Trained Dogs

Another great moment from family night:

We were going through peer pressure situations and ethical situations to work on teaching principles behind kindness and courtesy.  One situation came from the Cub Scout manual:

Scout book: "Imagine your friends see a blind individual with a guide dog crossing the street, they want you to help them call to the dog and get it to leave its owner, what should you do?"

Ami: "Ignore them."

Tim: "This is not a problem, the dogs are trained good enough to not do that, but you should tell them to stop."

Mom: "But what if they keep doing it?"

Tim: "You could go make sure the blind person gets to their car safe. Then they could drive and it wouldn't be a problem."

Dad: "That is very nice...ok. Next..."

Mom: "Wait, Dad.  We need to discuss this further. Tim, I don't think you are thinking this through."

Tim: "What?"

Dad: "Do blind people drive?"

Tim: "Maybe."

Dad: "I've seen some in Utah that act like they are blind and driving, but no."

Kids in unison: "OOOOHhhhhhhhh!!!"

Ami: "It's not the blind person that drives-"

Tim: "It's the dog!"

Ami: "Now that totally makes sense."

[Mom rolling on the floor clutching stomach.]

Susanne: "My doggie drive?"

Dad: "No-oh my head- dogs do not drive."

Tim: "Guide dogs could tell the driver where to go!"

Dad: "No.  They can't."

[Now Maggie is on the floor.]

Tim: "Why not?"

Dad: "Because, um, just trust me, they can't."

Yea. That just happened.