Plodding on seven years later, I often wonder if our little Minster Munch knows that his harness wearing days will not be forever. Our working life together will cease anytime within the next 21 months when he will have to retire. I, on the other hand, have a mere 21 years until I retire. It is a possibility that I could be matched with 3 more Guide Dogs in my working life, each one bringing their own quirks and perks.
Revisiting my naivety of what I thought life with a Guide Dog would be like always makes me cackle and cringe in equal measure. Firstly, I thought life changes would be subtle, my Guide Dog would listen at all times, and I would never have to apologise for our behaviours. Hmmmm, that didn’t go quite to plan. From day one together, everyone noticed the unusual Shetland pony sized Guide Dog that appeared in our relatively small town. Minster Munch made it clear that he only completed his 20 months of training to be able to become my master and train me into conformity via his cuteness. His behaviour throughout our time together can be categorised anywhere between attention seeking and driven, but always professional when in work mode.
I was asked this week by a 6 year old client if Munch knew if he was a Guide Dog and not a pet dog? I flummoxed an incoherent answer back, stating that “I think he just thinks he is just Munch, and when he puts his harness on, he just does Guide Dog stuff”. On reflection, I think this is truer than I originally thought. Munch, in all honesty believes everyone is his friend (or sometimes staff member), has unconditional love for every species, and is free spirited enough to be in love with living life his own innocent way. A human concept of a dog can never truly honour their ability to innately help and enhance the lives of those around them.
We are due for a review in the next couple of weeks to see how our partnership is getting on and how our little Munch is doing in his Guide Dog role. He will be checked over more regularly by the vets from now on to see how his health is doing, and I will be closely monitoring his energy levels and eagerness as he slips into his work harness daily. At the age of nine, his younger doggy friends are beginning to run a little faster than him as his paws pound the ground during free runs, but each day, he still shows up wanting to play. Focusing on the beauty of the now. Munch is being as Munchish as ever, which I am eternally grateful for. Nothing lasts forever, but now is good enough for us
As Munch awaits patiently to turn 9 tomorrow on the 18th December, where he will be showered with love, gifts and possibly a treat or ten, I find myself reflecting back on our last seven years together in our Guide Dog partnership.
When he trotted into my life at 23 months full of charisma and cheek, I wondered what it would be like when he would grow older and wiser. Seven years on, and he may have grown older but the wiser..? … maybe not. He seems as healthy today as he was when we met. He runs like a pup, explores new places in total awe, gets the Zoomies at least once a day, meets everyone with his helicopter tail, and will sit his six stone self on anyone’s lap regardless if they want it or not.
Luckily, he has not shown any sign of slowing down as he grows gracefully towards his senior years. After his operation a little while back to remove a fatty lump, he seems to bouncing back stronger than ever. What follows is my nine favourite memories with this sprightly ageless Labradoodle that I have had the pleasure of sharing over the years.
Always biting off more than he can chew
Munch always thinks big and enjoys getting himself in situations that he usually needs rescuing from. From getting stuck in mud, getting stuck under the same hotel bed ….3 times…. , to instigating a speedy rescue operation from a London Park after a minor injury accompanied with major dramatic acting skills, life is never dull.
Being the leader of our pack
Whilst out and about, you will always find Munch leading out in front of us all. With four adult children and three grandchildren, our pack needs a leader, and Munch is the dog for the job. Slightly led by ego, but mainly by pride, our sashaying warrior is always happy to lead us astray. One of his favourite places to guard us s under a table at a restaurant. He heroically leaps at a dropped chip and devoures it , just incase it causes injury to us. Well that is what he will lead you to believe anyway.
Being the eyes in our relationship
Now, Munch’s vocabulary has increased over our time together and recognises many words in the usual shops we visit. Even when the shops move the layout around, Munch can sniff out certain items such as cheese, bread, treats and crisps to name but a few. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for him to find the spinach, mangoes, and tomatoes that grace the supermarket aisle, as for some reason, he takes less interest in these products. Strange eh?
He became a hairy author
In 2019, Munch wrote a book with his own four paws. Well maybe I helped a little. What You See When You Can’t See looked at what life is like being blind and how Guide Dogs transform lives in magical ways. With some honest and funny tales of my life pre and post Munch, I wanted to help people have insight into a world that is very different than a sighted person’s life. With Munch being the main star of the show, no tale is left untold. He has graced television shows, been interviewed on radio stations and numerous magazines yet has kept his paws placed firmly on the ground.
He became bilingual
Our little Minster (his official Guide Dog name) Munch, has a Canadian Poodle father and an English Labrador mother and was born in England. Moving to this funny little country, Wales must have been a cultural shock but he has taking it all in his stride. Our strong accents and complex language is not for the faint-hearted , but Munch has picked up our language really well. Working predominantly in Welsh speaking schools , he has learnt instructions such as stairs, door, left, right etc with surprising ease and can follow commands in either language. He has also become a bit of a Welsh rugby fan, which is a bonus for him when the whole family are passionately shouting at the TV when we are playing rugby. If you can’t beat them, join them.
He is my Zen in my Zena
Munch joins me everyday in my meditation practice. Whether I am on my meditation cushion or in my bed, Munch is always by my side listening to tranquil music as he enters his own portal of paradise. If we fit in a sneaky meditation during our lunch hour at work, Munch happily snoozes on top of my feet and radiates the most Zen energy eve. He brings the Zen when I am too Zenaish, and reminds me to breathe. Centre and just be zen
Being the odd one out is always a privilege
Munch stands out from the crowd in so many unique ways. From being called an ‘odd looking Guide Dog’ too many times to remember, to attracting all the right questions about Guide Dogs, Munch never fails to show up and is always eager to help. Breaking the norms of traditional looking Guide Dogs is one of Munch’s strengths and highlights that judging on looks alone will never bring you truth. Being the odd one out makes you shine the brightest and always will.
Munch is the strength and light to many
Munch has an eternal healing energy that seems to never depleat. From lovingly sitting with sobbing clients, to being drawn to the lonely in life to make them feel connected, he is always searching out a heart to heal with his paws, kisses, and his presence. When my mother (who was his greatest fan) passed away nearly two years ago, he cried at her funeral and still lays peacefully on top of her grave when we visit. His unconditional love is eternal to every soul he has ever met.
He is always ready to help
Not only does he work with me five days a week in schools, he is always willing to give up his weekends to do his bit for his fellow Guide Dogs. Being worshipped by the public is an added bonus, obviously, but he never tires of showcasing how life changing being a Guide Dog is. Even on the eve of his birthday, he put his best paw forward and took part in some fundraising.
Wishing you a very Happy 9th Birthday Munch filled with fun, love and some tasty treats . ❤️
You may be mistaken in thinking that Munch is modelling a modern day poor quality ruff around his woeful pleading face, but to the trained fellow guardians of our furry friends,they will know it is the cone of shame. Since our partnership, this is his third bout of humiliation of wearing such an undignified device, but needs must. Tough love is sometimes the only true love.
Munch recently had an operation to remove one of his many fatty lumps that are dotted around his body. Luckily, it was a harmless (but huuuge) lipoma that needed no further action. The blubbery beast had appeared a couple of years ago, but had exploded in size over the last few months. As it was located on his chest not far from where his harness sat, it was decided to remove it and check out what it was. The cone of shame (to protect him from licking his wound) made him be in a constant state of reversing, colliding, and falling. Thankfully, his bumper car like behaviours only lasted a few days until his wound had healed.
Any animal undergoing surgery is a worry, with issues such as recovery times and care needs, considerations, important to the recovery process. With Guide Dogs, life is a little more complex. From operations having to be approved from the charity themselves to figuring out how to get around by yourself whilst they are on rest, life gets a little tricky. Knowing that I would still be expected to work even when Munch was off sick, brought about the dreaded dilemmas disabled people face when their ‘mobility aids’ are not available.
Just to reassure you all, Munch bounced back after his surgery quicker than anyone expected. When we picked him up after surgery, he dragged the poor veterinary nurse behind him as he ran up to give me a cwtch, and a noisy bark filled row for daring to leave him. Once the smoke coming from the nurses heels died down, and Munch had semi forgiven me, he was chauffeured home to a life of pampering where nothing but adoration waited for him. Get well soon cards, gifts, and a 24/7 personal pampering team greeted him. Since the operation, he has been far more energetic , resembling a pup more than his nearing retirement self.
As he sat at home being fanned down and fed possibly a little too many treats, I was in school repeating myself multiple times when questioned , where Munch was. Surprisingly, my white cane just doesn’t seem to have the same effect on people as Munch does. Getting around with a white cane is easier when I am with someone as navigating cluttered school corridors with pupils whooshing by is not an easy task at all. Being “the one with the dog” without the actual dog, is never an easy one to explain to others. Questions layered on top of questions fill the day. From “when will he be back in school” to “can you get white canes that you can control like robots????”, no question is forbidden from the sighted souls that filled my blurry world.
Having this snippet into what life will be like when Munch retires is not the easiest feeling to welcome, but will be a reality far sooner than I want it to be. Life pre Munch was tougher than I ever wanted to admit. A blessing I have, though, is knowing that even when he retires within the next 2 years, I have a personal pampering team within my family that will look after Lord Munch to the highest of standards.
Now that he is back in harness sashaying with sass, it may be possible that he is just a little bit more demanding and commanding than before. The operation has allowed him to bounce back better than before and allow his true colours to infect all those he comes in contact with.
Life for a child with additional needs is never straightforward as they navigate their way through a world that is built to hinder them. A life where accessible is an afterthought and not a given can leave a child feeling they are alone in a world full of connections. Finding their own personal cheerleaders in life to navigate the world as a team, therefore, is key in the search for a happy life where only acceptance exists.
When Munch came into my life six and a half years ago, it soon became apparent that not only was he a Guide Dog to help with my sight loss, but he was drawn to being a Guide of sorts to others. Munch has always been drawn towards people with disabilities and additional needs in particular , where his calm presence is enough to allow trust to develop and bonds to build. He has that innate ability that animals have, to know when someone’s struggles are too much and a friendly furry face is all that is needed for that person to know that they are seen and loved unconditionally.
On a daily basis, we work with many children who are neurodiverse, have additional learning needs, and have physical disabilities where Munch just shows up as him and acts like his funny, dramatic, clumsy self. His perfectly imperfect demeanour creates smiles and chuckles without fail. The best part of life with this soul healer is that he is around 24/7 and so ingrained in our family that we forget that he is a dog and not another two-legged human. Having ‘Uncle Munch’ around has certainly helped my gorgeous grandson, who, despite having a significant developmental delay from PVL and delayed Myelination, is achieving amazing things each day.
In the picture above, my adorable two and a half year old grandson had climbed up on the sofa, looked over his shoulder, and mid babble, called Munch up to join him. He then continued to chat away to Munch in his own happy language and show him an object in his hand, which Munch eagerly sniffed. Disappointed by its inedible properties, Munch patiently sat and waited until my grandson wanted to move on to his next adventure and followed him around the house. As my grandson can not walk yet unaided and needs to hold onto an object to stand, the power in this picture warms my heart so much as he does things in his own unique way. With Munch and others lovingly supporting him by his side, he feels no limits to his life.
With body guards like Munch by my grandson’s side, there will be nothing in his life that will be impossible to achieve. This pioneering pathfinder may find his happiness where his peers may fail to look or create his version of perfection in an existence that will always be out of reach for others. His life will turn out, exactly like it is meant to be with Munch and Co supporting his every step.
As your head slumps down on my leg, I know that you are looking for more than just a pillow. With the creeping of the paw across the top of my foot, you are drawing me closer into your world to let me know how tough your day has been. From greeting grieving clients to daftly chasing your tail to stop tears falling from their eyes, you are never just a mere dog in the room, but you are the reason some keep coming back.
Feeling your head get heavy against my shin as the land on nod invites you in, I remember why you were picked to be the loving Guide Dog that you are. You sleep in peace when you know that you have loved and been loved in ways that only you can. You never tire from being the transformer of pain into solace as you become the comforter to all you meet. As I counsel, so do you, as we work together to lighten the load.
When they hear the rumours around school that there is a counsellor with a dog, our waiting list rockets to be seen by “the one with the dog”. They come, they meet and they never want to leave. Friendships form between the two legged and the four legged race in ways that need no explaining. You become their anchor in a constantly changing sea of emotions as they learn to find and trust who is there for their own stormy life. You Munch, are always more than just a dog for so many.
Rest your head on me whenever you need. Cwtch away anytime of day to help recharge your healing heart that you openly share with so many. As the ebb and flow of pure love fleets through your life, I love to be the number one witness to capture these moments that you attract in your life. Your altruistic life is one to be recreated en masse but be sustained by a few , as your consistency isn’t for the faint hearted.
Being the support to the supporter is one gift I will be eternally grateful to have.
As your ear snuggles down to listen to my heart beat in my chest, I hope you hear how much you are loved.
When I stroke your fine hair growing on your perfectly shaped head, I hope you know that these hands will always be there to help.
As you cwtch into me to help soothe your cry, I hope you know that problems are always solved best when you are ready for my help.
As you start to stir from dreamtine and let out happy groans and sighs, I hope you know that my ears are waiting to hear how I can help.
I do not need to see you clearly to know that you exist. Your perfect presence shows me all I need to know.
From the moment I held you, I knew that I could see who you really were through all my senses. I do not need to see to know your beauty is breath taking.
As your flawless newborn eyes adjust to the blurry world around you, I know daily what that is like. You will soon see more clearly as you take in the wonders of the world as you grow and see what life has in store for you.
Welcome to the world my beautiful Grandson. I may not be able to see your perfect tiny face clearly but it doesn’t matter in my blurry bliss. My blindness is forgotten as my senses watch you turn into the perfect boy you are born to be. I will love you always ❤
Spot the emotional difference between these two pictures,
Let me help you out. The first one is of Munch in Guide Dog work mode having a sit down protest as he seeks some freedom, and the second one is his off harness happiness when he gets his own way. The thing about Munch is that he wears his heart on his hairy face and although I can’t see that, I can certainly feel it in his energy and behaviour. Not one to shy away from drama, Munch uses his BAFTA winning skills to tell me what he wants and when he wants it. Nearly six years into our Owner Munch/maid relationship has taught me that a happy dog equals a happy me.
Whilst out for a walk recently, I was reminded of what life was like the first few months that we were partnered up. Stubborn, stroppy Munch popped out a lot in the early days as he found his paws in a brand new life after leaving his puppy raisers and trainers that he had securely attached too. Entering my life must have been a huge change for him as he learnt to settle in yet again to a new environment with new rules and ways of life. Graduating from Guide Dog training school to a full time position can’t have been easy for this lifelong Labradoodle friend, so learning to have the give and take in our relationship was essential from the start.
The first sign of an inflexible sit down whilst on duty only means one thing, Munch is ready for a break and if I want him to continue to work to his best ability, a break he will have. Guide Dogs concentrate so hard whilst on harness as they avoid obstacles, find routes and keep us safe, then it is only fair that they have downtime to recharge themselves. Admittedly, Munch would constantly live in downtime dreamtime if he had a chance so does try it on sometimes but that’s all part and parcel of his whole lovable persona.
Slipping the harness over his majestic head , he will seek out fun at the first opportunity. If there are others around to witness his attention seeking adventures then all the better. In the second picture above, he decided that the cows and calves were his new best friends as they slowly began to gather by the fence to try and figure out what he was. A gentle sniff of them told him that these would be good play mates to try and corrupt. Over 5 years ago when he stumbled across this field full of cattle, he sat down and stared at them but remained on harness as I had not then learnt to be lead by his wishes to be let off harness just to have some freedom.
All to often we try to train animals for our wishes, wants and needs and to feel that our control is the more important in our partnerships. Boundaries are essential but that also counts both ways. Listening to Munch tell me that he needs a break and space to be a dog not just a working dog is his right to have his boundary respected and that is something that I will always honour. A ten minute exploration off harness allows his inquisitive needs to be met and equality to restore in our working relationship. I believe that we need to be of service to service animals as much as they are of service to us to be able to have a partnership full of love and respect.
As Munch approaches the last few years of his working life, I hope to to give more than I take from him to help him know how much he is loved and valued. Synced up souls always have happier experiences as they travel through life together witnessing each others joy.
Waking up each morning to my six stone hairy soul mate sprawled across my bed as I hang on with dear life to my allocated few inches of mattress is pure bliss. Even with an outstretched paw attempting to clog up my nostrils as Munch attempts his graceless doggy hug, his carefree attitude is contagious. The eternal expectation of belly rubs and utter adoration from every being around him, allows him to rest in that place of surrender that most of us battle with throughout life. Appreciating the here and now can be that well needed pause button to help remind us that we always have more to be thankful in life than we know. Carefree living emerges from actively embracing the act of surrender.
As we approach the summer solstice and celebrate the light within us that flows inwards and outwards, it is an ideal time to reflect on what really matters in life. Growth and evolution around this time of year comes from exploring what lies in this natural pause button zone in life. Whether or not you celebrate the Summer Solstice , it is a natural half way point in the year to stop and take stock of your life as you live it today. Now that life is returning to normal for most after the pandemic many are realising that life is a constant state of change and in reality there is very little we can do about it. Learning to go with the flow on life is kinder to your soul that battling against the change that will always win in the end.
On a personal level, the idea of choosing stress as a focal point in life seems just to draining. Admitting to ourselves that we choose stress instead of surrendering to and overcoming things peacefully can trigger our ego into denying that we are the ones feeding our stress to keep it alive. Reminding ourselves that we are in control of how we react to situations instead of situations controlling how we react can mean the different between carefree and stressful living.
Having worked in mental health for 27 years in various roles and having the blessing of sight loss (a blessing I will always treasure), I have learnt a thing or two about the benefits of carefree living. Here are just a few tips of how to implement carefree living into your own life
1 Leave go of perfection. The only permanence in life in impermanence so battling against what is inevitably will only lead you to create unhappiness in your life.
2. See outcome as just a bonus. Allowing yourself to enjoy being in the moment and creating a feel good energy in the here and now allows you to ignore the ‘what if’s’
3. Count your blessing. Literally count your blessing by writing down what you have in life and what you are thankful for. Each day try to increase the list by at least 5 things and you can include loved ones physical possessions, memories and anything else that has got you to where you are today.
4. Learn to laugh at yourself. Chances are you are more of a comedian than you think. Think of all the times you have messed up in epic ways and still lived to tell the tale. See mistakes as just trial runs that went a little wonky.
5. Surround yourself by happy people. Emotional vampires won’t help your quest for carefree living at all so seek elsewhere. Changing your outlook and general energy to a more positive one will make you more likeable to others which in turn will natural make them want to spend more time with you.
6. Step outside of your “me” bubble. Remind yourself that the world is not about you but about us all. When we stop and connect to others , we learn to press pause on our overthinking and dramatising of life events that cannot be changed. Entering into the energy of you sharing your world with others equally helps you also realise that your pain in life in not unique but is a shared human experience that people learn to become at peace with and you are no difference.
7. Always choose kindness. Kindness to yourself and others will boost you in every area of life. From increased self esteem, higher immune system and health in general through to positive life chances, kindness can be the change in life you have been searching for. Kindness is a simple cure to nearly every problem in life.
8. Own yourself not others. You are always in full charge of who you are so learn to be at peace with yourself and don’t allow others to define you. The reverse is also true as we should never want to control another as people are not possessions so how others behave or think has nothing to do with you.
Carefree living is not the same as careless living. Caring about the important things in life and leaving go of our need to control things can help us take life back to a simpler way of being. Whether you are seeking belly rubs in life or wanting to use less hair dye on the grey stress strands appearing in your hair take time this Summer Solstice to declutter your emotional baggage and rest in the energy of just being.
Expecting two children and a dog to look at a camera to give that picture perfect scene was never really going to happen but it was worth a try. We all have these photos of loved ones that look more haphazard than beautifully choreographed, but to me that is the true beauty in life.
The aim of this photograph that my daughter took was to capture the three youngest members of the family in a happy relaxed pose on a family day out, but what we got was a little different. My beautiful six year old granddaughter Arna-Rae embraced the “relax” challenge while I have been told (as I can’t see the photo) that Munch went for the “happy” look as his well trained nose told him that his ownership of unattended food was imminent. My adorable Grandson Corey however was having none of it and just wanted to be his usual busy bee self. Arna-Rae just sat back watching it all happen whilst possibly wondering if her brother and Munch would ever listen as good as her. Family life at it’s best.
Personally, I sometimes love a little chaos where perfection should exist as it always offers a Plan B. Our human brains are meant to crave patterns and predictability but I think mine is a little faulty as patterns and predictability can sometimes bore me. When things never go to plan and the universe throws you a few hiccups, it may just be that the original plan was not meant to be. Going with the flow in life can free us from the need to be a slave to perfection. If we learnt to live more in the moment like children and animals then we may have more energy and motivation for our goals.
A moment after this picture was taken, Eagle eyed Munch shot off to hoover up some dropped pizza that he had noticed free falling to the ground next to him and step into his litter picking role. Corey had escaped off the chair and was on the search for some new adventures and Arna-Rae headed off to have a glitter tattoo. That perfect photo was never taken but they all seemed perfectly happy with their end results. Taking Munch on family days out is like having another child with us as although he is fab guiding me safely to where we need to go, I always love the way he does his own thing his own way regardless of our original plan.
I am very excited that grandchild number 3 is on the way in November to join our ever increasing, busy family and to fill our lives with even more love and possibly a touch of mayhem just the way I like it. Being a blind grandmother means that I never wish for picture perfect moments as I do not know what picture perfect looks like as even chaos looks perfect to me. I do know however that whatever makes them happy, makes me happy. I cannot wait for more action shots of all my grandchildren to capture their true selves as they live in their own moments . With Munch by their sides as their hairy uncle , life will never be dull as they will always have a friend to accompany them in their mischievous escapades.
And number 8 of the Guide Dogs of Christmas is…. Minster Munch. I mean he was going for number 1 but he was happy for number 8 after I explained to him that number 8 symbolises infinite so that was good enough for the Lord and Master.
Guide Dogs are using these images as a fundraising tool that can be used in schools and such places where a treasure hunt of the 12 Guide Dogs of Christmas can be found dotted around a place by children. They may also be used in some social media. They asked if they could use an image of Minster Munch to show all the different types of Guide Dogs that they use. The typical labradors and the more unusual Munch types.
If Munch was asked to come up with his own version of the 12 Days of Christmas , it may go a little like this….
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
12 Balls Bouncing
11 Reindeers Raced
10 Snowmen Scattered
9 Dinners Dropping
8 Presents Pinched
7 Tasty Treats
6 Bells Boken
5 Gourmet Meals
4 Nose Kisses
3 Brand new Toys
2 Festive outfits
And a world that just loves me…
Each year that he is with me, I feel he deserves more and more good things in return. Santa and I have an arrangement to turn a blind eye (or in my case just my eye🙂) when he slips over to the naughty list and praise him when he returns to the good list.
It is so lovely to have Munch’s handsome face as one of the 12 Guide Dogs of Christmas as a resource raising funds for such a fab charity. This little showman makes everyday feel like Christmas.