"Sometimes I sleep on the big bed with Mom, but other times I sleep in my dog bed on the floor. I always try to keep Mom guessing, so there's really no pattern to my choice, although I do like to get on the big bed to cuddle most nights while Mom reads her book or writes.
When she starts to move around in the morning, I know it's time to get up! I give her kisses and try to play with her, even when she wants to sleep more. Sometimes I wait for her to let me know that my dog friends are not on the floor by the bed so I can jump off. Usually I can tell by smelling, but sometimes it smells like they might still be there. But if Mom tells me to jump off then I know the coast is clear. It's rude to jump down on top of my dog friends, so I always try to be careful since I can't see them there.Mom takes us outside to take care of our business. I wait by the door until she opens it and we have a special way we go through together, so I don't hit my nose on the doorway. At the top of the stairs, I pause for just a moment to find the top step. Then away I go! Mom sometimes tries to slow me down if I'm too fast. I've been known to try to jump down the stairs in my excitement - but Mom says this is a problem since I can't see just how far I have left to jump!
When I walk (or run) on the stairs, I know exactly how many steps I have to go up or down in my house. I do the steps many times every day. Mom says I count them.
Then it's playtime! I bring my toys to Mom and convince her to play with me. We have a little game, but it's never long enough since she has to get in the shower and get ready for work. I try to get her to play just a little longer with me every day, but she always has to get ready. I love my toys and playing with my Mom. So, instead, while she gets ready, I play with my dog friends and we bark and wrestle and run into things.
Then we all get breakfast. I enjoy eating from my food puzzle toys most of all. I like to pick them up and toss them on the floor so all the food comes out! Sometimes Mom will give me a box with my breakfast inside and let me tear it up. That's fun too!When Mom goes to work, I nap most of the day. I have favorite toys and bones, and my dog friends, but mostly we nap or chew our bones and toys.
If Mom doesn't go to work, there are all sorts of fun things we may do. It might be a grooming day - which is not usually my favorite, but I get treats and lots of fun playtime afterwards, so I put up with it. We may have a fun class to go to where I can meet more of my friends and learn fun stuff. We might go on a therapy visit to meet our friends there and help people smile.
If we go somewhere in the car, I know to put my front feet up and wait. Mom will take off my leash and then boost me into the van the rest of the way. She taught me not to jump all the way in, because often there is a crate door or some other obstacle in the way that I would hit my nose on. She takes good care to look out for me. I put my front feet in, and when she's ready and the path is clear, she boosts me in the rest of the way.More playtime is always good! I like to play tug games with Mom. I shake my toys and I like toys that crinkle. I can feel them crunch in my mouth when I play with them. I also like to catch. I give my Mom the toy and then I wait - paying attention to the sky. I know my toy is going to come dropping out of the sky, so I pay attention so I can catch it when it does! I'm pretty good at catching!
And walks are fun too! Sometimes I go on walks with my other dog friends. Sometimes I go on walks on a long leash so I can run and smell all the amazing things that dogs love! Mom might even hide some treats along our path for me to find. I'm really good at smelling and finding them all!
We have training time when Mom and I practice our lessons. There's always treats and playtime mixed in to these lessons. Mom uses different touches to let me know what we're going to work on. I pay close attention so I can remember which touch means which exercise.
There's always nap time in the day again somewhere - after all, I do need my beauty sleep. Mom works on her computer sometimes and I sleep by her feet so I can easily tell when she's done and gets up to take a break. I can feel her feet move, so I know I better get up. She might be going to the treat cupboard, after all.Speaking of snacks, Mom likes to have a snack when she is writing, and when I smell one of her snacks, I ask very politely if I may also have a bite of her snack. I stick my nose up very close and take a big smell to make sure it's something that I might like. Mom knows I won't try to take any. Then if the smell passes my inspection, I sit politely next to her leg and ask her for a bit like Lassie would. Because, I am a collie too, of course! I place one paw very gently on her knee while I'm sitting and I wait. Sure enough, here comes a little bite for me!
At bedtime, I usually climb into bed and cuddle with Mom until she's ready to go to sleep. Then I will decide if I want to get down and go to my bed, or stay on the big bed. I like to sleep very close and touching Mom so I can know that she's alright if I wake up during the night. Sometimes I sleep so closely that she keeps rolling to the edge of the bed, and then she has to wake me up to move me over a bit.
I have a really good and active life. Most days are not the same as the day before, which I think is something called enrichment. Whatever it is, I like it!"
**For more information about blind and/or deaf dogs, visit my website at www.yourinnerdog.com You will find articles, books, online classes and resources there to assist you! To subscribe to this blog and receive emails as each new post is published, please scroll to the blog header above and add your email address!**
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