Good news - Twiglet isn't on the list for April, so May at the earliest for Big School The puppy got an unexpected training walk today. We were going in the car to the garden centre to buy a few pansies and have a nice coffee when the car broke down. I was in the right hand lane by a large roundabout, it was a dodgy position on a very busy road and I couldn't find the red triange. So I rang the police and RAC and took the puppy to the side of the road. People were very kind - many, many asking if they could help. It wasn't a very salubrious part of a not very salubrious town. I was outside a tattoo parlour and lots of customers offered to help then the tatooist came out to chat to us. Eventually my husband arrived by taxi and took over the wait for the RAC - three Romanian lads ran down and helped him to push the car in to a safer place. Lovely kind lads, one with yellow hair, one blue and one stripy! I then set off to walk home with the pup. There were all sorts of dogs around - none of them very cute! They lunged at her, growled and barked at her. She was a star, kept her head up and walked proudly and sensibly next to me. What a good girl and only nine months old. My faith in the kindness of people has been restored. Several of the ones whose dogs misbehaved apologised. In fact they looked very worried about it - I think the message that people who allow their dogs to attack guide dogs get prosecuted is getting through. Here are Twiglet and Tatze this morning on their free run at one of our favourite reservoirs
Mags, a rough day but all good training for Twiglet. I try hard not to judge young people by the way they look as you often find they are the most helpful and least threatening, tattoos or not, as you found out. Good for the owners of the not so well trained dogs for apologising which is all good progress and maybe they will think about doing a bit more to control their dogs Maybe you should walk round there more often spreading the word! xx Good girl Twiglet
Good news on Big School, ae don't want Twiglet to go too soon. Sounds as if your trip to the garden centre wad quite eventful, but it is amazing sometimes how helpful people can be, often in areas where you least expect it. What a great girl Twiglet is ignoring all the lunging, barky dogs and focussing on the job in hand. Your great training shining through Mags
Definitely and eventful trip! All good training opportunities. More than just for Twiglet. Glad to hear we have her for a bit longer
Glad you have a bit longer with Twiglet Sounds like an uneventful trip! It is so true that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover
What a beautiful photo , stunning Sounds like a traumatic event that turned out alright in the end , so pleased that big school has been delayed for a while longer
It's an uncertain time from now on until I get the date. It depends on availability of trainers. My supervisor says she ready. They have a meeting once a month, then you find out if your pup is 'on the list'. If they are on the list then you a given an actual date nearer the time. Some dogs go in at 12 months old, some are closer to 16 months. So far Twiglet isn't on the list Her Big School will likely be Atherton - https://www.facebook.com/manchesterGD/?fref=ts Although Gypsy went to Leeds - https://www.facebook.com/GuideDogsLeedsMobilityTeam/?fref=ts .
Here is an inspiring story by a guide dog owner and, ultimately, the reason I puppy walk. People we meet often say "I don't know how you give them up" as if we puppy walkers are heartless! My answer is "It breaks my heart, of course, but she was never my dog and she has a very special job to do when she's old enough" Here is Claire's story of one short morning - "Yesterday was a busy but uneventful, after picking my daughter up from school we took her and my GD to the park to play and run. Minnie GD literally found the only puddle remaining in the whole park! She became a hippo and was ditched she looked like a chocolate lab! So we got home I took her from the boot and straight into the garden to begin the big clean up, nothing out of the ordinary. I had to get her clean as we always have the school run in the morning. Morning comes I get my daughter ready as usual, feed and spend Minnie no issues, I put her work collar on and lead and then reached up to find her Harness...., It wasn't there ahhhh no, it was still in the car, the car my husband has now gone to work in, the car he was supposed to clear out for me after we got back as I had my hands full cleaning ditch dog.... Not only this, my back up Long Cane was also in the car from a previous occasion! So for the first time in 3 years I had NO Mobility aid, I panicked but I had to get my daughter to school! Thankfully my neighbour (Kirsty's)boy goes to the same school she knocked for me, she offered to take my daughter so I didn't have to go but, I knew my girl would get upset and I didn't want to let her down. Kirsty has run with me before so she is used to guiding me, but the school run is full of children everywhere, noises(I'm partially deaf) and its Bin day! My 5 year old daughter said mummy I'll guide you .... That broke me but I had no option so she took me to the end of the street for abit then to Kirsty so I took her arm and she guided me to school it felt so weird nothing pulling my left arm, a few command words slipped out I'm so used to talking to my dog en route and although I know she avoids bins and sits at curbs etc I didn't realise how much she navigates around all the Children and pushchairs etc, it was a slow walk but we got there just as doors opened at school. Phew! Only our children don't go into the same classroom so I take my daughters hand and she leads me through to her cloak room she then comes back to me and takes me to her class room, the teachers noticed I was dogless and showed concern and asked it i was ok, I explained briefly and carried on saying bye to my Daughter, I just had to get out, that area is very narrow with small tables and chairs and lots of children around as well as all the parents, I hugged the door to her class room and the felt along the wall out where I froze as realised I couldn't see where to go or a way out it was too congested, thankfully another mum spotted me and came over and said take my arm I'll get you out... I was so thankful she thought the harness was broke or something so explained and said thank you just leave me at outside door and my neighbour will take me home, I then heard claire I'm coming from behind you don't worry, it was Kirsty she gave me her arm and took me home, mentioning path unevenness and curbs etc all the way home bless her! This is the first time I've felt so near a panic attack since Minnie came into my life, it was awful I'd lost my left arm I'd lost my protection and my confidence and gained a whole load of eye ache and stress! Although I am extremely grateful to have my neighbour as a good friend and to the parent who helped me, I didn't want my 5 year old to guide me, she's good at it but it's not her job or her worry. I got her to school that was my aim, but it's was far too much stress pre 9am! But after getting home to a very confused dog she was happy to see me but I can tell she's upset she didn't get her normal school fuss and walk, it made me realise I literally walk to school every day without even thinking anymore, it's so routine and she does her job spot on, yes she pulls left at times yes she will beeline for a parent she knows has a dog to give them a sniff but all of that is part of her, part of me! Although inside the school is noisy and busy at drop off, it never bothers her, she just gets me and my daughter in to her class room without me having to think or 'look'. This is a thing most parents do daily without a care, for me this isn't possible without my GD I don't know how I'd cope without her, she is me, she's is a pain in the bum sometimes, she rolls in mud and Wags her tail so much it knocks things over... But she is ME and I love her for all her little quirks." .
I`m sure I couldn't do what you do Mags , but reading this lovely post makes me realise why you do it, Kudos
