interesting week with mainlyh good sessions with Izzy but with the odd exception. Nearly ended up as a circus act one evening when I was convinced she had gone wrong as we hurtled towards a large erection with loud music coming from it and applause! it hadn't been open on the way to the Gym and it turned out to be the evening performance of the circus! am sure guide dogs would have taken Izzy away if it had got back to them that we were performing in the circus - a narrow escape! Izzy was however tired on a couple of occasions and reality dawned a bit as to what it was like fitting into my busy schedule. She was a bit reluctant to get out of bed let alone rush down the station with me. Had 2 firsts however - 1 managed to get her to leish spend for the first time so felt like a real guide dog owner and 2 went to Westminster and found a pub in an area that neither of us had been to regularly before so it was our first unpracticed new territory which was a bit scarey! On top of that, she went on the London Eye and the River both of which she handled well if a bit skittish playing to the crowds. I hit a sign at head height on the way back from the gym, which was not her fault but shook me up a bit. Another busy week ahead with trips every day to town, evening meetings, a reception at the House of Commons speaker's house and of course a pub and a party on saturday!
I think it is time to hang up the phone. Izzy went to the theater, many meetings, and of course the gym! She was not phased by big bangs unlike me, and did better on routes and walking on the lead. Many thanks for listening and for contacting me with encouragement tips and advice. my contact details are:
[email protected] so its good night from her (Izzy) and its good night from me!
10/31/2010 | Download File - right click to download
One of the most challenging yet as Izzy was ill!
A week where puke, pooh and a trip to the vet are the main highlights, As well as 3 working trips where she did well if a bit disinterested on one occasion. Have a busy week ahead so hope she is well. Also thought fopr the week, how do Vision Impaired dog owners cope with the messing and the sickness when they have no sighted help or other half to spot it and assist in clearing it up?
10/24/2010 | Download File - right click to download
Well another incredibly busy week with Izzy doing most things really well and me not doing so bad either! However a few situations where Izzy was either losing concentration or confidence on jhourneys that she has now done several times. Kept reinforcing and will check this out with the trainer tomorrow to see if there is anything further I need to do. Mainly on the route to the gym. Also experienced a bit of a strain in a social setting with my wife having to guide me and Izzy whilst holding 2 glasses of wine- not easy! Also found that I was caught out a bit in the gents toilets in that with a stick I was pretty good at finding the urinals and sinks but with the dog it is much more difficult! had a late night too with Izzy getting home at 3.30 am and then she still was up to taking me down to the gym that afternoon. must remember to ask the trainer tomorrow about using the dog whilst carrying wine and about gents toilets!
10/17/2010 | Download File - right click to download
interesting week with mainlyh good sessions with Izzy but with the odd exception. Nearly ended up as a circus act one evening when I was convinced she had gone wrong as we hurtled towards a large erection with loud music coming from it and applause! it hadn't been open on the way to the Gym and it turned out to be the evening performance of the circus! am sure guide dogs would have taken Izzy away if it had got back to them that we were performing in the circus - a narrow escape! Izzy was however tired on a couple of occasions and reality dawned a bit as to what it was like fitting into my busy schedule. She was a bit reluctant to get out of bed let alone rush down the station with me. Had 2 firsts however - 1 managed to get her to leish spend for the first time so felt like a real guide dog owner and 2 went to Westminster and found a pub in an area that neither of us had been to regularly before so it was our first unpracticed new territory which was a bit scarey! On top of that, she went on the London Eye and the River both of which she handled well if a bit skittish playing to the crowds. I hit a sign at head height on the way back from the gym, which was not her fault but shook me up a bit. Another busy week ahead with trips every day to town, evening meetings, a reception at the House of Commons speaker's house and of course a pub and a party on saturday!
10/10/2010 | Download File - right click to download
The past 4 days since the last phlog have been very interesting indeed. After the Trauma of the journey last Tuesday with me and Izzy stuck on the tube for 3 hours Wednesday was fairly straight forward with us going via district and the dreaded Hammersmith line again up to Kings Cross. Thursday saw us doing a completely new route to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists at Baker Street. We managed the stairs at West Ham sation onto the Jubillee line which run up between the escalators and then at Baker Street found there was no stairway up! I learned how to pick Izzy up in my arms and she lay there like the queen of sheebah with her head lolling on my shoulder. It was disconcerting feeling for the escalator with my feet instead of a stick and not being able to hold the hand rail was also a bit scarey! They are looking to change the byelaws where dogs have to be carried on escalators - yes I know the old joke about waiting at the top of an escalator for hours until a dog comes along! But until that happens we have to carry them. once the change happens I expect I will be trained how to get Izzy on and off the escalator without a problem! Most days from now on are likely to be pretty similar so I propose to record my phlogs weekly and if anyone wants to email me please do at [email protected] next week I have trips every day to London, a trip to the Olympic and Paralympic site, An event on the London Eye and finishing the week with a boat trip and lunch on the thames I'll let you know how I and Izzy cope next week.
