We arrived safely at the hotel, checking into our room and are just about to meet the other guide dog owners, their dogs and the trainers who will be getting us through this.
Through the power of Facebook, I already know one of the other guide dog owners and as the same trainer has all three dogs that are on class, the dogs have already spotted each other and gone into play mode!
Ben is the palest of the three Golden, in-fact if we line them up right it looks like the colour started to run out by the time it got to Ben. All three dogs are boys and the other two are actually litter-mates but having trained together with the GDMS (Guide Dog Mobility Specialist) they are all best of friends.
As I said in my previous post, I have never done this type of training before. Which is making me feel a little anxious, but I am also excited. I have already fallen head over heels in love with Ben, he has a quirky goofy side that comes out every so often. And being only eighteen months he is the baby of the group, just another thing I have never had before in a guide dog. As both the girls were past maturity when they came to me; I am learning even more about dogs than ever before.
Today is about settling in, finding our way around the hotel and getting an idea of how our days are going to play out. We are in a beautiful hotel in Blandford, guide dogs have held classes here before, but we are only the second since Covid and the staff are so helpful.
Now for the work to begin …
