There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong With The Radio

Do you put the radio on for the dog when you go out? It won’t keep your pet calm, study finds Science is science I guess, but anecdotally, I’m not buying this one. I can’t speak for Domino yet because he’s only been here for a few weeks and we haven’t needed to leave him …

My Last Great Hunk Of Tansy Observations

There are still a few things I wanted to write down, even though Tansy has moved on to the next chapter of her life. A few? Who am I kidding? There’s a lot here. I hope you have some time. Tansy has taught me that I haven’t spent enough time with old dogs. By the …

Another Step In The Shmans Retirement Journey

I got some news a couple of weeks ago that, in normal times, would have been up on the blog immediately. But because now is now, I hadn’t posted it yet. After some logistical hurdles and technical difficulties, GDB received all my guide dog reapplication stuff, and it went to the committee, and I have …

Six Months Of Shmans

Tansy has been very much neglected up here, but I have once again amassed quite the list of updates, observations and acknowledgements of time. Back in October, Tansy got out her barf bingo dabber and checked off that month. I think the little rip stole some dropped food at a social event at work, but …

Keeping You In The Shmanda-Loop

You’re probably wondering what the heck’s a Shmandaloop. Well, it’s another nickname for Tansy. Steve came up with it one time when I was booking a Via Rail ticket. They always ask me what the name of the dog is, and in the background, Steve was petting her and said “Shmandaloop. S h m, a …

Pick Of The Litter: A Fun Little Movie About Guide Dogs

I’ve been meaning to write about this movie, but I wanted to see it first. Now I have, so here I go. It’s a documentary about GDB, the school that trained Trix and Tansy, and it’s called Pick of the Litter. It’s the story of five guide dog puppies, and the process they move through …