The first major day

Hi all:
We left home on Saturday,and that in itself was an adventure. I usually
lie in the back of a car, or in the passenger row on the seats <yippee>
But this time sister's car was packed with things I cannot identify. I
mean there were wooden bars in it that Chris calls a bed disasembled,
but I don't believe her. How can a few longer or shorter bars make a
bed, tell me! Then there were three bags of Chris'. She says she took
some work with her, which includes her braille writer, that thing she
had already dug out for the English studying. And then a medium large
suitcase (not as large as the one she takes when she goes to see
Shadow), and the backpack. And then bottles of juice or other drinks.
Not for me, I canot open them anyway.

So this time I was travelling at Chris' feet. At first I did not wat to
lie down, because I thought it was scary, but then Chris got me to lie
down with a yummy treat. I thought she was going to drop it on the
floor, but she waited until I had settled at her feet, and then I got
it. We drove a while, and then finally we arrived. I loved arriving, for
that meant fresh air and stretching my legs. It's not very comfortable
to lie in somebody's quite narrow foot space, trust me!

But instead of a good run, I was put in my harness and had to propperly
guide Chris through a place I can't recall ever having been to. But she
seemed to know where to go. Chris says that was her old school, the
school where she had spent 14 years of her life. And she also tells me
that I have once been there with Shadow and Chris ad the nice gentleman
and lady who liked me a lot. But really, that must've been some time
ago. I did get to run on a patch of grass a bit, but Chris made me work
riht turns, bfore somebody called out for her. So we returned and met a
man she seemed to know, and a girl, she calls them her former English
teacher and her former class-mate. We sat in a class-room, and boy was I
tired!

People kept coming in and never leaving - they shook hands with Chris,
and of course, admired me. There was ne lady I remembered from the party
in summer. She squatted dwn and gave me nice pets. Pretty soon another
dog arrived. I wasn't quite sure of her. I liked her handler, though,
she petted and talked to me. And when I grumbled about the other dog,
she told me not to worry. Kelly's another guide dog with a harness like
mine.

When enough people had gathered, we started walking around in the
building. We started in a room that was Chris' room for people training
for a while. We walked into more rooms and the English teacher man
talked, and Chris translated for a man who only knew English. She says
she was proud of me, because I anounced steps and walked through doors
allright, and even managed to ignore Kelly a few times. We walked
upstairs and downstairs again and then outside We walked around the
school and into another dor. Chris and I went upstairs. She says she
wanted t find the room where she lived and slept for two years, but it
was no longer there. On the way I ran her into a support pole that was
located quite strangely. She just made me rework it and then we
continued.

Downstairs people were still looking at other rooms, but Chris decided
to let me run a bit while the Kelly dog was still inside. I ran a bit
and then we went inside again for a short while. And then the group
split up a little. Some folks went somewhere, and the English man and
his shadow girl decided to accompany Chris for a walk. And then she let
me off my leash and harness, and I ran up a flight of stairs just to
look what's up there. And then we went into a bit of a semi-forrest
area. The man broke off a few branches for me to chase and o that was
funfunfun! He and his lady had fun watching me jump like the silly girl
that I am, and I had fun chasing and jumping and playing and doing my
business.

After that burning off excess energy, we went into another building,
where Chris sat down to talk with a guy I hadn't noticed before. But she
got some water for me, and that was necessary. Then the Kelly dog came
back. And as we were standing across the corridor, she started talking
and talking. I only let out a few noises, but Kelly really talked. Chris
says that her handler is a wonderful dog person. I think Chris is the
best Hapoo person I could ever have. We weren't allowed into the sitting
room again, because ne f the folks sad she's allergic to woofer hair.
Wonder why that is, I thoughht my hair was gorgeous and fluffy.

Alyways, when everybody was back downstairs together, we started walking
out again, and quite a long route. Chris walked with the English man's
shadow lady. Chris says she was at her school for a year. And the shadow
lady and her English man love woofers like me. They talked about little
things Chris noticed had changed, like changing the surface of one
street. Honestly - as if that was something to mention! And the Shadow
lady told her about shops that were in the street. That's more important
- could've been a Hapoo store! She also said that Chris' English is good
- well yeah, Chris never told her that I can paw a keyboard in English!
And then there was this quiet guy with us, he really didn't talk much,
but Chris seemed to like him.

We arrived in a restaurant - the four of us first. When we entered one
area downstairs, I heard somebody calling Chris' name, and people
started applauding. I wnder why that was, because so far I have only
seen Chris applauding when some folks had done something she thought was
wonderful or outstanding or amazing or worth it in any other way. But
what's so wonderful or outstanding about us walking from one house to
another and down a few steps? She smiled and enjoyed it, allright,
whatever!

I am getting tired of talking about all my events in one day, so I think
I'll tell you the second part in another email. Goodnight, I'm going to
sleep.

So much going on

Hi all:
We're travelling, we're travelling!
Two nights ago, Chris stood by the cabinets in the hallway, and finally
took out one of her backpacks. She cleaned it and took out all
unnecessary things, and didn't notice me sitting and watching her.
<woofwoofwoof> I thought we're travelling and I wanted to make sure she
takes me!
But instead, mom and two sisters were there, and all of them gave me
pets. And though Chris told me we weren't leaving yet, I didn't trust
her and tried to stay by her all the time. She had also tried on new
clothes, which usually means we're going somewhere.
But much to my surprise we didn't. We stayed here, spent the evening
upstairs with mom and one sister. And when they were in the kitchen,
Chris attached me to the little table by the kitchen, so I couldn't go
steel the little dog's food.

Today, however, she took me for a walk early, and I think now that she's
running back and frorth, we're going to go on a travel. She has also put
some of my Hapoo food into a bag, so I'm sure she'll take me with her.
Chris says the first two days are going to be full of action, and then
I'll have a week of play with my buddy, other sister's dog, ahead of me.
That's the one that loves running after balls. And I'm sure Chris and
the nephew will throw lots of balls for us, and I can get a bite of
leftovers from his food bowl. Tough luck if he doesn't finish his food
before I'm let out into the yard in the morning!
So I'm saying goodbye for a bit more than a week, but then I'll have a
lot to talk about, I'm sure. I'm sure I keep you all updated. Many
woofs, Hapoo.

Yesterday's shopping

Hi all woofers and friends:
You're probably bored with my shopping updates, but I tell you they
aren't boring. Every time something different happens.
As many times before, Chris and mom headded into that one store without
me, I had to wait in the car. But then I got to go with them into every
store there was. I had to really be careful, because the stores were
busy busy. I love working around people and shopping carts, provided
Chris has quick reactions to my turns and moves - I love taking sharp
turns to follow mom as directly and as closely as possible.
Of course, we also went into that one bakery place where Chris and mom
had cake. And this time Chris told me to lie down under her chair with
my head out towards the back. I don't like that all that much, so I
tried to lie under her chair from left to right, and not from front to
back. Chris corrected my position several times and said this is the
better option, so careless people won't step on my tail. What's so bad
about my tail that people don't want to see it? They should just open
their eyes and let me lie under chairs as much and as wide as I want!
And after the last store, where following mom was easy again, Chris told
me to jump in the car. I usually sit on the back seat; but Chris hadn't
pushed the front seat forward so I could pass, so I stayed where I was
and waited. Thankfully, Chris understood why that was and praised me big
time for not hopping on the front seat and then passing over it to the
back. See, I use my brain for thinking, don't I?
But now it's time for the afternoon walk, I've already bothered Chris
about it and think she is getting ready.
Cheers, Hapoo.

The wedding trip

Hi all:
This was the first wedding I ever attended, and it was kind of fun. I
knew something was happening, because Chris wor a pants that smelled
like Shadow - meaning se had bought it together with him. I had never
seen tat on her.
So when both she and mom were finally ready, we set off on a medium long
car journey. When we arrived we were at a nice quiet place with roads
like we have at home, quiet, rural, horses nearby and a few houses. But
I didn't see a cat anywhere.
We stood for a while, and then went into the church. It wasn't like ours
at home. The rows were wider, so I had enough space to lie down On
Chris' left there was a mom and a baby kid, and Chris played a little
with him. Had I tried to do that, she'd have asked me to go down
immediately <rrrrr>
Our friend, the priest, and her man, they both were up in front and only
spoke one sentence each. The folks sang and all that and said things I
never understand, and then we all left the church place.
Outside we walked to the car to get the friend's present, and then I
also managed to do my big business. You know when I'm excited I can't do
it.
And when we finally managed to give our friend the present, she was
happy to see us, and she even gave me a scratch.
And then we went into the big tent. On one side there were all kinds of
yummy cakes, but I wasn't allowed to have them. One girl wanted to take
the leash from Chris, but Chris told her to stop it and to always always
ask when she wanted to pet me. And from then on she did. She even asked
if she could take me outside. But Chris said rightly, that I would run
away from her and that wouldn't be much fun.
We sat at a table with our friend and her man and her parents, and we
talked I mean of course, the humans talked. From time to time somebody
came and said how nice and wonderful a companion I was, and how nicely
consequent Chris was for not giving me a single crumb of cake - yeah
thank you very much! And the little girl came for pets every now and
then, but she always asked Chris beforehand. I liked the girl, she was
cool.
Mom was a little tired, so we left pretty soon. Chris says the wedding
was nice ad short. And our friend wore a dress, something I see rarely
on Chris, and I don't recall seeing ot on her. She now has her own
Shadow, if that's ever possible, because the only Shadow I'll ever
accept as a Shadow is Chris' own one. He's cool in many ways though he
doesn't like me to pick up a newspaper and hand it to him.
Chris talked a lot to him that same day. I saw her unhappy after one
call, and I'm wondering if that's allowed by what you humans call law,
making Chris unhappy after a phone call. I thought Shadow was fun and
cool and both Chris and I enjoyed his company...
Too bad Chris didn't stay with me during the entire phone cal, otherwise
I could have gossipped a little like lady dogs do <heehee>
Allright Shadow, don't be mad, Chris knows me! She *didn*t* stay with me
during all the long conversation, so I have to admit I probably missed
out on the bestest part.
And yesterday Chris took another book and her old computer andwrote and
wrote and wrote. She had fun with this - I really wonder where that's
going o take her.
Allright, me's off for my afternoon walk, cheers, Hapoo.

Today's marathon

Hi all:
Today I knew from the moment Chris let me out of my crate that we were
going somewhere.
I was quite right, because in the middle of the morning we walked to the
bank with mom, nd I had to guide Chris. From there we walked to the
train station. There Chris asked me to stay down, but there was a cat I
saw, and she just wouldn't leave When the train arrived, she even walked
across the train tracks right in front of my nose and in front of the
train, and I was not allowed to jump after her!
In the cty I found the streetcar and I even found the shopping street
Chris normally turns to. But we went into a shop I can't recall having
been to. There she bought a present for somebody and had it wrapped.
Then to a bank and to our usual mall. With Shadow we usually go to the
second floor because he wants to go to the bathroom, so I wanted to take
Chris there. But she said that we're not with Shadow but with mom, so we
went into a store with tons of strong smelling tea. There mom had some
tea and other things wrapped in nice paper, it took forever, s I lay
down and took a nap. Our friend the priest is celebrating a fiest
tomorrow where we are invited, and it is good to bring presents Chris
says.
Then we went to the fish place, where I lay under Chris' chair and got
some water.
On we went to the department store, were Chris bought clothes for
herself and batteries - to another clothes store for clothes for mom and
to a bok store. There Chris petted a dog that was tied outside waiting
for his owner - and I was not allowed to play with him <woooooooof> She
says he was built a little rougher than me bt a Hovawart, too.
Then back to the department store, but I was really tired - a sport
store and the farmacy - and then into a park where I could runrunrun.
That was fun. But as we aproached the street, Chris put me in the
harness and I had to work. I screwed up one down curb, so Chris made me
turn and stop at it. And from then on things went really well. I didn't
want to find the staircase to our usual train platform , because I like
going by streetcar much better. But at the second attempt I found it. O,
and in the city we also had another break for an ice-cream for the
humans and some more water for me.
Anyway, when we came home I fell down to sleep almost immediately. Chris
got the brush and fine comb and groomed me for quite some time before
she ad mom had supper. O man, and tomorrow it is the friend's
celebration, we are going there by car, not by train - and I have to
show offhow well behaved I am. Of course I'm well-behaved, butonly if I
get my food now. So Chris, you have permission to turn off the computer,
go straight to the basement, open the container with the Hapoo food, put
a huge portion into my bowl and let me have it. O stop it, I want to see
you doing what you're told once in my life - I said/barked big portion,
do you get it?
Okay okay, you're the boss, you're Chris, you're only giving me so much
anyway, o matter how much I beg <grrrrrrr>
Cheers and goodnight, Hapoo.

Hi all:
Well here are a few comments on what you wonderful folks have left for me to read.
First of all, Shadow, well at least I bark both German and English, and you can only say haphap and Hapoo, did you have to do this? of course I had to, otherwise I wouldn't have, you smart Shadow you! Besides, you can kiss Chris all the time, what's the problem if I try to kiss you once in a while? You should just watch out for your hand if you don't like my licks
Well who was is that said he was looking for a blog of a show dog? You're right on man, I *am* a show dog, I love showing off my beautiful self, my cool handler and my extremely great guiding abilities! I can follow somebody through a supermarket, I can keep Chris clear of obstacles, both moving and stationary, I can bring her her slippers when we get home, I can get my own signal jacket when we want to go out, I can find my collar, and I can find mom. I could eat all the food available in the entire house, but Chris says that's nothing to show off and I should keep my teeth and nose to myself and not get into trouble.
David, I have asked Chris about eating my Hapoo food. She says she things canned food is disgusting, and so are my moist Hapoo treats. But I have occasionally seen her chew a piece of my own kibble. She says it is not as bad as folks might think, but it isn't exactly a yummy lunch either. So there ya go, that's what you're feeding me, second choice! I'll walk you through a deep puddle next time I find one for a revenge! But Chris, don't dare splash that water on me, you hear me? If you want to, you better buy me a raincoat (o sorry I already have one) and Hapoo shoes!
Talking about shoes, Chris has one shelf full of them, and she has non for me, anybody thinks that's fair to a lady like me and my beautiful self should reconsidder.
And Chris says she likes David's blog with the duck very much. She says tiny ducks are the kind of little birds I love to chase - would you let me chase your duc, David, please? Or should we let it grow up and then fry it and have a Christmas fiest? Can I have the neck then? And Chris also says she'll read the other blog she was invited to join, there ya go, she is a nice one after all.
And me, I'll go and leave the computer to her fingers again ze loffly Hapoo.

A geheral update

Hi all woofers and loyal readers:
You know, I haven't had the chance to go computer very much lately.
Chris received this bunch of boxes with much much paper in them - what a
pity, I tought I was getting Hapoo boxes full of treats! But instead she
received books. Well I had thought for Chris books were these plastic
boxes with many tapes or CDs in them, but I was wrong. She received a
bunch of huge dotted books. If I ran my nose over a page, I'd probably
be sneezing from all these prickle dots.
So she sat down, took out another braille writer and may many tiny
cards, started reading and writing like there was no tomorrow. I got an
occasional pat on the head or scratch under the chin, but that was it.
Chris says it is because she and I will go away some time later and
teach people to speak English. Chris knows the language, she talks with
Shadow all the time. And if you thaught woofers weren't smart, you're
dead wrong. I know of one who graduated with his papa dad from a
computer class and even got his own certificate! And me, I will be
helping teach the people English, because I can bark and wine and growl
and snore while Chris is working, ad I understand every single word
Chris will be saying. Of course I do, because Shadow and she have taught
me - I have large floppy ears, ya now!
And she is also planning for the folks to have games in that class, so
they won't be all that bored. I'm just wondering if I will get a chewing
bone while they're having fun. Chris also says there'l be another dog
there, another female guide, and I better behave around her. Well I'll
think about it, but canot promise!
And you know, the next part of my update is going to follow soon. I've
ben a little sick, to, and will tell you all about that, and nephew and
cousin and sister visiting.
Cheers, Hapoo the really really smart bilingual woofer.