little chickadee Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 (edited) Hi - After reading Puff Balls's post about guide dog puppies, We've started off the application process. We know it's going to be heartbreaking at the end, but think it would be a really cool thing to do. Has anyone else ever done this? Edit - If you're reading this for the first time, you can go straight to the end for info on how she's getting on now. A lot of the stuff at the beginning was about if we were approved as Puppy walkers or not! If anyone else is interested in becoming a puppy walker - have a look at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/puppywalking Edited March 3, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Man Banned Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I think Aunty E was training puppies, but I have a memory like a sieve at the best of times Someone will be along to confirm if I'm right or wrong I'm sure A xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 my sort of auntie (you know the type, always called auntie, but no actual relation) has had guide dog puppies for years, she has MS so its something she can do thats not too stressful to her. she absolutely loves it. she takes the puppies to see my Grandad (hes 92) and he loves them to bits I think its a great idea, unfortunately I work full time, so I cant do it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 What a great thing to do...I'm sure it will be so very rewarding. I know someone who takes dog in for hearing for the deaf and she thoroughly enjoys it. [Have to say she has had some really cute young dogs to look after ..last one I remember was a Spoodle poodle cross spaniel I thnk] I suppose yours will be labradors will they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted November 24, 2007 Author Share Posted November 24, 2007 I think everyone starts with labradors, although they do use other dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted November 24, 2007 Share Posted November 24, 2007 I love the idea, and when I have my own house I'd consider doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabergé Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 We have friends who are puppy walkers for GDBA. Not sure if it's connected but they seem to end up keeping the ones rejected from the later training! Gloria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 One of our older members Motherhen trained guide dog puppies and there was a thread somewhere about her experiences with Wayne, her first puppy. It sounded like a challenge, but fantastically rewarding work. Unfortunately Motherhen stopped posting a year or so ago now and only pops on very infrequently Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgley Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi - After reading Puff Balls's post about guide dog puppies, We've started off the application process. We know it's going to be heartbreaking at the end, but think it would be a really cool thing to do. Has anyone else ever done this? Do you mean you've applied to look after a breeding b.i.tch or to be a puppy walker? .... off to look for the other post........ ETA - just read puffballs post, so I guess you have applied to PW?.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 5, 2007 Author Share Posted December 5, 2007 Yes, it's puppy walking we're after doing. The forms are all filled in and references have been set off by our referees. Then then have to read the references and decide if they will give us an interview or not (1 1/2 hours I think) After that, we will hear in 10 days if we have been accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 Hope it goes well for you chickadee. I did my work experience at GDBA in Woking, they really do brilliant work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 5, 2007 Share Posted December 5, 2007 One of our older members Motherhen trained guide dog puppies Motherhen stopped posting a year or so ago now and only pops on very infrequently I'm not surprised if she gets called "one of our older members"!! Good luck Little Chickadee. A very worthwhile endeavour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted December 6, 2007 Share Posted December 6, 2007 I am a GDBA puppy walker and have been for nearly 6 years. I am on my 4th pup at the moment, Jake, who is 9 months old. I hope you get selected. Guide Dogs are planning on upping the number of puppies bred next year so will need more 'walkers'. They are also changing the name as some less well informed people think all we do is take a pup for a walk a couple of times a week/month. Someone rang me and said she could offer Tuesdays three times a month Best of luck if you need a friendly helping chat when you have your first pup, or before, you can always PM me. Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Well, obviously the references were ok, as the lady in charge of Suffolk phoned DH and arranged an informal interview at our house on Jan 22nd. We've now got to make sure the garden is completely secure as I think this is a big thing. We've got a greyhound, so she can't get through little gaps that a puppy could. We'd just ordered new gates anyway, so It's just a case of getting my brother over to sort them out (DH is a real DIY wiggy, and my brother does that sort of stuff for a living, it's just the problem of getting him to be organised enough to come over - I think he's joked about doing it on Christmas day as he'll be here anyway!) Chicken wire on the inside of the hedges I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 That sounds like a lovely idea... Friends of ours (from my girls' school) did it, and loved it... although at the end, apparently the puppy didn't 'pass' the grade and didn't make it as dog for the blind... so the family was offered to keep the dog, but because of their circumstances decided not to offer the pup a permanent home... The pup was re-homed, but the kids in the family got to resent the whole thing, missing the dog, and they eventually got another dog of their own... It's the kind of things I'd love to do, and it is such a worthwhile thing, but I'm a hopeless sentimental and not sure I could ever let go after having the pup for a while... neither could my second daughter... she gets totally attached to everything, including any snail she finds in the garden and adopts as 'special pet'... Best of luck, we all look forward to hearing more on this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted December 14, 2007 Author Share Posted December 14, 2007 Hi Ziggy - yes, i'll keep you posted. We've already got a dog of our own and have told the children that we will foster another puppy if everyone enjoys the experince. I think there are a lot of serial puppy fosterers out there! My best friend from school is just about to start fostering real live human babies - hopefully we will be able to cope with a dog!!!!! (although I'm already dreading the end of the year and I haven't even started yet!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaggieMcHen Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 My best friend from school is just about to start fostering real live human babies - hopefully we will be able to cope with a dog!!!!! I could NOT foster babies - I could not give them back. Many people are most surprised that when they ask me how I can POSSIBLY give the 'pups' up at the end of a year I reply that it is much more like teenagers going off to Uni. If you've done the job properly, they are ready to go and you are ready for them to go so that you can get on with training the next one You know they are going from day one, so it's not a surprise! I also lost a daughter 20 odd years ago and that sort of puts things in perspective Anyway have fun - it is a very worth while 'hobby?' 24/7 which benefits a blind person at the end of the day in so many unimaginable ways. Recently a friend of mine went blind at the age of 34 and has just heard she is to have a guide dog called Twiggy, in January. She is SO over the moon to be thinking about getting some independence back, and to the security of knowing she will be protected from falling down, over, into, through and by the many obstacles, machines and thoughtless people on the roads and pavements in our town. Maggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Maggie I'm really sorry to hear about your daughter. A friend of ours from church is in his 70's & went blind a few years ago. He's now on his second guide dog- he kept the first one as a pet- & the independance Farley the dog gives him is wonderful. E is always out & about. He has moved away from this area now, but he is still very active. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 14, 2007 Share Posted December 14, 2007 Good luck. It sounds very exciting. Like others, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to part with the pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share Posted January 21, 2008 We've got our interview tomorrow. I just hope that they say the garden is secure enough. As we've got a greyhound, we havn't had to be too strict about little gaps in the past, as she's so tall! My brother has been round all weekend putting a new gate on (this was in the plan anyway, not just because of a possible guide dog puppy), but they're not quite finished. The Puppy walking coordinator is also bringing a puppy walker and a 16 week old collie cross with her to see how Holly the Greyhound reacts. I'm really quite nervous. Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Good Luck - I hope it goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 All the best for tomorrow, I'm sure it'll be fine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beauty-Box Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 Good luck! but I'm sure you won't need it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 21, 2008 Share Posted January 21, 2008 ooooh, good luck cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
