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NEVER DISTRACT A WORKING GUIDE DOG!Dog Shop More than 1500 products for your dog Free delivery for orders over £29 www.zooplus.co.uk/dog_shop Say Hello To Hester
Hester was my first Guide Dog. We trained and qualified in July 1993 at the Guide Dog centre, Lanesborough House, Belfast. Hester was puppy walked and completed her early training in Scotland, finishing her advanced training in Belfast. When trained together our Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (GDMI) was Pete Swan. ProfileName: Hester Dates: 09/12/1991 - 19/07/2006 Breed: Golden Retriever Cross Labrador Temperament: Proud, strong willed and independent Likes: Chewing her bone, lying in the sun, barking and growling at Cyder, going for a run at Peatlands Park, eating doggy treats, tomatoes, strawberries and peace and quiet Dislikes: Visiting the vet, sharing her bed with Cyder, noisy children, fireworks, the rain, taking medicine and tablets and being scolded
Hester was an extremely loyal and faithful Guide Dog, although she could be single minded and stubborn at times. She was not one to be told to do something she considered beneath her. She had a very proud posture and had no time for dogs who were no better than they should be. She enjoyed her own space but would come and gently put her head on your lap when she wanted some attention. She loved being stroked and made to feel important and when working would find anything or anywhere for a biscuit! Hester retired in March 2001 at the age of 9 years and 3 months. After retirement she developed arthritis in her back hips but with treatment was still able to enjoy her runs and walks and a long and happy old age. Sadly, on 19 July 2006 at the grand old age of 14 years and 7 months, Hester was put to sleep at home. Her life was a long, happy and fulfilled one and one which brought pleasure to all those who knew and loved her. She lies at peace now in the garden where she spent many a happy hour sunbathing.
Stories
Hester was always one to make a bid for freedom whenever she got the chance. I remember while training with her in Belfast, our GDMI, Pete Swan, parked the car on the Ormeau Road to do a walk there. On opening the boot, we expected Hester to sit obediently and wait for her lead to be put on before getting out when told. Instead, Hester saw her chance and jumped at it. She bolted out of the car and ran as fast as her 4 legs could carry her up the Ormeau Road, clearly having a wonderful time and delighting at the unexpected freedom! At home we grow tomatoes in a greenhouse. When Hester was presented with her first tomato as a treat, she rolled it around the mat for a while with her nose before realising what it was for and greedily gobbled it up. Ever since that Summer, Hester seemed to know when it was time for the tomatoes to ripen and could often be found at the top of the garden peeping into the greenhouse. Strawberries were a firm favourite with Hester also. Some years back we grew them in a barrel and as they started to go missing off the branches, we automatically blamed the birds for eating them. This was until the day a fruitless branch was discovered in a certain lady's bed in the garden. A close watch revealed Hester, after making sure no one was around, helping herself to the strawberries. Clearly she would not have made a good criminal as leaving the evidence in your bed is a sure sign of guilt! Continuing the fruit theme, Hester loved blackberries. Once she retired, she considered herself free to eat her way along the hedgerows on her walks come blackberry time each Summer. A real character was Hester and after 13 years with us is greatly missed. Rest in peace our old soldier.
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