Picture of Harry

Hi. My name is Harry, I'm a Guide Dog Puppy in Training and this is my Blog.

Atherton Appeal

Harry supported Guide Dogs' appeal to equip the brand new training school for the North of England at Atherton. He was keen to help as he was to be one of the first puppies to train at the new school.

Harry was at the launch of the appeal on 7th October 2008 where he got to meet the Press. One of the newspaper articles can be seen here.

March 25, 2009

Weekly updates – 62 weeks

Harry’s week has been full of turmoil this week. It started last Wednesday at Pilates class. He was quite happily enjoying a snooze (Pilates long ago ceased to be of interest to him – now he just views the whole experience as a great excuse for a power nap) when all of a sudden the fire alarm woke him from his dreams. He immediately jumped up looking for the source of the noise. He didn’t panic or even bark, but he did need to check where everyone was and what they were doing.

Back at home everything was upside down with the arrival of builders to do some work on the house. He soon became really good friends with them and every time they stopped for tea, Harry could be found enticing them to play.

Harry checking out the builder's tools

Harry checking out the builder's tools

Harry took a great deal of interest in everything that was going on and spent a lot of time preoccupied with their supply of tools, especially the locked tool box. Every evening after they left he had to do a full inspection of what they’d left behind.

Harry has been back into Leeds city centre again this week. He really enjoys these trips – the busier the better as far as he’s concerned. He loves walking through department stores as the scents and smells change for department to department so he never gets bored.

We still have some work to do with him though, his dislike of shoe shopping hasn’t improved. All that sitting round waiting for people to try things on bores him to pieces – it’s a typical male response, except he shows his displeasure by lying down, going to sleep and then snoring very loudly.

Harry out shopping

Harry out shopping

March 24, 2009

Supervisor

We’ve been having some work done on the house over the last few days and Harry has handled the whole experience of “strangers in the camp” very well. He very quickly made friends with the builders, and although he didn’t make a nuisance of himself, he did insist on checking their progress every now and again.

Harry has tried his hand at supervision before and quite enjoyed it, but this time there was more, much more, to keep an eye on. Apart from all the comings and goings, there was the large amount of tools which needed to be checked out every evening. Harry took a great deal of interest in these tools, not least because they were occupying the space where his bed normally stays.

It would be fair to say that he wasn’t at all happy about the arrangement.

Harry and his tool kit

Harry and his tool kit

March 20, 2009

Bashful

Harry has been used to the camera being waved around in front of him ever since he arrived at Number 58. Sometimes he has even picked the spot in which to pose for a photograph, but now he’s suddenly gone all shy and bashful. Sitting (or even standing) still for the camera is off the agenda.

Just when you think he’s changed his mind and he’s sitting beautifully, as soon as the camera is lifted he’s off. It seems there is always something more interesting round the next fence post or behind the next tree.

Looks like an investment in some very tasty treats is required.  Blackmail? Most definitely.

Harry - definitely not posing

Harry - definitely not posing

March 19, 2009

Show off

As the training walk through town with Blaze earlier in the week was such a success, we took them both into Leeds on the train. They both behaved perfectly and were happy to be among the hordes of people that swarm the city centre during the lunch time period.

As we walked back to the station we walked through City Square where fountains of water appear out of the pavement.

Harry and Blaze inspect the jets of water

Harry and Blaze inspect the jets of water

They were both very curious, but slightly wary about the jets of water that appeared, but eventually Harry’s curiosity got the better of him and he went in for a closer look.

Once he realised it was just plain old water he immediately started showing off in front of Blaze and took a huge drink, pretending he’d known what it was all along.

Harry takes a drink

Harry takes a drink

March 18, 2009

Weekly update – 61 weeks

Harry started off this week in Northumberland. With the exception of his bed (which he is particularly fond of), the beaches there are probably his favourite place to be. Harry loves the wide open space and the freedom he has to run on the miles of empty sand.

Harry made lots of new canine friends on this trip, in the past he has been a little shy when meeting strange dogs on the beach, but this time he appeared to have more confidence and actually went up to introduced himself on couple of occasions. His bravery was rewarded when, each time these new dogs immediately welcomed him and started to play. He was so besotted with one he met, called Molly, that he even followed her into the water when she went swimming, despite the freezing temperatures.

Harry on Alnmouth beach

Harry on Alnmouth beach

When we returned home it was back to his regular training walks. This this time we did a walk in town with his good pal and playmate Blaze.

Harry always shows good concentration when out and about in town but walking with another dog can sometimes be a bit distracting, especially when the other dog in question is Blaze, but they both did really well, walking happily side by side and not misbehaving. They even managed to snuggle down quietly for a quick snooze together when we stopped for coffee. No doubt Harry was probably still dreaming of his time running on the beach.

Harry and Blaze on a walk through town

Harry and Blaze on a walk through town

March 17, 2009

Brrrrr!

Although Harry spent most of his time in Northumberland exploring the sand dunes, he still found time to run on the beach with a newly acquired canine friend, a gorgeous six month old Irish Terrier puppy called Alfie. At one point, they got so excited that they both ran straight into the sea, but it was so cold they came running straight back out.

The look on Harry’s face said it all.

Harry and Alfie coming out the sea at break-neck speed

Harry and Alfie coming out the sea at break-neck speed

And just in case you can’t quite make out his expression, here he is again – in close up.

Harry's close up shot

Harry's close up shot

March 16, 2009

I did it – my way

As Harry has only a few weeks left with us we’ve decided that we’ll take him back to all his favourite places for one last visit. At the weekend we took him up the Northumberland coast to Alnmouth for a couple of days so we could benefit from some bracing sea air and Harry could run like the wind on his favourite beach.

On all our previous visits Harry has been much too interested in the treasures to be found on the sand to bother much with the dunes, but this time he thought they were worth investigating. There are many different routes up the dunes, but Harry being Harry, he had to take the hard way and went up an almost vertical slope.

It took him a while but when he finally made it almost to the top, he turned around in triumph as if to say Look at me! Look at me! I did it!  He was so pleased with himself and showing off so much that he almost missed his last step.

Harry finally reaching the top of the sand dune

Harry finally reaching the top of the sand dune

March 13, 2009

Red Nose Day

Harry really didn’t want to miss out on all the fun………

Harry wearing his red nose

Harry wearing his red nose

March 12, 2009

Mad Dogs and…

It won’t be very much longer before Harry goes off to the new Atherton Training School, so we took him on a last trip to see his best friend.

When the two of them are together, an outing to somewhere involving water is deemed to be essential. This time it was a trip to the beach.

Only mad dogs and six year olds would be brave enough to paddle in the North Sea in what seemed like freezing temperatures, but paddle they did.

Harry paddling with his best friend

Harry paddling with his best friend

March 11, 2009

Weekly update – 60 weeks

Harry continues his love affair with public transport so this week we have taken him into town at every available opportunity, usually on the bus. He really enjoys his bus rides, but most of all he enjoys all the hustle and bustle of the bus station.

Harry used to be fascinated by the pigeons that frequent the area, but now he’s learnt to practice self control and ignore them. He doesn’t want to chase after them anymore, but he still insists on giving them the hard stare, trying his best to intimidate them. And it usually works.

Harry at the bus station

Harry at the bus station

Although Harry is older now and has much more stamina, he still sometimes needs to grab a little power nap whenever and wherever he can. He has perfected the art of snoozing in some of the strangest of places, but earlier this week we think he found what looked like one of the most uncomfortable positions ever, but he didn’t really seem to mind.

On a visit to a coffee shop he quickly settled himself under the table as usual then propped his chin on the wooden bar at the bottom of the table so that he had the perfect view of everything going on. A few minutes passed and then the low rumbling noise started, it seems Harry was so comfortable that he’d fallen fast asleep and was snoring very loudly just to prove it.

Harry asleep under the table

Harry asleep under the table