Number58

It wasn’t just Alfie that Harry got to play with on our recent trip to the Lake District, he made a couple of other new Guide Dog friends too.

From left to right – Harry, Maggie, Alfie and Simon.

Harry, Maggie, Alfie and Simon

You can totally see how much Maggie is impressed with the three young bucks all trying to vie for her attention.

She got so fed up with all their attention seeking behaviour that she lay down on the grass and hoped they’d all just go away.

We were recently invited to spend a day with our previous pup Alfie and his owner – an opportunity we just couldn’t refuse. We arranged to meet up in the Lake District at the hotel we have visited with Harry on a number of occasions.

Harry was nearly beside himself with excitement when he realised that not only was in visiting one of his favourite places, but he was actually going to spend time with a “grown up” Guide Dog.

Harry was absolutely besotted with Alfie and copied everything he did, right own to the last detail – it was almost comical to watch. While we had lunch and Alfie lay down under the table, Harry had to squeeze himself into the same small place. When Alfie sat up, Harry sat up. When Alfie lay down again, Harry lay down.

Later in the afternoon, when we all went for a walk the copying continued. When Alfie made his way down to the river, then Harry went down to the river……….

Harry and Alfie in the river

When Alfie stopped running to look at something, then Harry stopped running just to be the same……….

Harry and Alfie on the woodland path

And when Alfie stopped to peer over a wall at something on the other side, Harry was right beside him, looking at it too……….

Harry and Alfie looking over a wall

Harry was never very far from Alfie’s side – it was total hero worship from the moment he set eyes on him and an experience we wouldn’t have missed for the world.

We are so proud of Alfie and only hope Harry turns out half as well.

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 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

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

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

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

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

Harry's close up shot

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

Harry wearing his red nose

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 has come across sheep on a number of occasions and up until now he has always been very wary of them.

This one though was different, very different. It wasn’t in a field, it wasn’t eating grass and it certainly didn’t smell like the others.

Harry decided it needed a very close, personal inspection.

Harry and the stuffed sheep