I recently came accross an article on the USGA website titled 'Man Is a Dog's Best Friend' and I could not agree more with what the article has to say. I bring my dog Benni to work everyday, Benni is an Austrailian Shepard mix that is 100% deaf, and probably 50% blind. many times when I introduce myself to new members or see golfers away from the facility they great me with 'your that guy with that deaf dog.' Having a deaf dog has its perks as well as its downfalls. Some of the perks include being able give him sign language signs around golfers so I do not have to talk to him while people are hitting, I can sneak out of the office while he is sleeping, and its funny to watch people whistle at him and he just walks the other direction.
Benni is the most obediant dog that I have ever owned, he will sit in my golf cart all day if I need him to, he will stay in the shop yard chasing maintenance equipment while I am out on the course, but it is difficult when I am in a hurry and he is 50 yards up the fairway marking his teritory, I can't just whistle to get him to follow me.
I still laugh when I tell golfers that Benni is deaf, and the first thing they do is whistle at him, acting like he will be able to hear them.
Even though Benni is deaf he is the best listener that I know, and he makes my bad days good, and my good days even better.
Re: Man is dog's best friend. My wife and I have golfed BGC for a long time and have seen your dog riding around. I thought he was blind. My wife is a sign language interpreter for deaf Metro State University students, proficient in ASL but I'm not so sure about DSL. Next time we see Benni I'll put her to work. . .
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