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NEVER FEED A WORKING GUIDE DOG!Royal Canin Shop Say Hello To Bliss
Bliss is my third Guide Dog. We trained together in August and September 2006 and she qualified as a fully fledged Guide Dog on 1 September. Our training took place in and around my home village of Moy and our Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) was Claire Carse. Bliss's early training was completed in Scotland before arriving at the Guide Dog training centre in Belfast in June 2006. Her puppy walkers were Jill and John Stewart from Banchory in Scotland. ProfileName: Bliss Dates: 21/01/2005 - ? Breed: Labrador Cross Golden Retriever Temperament: Calm, sensible and playful Likes: Wagging her tail, being admired, playing tug-of-war, pigs' ears, swimming, squeaky toys, learning new routes, digging holes in the garden and playing ball at Peatlands Park Dislikes: No bone to chew, getting scolded, being ignored, staying indoors when the sun is shining, barking dogs, visiting the vets and running out of gravy bones
Bliss was a breath of fresh air when she bounded into my life after four long months without a Guide Dog following Cyder's going to sleep in April 2006. When Hester also passed away in July 2006 there was one long and lonely month with no dog in the house at all. As soon as I was introduced to Bliss in July I knew she was the perfect match for me. Full of life and affection, with boundless energy for play and always eager to work, it took very little time at all for me to regain the confidence in myself and a dog as a working partnership. She has a steadfast calmness that makes me feel safe walking with her by my side. When she was attacked by two fierce and savage dogs in October 2006, a trauma which would have left many a dog traumatised for life, Bliss's sensible and composed nature shone through and she was back in harness even before her wounds had healed. Her tail is always wagging and she is never seen without a big smile on her face. Even in the middle of the night she is known to wake me up with a start as her tail wags, perhaps in response to some exciting dream she is having and all who meet her leave her company with a big smile to rival hers! Bliss continues to help my independence and confidence grow and I look forward to many happy years with her by my side.
Stories
Though Bliss has only been with me for a short while, that has still been enough time for her to get up to plenty of mischief. The first time we took her for a run at Peatlands Park we expected her to go for a swim in the pond as we'd been told she loved water. But running past the nice clean water of the pond, Bliss discovered a deep bog hole and dived right in. She emerged seconds later completely black, looking the very image of the bog monster himself! Turn your back on Bliss for more than half a minute in the garden and the little rascal will have a hole dug. Fill the hole in and as soon as she gets you out of sight it will magicly reappear! And who done it? Well the one with muck on her paws of course, who else!? While all dogs love water and enjoy playing in even the shallowest of puddles, Bliss does not stop at just a little paddle. Don't catch her in time and she will sniff out the deepest, muddyest puddle and before you know it, she'll be flat on her tummy in the middle of it. She'll splash about for a while and then she'll begin rolling, You know she just won't be happy until she's got her whole body covered in whatever lurks beneath the surface! A few days after Bliss arrived, we were surprised and amused to see her pick up her bed and carry it around. Neither Hester nor Cyder had done this, though I am told that many Guide Dogs do, beginning the habit when in kennels with all the other trainnee Guide Dogs. Soon the bed was only held together with holes and since then, Bliss has chewed, ripped and tore her way through numerous towels and tea-towels. I am informed by Jill Stewart, Bliss's Puppywalker that she used to carry her dusters about the house. She likes to carry them around, chew them, fight with them, play tug-of-war and snuggle up with them in bed. So if you come to our house and see Bliss carrying a tea-towel in her mouth or dropping it in a slobbery, holely mess at your feet, please rest assured it is not the one we use to dry the dishes! During a recent Guide Dogs event at Peatlands Park, Bliss was off having a free run with another guide dog - Orla belonging to Joanna Jones. Needless to say they had great fun, ending up in the pond playing with a ball being the undoubted highlight of their day! Bliss is a true character and I just know over the years she will supply me with many funny stories to fill this page.
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