The One Who Always Gets Away

Tags

Alternative, Dog, Guide Dog, Labradoodle, Mischief, Work And Play

Have you ever been to a Children’s concert where there is that one child that is happily doing their own thing whilst every other child does what they are meant to do? Well, Munch is the canine equivalent to that. During our free runs, most other dogs can be found near the heel of their owner and listening obediently. Then there are the Munch type of dogs that explore every corner of the open space that they can find. Tongues flopping freely out of one corner of the mouths, these dogs seem to be oblivious to anything else but opportunities.

Munch’s version of a good time includes an abundance of grass, easily led dogs to corrupt, rivers to practice his aqua aerobics in and muddy puddles to splash in. Anything else is a bonus. If stray sticks end up as a temporary play object, so be it. Passing dog walkers who part with a treat or two, all the better. A fenced off field full of friendly looking cows to prance over to say hello to, just his thing. A ditch full of muddy water to accidently fall into but remains playing in for a while, his idea of heaven. Combine all of these and you get one happy dog.

When we got asked out on a doggy play date, I knew that he would be one very happy dog. When Dolly the stunning chocolate Labrador and Rocky the handsome Chihuahua come to pick us up to go to a dog friendly country park, he was so happy. When we got there, he was the first to leap out of the car to execute his mission to run like the wind. As Dolly and Rocky had the odd sniff, Munch was miles ahead in any obscure places he could find. My panic for his whereabouts was always calmed by my kind sighted friend.

Even when our shoes were sinking in soggy mud on the wrong path we accidently took and my arms resembled a windmill trying to stay upright, he rustled away in some far away bush. Dolly and Rocky remained with us as we comically carried on and my friend become my caring guide as my guide dog was away on his travels without a care in the world. The guiding long cane, a steady replacement for Munch, never stopped to sniff or pee once so all was good. Hearing his high-speed running in surround sound around us, made me so happy as I knew his heart was content.

Being in harness by my left-hand side when he is working must be so tiring for him and it shows his dedication to his jobs which I will always appreciate. This free-spirited off duty side to him is the one that I love to see the most though as he floppily bounces through nature doing his own thing in his own way. As he goes away on his adventures that he will come back from soaking and caked in mud, I cheer him on and know that he needs this space to be himself.

Being the one that always gets away can be so much fun.

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The Invite

His haircut has been booked. New parts of his harness have been ordered to make him look his best. I am undecided whether to get him a doggie bow tie, or would that be a little bit too over the top? An invite to a posh publishing party brings about lots of preparation for his lordship before he attends. With his sense of entitlement entering the room before he does, I can only imagine what his thoughts will be as he enters the party.

I am sure that when he sees fireworks, he thinks that they are put on for his pleasure alone, so I dread to think what will be racing through his mind when we enter a lively room full of people in pre-Christmas spirit. I have a feeling that he will think this has been put on for him. With subtlety being an alien concept to this regal being, I think this showman will put on a show.

I am trying to cover all the basis to avoid his ‘in your face behaviour’ causing a stir. Here is a list of things I have thought of so far that I may need to have a plan for. They are –
– If he begins sniffing a passing waiters derriere too closely, I will throw a treat in the opposite direction for him to run after and I will duck and hide.
– If he decided to do his doggy version of cuddling and shoots between someone’s legs, we will fib and say he is in therapy as he thinks he is a race horse and sees the inner jockey in us all.
– If the rancid smell of his anal exhales triggers the gag response in myself and others, we will just apologise and say that he only does this in front of new people that he adores and is nervous in front of. It may buy us some time before getting chucked out.
– If he gently steals some posh canapes from a dangling hand, we will use the excuse that he was a taste tester for the royal family before he came to us to avoid any poisonous food entering their mouths. They should take it as a complement that in his eyes, he thinks that they are on par with royalty.
– If he tries to do the magic tablecloth trick (like he has before. Don’t ask!), and tries to remove it from under dishes, I will just fib and tell people that he moonlights as a magician when he is off duty from being a guide dog and is just practicing.

I think that it is more likely that a mix of these and other things will happen and he will be as Munch like as ever. This should be fun. Anyone fancy going instead of me?

The Mischief Maker

Tags

Animal, Dog, Freedom, Guide Dog, Humour, Labradoodle, Mischief maker, Pets

Entertaining your little cherubs when they are off school for the long summer break can be quite a challenge. When the boredom kicks in chaos can kick off, so keeping inquisitive minds active can mean the difference between summer bliss or utter pandemonium. Munch has decided he is one of these little cherubs as technically he goes to school during term time to work (I use that term very loosely) so he feels that his summer should be filled with me keeping him entertained. How lucky am I!

We have spent the first week so far being out and about as much as possible in the rare cool moments that we get in this bizarrely hot summer. When people see him as on duty Minster then off duty Munch, they find it hard to believe that he is the same dog. His off-duty mischief making persona can usually be witnessed from afar. It seems to be his mission this summer to lead angelic obedient dogs astray by any means possible and he is making good ground on this mission.

Whilst having a free run a few days ago, he befriended a little Labrador pup and decided to become the tour guide to explore this new surrounding that both had stumbled across. They ran side by side up and down banks and across a field like they were training for a doggy Olympics. Munch thought it would be good to take his new-found friend into some bushes and non-pup friendly places that neither of them should have been in. The utter look of contempt that Munch apparently had on his face when the pup’s owner rescued him from Munch’s planned expedition, clearly showed his disapproval of being belittled.

After this short-lived adventure, Munch decided to widen his search for a new partner in crime. He found a potential candidate in a dog that was nearby trotting along obediently next to his owner. In a milli-second Munch appeared by his side and bowed down in front of him to invite play. They were soon hurtling away into the distance happily together. Just a few minutes into this play session, my friend who I was with began calling Munch back as the little monster had found some flower beds awaiting his Yeti type invasion. He took with him his innocent friend who had never bothered with the flower beds on previous visits. Luckily, they came back before any real damage was done.

The next day we took him to a nearby lake and wooded area that he loves, to let him run free again. As he swam around in the lake whilst loving life, he spotted some oncoming canine friends coming close and merrily barked away to invite them in. He was elated when one came in for a splash around with him. They swam and chased each other around in circles for a bit until his pal had enough and went out of the water. Reluctantly Munch got out to see if he could come and persuade the owners to let their dog play for another few minutes, but they had to leave. Munch sat down in protest as he often does and was copied by his playmate. This staged sit in was once again led by my diva dog and I apologised for his bad influence yet again.

If this little cherub was a child, he would be the one that was always central to any mischief that was taking place. He just loves to play and is always on the look out for someone to corrupt into making mischief with. Keeping him entertained and out of too much trouble on our 6-week holiday will be interesting and will certainly stop me from getting bored. My little Monster Munch was put on this earth to keep me on my toes and prevent any boredom. Hope your holidays are filled with less mischief. Unless of course you are causing mischief yourself, and in that case enjoy. If you need a partner in crime, Munch will be eagerly awaiting your invite.

The Helpful Food Critic

Tags

Animal, Dog, Food, Food Critic, Foodie, Guide Dog, Humour, Mischief, Pets, Unique, Work And Play

As the car pulled up in the car park, he knew that he was on double duty again. Not only would he have to lead his lowly maid from the parking space to the awaiting table inside, but he would also have to sample what the establishment had to offer. Being a food critic was not as easy as others made it look.

Since moving into the property 18 months ago, he had generously helped the family to check if the food that they were eating was up to standard. The family however did not always seem to appreciate his professional attitude to the job and tried on many occasions to tell him that he was doing it wrong which he knew he wasn’t. A foodie knew his food.

There was that one time that he had to put his front paws on the kitchen counter to retrieve the block of butter that the maid had just bought, to taste it for them. As he was not sure on the first few mouthfuls, he ate it all and licked clean the packaging and thoughtfully left it next to the bin. Later that day it exited him as quick as it had entered him, and he realized that in that moment, maybe less was more. The next time he had as much butter, he mindfully added a whole loaf of bread with it as he was left alone in the kitchen when the family were making sandwiched for a party. The tempting looking Tuna sandwiched remained stacked on a plate next to the bread and butter void that had previously existed. He couldn’t be expected to do all the work in the house.

Angus the cat also seems to be ungrateful when he sampled the different flavours of Felix that appear temptingly on the floor. It is not fair that he must make do with dried food as apparently, he needs a strict diet as he is a Guide Dog. Is it any wonder that on occasion he likes to try more tempting food? With the humans and the cat having all the pleasure in life, there are times that he needs to find his own sneaky ways of joining in. Well, they call it sneaky, but he calls it helpful.

The time he managed to unwrap a vegan cheese and spinach wrap from cling film from his maid’s bag whilst she was talking to a colleague, was his way of helping her diet and he was honestly not being sneaky. The maid has double standards and did not complain when he was the one that sniffed out the cheese section in the local supermarket and took her straight to it, when they had moved it all around. That was just him being helpful. Later on that day it took a lot of puppy dog eye acting to make them share the cheese with him. His hunting skills were so under appreciated by the family a lot of the time.

As he entered this pub for some much-needed grub, he used his Labrador led nose and stomach to clean-up after the last lot of partially haired two-legged friends that had left food on the floor. As he hoovered up the lonely looking pieces of neglected food from the floor, he wondered if his part time cleaning job would be rewarded. He was lovingly clearing a path so that nobody would stand on dropped food and that deserves a reward surely? A stray pea, a couple of chips and something new tasting, all made their way into his stomach as the maid tried moving him on. As they sat and ate he watched, hoping to sample a little of their food. When he was offered a strawberry during the desert as a mere fleeting thought, he declined. The food critic in him knows what is worth trying and this wasn’t it. This food critic loves his job and does it well.

The Loch Ness Minster

Tags

Animal, Dog, Guide Dog, Individuality, Labradoodle, Unique, Work And Play

As his natural habitat called, his longing heart whined as loud as his voice. The harsh glass that lay between him and the vast expanse of delight tempting him was just cruel. It was at times like this that he wished he could behave like the rebels that he saw around him daily, who would have found a way of removing this obstacle, but he knew he had to behave. The lake gleamed at him from a mere few feet away. He wanted to jump into the lake so bad and return to his happy place. The Loch Ness Minster wanted to return to where he belonged.

Bringing our little Minster Munch to a Wetland centre for a family day out with my granddaughter seemed a good idea at the time. On duty Minster tended to behave himself when out in public so that day should have gone smoothly. Momentarily disremembering that his labradoodle traits loved the water with a passion, we arrived for a day full of fun. What we got however, was a day full of tantrums Not from my 2-year-old granddaughter who was an angel but from a stroppy 3-and-a-half-year-old dog who wanted to swim with the ducks.

As soon as his eyes saw the water, he thought we had brought him to doggy paradise where he would be able to swim for hours on end. His happy whining and excited barks that left his on duty persona down, echoed around the centre as my embarrassment grew. Nonchalant ducks and birds waddled past him and he didn’t bat an eyelid but as soon as he heard the water splashing from his feathery friend’s antics, he barked to be let free. As I cringed my way through the day stopping to explain to him that he couldn’t go in, I vowed never to bring him again as it seemed so cruelly enticing for him to resist and he found it hard to keep his mind on the job. He is great at his job but at the end of the day he is a dog and dogs like to have fun.

Water to off duty Munch, is a forever friend. During his early socialisation, he was introduced to water so he will always associate this with fun. As the Labradoodle breed originates from two water retrievers, it is in his genes to become a water fur baby. He loves to swim and spends ages in lakes or rivers if he gets a chance if we are out free running. He was once so eager to get into a lake that he managed to get his two front paws well and truly stuck in boggy ground surrounding the lake and it took my friend quite a while to reunite his 4 paws on solid ground. This has never put him off.

If he is around other dogs in water, he will be the mad one causing a water tornado and a tsunami by whirling around far too fast. He is the one that leads other dogs astray and tempts them into water even if they cannot swim, as he runs off with their ball. He is also the first to share the water with us all as he comes close to us for a shake to shower his love onto us. Wherever there is water, the Loch Ness Minster can be found lurking as he feels at home in the H2O.

Guide Dogs are trained to ignore distractions but there are some distractions that cannot be ignored. His whining to play that day, reminded me that being around water for this Diva dog is just too tempting. As we walked back to the car, his downward facing tail said it all. Life was not fair. A prolonged paddle in a nearby lake the following day did however help me get back into his good books. We have learnt to compromise on things like this over our time together which is just as well as The Loch Ness Minster will always seek to return to his domain.

Please Let Me Play.

Tags

Animal, Blind, Dog, Guide Dog, Happiness, Labradoodle, Love, Pets, Unique, Work And Play

As I felt the Yeti like paw prints that had been imprinted in the freshly laid compost, I knew that the monster had struck again. Amongst the rows of carrots and spring onions, lay the evidence of the hairy intruder’s occupancy. It then twigged on me that I had witnessed this mystical creature rampage earlier on in the day as he ran around the garden in circles creating an obstacle course out of whatever he could find. The planter included. The rampage had happened when I tried to take ownership back of my bra that had fallen from the laundry basket as I was hanging washing out. As the cups flapped about as much as his ears as he ran at record speed, I knew that I was losing the battle. I heard his speedy paw steps cover the whole of the garden but the breaks in the noisy paw steps clearly meant that they were in the compost. Attempting to catch playful Munch would have been impossible even if I could see.

Munch only has two modes. Munch transforms into professional Minster as soon as his harness slips over his head and he become the proficient Guide Dog that every advert conveys. His nonchalant demeanour, passes distractions in an aloof way for most of the time. With the shaking of his body when the harness comes off, Minster becomes a distant memory as he becomes playful Munch. You would never guess that he is the same dog. There are times however that the two modes cross over into pre and post harness wearing. The aloof Minster mode that invades his off – duty Munch time is amusing yet trouble free. It is a shame that the same in not true for the reverse.

Play to Munch is as essential as oxygen. Unless he is causing mischief in his own unique way, his inner monster gets starved. As I hear him run off with one of my granddaughter’s plastic toys, I know he wants a chase. When the little monster comes right up to my face for me to see that he has a sock in his mouth, he knows that this soft touch will spend the next 10 minutes begging him to release the slobbery sock and then taking his lead to play whatever he wants in exchange the release of the captured clothing. Bowing to Angus the cat as an invite to play, he will then spend an age cowering after Angus chases him into a corner. Regardless if it a living being or a stray carrier bag, Munch will adore his now found play pal. He is really not fussy.

Problems only arise when working Minster becomes possessed by Munch. Whilst out walking the other day, we came across a field of cows that he thought would make great new play pals. My gentle explaining that he could not play, was met with disappointment. As stubbornness replaced the disappointment I knew that steering him away from these friendly souls was going to be challenging. Not even a treat tempted him away. As he staged a sit in protest, more cows gathered around to support this worthwhile cause. As we reached a compromise and went closer to the fence to greet his new friends, he sniffed away with a wagging tail and love filled heart. After a little while, I felt terrible leading him away from his new besties, but I promised him we would come back soon. As the mooing replied to his whines as the distance grew between them, they bid farewell. He may not have had a chance to play with them but at least he had a chance to connect which he loves to do so much. Whether connecting with a human or a four-legged soul mate, the thought of play keeps Minster Munch a happy chappy with a contented soul. His work/ life balance will always be a battle for this strong-minded soul but isn’t that true for us all?

The Four-Legged Shopper

Tags

Animal, Blind, Dog, Guide Dog, Humour, Individuality, Labradoodle, Pets, Shopping, Unique, Work And Play

My two-legged maid knows how to please her master. I have trained her so well.

Unlike the others that have tried to ‘train’ me, this one is such a pushover. I do allow her to go and get the tasty food in the shops that we tend to eat. My boring bag of food that us Guide Dogs must stick to is so bland and I need a bit of variety in life. I don’t think these two legged partially haired beings understand how unfair it is to eat lovely tasting food yet leave me eating this boring ‘nutritious’ dog food. Do the humans not realize that trapping me inside my ‘Please Do Not Feed Me’ harness is sheer torture? At least I have persuaded my maid that giving me a treat or two is well deserved, as I am such a hard-working dog.

I lead her to the usual spots in the supermarket when she says what food she wants, and I show her where it is, turn around and wait in front of the spot she needs. She doesn’t realize that as she is busy picking up the food that my pitiful eyes may persuade her to share later, I am blissfully sniffing everything at my level. Half way through my sniff filled shopping trip, I lead the way to my favourite aisle where doggy dreams are fulfilled. I am surrounded by dog and cat food galore and squeaky destructible toys to add to my vast collection. I may even find a treat or two on the shelf or floor from a damaged bag that I will hoover up discreetly. I love these aisles and will take my maid into any shops that have these aisles of utopia and she is daft enough to let me.

Ear rubs, chin strokes and general adoration that is bestowed upon me can have the same effect on me as food. I will never reject either of these. I see it only fair therefore that I also choose which shops to go into, so I can receive the greatest attention from my loyal fans. I am currently mourning the closure of one of my favourite shops. I used to go there for a calming chill whilst my maid bought some beautiful gifts and where we went downstairs for meditation classes. I whine as I pass this favourite old shop of mine, but I am lucky my maid knows the owner well, so I will still see this loving owner.

Give me a toy shop filled with masses of cuddly toys and my heart gets excited at the thought of being able to dive into them, and cuddle in as I do at home. Give me the glories of a sports shop, where once I found a tennis ball lost on the floor ready for me to find and take home without my maid noticing. I am so glad she is blind sometimes as I get away with so much. Give me clothes shops however and I am not a happy dog. As soon as I smell the chemically scented products that dress the two-legged race, I try and stamp my paw in protest. I really dislike these funny smelling places and wish I was like other dogs where I could be tied up outside and be spared the persecution of parading around such a pointless place.

I will continue to try and train my maid to understand my shopping needs better. A happy dog means a happy maid, so I had best get on with her training. Wish me luck.

Different Sized Packages, Same Size of Love.

Tags

Animal, Blind, Children and animals, Dog, Great teacher, Guide Dog, Happiness, Kindness, Labradoodle, Love, Pets, Sight Loss, Unique, Work And Play

It is true what they say, good things do come in small packages. Our good small package came in the form of my granddaughter. It was this adorable small package that was an instant calming measure on my high-speed hurtling heavy goods canine that had joined our household. Swirling like a tornado through the house, off duty Munch stopped in his tracks when he met my nine-month old granddaughter for the first time. He engaged the new sight of this small two-legged friend by sniffing, licking and nuzzling into her, whilst she looked on bemused. She must have wondered why one of her soft toys had come alive and started acting bizarrely. This puzzled look still reappears 17 months on when he is in full acting mode.

At first, I was a little bad minded and thought his total love towards her was because she was the best food dropper ever as he became a permanent fixture next to her highchair. As soon as I mention her name, his ears prick up and he waggles his body with sheer delight. Apart from the cupboard love he gets from her, he loves her toys more than his own and often runs off with them expecting a good game of chase from her. It soon became obvious that his total adoration and utter devotion to her goes way beyond her dropped Wotsits and stolen Peppa Pigs. He loves her for the tranquil, blissful energy that she brings to him. This tiny level headed, authoritative granddaughter of mine can calm the little mischief maker with a look and command which is more than I can usually do.

She has a sagacious way about her that goes way beyond her tender age of two. She nurtures her family, friends, Munch and toys like a true earth mother. She emphasis her thoughts and feelings like an Oscar winning actress as she wears her heart on her sleeve. Whenever she is in the room with Munch they merge into this beautiful blissful bubble that transcends the animal and human divide. She treats him with respect and with great softness when they are together. When one of them sleeps, the other watches over their sleeping soul mate protectively. She sees past his wild haired body and his doggy breath and treats him as an equal in her love filled world. She is the pure love that he thrives on and vice versa.

As like attracts like, these two beautiful souls are a perfect match. When off duty Munch becomes on duty Minister, he guides not only myself but my granddaughter too. He steers her away from debris on the pavements or obstacles that she may miss. He stops at pavement edges and she models his behaviour. He stalls at a hazard and she, rests by his side. They work as a team. When out working, he may have gently removed a sausage roll from her hand and placed it into his stomach once or twice, but she never seems to care. They love each other unconditionally. If we all got along like these two special souls, then our lives would be far more harmonious. Regardless of what size package we come in, goodness is the only choice that creates the loving unity that we all deserve. Choose your packages wisely.

There is Always one

Tags

Animal, Dog, Guide Dog, Individuality, Labradoodle, Pets, Sight Loss, Unique, Vision Impairment, Work And Play

There is always one and this is what that ‘One’ looks like. Imagine that one Minion in a roomful of Princesses, or a playful kitten among a bed of sloths. Well this is the doggy equivalent. If Minster Munch was human he would be the showman mixed in the busby clad Queens Guard, the Hawaiian shirt wearer in an office full of formal suits or the dad dancer amongst professional ballerinas. He tends to stand out from all others not just for his appearance but also for his personality. His individuality leads him astray and sometimes gets him in trouble which he always seems to be proud about.

On one occasion, after being left off his work harness where he had been doing his dutiful Minster role as Guide Dog extrodinaire, he instantaneously turned into playful Munch. My friend who was with us captured this picture of Munch in that ‘one’ mode. Leaping like a lamb, Munch bounded around throwing the branch around like a baton twirling champion. As another dog walkler passed by, the twirling demonstration momentarily stopped but continued after Munch figured going to play with the dog may mean he would lose his stick so chose to continue with his antics. Doing his own thing has always kept him happy.

When we are out walking with other dog walkers, Munch will be the one that runs around them in circles when they are walking in a straight line next to their owners. He is the one that gets stuck in bushes whilst nosing, whilst the others sniff cautiously around. Whilst the other dogs carefully go into the water for a paddle, he jumps in like a lolloping oaf causing a tsunami on the dry land. He really is ‘One’ in a world full of ordinary. This I feel is his greatest strength. He is so busy being in the now and enjoying life that he has no desire to conform to expected behaviour.

He works so hard on duty and listens to commands that he has been taught, he needs his downtime to be fun. When I first had him, I worried that he was the loose cannon in the doggy world when off duty where all the dogs listened to their owners and I had to wait for my commands to sink in with him. He would sit when told but only when he was ready and maybe after telling him three times. I soon learnt though that my wishes and his were totally different when he was out playing. Control and freedom aren’t usually the best of friends so when he needs that freedom he gets it. His strong personality allows him to have his own boundaries and keep safe even when in play mode which is great.

Individuality is such a liberating feeling. I think that’s what makes our connection so strong. When we are out together we are a unit but when off duty we get into that ‘Dance Like Nobody Is Watching’ zone. Being blind has its bonuses as I cannot see other people reactions, so I do what my soul needs regardless of puzzled stares. When these two odd socks made a matching pair, our world became far more fun. Next time I see a Minion in a roomful of Princesses I think Munch and I will join them in celebrating difference. We have far more fun.

The Joys of Being a Guide Dog

Tags

Animal, Blind, Dog, Guide Dog, Hidden Disability, Labradoodle, Sight Loss, Vision Impairment, Work And Play

When I first admitted to myself that a Guide Dog was becoming a necessity to help me get around, I wasn’t happy. Not only did my pride take a thwack but I was more worried that a poor little pooch would have to work his paws to the ground just for me. After waiting 17 months for my Guide Dog, that worry disappeared. I soon learnt that the life of a Guide Dog is a pretty good one. Here are some of the reasons why.

1. They are seldom left alone – Minster comes everywhere with me. We go to work, the gym, shopping, to meet friends, walks, birthday parties, hotels, conferences, parent’s evenings, funerals and any place you can imagine. The only place he doesn’t come is anywhere too noisy such as nights out in pubs, clubs and concerts. He always has company.
2. They rarely get bored – When out working they memorize routes, obey commands, avoid obstacles, ignore distractions, find kerbs for road safety, help find steps, judge heights of obstacles to steer owners away from danger and actively put into practice the hard work they went through for training.
3. Get lots of attention – Most people know not to distract Guide Dogs and usually ask before stroking them. As Minster is such an unusual looking Guide Dog, he seems to attract more attention than normal. I am usually asked what breed he is, is he too old to work due to his greying hair (bless him he is only 3) and am I training him as I “don’t look blind”. As soon as I give permission for him to be stroked he dives in for the ear rubs, gentle stroking and mushy talk he always gets from people.
4. Have a good work life balance – Minster gets to chill out a lot. When he is not out with me working, he can be found spread out on the sofa or bed or just running around the house like a tornado playing with his toys. His favourite place though is out free running chasing his ball and burning off his excess energy. No day is ever monotonous for him.
5. Having purpose in life – Minster absolutely loves a challenge. He is so intelligent and loves exploring new places so new routes are fun for him. He loves new smells and sights and the different people that he meets. Not all Guide Dogs are the same as some need time to get used to one route and only feel secure in familiar places. I feel Minsters tail wagging happily against my leg whilst we are out and that is enough to tell me, he is happy with his life.

Dogs and humans really aren’t that different in many respects, are they? A happy dog means a happy owner (or in Minsters case , a maid).