Comments on: Comments on 11741

Post number 11741

msacheson — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 09:45:51 -0800

Guide dogs are cool. The connection between a guide dog and his/her blind master is amazing. If you want to read some touching and heartwarming stories about raising guide dogs, check this link. There was even a guide dog among the heroes at the WTC on September 11th, as many have heard. These dogs are so smart and noble.

By: ebarker

ebarker — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 09:58:49 -0800

and damn fine eatin', too. (seriously, guide dogs are, in fact, cool)

By: mr_crash_davis

mr_crash_davis — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:00:27 -0800

Guide dogs are cool. Guide horses are cooler.

By: Qambient

Qambient — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:19:16 -0800

on a related note.... Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!

By: Hankins

Hankins — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:31:34 -0800

It's very inspiring for me to view the bond between a blind person and a guide dog... the relationships are very heartwarming.

By: headspace

headspace — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 10:55:34 -0800

Not only are guide dogs cool, and guide horses cool, but helper monkeys? Also extremely cool.

By: bob bisquick

bob bisquick — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:03:08 -0800

My friend had a dog that had failed out of guide dog school. Never the less, this is the smartest dog I've ever had real contact with. When you would wrestle with it, or play tug of war, you could literally watch it learn how to beat you. But the real clincher is that when you walk it, it obeys and/or ignores commands like any young dog. Sometimes it is really good, and sometimes it just doesn't respond. But, if you adjust the collar in a special way, this means "Time to obey" and the dog follows every command perfectly... which means it always understands your commands, but sometimes just chooses to ignore you.

By: aacheson

aacheson — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:06:24 -0800

I really liked the pictures of the dogs at the WTC. I think it is enormously telling about the intelligence and feelings of dogs that they have to set up "finds" of live people to keep the dogs spirits up. Thanks for the link. I work with a guy who raised a guide dog. He flew all over the world all the time, and the dog went with him everywhere. All the flight attendants knew the dog by name! He said he was devestated when the dog graduated and was given to someone, but it was the coolest thing he's ever done. (Then he had kids...no more guide dog training.)

By: msacheson

msacheson — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:07:05 -0800

bob: sounds like my Windoze-based computer ;-)

By: aacheson

aacheson — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:13:22 -0800

Okay, after checking out those other links, helper monkeys and guide horses are definitely cool, too.

By: alumshubby

alumshubby — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 11:41:58 -0800

What gets me about guide dogs is anecdotes, like the one linked to in the original post, that illustrate the degree to which these dogs are willing to go above and beyond their training, at (presumably conscious) risk to their own well-being, to try to aid their human partners. A smart, disciplined and carefully trained dog is one thing; a dog that's loving and loyal to the point of saving one's life is quite another.

By: mmarcos

mmarcos — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 13:23:45 -0800

Guide dogs are very cool. Thanks for linking to something redeeming.

By: Potsy

Potsy — Tue, 23 Oct 2001 20:51:07 -0800

Hasn't PETA sometimes refered to guide dogs as "slaves"?

By: Dreama

Dreama — Wed, 24 Oct 2001 01:10:07 -0800

Certain people within PETA, the ones who refer to pet ownership as a great moral evil have, indeed, referred to helper animals as slaves. Pathetic. I'm constantly amazed at the steadfast focus that helper dogs, especially guide dogs for the blind, maintain. Their exceptional vigilance, regardless of age, breed, surroundings or distracting elements is really wonderful to behold. Dogs are darned cool -- guide dogs are even cooler.