop Dad from going forward. We both got wet while Dad tried to figure out what was going on. He refused to turn around and said "forward."

I hurried forward and we tried to dance between the sprinklers. We got soaked because we ran through about 10 of them.

Why don't they run these sprinklers at night? Does not make sense to sprinkle while the sun shines, does it?

On a Friday morning, we left about 8:00 AM and took a turn south on Dayton on the opposite side of the street. As soon as we turned south off of Caley, I jerked Dad again to the right to stop him.

Can you believe it?! The sprinklers were on and spraying us.

Dad, bless his heart, felt like he could RUN through these, too. They were soaking the area and guess who else - both of us!

We went about 20 steps and then Dad said "Right, right, let's get the heck out of here!"

We made it back to the corner and kept geting sprayed as we waited for the light to change. Why do they sprinkle in the morning when it's time for school kids and us to walk?!

OK, we have learned that we need to adjust our routes on certain days. I'll get off my dog house now - I just wanted to share.

Grumbling and mumbling, Zane

Happy Father's Day!

Fellow guide dogs and Dads,

It's June 15th, Father's Day. As I lay on my lambs skin rug and reflect about the past two and a half years, I have such wonderful memories of my real Dad and Mom. (Here's a picture of my human dads, Richard & Gary.)

My mother's name is Kauai and my real dad is named Baker. I'm not sure, but I think I was born at GDB on the San Rafael campus on February 23, 2006.

Baker is a great dad and I want to thank him for having that twinkle in his eye when he saw Kauai. I wonder if they met in Hawaii? Baker must have gotten a real "lei" greeting from Kauai, because here I am and what a stud I am.

I have four brothers who look a lot like me: Zippy, Zeus, Zahara and Zachary. I wonder if somebody was sleepy when they named us? You know, catching some "Z-z-z-z-z's!"

Zippy and I graduated from GDB in December, 2007. Zippy is a Yellow Lab and graduated with Rasheed. I heard Princess Coral tell me that Zippy is no longer a guide dog, but had a career change.

What's that mean? Now he's a sled dog?! I hope he is dong fine wherever he is.

I heard Zeus was in line to get placed as a guide dog earlier this year, but I have never heard what happened to him either. Baker, dad, you did a great job getting us started in life. Thank you!

Baker, dad, I have a question. Two of my brothers are yellow Labs and two are black, like me. Now, how does that happen? Are you sure you weren't messing around somewhere?

I’m an officially licensed guide dog for the blind. My partner, Richard, has my official license that he keeps in his wallet at all times just in case somebody asks.

Being a guide dog makes me pretty special. I get special privileges that most other dogs don’t have, like going on airplanes in the cabin (not a crate in the hold!) and into fancy restaurants. I may only be two and a half years old, but I’ve got a real story to tell you!

I have not seen my parents since I was about eight weeks old when I was sent to southern California to live with my puppy raiser family. I really miss Gary, Vicky, Katie and Kimmie. They took such good care of me. They spent a lot of time training and raising me to be such a well-mannered guide dog. I don't get flustered by dogs barking or people coming to the door or dogs walking past the deck. I'm a true prince!

At about sixteen months, most guide dog puppies are considered old enough to begin advanced training back at GDB. That's what happened to me! I returned to San Rafael and began my 4 month training course to become a super dog with my new Dad, Richard. Thanks, Dad, for taking such good care of me.

Super big licks and belly rubs to all my dads: Bake, Gary & Richard,

Love, Zane

POEM: The Zane Train

The Zane Train

Tied down, buckle in place,
Time to rest . . . reflect in quiet space.
Lambs wool caressing sleek black locks,
Inhaling, exhaling . . . sighs that rock.

Recounting my life, path traveled thus far,
From Mama Kauai to sister Cuzzie we spar,
From Marin, sunny skies year 'round,
To western shores, savory smells abound.

Eyes of brown, essential must,
Provide vision, safety, partnership to this man I trust.
I guide, protect, select paths most clear,
Gives him freedom and confidence, far and near.

Tied down, buckle in place.
Hear my stories . . . I’ll explain,
All aboard, Dad, as we unleash
the Zane Train!

Dedicated to my partner in life, Richard. I'm ready to depart the depot whenever you call.

Love, Zane