Having a Guide Dog in Training as a house guest
In May 2023, Roo and I welcomed a handsome Golden Retriever cross into our house. Upon collecting him from the training centre I was advised that he was a little 'Full on' when introduced to a new dog. Not in an aggressive way but a boisterous playful way. Despite the welcome warning I was not overly worried about it being a problem when I introduced him to Roo, a relatively well socialised dog and certainly a dog that can hold her own. Having been handed his handover pack (a lovely set of handover notes from the breeder and the puppy raiser along with some toys and a blanket) and a sack of kibble - important for a retriever!, I drove him home and let him into my back garden. He'd willfully jumped into my car and was comfortable checking out the new route for him on our drive home.
I let him investigate the back garden at his leisure before opening up the back door to allow Roo out to check him out and show our new house guest around. Full on? - Yes that was a good warning. An excited retriever and a confident Cocker Spaniel then began the boxing match. Having been told off at one stage Quest ran inside, picked up one of Roo's toys and brought it outside to tease her with it. The reaction of both dogs showed me that we had a winning combination here. They liked each other! I let the trainer know that all was going great in case she was apprehensive regarding the dogs meeting each other.
The other warning was regarding him settling at night as he'd been puppy raised in a bungalow and wasn't used to houses. Again a great warning so that contingencies could be thought about. In the event, at bedtime, he checked Roo's bed out, she checked his bed out and then they both settled in their own bed. Result # 2!
The following day, when I should have taken him into the training centre his trainer had unfortunately taken ill and so asked if I could keep him at home. Of course! Their loss, Roo and my gain! We spent some fun time getting to know each other a bit better and generally having a laugh teasing each other. It was day 12 before his trainer was able to resume work so by that time we'd had plenty of time to weigh up our strengths and weaknesses. Quest's recall was fabulous on a whistle but not quite so consistent when using his name. My ability to get a treat out of my pocket was sub standard - both dogs told me that!
So began the daily drop offs at the training centre with me taking Quest with his packed lunch (part of his daily kibble allowance for use whilst training) in the morning and picking him up in the afternoon ready for his play with Roo in our garden. After a few days I was asked about his toileting. It's an important part of a Guide Dogs' training that their routine involves toileting on a 'Busy Busy' command. Whilst Guide Dog recipients are of course rightfully exempt from being fined for their dog fouling, it is an embarrassment that they'd choose to avoid so time and effort is put into their training regime to reduce the risk. Quest was toileting like clockwork with me at home. I'd let him into the garden with the 'Busy Busy' command and hving had a sniff around he'd dutifully oblige. The issue appeared to be that he was reluctant to toilet at the training centre so that were rightly concerned. Whe they asked where he was toileting I advised that it was on my lawn. This proved to be one of several things that I was allowing which was not conducive to Guide Dog processes. Toileting on concrete is preferred but would have caused issues with my home set up so wasn't an easy option to force. Reluctantly following a series of process issues that I'd find hard to easily comply with, I took the decision that it would be in Quest's best interests to move to boarders who were able to more easily comply with the processes required.
I packed his handover bag with his blanket, toys and an additional handover note from Roo and I to the ones already in his pack from his breeder and puppy raiser. I advised his new boarders of the fabulous time Roo and I had with him and wished them well and hoped they'd get in touch to advise how he'd settle in and obviously how his training is going. So far NOTHING heard from the new boarders by me or his puppy raiser. Fingers crossed that such a handsome polite dog enjoys whatever role he is destined for! We certainly miss him.
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