Guide Dog Puppies

Discussion in 'Labradors in Service' started by Boogie, May 27, 2016.

  1. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416
    Kara (10 weeks old) has started taking herself into the spending area, I am mighty pleased about this as she can widdle for England! She leaves me a week on Monday to join her 'proper' puppy walker, who is new to the job. Kara is such a good girl - the best pup to start with, an easy introduction to puppy walking. She's never really been a crocapup at all and she's super intelligent, picks up new commands in no time.

    My next pup is gorgeous GR Bruce, eight months old, who is coming to me while his puppy walker is on holiday. We went for a free run with him and Tatze yesterday, she loves him (as she does all the pups). He's got a real problem with recall so my supervisor has asked me to cure him! no pressure then !!



    image.jpeg


    image.jpeg
     
  2. Cath

    Cath Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2015
    Messages:
    3,883
    She is beautiful :) Lovely photos
     
  3. Xena Dog Princess

    Xena Dog Princess Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2016
    Messages:
    2,261
    Location:
    Wellington, New Zealand
    Aww, lovely photos. Kara is very sweet, she sounds like a dream. And Bruce! That GR smile gets me every time.
     
  4. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    14,194
    Location:
    Canberra, Australia
    I'm sure Bruce will end up with a much better recall after a stint with you. He looks like a happy boy too :)
     
  5. drjs@5

    drjs@5 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2012
    Messages:
    15,335
    Location:
    Fife, Scotland
    Lovely, both of them.
    Bruce looks a good size! I am sure you will do your stuff :)
     
  6. Granca

    Granca Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2014
    Messages:
    2,777
    Beautiful photos and videos, as usual! Very cute Kara, but Tatze's a real star!
     
  7. Naya

    Naya Registered Users

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2013
    Messages:
    9,628
    Location:
    Bristol, UK
    Just catching up as not been around much lately.......loving all your videos and photos :inlove:
     
  8. Jes72

    Jes72 Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,034
    I'm getting jealous, you get to play with all the most gorgeous puppies!
     
  9. Joy

    Joy Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2014
    Messages:
    4,259
    Do most puppy walkers have a pet dog of their own? I think if you didn't it would be so hard to keep giving your heart to a succession of pups and letting them go.
     
  10. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416

    About half of us do - it's MUCH easier in every way with a pet dog in the house.

    My husband is away for twelve weeks (cycling coast to coast USA :rolleyes:) and I have found giving Tatze enough exercise hard. The pup needs a lot of carrying about, socialising and shop walks. So I have employed a dog walker, who gives her a good two hours every day with one or - at most - two other dogs. Tatze loves it and has started looking out for her.

    Usually my husband is on Tatze duty while the pupster is tiny.


    ...
     
    Naya likes this.
  11. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416

    It's hard anyway - utterly heartbreaking. But I can't do the job if I don't give them back, so it comes with the territory. There isn't a day goes by when I don't think about Gypsy and Twiglet and imagine what they are doing.

    My friends and family fall for them too! My brother has wept each time one has left us. One friend is head over heels with Kara and very cross with John that he asked me not to get 'our' new pup while he's away! I think she will be having words with him! But I am really pleased, as it shows how much he has also bought into this roller coaster puppy walking ride :)


    ...
     
    drjs@5, snowbunny, Naya and 1 other person like this.
  12. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416
    A gentle session of bitey face and a perfect lesson in puppy training! (play stops when the pup nips too hard)

    (Tatze, 3 year old pet black Lab and Kara - 10 week old yellow Lab/GR GUide Dog Puppy, lying on the floor having a gentle game of bitey face, when the pup nips too hard the older dog turns away, but she isn't cross with the pup ~ just teaching her patiently)

    :)





    ...
     
    CMartin, Cath, Joy and 3 others like this.
  13. Stacia

    Stacia Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    6,924
    Location:
    Malvern UK
    Just concerned that Kara is being separated from you so early in life, must be unsettling for her, shame she cannot stay with you.
     
    Boogie likes this.
  14. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416
    She'll be fine, these pups are bred and chosen for their boldness and have no trouble moving on. Gypsy came to me at 10 weeks old after being with a different puppy walker for three weeks. She didn't bat an eyelid. It's the humans who get sad, not the dogs. We see many, many dogs move on at very young ages - tails wagging, without a backward glance!

    I went to Heidelberg to see my son last weekend from Friday to Monday, Kara went to another puppy walker. She headed for the toy box and that was it, She didn't look back and was 100% fine.

    The thing which helps is that all the routines, training methods and commands are the same throughout Guide Dogs, from birth to retirement. So nothing changes for them except the setting and the hoomans.

    :doug:

    ...
     
    Stacia likes this.
  15. Stacia

    Stacia Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 25, 2011
    Messages:
    6,924
    Location:
    Malvern UK
    That is reassuring.
     
  16. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416
    Kong time :)


    image.jpeg
     
    CMartin, Beanwood, QuinnM15 and 4 others like this.
  17. Oberon

    Oberon Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    14,194
    Location:
    Canberra, Australia
  18. snowbunny

    snowbunny Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2014
    Messages:
    15,785
    Location:
    Andorra and Spain
    They grow so quickly!
     
  19. Boogie

    Boogie Supporting Member Forum Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2014
    Messages:
    8,416
    Puppy play - Kara 11 weeks and Bruce 8 months. Tatze is staying with the best friend, Zaba.






    ...
     
  20. Beanwood

    Beanwood Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2014
    Messages:
    7,303
    That is soooo cute! :)
     

Share This Page