Ohh new toy!.

Firstly, welcome to my blog. My owners blog is here.
Here, I hope to keep track of all my adventures and any up and coming interesting news about Guide Dogs in general.

My name is Elma, but everyone calls me Ellie. I am three years old and I work as a Guide Dog. I am a long haired Golden Retriever but Amy says I'm not a real retriever because sometimes I forget to bring a toy back. I really love my job - I'm good at it too. Several of my siblings have qualified too, this is great news! because the numbers of partnerships are increasing in recent years. We need to make sure there is a match for everyone who needs one: also Guide Dogs are not and never will be means tested so don't be put of thinking you aren't eligible. Find out more information about UK Guide Dogs here.

I have been with my current owner, Amy for just over a year now. She is my second match and I am her first Guide Dog. My first match wasn't really anything. I stayed with an elderly lady for three days, but I didn't really fit into life, she had been a long term cane user and was used to it. She also used a large shopping bag on wheels that bumped into me, I didn't like it. I was soon back in the local office and thankful! because then I went to meet Amy, and she is the best. I met her for the first time on the 18th May 2010, which is also my Birthday :). I went to her house with my guardian Mike and we sat in her back garden, with her family, and played. Then we went for a walk so Amy could see how great I am at guiding her around things and finding curbs for her. I was a bit sad when Mike put me back in the car, because I wanted to stay and play some more, but then I was back again the next day and I've lived with Amy and her family ever since.

I had already been trained and qualified, now it was Amy's turn. Amy had to trust me and let me work and learn the routes she takes to get to the shops or to the park and back. For the first week we worked in a training area near the office, away from where Amy lived so the trust would build up. Amy not knowing where she was would have to trust me and she did. The second week we were closer to Amy's home and we did a route she used daily. In the third week we went further afield to towns and cities she would get to by bus or by train and learn some easy routes. In the fourth week we did bus and train journeys. Amy and I aren't keen on buses, people are always distracting me and playing with me without asking Amy first, also people stand on my tail a lot and it hurts. Trains are more fun because I have more room to stretch out. I also get to sit by the window. Amy has a disabled persons railcard that lets her have 1/3 of and also anyone traveling with her, so lately Amy, her mum and I have been jumping on and off the train for days out. Last week we went to Exeter and went into lots of computer shops, and on the way home we stopped in Costa Coffee and it smells so good there.

Amy qualified from home. You can go to local centres where you're in a group setting, so the dogs and owners can bond and make friendships, but it's just as common do it on your own from home.

After Amy qualified, Mike came back once a month, then every 3 months, then 6 months. Till he made his final visit after a year. Now I am under a new Guide Dog person for the local area but she hasn't come to see us yet.

I am still working hard at helping Amy and we are exploring more and more places.

Stay tuned..
Love and licks
E