Introducing temporary Red - guide dog Lydia

They get well socialised, yes. They spend the first 12 months with a ‘puppy walker’ then 12 weeks with a different boarder during early training, then 10 weeks either with the same border or someone new during advanced training then they get placed with a client. At 9 years old they then retire and either stay with the client as a pet or go to a new home. Occasionally, if something happens that means they cannot be with the client anymore, they get re-placed with a new client and stay with a border temporarily until then. I can guarantee that they don’t mind though, neither Lydia or Bobbie looked back once as they are so used to it and know they get spoiled with love wherever they go next. It’s the humans who struggle with it.

 

How dare you! Bobbie was very, very pretty and had the most beautiful eyelashes which I’d never even really noticed on dogs before. Kassie is almost pure white which is striking in real life and her fur is very sleek and soft. Lydia and her sad eyebrows will always be my favourite though! Look at how expressive she was.

 

I'm bawling. (Even as I sit gazing across the sea at RHB, pint in hand)
You and others like you are saints. We ordinary dog owners would find it hard to imagine how much effort goes into training these lovely boys and girls.

 

I tip my hat to you , I simply could not do it. I would get too attached and would not want to let go. Keep doing the wonderful work you are doing I admire and respect you totally.

 

They bring us so much joy too though! Not having a dog for 11 years was awful after always having one in the house growing up, this way we get the fun of having a dog around and so far we’ve been getting another one soon enough that it helps soothe the upset of the previous one going as they are really short of boarders. They do get a lot of training, right from the day they are born so they are happy and relaxed in all situations, nothing phases them at all, they’re completely fine with loud noises, around any other animal, in any place, the things the puppy walkers have to do you wouldn’t believe. They dress up in wigs and hats to look different, keep changing shampoo and body wash to smell different, carry around all sorts of equipment like big umbrellas and suitcases etc. simulate the noise of dentist drills and medicine bottles being rattled, beg, steal and borrow (or just visit) people who have a variety of different pets, play tape recordings of emergency vehicle sirens, set up role play areas in their house like clothes shop rails and supermarkets whilst lockdown is on. It’s unbelievable the clever ways they get the pups slowly used to different scenarios. We don’t really have to do that as they are already used to it all by 12 months, the only thing we’ve had to do like that was wear a mask around Lydia for a bit before going out with her when the pandemic started to see how she would react (she was fine).

 

All three are absolutely beautiful

 

Do you get paid for it or anything? No real reason to ask except I'm nosey.

 

They'd be totally mind f.ucked in our house with me and the wife then.
Scenarios that you couldn't dream of !!
Their poor little heads would be spinning like in the Exorcist.

 

No, it’s all voluntary (although we get paid in doggy snuggles really). The official GDMIs (guide dog mobility instructors) who do the proper training get paid and people who do other roles can claim back some expenses (obviously it’s a charity though so they need to be approved and should be minimal). To be honest, I feel like I should be paying them, it still astounds me that they just lend us their dogs for free for however long they are here for!

 

Oh, we don’t want to let go but you have no choice (we actually had to sign something at the start saying we would give any dogs back). As I say, you do get another one though so that helps massively. Lydia was very hard as she was the first and we had her for so much longer than we should have done because of lockdown. We also wouldn’t normally have them full time as they train during the day but it’s only part time atm and Kassie doesn’t need any as she’s fully trained.

 

Have you trained her to use a multimeter yet?

 

She’s already a little live wire! Guide Dogs described her as a ‘pocket rocket’ when they dropped her off and promised us lots of fun. We even got permission to walk her on lead multiple times of day plus the daily free run and told to do lots of puzzles with her. Boarders don’t normally lead walk but as we had the training with Lydia they put Kassie with us as she’ll get bored not working.

 

Sounds a great thing to be involved with. I walk & occasionally house sit two poodle crosses. I don't get paid for it, but I can't have my own dog & at the moment couldn't afford to either. If I house sit their owner usually gives me a gift card, which feeds me for the week & a few beers & I get to stay in a very nice house with the dogs.

 

That sound like an ideal solution. I know you live really close to the Guide Dogs centre so I was going to suggest it to you as you’ve said before about borrowing the dogs but I’m guessing evenings and weekends are your big working times normally. They do have other roles such as people to free run the dogs for blind people who don’t feel comfortable or are unable to free run them themselves so I think you just collect the dog, take them out and then drop them back off.

 

Yes, and I'm not allowed a dog at my flats. This arrangement works really well. I'm off to walk them this afternoon. They are impossible to tire out. We usually do between 7 & 10 miles, although they do more bombing about in the woods.

 

I've updated my "Dogs I Like" list to correct a glaring omission.

1. Toby Tyke
2. Scooby Doo
3. Guide dogs
4. Hot dogs

 

Have you taken them to Golden Acre? It’s fantastic, can easily spend hours walking up and down the woods and all the other areas too. Just avoid the main path around the lake as it gets busy and dogs have to be on lead there.

 

Yes, I do sometimes. I do the Meanwood trail a lot. Last couple of days have kept near Meanwood / Adel Beck due to the heat.

 

Lydia oh Lydia, the Encyclopedia.

I loved the Marx Brothers.

 

Stunningly beautiful. Thanks for posting.