[nagdu] just when you think you've heard it all

[Julie J.]

Okay you guys, this one is just crazy!

Today I started teaching a truancy prevention/academic achievement 
curriculum at an after school program for junior high kids.   The kids 
were crazy, so I bribed them with getting to pet the dog if we got 
through the program in time.  Not sure that was a good idea, but I'm not 
used to groups of crazy kids.  Anyway we did get through the lesson and 
had a few minutes to pet the dog.  I laid out the rules...one at a 
time...be gentle...etc.  All was going great.  They were mostly 
following the rules.  They were calming down.  I was answering 
questions, what kind of dog is he, what can he do, does he go everywhere 
with me...all the usual stuff.  Then I was asked this:

Can I smell your dog?

Really, I could not make this up.  Being at a loss for something 
eloquent to reply with, I just spluttered sure.  And the kid then gave 
Monty a good sniff.  I mean like he pressed his entire face to Monty's 
side and inhaled audibly.  He thought Monty smelled nice, fresh and 
clean. This has to be one of the weirdest encounters in all my guide dog 
adventures.

Julie