A Retriever of Sorts
Because Cabana started out as a guide dog puppy, she wasn't allowed to play with balls for the first year of her life. Having a guide dog that is distracted by balls could jeopardize someone's life, so balls of all kinds were strictly forbidden. After Cabana was career changed, though, we tried to get her to retrieve balls, but she showed zero interest.
There's not much that's more embarrassing than throwing the ball for your dog to fetch, only to have her sit in the grass, looking at you bewildered--and then YOU have to trudge through the field and get the dang-blasted ball yourself. Now, after almost a year and a half, Cabana can be coaxed to retrieve the ball--but ONLY if no other dogs are around and if there's a treat reward after every fetch. (Food motivated is Cabana's middle name.)
Here Cabana gets ready for the toss.
She looks pleased with herself as she jauntily brings the ball back. Don't Cabana's ears look like curly pigtails in this photo? Makes me think of Cindy Brady.
"Blah," she says as she releases the ball, "This retrieving is hard work!"
Good job, Cabana! "Dad, where's my kibble reward?" For some dogs, the game is reward enough--but I don't know if that will ever be the case for Cabana.
Update on Seamus/Buster: Seamus' new mom brought him to the shelter on Saturday for a training session. Seamus definitely remembered me and jumped all over me in excitement. His coat has gotten much softer (thanks to good food mixed with yogurt, according to the new mom), and he seems to be doing really well. The family lives in a cul-de-sac, so he hangs out with the twin girls while they ride their bicycles. When the girls fall down or get hurt, Seamus licks them to make them feel better. He has learned how to open their guinea pig cage, so the new mom says with greatly feigned sadness, "Oh well, girls, I guess we might have to re-home the guinea pig." Poor guinea pig, but I admit I'd choose Seamus over a guinea pig any day.
And Nicole, now that I know who Buster Posey is, I am aware that he got hurt. See, I'm not a total loss, right?
