Born to be a Life Changer: A Guide Dog Puppy's First Year

By J Merrill Forrest

Working Guide Dog Buddy dips into his diary to share with us his first year as a Guide Dog Puppy, from when he was born to arriving at his Puppy Raiser's at 7 weeks old, to when he left to continue his training at 13 months old. Packed with photos taken by his Puppy Raiser, this is a charming tale of what it takes to become a life-changing Guide Dog.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J Merrill Forrest
• Release date: Mar 1, 2021

J Merrill Forrest

I live in a small Wiltshire village with my Greek husband. I am proud of my English degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, achieved at the age of 41, and an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. In 2007 I won The Mail on Sunday Novel Competition, judged by Sir John Mortimer, Fay Weldon and Lindsey Davis. As well as writing novels I am a volunteer for Guide Dogs for the Blind, boarding and training puppies up to 13 months old.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The dog whose diary extracts you are about to read represents all the remarkable Guide Dog Puppies and working Guide Dogs, so rather than use his real name (which is, so far, unique to Guide Dogs) we asked his Owner to suggest a generic one and she suggested ‘Buddy’. We checked that he was happy with it, he was, and now he’s a Guide Dog with a pen name!

* * *

Buddy qualified as a working Guide Dog in 2017 and he’s going to tell his own story about his first year with me as a Guide Dog Puppy. But before I hand over to him, I’d just like to tell you how I came to be his Puppy Raiser.

I’ve had an interest in assistance dogs for as long as I can remember and had been sponsoring Guide Dog Puppies for some years, thinking that one day I’d become involved in a more direct way. That day came when my gorgeous and very special pet dog, a Battersea adoptee called Darcy, crossed over the rainbow bridge in August 2015. He was 14 years old and had cancer, and I don’t need to explain how hard it is to say goodbye to a beloved pet.

I felt his loss so badly, missing his presence in the house and our long walks in the Wiltshire countryside, even though they’d become shorter and slower in his latter years. Not having a dog in my life just felt wrong, but I wasn’t yet ready to have another pet. I looked at the website of Guide Dogs for the Blind to see what volunteer roles were available that would give me contact with the dogs, and Puppy Raising caught my eye (back then it was called Puppy Walking and we were Puppy Walkers, but that has been changed and so throughout I refer to Puppy Raising and Puppy Raisers).

I loved the idea of having and training a dog that could be taken just about anywhere, would have the best of care, would be looked after by other Puppy Raisers or volunteer Boarders when I went on holiday, and on top of all that I would make new friends, help out with fundraising events, and become part of a truly wonderful charity community. Guide Dogs are called ‘life changers’ for the love and independence they bring to their Owners, but Guide Dog Puppies are life changers too, for the love and joy they bring to their Puppy Raisers and everyone who meets them.

Following my application I didn’t have to wait very long at all for things to move along, and I learned at the end of my interview, which took place in my home, that a puppy would be available within a couple of weeks. A litter of Labrador/Golden Retriever crossbreed puppies had been born on 7th October and I was to have one of the boys.

Handsome Labrador Dad and beautiful golden Retriever Mum

Buddy’s in there somewhere!

From about 7 weeks old, and after a final assessment at the Breeding Centre, puppies are sent to live in the homes of Puppy Raisers for their first year. This may be a little earlier than a pet puppy goes to its new home, but they are ready at that age to start receiving the very important socialisation skills and early training that they need to become working dogs.

Under the supervision of a Puppy Training Supervisor (PTS) it is the job of a Puppy Raiser (PR) to socialise the puppies by taking them to all sorts of environments and to give basic training. The PTS visits on a regular basis and also runs local classes so the puppies get all the training and stimulation they need to prepare them for their Early Stage and Advanced Stage Training in one of the National Training Schools.

Before Buddy’s arrival a crate was delivered for him to sleep in for the first few weeks, along with a starter kit consisting of: blue fabric puppy collar and lead; leather adult collar and lead; brush and comb; health charts and health record book; his first bag of food; worming and flea/tick tablets; whistle; training manual.

The training manual (which is open on top of the crate) looked dauntingly thick when I first looked at it, but it’s packed with delightful colour photos of puppies, key contact names and numbers, how to order their food, and all the advice and information needed to fulfil the PR role.

I provided bedding, toys, dishes for food and water, and equipped myself with everything I’d need when taking him out. I was also given an ID card, which I was to use when fundraising or travelling on public transport (PRs go free for short journeys when training Guide Dog Puppies).

I bought a Guide Dog Puppy Raiser backpack and filled it with poo bags, treat pouch, disposable rubber gloves, absorbent towels, bottle of water, disinfectant spray, hand wipes, disinfectant hand gel and a roll of kitchen towel. I was to need all of these things!