Guide Dog Puppies

A puppy for a special purpose

Today a Guide Dog Puppy walker tells of her own experience and why she is so passionate about supporting this valuable scheme.

In 2002 my Dad was forced into early retirement, as advanced macular degeneration caused him to lose a large percentage of his vision. He’s always enjoyed hill-walking and luckily was able to find a group of partially-sighted and blind walkers, who go on organised routes with guides. It was there I met Guide Dog, Foster, proudly and keenly guiding his owner and enjoying his ‘free running’ at rest stops. I’ve always loved dogs and been impressed with the tasks service dogs perform, but seeing this special partnership made me realise it’s much more impressive than I had ever imagined.

I decided to get involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind and it was then I found out about the puppy walking scheme. I’m now on Guide Dog puppy number 2 and it’s a great experience, to go along with my canine behaviour studies. Being involved with GDBA makes me really proud. Not proud of myself, but of the truly incredible dogs who work so hard for their humans; often giving them back a way of life, which they may have believed was gone forever.

Luckily, my dad has enough vision and independence to manage without a Guide Dog, but I will be forcing asking Dad to sponsor a puppy for my Christmas gift this year. I also hope that I will be able to get involved in promoting the scheme, when I’m out & about with my pup.

I’d like to nominate Guide Dogs, as a brilliant charity for people to support.

If you can give, please sponsor a puppy today – It makes a superb and original gift for Christmas.

Competition

Do you have a story about a helpful dog? Has your dog ever done something to really make your life easier… or not!? Add your little story here today and you might win our spot prize – a fantastic Fish4Dogs treat pouch. These pouches are hard to come by and make a huge difference when training. Easy access quick reward allows you to perfect your timing! We have some great training articles coming up in the advent calendar so get yourselves ready.

And don’t forget, Our Christmas hamper competition is now live, so write your dogs letter to Santa and try to win our amazing hamper full of Doggy Goodies!

12 Responses to “Guide Dog Puppies”

1. Brilliant! A close childhood friend’s mother lost her sight in her 40s literally out of the blue. I know from experience the direct difference her guide dog made to her. It gave her her confidence back.

   In Sweden we have a fairly active Guide Dog charity but it’s nothing like the wonderful work done in the UK, from what I’ve seen.

   Posted by Jon Buscall on the December 8th, 2009

2. Our dogs were incredibly helpful when it was time to wash up after mealtimes. They used to offer their expert opinions on the state of the dishes before these were put into the dishwasher. We called it the “prewash cycle”.

   Posted by Herm on the December 8th, 2009

3. Guide dogs do fantastic work and being a puppy walker must be a tough but rewarding job! I can remember a neighbour having a constant flow of labrador puppies when I was young, which has maybe influenced my choice of dog later in life.

   We meet a couple of fabulous guide dogs and their retired guide dog friend most summers, they make a huge difference to their owners lives.

   Posted by Amber on the December 8th, 2009

4. I came into the dog world late in life and I am devastated as to how much time was lost in not spending time with these amazing creatures,I was always too worried about making sure my nail varnish matched my lipstick and that i was always perfect in every way.Dogs hairs and poop didn’t really fit into my lifestyle and if I ever saw one with slobber hanging from its mouth!!! Well it was head to the hills time.
   Then I met my Alf ,a little bundle of fluff and I was smitten.He has changed my life beyond recognition and has definately made me a better,more tolerant and much nicer person.
   I have made lots of lovely new friends ,human and canine and I still like to match only now it is my hat to my wellies.
   I would recommend getting a dog to anyone ,only don’t have cream carpets or furniture like I have or did, I should say.
   A very Merry Xmas to all you lovely doggy twitter folk.xxxx

   Posted by janet Considine on the December 8th, 2009

5. I have a friend who’s blind and is now on his second Guide Dog. I can personally attest to the difference these dogs make in people’s lives! Sean without Brandy is so quiet. Sean with Brandy is loud and ut-going and a lot more confident!

   I thought about puppy-walking a few months ago but decided that now isn’t the right time. Maybe one day in the future, when I have more time on my hands.

   Thank you to all the puppy-walkers out there!

   Posted by Abigail on the December 8th, 2009

6. Late last year we lost the last of our cats to very old age. This happened at a bad time, (not that there is ever a good time) but we had been made redundant and I had a serious health scare/surgery which forced me to finish work after taking over 4 months of daily applications to find another job. Scared and unsure about my life I asked myself what I would like to do next. I’ve always wanted another dog (preferably a Collie or Dachshund) so, we went to Dogs Trust and found Toby, a Collie Dachshund Cross, a beautiful boy who follows me everywhere and loves cuddles. It is impossible to look at him without smiling but after acting on my suspicions our vet discovered he has digestive problems so I home cook 1 of his daily meals and he is now thriving as is my husband who has lost lots of weight since walking him! He is more than a dog, he is truly our best friend and I can’t imagine life any other way now.

   Posted by Sarah on the December 8th, 2009

7. My first Ninjutsu Sensei Phil has an amazing guide dog. Not only is it fantastic at aiding Phil, but it’s such a beautiful dog with the best temperment. It’s huge but so affectionate.

   Posted by Ninja Stu on the December 8th, 2009

8. Guide dogs for the blind are wonderful (and Kirsty’s puppy is absolutely adorable isn’t he?)
   I am only too aware of how visual impairment can strike anyone; one of my sons has lost virtually all the sight in one eye through Wet Macular Degeneration. Moorfields were unable to offer any treatment or to reassure us that he will never be affected in the other eye; it is a constant worry.
   Our own dogs, Poppy and Jess-and especially old Chip who we recently sadly lost-have been wonderful companions for the whole family. They have seen us through some very rough times and have always been there for us welcoming all the strokes and cuddles! We would not be without them for a minute.

   Posted by Anne Greensmith on the December 8th, 2009

9. Awww that picture!!!
   Mika met a guide puppy dog in training at her old training class. She was a very naughty fluppy and so adorable with it.The guy training her deserves a medal,she was something like his 52nd Guide Puppy!!!!
   Mika doing something helpful…. hmm I’m training her at the moment to do something very helpful. It started from a strange habit she developed.Since teaching off shes decided to pick something off the floor and give it to anyone who walks in the house!!!
   She also started picking up my husbands gym gear when he chucks it out of his bag.
   So I’m now training her to take it to a place )
   Shes not too helpful yet tho lol

   Posted by Natz on the December 8th, 2009

10. I got my spaniel puppy at 7 weeks old and loved her from day one, despite foot deep holes in the garden! A couple of months ago, I was diagnosed with depression, and Polly has helped me greatly! Always there with cuddles when I felt really bad! And even in my shouty days she still comes for cuddles, un-abided love from a now 11 month old puppy, I’ve got an awful lot to thank her for!

    Posted by Tinybikerchick on the December 8th, 2009

11. My chocolate brown Cocker Spaniel, Buster, helps me by getting my clothes for me to put on, he also helps me to take them off too. He helps me to get up off chairs and couches too. He comes everywhere with me that I can take him & really protects me, but is such a wonderful, loving, vivacious, cheeky, funny dog too. He is 5 years old going on 6 months. He loves to come up with me on my lap on my recliner chair,and places his head under my chin and a paw around my neck and cuddles me.

    Posted by Sue15197 on the December 8th, 2009

12. We have someone who is blind where I work that has a guide dog. We work with many kinds of disabilities so having a staff member with that kind of a disability makes sense. Molly the dog gets invited to all the staff parties.

    Posted by wvterry on the December 9th, 2009

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