Guide Dog Puppy : meet Maggie

[riosyd]

They look lovely.

[silverthorn2151]

Living in Chingford we are close to the Guide Dog association training centre in Woodford. We see the walkers in and around north Chingford all of the time and it never fails to impress.

I met a lady walking the dogs recently who fosters guide dogs until they are ready to go into training elsewhere. She said it was a terrific thing but challenging all the same. She was about to give back this great big muddy dog swimming around Connaught Waters and start again with a tiny one.

It's a great thing you guys are doing and best of luck.

[Mobile Chicane]

She's beautiful.

But look at her eyes: it's as though there's a little person in there. I'd guess she's very intelligent.

[KFC]

Lovely dog

I have a lot of respect for people who do the job you're doing.... it must be heart breaking when its time to give them back. I was going to do this myself when I was living in UK but I guess I was too selfish and didn't want to put myself in the position of having to hand it back after a year

[Xtriple129]

Met a guide dog out and about the other day, without its 'blind person'. I don't know why but I expected guide dogs to be reserved and sober even when 'not working'. This bugger was mad as a hatter! Chasing my two, thundering about and generally being a proper loon. It's totally different with its 'person', absolutely brilliant at its job and very well loved.

I think puppy walking is a lovely way to help, but there is no way that I could give a dog up after a year. I'd do something stupid like move and not let on where I'd gone!

Know a few people that do it though and they all take it very seriously and do a commendable job, I would be utter rubbish as I am far too soppy with dogs.

[Nice But Dim]

Thanks for your kind words and support - she is really part of the family now and even comes to work with me now for the morning and sits under my desk.

She can loon with the best of them during free running - but as docile as anything when working/training

Sadly my wife had a run in with someone in local supermarket they thought it was cruel and unfair for the dog to be trained etc etc - really agressive. Sadly there are some biggoted idiots around.

It will be hard to hand her back !

Edited by Nice But Dim on Thursday 24th April 16:02

Edited by Nice But Dim on Thursday 24th April 16:05

[Mobile Chicane]

Nice But Dim said:

Thanks for your kind words and support - she is really part of the family now and even comes to work with me now for the morning and sits under my desk.

She can loon with the best of them during free running - but as docile as anything when working/training

Sadly my wife had a run in with someone in local supermarket they thought it was cruel and unfair for the dog to be trained etc etc - really agressive. Sadly there are some biggoted idiots around.

It will be hard to hand her back !

You'll be changing someone's life.

[Dibble]

Not quite the same, but a friend of mine who works in our Force Control Room puppy walks for our dog school - only the search dogs (spaniels, labs etc). She gives them back but gets to stay in touch, so it's nit quite as heart wrenching.

[madbadger]

Nice But Dim said:

Sadly my wife had a run in with someone in local supermarket they thought it was cruel and unfair for the dog to be trained etc etc - really agressive. Sadly there are some biggoted idiots around.

It will be hard to hand her back !

Wonder if they would say the same to the blind owner? I have known a few working Guide dogs and what they do is phenominal.

Good on you OP. Lovely dog too.

[dave0010]

Nice But Dim said:

Thanks for your kind words and support - she is really part of the family now and even comes to work with me now for the morning and sits under my desk.

She can loon with the best of them during free running - but as docile as anything when working/training

Sadly my wife had a run in with someone in local supermarket they thought it was cruel and unfair for the dog to be trained etc etc - really agressive. Sadly there are some biggoted idiots around.

It will be hard to hand her back !

Edited by Nice But Dim on Thursday 24th April 16:02

Edited by Nice But Dim on Thursday 24th April 16:05

I wouldn't worry, It was probably the same inbreed people who say its cruel to punish a child as there "only young" and don't know what there doing.

[Nice But Dim]

Today Maggie passed the next stage of her training and has graduated into wearing a smart jacket when out training....