Normally this post would be full of the things Harry’s has done throughout the last week, but today is New Year’s Eve and we have been reminiscing about some of the things that Harry has achieved throughout 2008.
When he first arrived with us back in March, Harry had a problem sleeping through the night – we did too, courtesy of all the wailing he did, but after a while he settled into routine and we all managed to get a decent night’s sleep.
Harry after a rough night
Our next challenge was to get Harry comfortable travelling in the car, something that proved very difficult until his good pal, and older Guide Dog pup Goldie, helped us out. She showed Harry how to travel without squawking and deafening everyone in the car. Goldie was also on hand when Harry started travelling by train during May. In fact, Harry learned an awful lot from Goldie before she went off to do her advanced training.
Harry and Goldie on the train
As a result Harry now travels exceedingly well on all sorts of public transport and really enjoys going into town on the bus or train to go shopping.
Harry also now has good social skills, he knows how to sit quietly, tucked under the table in a cafe or restaurant and can even be relied on to lie still for a whole hour when he attends Pilates classes. He even enjoys his occasional visits to the Girl Guide meetings.
2008 hasn’t all been work for Harry though, he’s enjoyed some great holidays – in June he had his first trip to the beach Harry loves the sea, his nose positively twitches in pleasure as we approach the coast, and playing on the beach is his number one pleasure in life. Harry still remembers to behave like a good Guide Dog pup, even when he’s on holiday and always comes back when called.
Harry at the beach
July saw Harry go to the Guide Dog Gala Day where he won a rosette and a few weeks later he won another when he managed to gain his Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award. Harry’s obedience has always been excellent but we were very proud of him when he achieved this award at such a young age.
Harry had another holiday, this time in the Lake District. He learnt such a lot from all the working Guide Dogs he met at the hotel – he even became much more patient when shopping, something he has learned to enjoy, although if he had his choice he’d probably never set foot in another shoe shop in his life – like most men he just finds it so boring.
Harry in a department store
Later in the year Harry was invited to attend the launch of the Atherton Appeal, where he got to meet the Press and had his photograph taken. He enjoyed it so much and behaved so well, that he was invited back to the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The end of the year saw Harry meet Santa and his reindeer for the first time at a Christmas Market. After that initial meeting they became great friends, which was probably just as well, because everywhere we went after that, it seemed as though Santa was there too.
All told, Harry has had a very good year and would like to raise a glass of champagne to 2009 and the new challenges it will bring him.
Champagne Harry