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Pickle 51 - Dog tired.........!  2^nd September 2007 Yes, Ivan has gone home to his Mum & Dad now and I am exhausted! We played non stop - except for when we were eating or or sleeping! We went for a few free runs at the start of the week, and met up with Rufus (german shepherd pup) and Hector, who is a 4 year old working guide dog. I showed them how to pick blackberries and eat them - no chance of saving of them for crumble......! This weekend, Mum & Dad decided to complete my education on nutrition and took me along to an organic food fair. No other dogs were allowed in, but as I expect I have told you before.....I am special! They insisted on getting me to sit in front of an advertising blackboard...looks like Dad was just about to get the treats out for me. It was a fun event, although I was very tired after an hour or so, there were so many people and so much noise. Dad said I did very well though, and he was very pleased with me. The very next day, they took me to the sailing club where Mum & I watched Dad racing in his dinghy (what is all that about then??) and then we went to a Kite Festival - more people, more noise and lots of kites - it was a windy day, so it was very good for getting the big kites up in the air. We met up with two friends - Misty and Fizzy. Fizzy is the Goldendoodle that I mentioned to you a few months ago. She has grown a lot since then and is a real smasher now. Her breed is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. I was thinking we could call her a Rieverpoo, but that doesn't sound quite so nice does it!! As it is this week a year ago that I came to live here, Mum has insisted I put a picture on my blog of when I arrived, and they still had Jasper. So here you are, one of my baby pictures for you to laugh at... Love Pickle xx.

Week 52 - Me and the lads..........  10^th Sepember 2007 I don't go anywhere now without my minders - Vinny and Ivan. I'm not sure how good they would be if I needed them though, they would probably be too busy playing to notice anything was happening! Do you see how they still fall for the 'look at me trick'! As you can see, I know better than to look towards the camera. I can see I will have to show them how to look in the other direction at exactly the right moment! Not that I have much longer to do it, 19th September is coming up fast, and I have to make the most of the days I have left with Mum & Dad. On Tuesday, we went up to the Airport to show off a bit to the staff and customers. Lots of my friends were there, and some new ones too - Liberty and Flurry, who were lovely little Golden Retrievers. Afterwards, we all went to a pub for some lunch, Ivan and I were good, probably because we were tired?! Can you see how I get teased when I am trying to sleep - someone (mum?) thought it was funny to put one of my toys on top of me. I'd will have to try the same thing on them tonight - see how they like it! On Sunday we went along to a country fair and it was soooo exciting. There were hundreds of dogs there, so excellent distraction training for me (dad said that - I just think he is a spoilsport!). I met some farm animals that I have not seen before - Llamas and Alpacas - they are weird! We came across a Guide Dog stand so we stopped to say hello, and guess who we met - Pixie!! We were really pleased to see each other - it must have been all of a week since I last saw her. She was telling me all about big school and what to expect when I go up there, it sounds like it will be scary but fun at the same time. Oh, forgot to tell you, Mum & Dad have heard about 'next puppy' now, they tried to keep it quiet from me, but I heard them. His name is Naylor and he is like me a Labrador/golden retriever cross and guess when he arrives, yes the day I go! So, can't see Mum & Dad pining for me for long then..........! I will have to leave a few little notes for Naylor around the house, so he knows what to get away with and what not to bother with. Harry's Mum is also getting a 'nextpuppy' soon, he is a yellow Labrador and is called Vespa (broom, broom!). Right, I'm off back to bed now, I need my beauty sleep you know! Love Pickle xx Comments:- Anonymous said... Be good at school Pickle. My family and I have enjoyed reading about your adventures. Good treats and woofs, Bayley (8 yr old cocker spaniel that lives across the big pond in the USA.)

Week 53 - The long goodbye.........!  17^th September 2007 Well, here it is - my final blog entry - although I hope Mum will keep it up and let you know how I am getting on up at big school!. Dad has made sure I have had a very busy last week and has taken so many pictures of me that I can't decide which ones to use, so there are more for you to look at this week. The one above is of my friends Poppy and Dixy who came to stay for the day on Friday, they were very well behaved and posed for lots (and lots) of pictures with me. Lets start with what I did last week then, well Mum & Dad decided to go blackberry picking again, so off we went and started picking. There were a herd of cows in the field and after a while they started to get very interested in us (well it was me they were keen on really!), so we legged it out of the field, and as you can see from the photo they all crowded round to get a better look at me - I expect they had heard (herd!) of me! Oh, it was really funny, Mum was holding my lead while Dad took a picture - he asked her to take a step backwards right into the biggest, wettest, smelliest cow pat you can imagine! She also had sandals on at the time - Dad wouldn't let her back in the car......but I told him he had to, so we had to drive along with the windows down - for once it wasn't me that was smelly! On Thursday we met up with the lads, Vinny & Ivan again and went for a walk locally. I always have a great time when I am with those two - just watching them bump into each other as they play together is hilarious. I am having more and more trouble telling them apart as they are both growing into fine looking dogs and from a distance they look very similar. So I have to tell them apart by smell, and I'm not saying who is the smellier of the two!!!! On Saturday, Vinny came to stay for a couple of hours and if I thought Ivan had battery back up, Vinny must have his own generator - he didn't stop! I bet he slept well on Saturday night, I know I did. I have recently been thinking about the time I have had with Mum & Dad and all the friends I have met while I have been here. They have all helped me in their different ways, so I want to say something to all of them before I go....A BIG THANKYOU to:- Spencer - he is up in big school and is doing really well - he will be a great guide dog. Josie - she is now a brood bitch and will hopefully have her first litter of puppies next year. Kym & Anna - they are still being puppy walked but have the makings of great guide dogs Rufus - my big German Shepherd mate. He is still being puppy walked, but has already been matched, so he will do really well I am sure. Paula - she had a poorly leg, but is getting better now. She was my girlfriend for a while! Herbie - I didn't meet Herbie, but he deserves a special mention because he is now a working Guide Dog and was nominated for the Guide Dog of the Year 2007 in the category of 'Life changing'. He finished as highly commended. How fantastic is that! Ivan - what can I say, one of the lads who I met as a 7 week old puppy. He is growing fast and seems to have listened to everything I taught him (oops!) Anka - my lovely little Anka, she is so pretty and we have had some good times on walks. You will do well I am sure! Vinny - The youngest of the bunch so far, by a few weeks. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in confidence. Chelsea, Poppy, Dixy, Misty, Fizzy, Gracie - lovely dogs who are either 'alternative career dogs' or dogs of friends who I have been romping round with at various times. Thanks for all the fun (and chews!) There are two friends that deserve a special mention as I have seen them so much and they have been so good to me while I have been growing up. The first one is Pixie - she is my sponsors dog and is a retired guide dog. She is 11 years old, but still knows how to play. Apparently she is going to come round and help Mum & Dad with 'nextpuppy' Naylor for a few days when I am gone. Dad took some pictures of Pixie and me this week, they have come out really well and Dad is going to get one of them blown up for my sponsor. Thank you Pixie, I will miss you - don't foget me too soon! Harry - well what can I say, my mate Harry. He is up in big school at the moment, so I am hoping that I get to see him before too long. Apparently he is working in harness already, he is a clever lad. I have known Harry since I came to live with Mum & Dad and we have always had great fun together, I have missed him since he went up to big school - look out Harry, here I come!! Also, not forgetting a thankyou to all my friends Mums & Dads who have had me for sleepovers and have helped me to be sensible when sometimes I didn't want to be. Now, onto big school stuff. Apparently I can take a toy with me, so Mum made me choose which one in my toy box I want. She says she will now sew my name tag into it, so the big boys don't pinch it off me. I asked Dad if I could also take one of his shoes, just to remind me of his smell, but he said no - spoilsport! Tonight I am going to a party being held just for me, lots of my friends mentioned above will be there and I will be the centre of attention - just as I like it. Tomorrow during the day I am going for a walk with Vinny, Ivan and Pixie and then tomorrow night I am going to another party with my sponsor. I will be very tired and sleep all the way up to big school on Wednesday. As i said before, I am going to get Mum to update my blog with anything she hears about how I am getting on, but don't expect it to be as good as when I do it! Thanks to everyone from all over the world that has been reading my diary, I have enjoyed doing it and I hope that you will have gained an insight into what being a Guide Dog puppy is all about and the really worthwile cause for which we are trained. I would love to have some comments from you and will be reading them right up to Wednesday morning. I chose the last picture this week (normally Mum chooses them) as I think it is a nice one of me. It was taken yesterday when we went for a walk along the coast.  Byeeeeeeeee!! Lots of love Pickle xxxxx

Comments:- Anonymous said... OOps! For got to say ... Give Harry my love when you see him and tell him to keep up the good work xxxxx Harrys Mum xxxx Natalie said... Good luck in school Pickle!!! Anonymous said... Hello Pickle Big school has come around sooo fast, we shall miss you very much, enjoy all the new things you are about to learn, yes there is still more. We had a great time at your party, know you are going to make a really great guide dog. Take care of yourself, Pickle we love you.... Chelsea and Anka xxx raiserally said... I know you'll excel in big school Pickle! And don't worry too much about your mum and dad, they'll have little Naylor to soothe their hurting hearts *grin* Enjoy your last few play days before big school, and be sure to give all your girls a bunch of kisses before you go! Ally a puppy raiser from Oregon, USA who has enjoyed your blog for a very long time Denise said... Good luck in school Pickel! We have enjoyed reading and watching you grow up on the other side of the Ocean. Anonymous said... Bye bye Pickle!! Just to say all the very best in big school, I'm sure you will love it there and do very well. We are missing you already and just want to say thanks for all the hugs and lovely walks we had when you came to stay, not to mention all the laughs reading your blog!! Look forward to hearing about how you are getting on in big school, lots and lots of love and hugs from both of us, Herbie's mum and dad xxxxxxxxxx