As Time Goes By

Tags

Animal, Blessed, Blind, Disability, Dogs, Entitlement, Guide Dog, Help, Kindness, Labradoodle, Sight Loss, Unconditional Love

Life has a funny way of attracting collective themes to you regardless of if you are ready for them. The theme of the month for me has been being asked how long Munch and I have left in our partnership. From random strangers in shops through to my clients who have counselling with Munch as much as me, the question on everyone’s lips tends to be “when will he retire”.

Not one to stick my head in the sand about such issues, the reality of him hanging up his harness has been on my mind since we were paired together 5 and a half years ago. Life before Munch was a total contrast to life today. The fact that I lived with sight loss in relative silence meant I figured stuff out on my own and did not rely on my hairy soul mate to help me out. Even though some people close to me knew I didn’t have 20/20 vision they didn’t know the full extent of my sight loss as I chose not to tell them. Acting in the world as a fully sighted person was pretty tough but I got by for 39 years with only a few broken bones, dislocations and operations so not too bad. There is a time in everyone’s life however that you have to swallow the bitter pill of pride and ask for help. Post pill popping, the universe delivered the best help possible in the form of Munch who had the energy of an Ascended Master in a dogs body. When you get gifted such a life changing gem, it is hard to imagine a time that that gem will no longer be yours.

Pets owners know whole heartedly how their pets become a huge part of the family but with working dogs, it expands to a different level. Without Munch, I cannot get to work, shopping or any other places I rely on him for. If I leave him at home if I go to a concert or wherever with family or friends, he has a dog sitter who knows his needs. If he is sick, I stay home with him. My life revolves around my hairy soul mate at a level I never thought it would. There will be a time however that life will revolve around another Guide Dog and that is a life I cannot yet envisage. In just over 18 months, there may be small rumblings about what happens around retirement for my hairy soul mate that I owe so much to. Our next chapters will be polar opposites as his life winds down and mine will continue to evolve with work and family commitments. We will still be together yet live separate lives.

Guide Dogs can remain with their owners when they retire, go to a family member or get rehomed. There is no doubt that Munch will remain with us as not only would it break our hearts if he got rehomed after retirement but also I don’t think it would be easy to find someone to be patient with his entitled ways. Spending half a decade with Munch has taught me that I am not his owner, just a mere member of his staff. His daily massages, instance on sleeping on comfy furniture, shared lunches and his way or no way attitude to life may be a little much for another to handle so he will stay with us. When I get matched with a new Guide Dog, life will be twice as much fun and full of love. Munch will be happy to remain in play mode with minimal work as he watches the new dog fill his paw prints in life.

As each day passes I am aware that Munch gets a little more attention to help him know that he is loved and appreciated for his dedication to his work. Guide dogs have a selfless role in life ensuring that their partners can live an independent and safe life. Without him, I would exist more and live less. For these last few months or years together in partnership I have a feeling Munch may get a little more spoilt with love and appreciation in many different ways.

Summer Ready Body

Tags

Acceptance, Animal, Appearance, Beauty, Dog, Guide Dogs, Labradoodle, Life lessons, Positivity, Unconditional Love

Munch has been working hard on his perfect summer ready body. Here are a few tips from King Munch himself on what had helped him arrive at a place of pre summer self love.

1. Everything in balance. If you are going to jump up and streal half a pizza from a counter top, make sure you follow up with a sneaky lick at some strawberry ice cream. Munch is adamant that strawberry ice cream counts as 1 of your 5 a day although not everyone would agree. Balance is everything.

2. Only surround your self with positivity. If the people around you don’t love you for who you are, they are probably not your people. If people don’t inflate Munch’s Ego to bursting point by telling him how sweet he looks, they probably won’t get a second glance from the drama King.

3. Embrace your style. Munch’s style is unique on many different levels. From looking like ‘an unusual Guide Dog’ to a non convincing Labradoodle to the untrained eye, Munch can seem more mysterious than run of the mill. Changing from Sashay, to a trot, to a bull like charge, Munch has mastered the art of metamorphosis to suit his surroundings.

4. Lead the way. Among his friends that he plays with each morning before work, he is the ring leader. He compassionately shows his friends the best escape routes to use, the most effective way to become chief ball thief and how to use doggy charm to secure you another ten minutes of play. Become the lead others want to follow.

5. Adapt to your situation. Munch’s harness has been getting a little bit snug on him recently so there was only one thing for it, a haircut. It was clearly his hair that was causing his ever shrinking harness and not his slightly curvaceous body so action was needed. This slight adaption would give him that extra time to get a few calorie fighting extra free runs in or possibly a new notch on his harness belt to allow a little more growth.

6. Get the work play balance right. Munch likes to get rewarded for the smallest amount of work. His sliding reward scale is forever evolving. Laying eyes on his harness, he wants a treat. Getting up off the floor in work to put his harness on to lead me out of the room, he wants some of my lunch. If we go on a walk where he is in harness for longer than half an hour, he wants a two hour free run. The bigger the work, the bigger the play

7. Love the skin you are in. A poster boy for body confidence, Munch never doubts his magnetic charm. Usually the biggest and clumsiest among his friends, he still thinks like an elegant Afghan Hound. Thudding his six stone physique on your lap, he enters his Cavaller king Charles Spaniel version of himself that entitles him to undivided attention. He is not a slave to the boundaries of size.

Subtlety is not his thing, but flamboyancey is. Getting ready for his summer body may not be the route celebrities take but I much rather his version and it seems far more fun so I know which route I will be following this summer.

Reflections on Autism

Tags

Acceptance, Alternative, Autism, Autism Awareness, Childrens Development, Disability, Hidden Disability, Judgemental attitude, Labels, Unconditional Love

Autism has been part of our lives for the last 20 years and has been one of my greatest teachers. From a keen interest in the subject whilst in school, to a book on Autism literally falling off a shelf in front of me in a library many years ago, it was clear the universe was trying to get my attention. Add to that the fact that my Birthday on the 2nd April falls on World Autism Awareness Day, it was pretty hard to ignore. On reflection, I think it was a signal from the universe that I needed to prepare to step out of my own neurotypical way of thinking to prepare to enter into the neurodiverse way of being that my son and many others would teach me.

Since birth, my son Jaidan showed early signs that he may be Autistic. On one hand he was disconnected from social cues that other babies his age tended to pick up on but could figure out complex predictable sequences where other babies remained oblivious. He seemed to be too placid where other babies his age were more reactive. Jaidan lost his limited vocabulary from 18 months ro 3 years , whilst others expanded their spoken language. Play was repetive and consistent whilst others enjoyed more variety. What was clear with Jaidan though was that he was experiencing life on a far deeper level that other children his age. He had an ability to know things that should have been beyond his age appropriate knowledge. He saw things that his peers were not developed enough to do and made me question much of the negativity that was written about Autism. Could it be that it was more of an ability than a disability?

Fast forward 20 years on, I have not only had the blessing of having many years of feedback from Jaidan on what daily life is like for him as an Autistic young man but I have also learnt from a large number of my clients through work as a School Counsellor. Such a diverse viewpoint has helped me reflect on how my understanding of Autism has moved away from many textbooks usually written by neurotypical authors, to a deeper knowledge of what life with Autism is really like. Here are just a few myths that exist around Autism

– Autism has a stereotype .

Forget Rain Man, Sheldon Cooper, the ‘little bit of Autism in everyone’, the little professor or the eccentric, Autism doesn’t create a type. When we look into the Neurodiverse world in Neurotypical ways, we take our preconceived ideas with us which are not always right. Stereotypes exists in both the Neurodiverse and Neurotypical worlds and are not always true.

– Low and High functioning Autism differ

Autism is still Autism regardless of where people are on the spectrum. You can’t be a little bit Autistic anymore than you can be a little bit pregnant. Some may be affected in more than one area of life or to a greater severity but a diagnosis is still a diagnosis. In some instances , those who are seen as being higher functioning have far less support so can struggle more.

– Autism is life limiting

It is more accurate to say that people’s perception of Autism is life limiting. By approaching Autism with fear and judgement, that viewpoint extinguishes the much needed support that people need to reach their full potential. People with Autism can do anything that they wish to just as anyone else can.

– There needs to be a cure for Autism

Autism is Autism is Autism. Autistic individuals do not need to be fixed but maybe the ableist movement does. There is nothing ‘wrong’ with Autistic people it is just wrong that people think there is. Maybe us Neurotypical people see things in a faulty way and Neurodiverse people see it the right way. Who knows?

– Atypical communication comes from a place of lack.

Silence can be golden in the field of communication. Silence can be a person processing and reflecting without the need for giving constant feedback. Just because communication may be different between Neurotypical and Neurodiverse people, it does not make it faulty.

– Independence can be difficult

This may be true for some but not all. Independent can be hard for Neurotypicals as well so is not Autism specific. On the contrary, many Autistic individuals have very good independence skills as they have learnt their own way of being in the world that suits them best.

20 years of living with Jaidan has taught me that anything is possible. As he completes his second year in his Philosophy Degree and prepares to leave in a few months to study abroad for a year in Hong Kong, I feel that nothing anyone ever told me about Autism considered this. Jaidan is his own person who is perfect in every way. I cannot imagine a Neurotypical version of himself as it really wouldn’t work. From being classed as moderately/severely Autistic aged 3 to living independently in university and managing well, I don’t think we should ever predict the capacity and capability of another. Life can be challenging at times but it can be challenging for us all. His Autism can add an extra layer to these challenges but he keeps showing up to cut through them. Jaidan owns his Autism just as he should. It is his alone to make peace with it throughout his life.

Autism is a field that only the experts know about and these experts are the Autistic people themselves. Happy World Autism Awareness Day 🙂

The Peace in Grief

Tags

Acceptance, Animal, Comfort, Dogs, Expansion, Grief, Meaning of lIfe, Mother Love, Munch, Oneness

My mother passed away nearly a month ago and Munch has not been the same since

Just as his picture took pride of place next to her bed, her loving imprints remain treasured in his heart. As he lays on her couch that now lives in our home, he connects to her scent that belonged to her alone. Her beloved soft toys now belong to him as he keeps them close to remind him of the times where death was a concept not yet known.

The atrocity of grief hit him immediately as he lay crying beneath her hospital bed moments after she passed, as he tried to anchor her soul from transcending to a place without pain. His whimpers have only now begun to quieten as he adjusts to life without her beautiful physical form as he enters into the peace in grief.

The whimpers were far from quite at her funeral as he along with loved ones said goodbye to one of his favourite animal whisperers he ever met. His heartbreaking goodbye echoed into the ground as she was lowered to lay in peace knowing now that she now lived elsewhere. This new home will be a place we will visit often and continue to bless with love and eternal gratitude.

The alien concept of apathetic hunger is now leaving and being replaced by his usual ravenous raids on the edible and non edible world as he reminds himself of the food lover he once was. His personalised Bach rescue remedy made by a friend is slowly beginning to make his tail propel as it once did pre-grief. Slowly but surely the peace in his grief is resetting him to learn to live with the loss of a treasured member of his pack.

Grief is more varied than prescriptive, where rules do not exist yet coexist all at the same time. The sacredness of life runs deep across species and is felt in multidimensional ways that we will never truly know. Our grief is a personal experience that will never match another identically but can unity souls that once were estranged.

Resting alongside Munch in the peace in grief has deepened our bond even more as we experience this as one. Dogs grieve not just owners but anyone within their lucky pack that have shared moments in time that just belong to them and nobody else. Peace is a place that can be found anywhere even where you would least expect it. When we learn to rest in Peace in life, we can learn to be at peace with grief.

The Living And The Lived

Tags

Alternative, Awareness, Death, Expansion, Full Circle, Inner Peace, Life Purpose

We may never know the peace in death until we become it.

We forget to see the oneness of all until we arrive in it.

We underestimate the power of breath until we are without it.

We are not them and they are not us, but we will experience being both.

When bridges are crossed and wings are gained, the circle completes.

When the chapter of pain ends, the new chapter in the after party begins .

When souls return to the one true home, there can be nothing but bliss.

We are not them and they are not us, but we will experience being both.

They pass into a place where conciousness has evolved into purity

They are received with unconditional love by those who are waiting

They are free to live their dreams which they could never do on Earth

We are not them and they are not us, but we will experience both

Let peace be present on both sides of your bridge

Connect to each other to feel the oneness of all, no need to wait

Breath into each moment to live with passion

We will be them and they were once us, and we will experience both

The Blackout Bouncers

Tags

Alternative, Blind, Blindness, clarity, Disability, Equality, Guidance, Sight Loss, Visual Impairement

When others around are falling apart due to blackouts from power cuts that storm Eunice has brought with her, I am totally at ease. See,  the beauty of being blind is that we always know a different  way. If the sighted stick with us, we can become  their blackout bouncers!

People with sight loss can come in handy in lots of different ways. My friend still laughs at the time when she was getting worked up in the darkness of the cinema  when she was  unable to find out which way to put her cardigan on. I swiftly took it from her, felt for the label and stitching to ensure it was the right way around and helped her on with it within a matter of seconds. To me, feeling for such cues is common sense whilst she saw it as a super power. We had very opposite reactions in that moment.

Learning to navigate the world through  memory alone means that I have masses of imaginary  maps floating around my mind most of the time. I will always remember the amount of steps, locations of doors, distances between 2  points and much more in places I have visited as my eyes cannot let me know so I have my own techniques. Anyone who needs to be led around safely during power cuts , you are more than welcome to grab on to me and we can recreate the Conga dance as I steer you to where you need to go.

I can usually identify an object by feel within a  nano second so if you need to find the lighter to light your  candle, I can help. Need to identify items of clothing from the  description of the material, stitching etc, I am your person!! Need to find an object in your bag without being able  to see? Not a problem, leave it with me. Hearing whether you have turned the hot or cold tap on? Couldn’t be simpler. Where there is a will, there’s a way.  Sight alone is not the only way to navigate in the world that only shows us a fraction of it’s workings. When we learn to discover the world beyond sight, we are offered the true meaning of life.

Listening to how full a cup is and when to stop pouring a drink is second nature to me so let me teach you how. Dropped a coin and trying to find it? I will show you the area and tell you which coin you have dropped from the size and thickness of its sound. If you hear someone approaching, I can help you identify them from their unique footsteps and generally what footwear they have on.  The very being of both the sighted and sight loss community in the world, bring knowledge and experiences that can help us learn from one another.

The Blackout Bouncers are always on hand to help you through a momentary loss of sight. We welcome you into our life with open arms and heart. So when people say in a derogative way that you won’t get anywhere when the blind lead the blind, maybe they have never tried it. They are the best blackout bouncers around to keep you safe 🙂

Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month

Tags

Blind, Disability, Education, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Life Purpose, Marfan Syndrome, Resilience, Sight Loss, Thanks, Vision Impairment, Visual Impairement

February is the month dedicated to the heart. Not just due to the fact the Valentine’s Day is nestled into the middle of it , but it is also Marfan Syndrome Awareness month.

With the heart being one of the main organs at risk in Marfan Syndrome patients, raising awareness of this complex and life changing Syndrome is a constant must. With Marfan Syndrome being one of the most common connective tissue disorders, it is still baffling how diagnosis’s are still missed in 2022 , with some people only getting diagnosed at the end of their lives. Admittedly, not all Marfan’s patients present with classical symptoms (the weird and wonderful world of syndromes in general), but if raising awareness can save at least one life then it has been worth it.

Due to the fact that Marfan Syndrome affects the connective tissue in the body , there is not much within the body that is does not have an impact on. As the connective tissue binds structures together , supports the organs and gives a Framework to the body as a whole it is pretty tough to ignore it. Marfan’s can affect anything from the heart, lungs, eyes, bones, joints, blood vessels, skin, gastrointestinal tract to name but a few. Luckily, most people will not be affected by all of these but whichever ones they do suffer with can have a huge impact on daily life.

Some of the most common physical signs to look out for with Marfan Syndrome are

– Tall and Slender build

– Disproportionately long arms, legs and fingers (arachnodactyly).

– Pectus Carinatum (breastbone sticking outwards) or pertussis excavatum (breastbone growing inwards).

– Heart abnormalities (from murmurs, leaky mitral valves through to Aortic dissection).

– Scoliosis and other spinal issues

-High arched palate and over crowding of teeth

– Extreme Myopia (nearsightedness ) and early onset cataracts and glaucoma.

These are the most common physical symptoms and from this, a number of complications can arise. From Aortic dissections to pneumothorax. From constant dislocations to pelvic organ prolapse, life with Marfan Syndrome can always give you surprises. It is probably easier to find things within the body that are not affected by it. From being advised to avoid the contraceptive pill and other medication to not being able to give blood, the impact on health can be a factor. Generally advice is to avoid contact sports (due to risk of injury) , intense physical activity and weight lifting should be avoided. So the knock on effects of this syndrome can invade every part of daily living and yet it is still a condition that not even all medical proffessions are aware of. I know of an ophthalmologist who only discovered he had Marfan Syndrome in his 60’s after having an Aortic dissection repair.

How has Marfan Syndrome affected my life so far? To be fair, in my 44 years of life I have been pretty lucky. I am blind, have had knee and jaw reconstruction’s after dislocations, 2 eye surgeries, scoliosis, multiple breaks, soft tissue damage and dislocations and numerous other injuries. A cardiac episode whilst pregnant and some issues with my lungs. To be 100% honest though, that is nothing to what some people have to deal with due to Marfan Syndrome. Expecting the unexpected is almost my motto in life as who knows what will happen in the future. Pain is the gift of knowing you are alive.

If you have any alarm bells ringing with your health and the possibility you or a loved one may have Marfan Syndrome, please check it out. It could save your life. For more information please visit https://www.marfantrust.org/ or visit your GP or health practioner.

The Nap King

Tags

Animals, Blindness, Cuddles, Dog, Drama King, Entitlement, Guide Dog, Labradoodle, Munch, Unconditional Love, Working Dog

So Munch has had a little extra time off from work due to the fact that I caught Covid. I am fine and have not been ill with it. Munch has had the blessing of having all this extra time to indulge in one of his favourite past times which is of course napping. More specifically napping on my bed.

The art of napping was something of a mystery to me for many years. Having had 4 children in a matter of 6 years , napping was something I believed only existed in Fairy-tales. Add to this the fact that my Autistic son never slept more than 3 and a half hours a night for the  first 12 years of his life,  meant that sleep was a rarity in both of our lives. Fast forward 7 years and he is a typical uni student who sleeps a little too much now as he himself has discovered the art of napping. I have also joined the Napping Appreciation Club (for solidarity of course) which Munch is very thankful for as it gives him time to recharge his batteries.

When the Guide Dogs first introduced  me to Munch, they said he was not allowed to sleep on beds or sofas. This is to prevent him thinking he owns the place (as if King Munch would ever think like this)  when visiting others peoples homes and making himself comfy on their furniture. Well to be fair, that rule lasted for a few days until Munch decided he could train me better. He sleeps on whichever sofa he fancies in the daytime and is first into my bed each night. He lays in my spot preventing me from getting into bed and knows the only way to move his six stone body is by offering him his nightly dental stick which is strategically placed on his side of the bed to lure him over.

There is something so special about having an animal love you enough to want to sleep next to you. Apart from frequently changing the hair strewn bed clothes to prevent me waking up like a yeti, Munch is the best ever nap partner. There is something quite sweet about  listening to him snoring away in my ear as he dreams about planning his next adventure. If I so much as cough in the night, he shoots up and scoots over to me to check I am okay. The unconditional love of animals is something that shows us humans how we should really be living our lives.

We should be back in work when my isolation finishes  in 4 days time  I have yet to break it to him that we cannot take our bed in for him to nap on and that he may have to return to napping on the floor like a common dog. Any ideas on how to break it to him gently? He has numerous dog beds that he refuses to lay on so I have stopped taking them into work. He rathers my clients bags to lay on instead of his cushions I take into work for him and he just looks with utter disgust at a mere blanket if it is offered to him. Unless it is mattress, it is a no!! Maybe there was some sense after all in not allowing Munch to get too comfy on human furniture, but how could I have said no?

Do you think it would be a little too much to ask for Munch to have a double sized bed, comfy pillows and luxurious bedding in each school we are in to help him have a high quality nap as I work? Surely if we buy in bulk we could get a good discount? I wonder if such a request would be seen as a reasonable in work adjustment for him? Hmmmm, maybe. If all else fails, I think I may just have to convince him that he is undercover and needs to pretend that he is an average dog who lays on the floor , just to hide his true royal statues from everyone. Being a nap king is really tough!

Birthday Boy

Tags

Animals, Birthdays, Blessed, Blindness, Celebration, Disability, Dog, Eye Rolling, Free spirit, Gratitude, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Munch

Munch has just turned Seven.

The Birthday Boy celebrated by coming out for some delicious lunch, opened some tasty treats and had some Christmas themed toys. A good free run later,  and he went back to his 100 mph couch potato mode! All in all,  a perfect day for a perfect dog.

To celebrate his birthday, here are seven of my favourite photos that capture his unique style of being

Here Munch can be seen smiling away in bliss as he settles down for a nap. He is the happiest when he is spreading his love strewn hair in every place it is not meant to be. Clean bedding and recently hoovered sofas are his favourite place to settle down for an afternoon snooze.

With his Lord and Master standing above us mere souls, I am are reminded that the poodle part of him will always demand superiority. I, a mere maid, needs to remember her placing in our partnership as  I attend to whatever he needs.

My best meditation buddy is never far from my side. The blessing of living with a Guide Dog is that we are always together day and night and he never has to be left alone. My hobbies by default become his hobbies. My friends become his friends. There is no longer a “me” but always a “we”.

My bilingual hairy bear understands both Welsh and English commands with ease. Over the last five years being with me working in Welsh schools, he has picked up the lingo very well and has a speciality in understanding food in Welsh. Strange that!

Our little Minster Munch is rather partial to a bit of drama. Not one to stiffle his frustration with putting up with me, he owns his sighs with pride allowing them to flow fluidly throughout the day. The master of eye rolls, Munch is far from shy in showing his disapproval with his dancing eye muscles.

Munch has been mistaken for a lot in his last seven years of life. From an Irish Wolfhound to a Shetland pony, many have been understandable. With the paw prints the size of a yeti’s and the resemblance of the Loch Ness Monster whilst swimming, he loves to keep people guessing what he actually is.

Being chosen to take part in the 12 Guide Dogs of Christmas has to be one of his highlights of his seven years of life. Showing the public his unconventional Guide Dog look will hopefully go along way in helping the charity to raise enough money to fund 12 New Guide Dogs. To find out more please visit.

https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/12-dogs-of-christmas/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_campaign=12Dogs&utm_content=MarComm

Looking forward to many more years with such a beautiful soul.

The Sniff Of Approval

Tags

Acceptance, Animal and children, Awareness, Blind, Blindness, Connect, Counselling, Diversity, Dog, Education, Equality, Free spirit, Guide Dog, Munch, Non Judgement, Pet Therapy, Visual Impairement

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Going to counselling for the very first time can create a mixture of feelings. From nervousness to relief, most people will feel something about what lies behind the counselling door. Most people however, will not expect to be sniffed and may be a little perplexed when they are met with a friendly dog who has no personal space boundaries and happily sniffs them to analyse their whole entire life.

Munch’s initial sniff of approval will first tell him if of course they are “one of his people”. If said person enters the room with a hint of Suzi the Schnauzer scent on them, he knows they will be best friends forever. Anyone who loves dogs in his eyes, is a trustworthy person. To be fair, he accepts cat people too but may not go and get his toy to offer them a game of fetch as he knows that feline friendliness operates on a totally different level.

A quick sniff of their bag, will determine whether there is a chance they can bond over the love of food. The beauty of working in schools means that lots of young people carry food with them and therefore the cupboard love will begin from the first nostril full of beef crisps. In all honestly, he is a little more partial to the meat eater clients taste palate as he gets far too bored with his maid’s vegan one. Chicken will always be preferred over cucumber. He has tried to convince her to bring a far more exciting lunch to work each day but she stubbornly refuses. Sigh, you just can’t get the staff these days.

The mud lovers in life also come top in his favourite type of people as they are seen as the fun ones who would play with him outdoors. A sniff of a sweaty sports kits tells him that these are good friends to go on free runs with. They may not want to chase squirrels up trees with him but at least they would be more energetic than his maid he is stuck with. Despite the fact they are there for counselling, he will have ideas in his head that they have come to pick him up for a play date.

When tears begin to fall from their eyes, he is the first one there to catch them as they fall. He gives his doggy kisses to shaking hands and a gentle paw in their hand to know they are not alone. He smells unhappiness and won’t leave their side until they want him to as he snuggles in beside them. He sniffs cut knees through their trousers and unless stopped will try to lick them until they heal. He sniffs out emotions along with everything else , to tell him what is really going on with the clients.

He may not be a trained therapy dog but he is therapeutically active in each session. Guide Dogs chose him to become a Guide Dog due to his loving and clever temperament which has in turn given him the opportunity to meet people who need him in their lives. This friendly scruffy face they meet each week, always accepts them and has been there for them since they received his sniff of approval. Luckily they are all pre warned that there is a dog in the room before they come , to give them the option of having a dog free counsellor if they wish.

The sniff test is not part of the assessment for counselling don’t worry. The patient clients who choose to work with an over friendly dog who is best friends with everyone, are so lovely. They allow him to be Munchlike in the room and still accept him just the same. The sniff of approval does go a little unbalanced however when he gets a little over excited and let’s out a rather noxious anal exhale and fills the room with green smog. The clients are so brave to come back into the room a week after such events but they do.

Dogs always know far more about a person upon meeting them then other humans ever will.