Rueben had to be one of the best guide dogs to travel with. When I first got him, we were living in Alexandra, VA. Every weekend my friend Shawn and I would make the 5 + hour commute to and from NY. Rueben would just get in the back of the car on the floor curl up and go to sleep till it was time for us to take a rest stop. Joe

One of the first times I took him out to a restaurant was a fast food place called Wendy's. I remember we were walking to the table and I said to my friend Shawn why is he always putting his head down. Somebody must have spilled a ton of chicken nuggets and French Fries and he was having a meal for himself. Joe

Rueben would never bark unless he wanted to play and tease me. One of the fun games he used to play was cat and mouse or hide and seek. Sometimes when he did not want to go for a walk he would run around the house and I would have to chase him and slowly start to corner him by making barriers until I could catch him. Now you see why it was hide and seek or cat and mouse chase. Joe

Every morning Rueben would wait outside the bathroom door for my mom to come out to give him a treat. The amazing thing was if he were not upstairs when mom got up and he heard my mom get up he would run up the stairs and greet her. Joe

One summer day my nieces had a blowup pool int the yard probably about 1 1/2 feet high. So, he was out in the yard and decided he needed to cool off and took a running jump over the wall and landed in the pool and then decided to lay down. Joe

If my dad ever had the sprinkler on in the yard, he would just want to run out there and lay down next to it and get soaking wet. Yes, Rueben was a true lab he loved water and could not get enough of it. Joe

One day I went to answer the phone and left the shower on and so when I came back to get into the shower guess who was in the shower taking a shower? Yes, you got it Rueben. Joe

Well, if you ever needed or wanted dog kisses Rueben was your boy. In fact, we have a sign in the house as soon as you come in the front door which reads "Beware of dog kisses." Joe

Rueben was Mr. Ice cube dog. Every time somebody opened a freezer no matter whose house, he was at and was roaming around it he would run to the freezer and get an ice cube. Even when he stayed downstairs with me when my parents opened the freezer upstairs, he would come charging up the stairs to get an ice cube. Of course, he loved when it snowed, he thought it was one huge ice cube and would just go outside and start eating all the snow. Joe

He was the best and smartest guide dog I ever had and the most safety conscientious one. For example, I would have to walk in the street near the corner of a somewhat busy street. Every time a car was turning off that busy street onto the street where we were walking before that car was on the street he would stop and do what he was trained to do when a car would pass us. When we were walking on the sidewalks and approaching a corner and a car was coming up the street, he would stop far back to protect me. Amazing! No matter where he was in the house as soon as he heard me take his harness off the back of my door he would come running and wait for me to leash him and harness him up so he could guide me. He loved to guide and that is what they say guide dogs want to do guide their owners. Rueben did that and wanted to do it. Joe

When I used to visit Joe and his parents home, my first greeting was from Reuben. Lots and lots of licks and a never ending wagging tail. After things settled down a bit a fun toy throw and fetch game ensued. I will always remember a very happy dog. I am sure Reuben will share some ice cubes with Cameron and Laddy. Janet

Please also visit Cameron and Laddy.