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Janice with puppy Usher

Introducing Usher - a new puppy walking partnership

My name is Janice and I'm a puppy walker for Guide Dogs.  I live in Cheshire with my two sons, James (16) and William (9) and Alfie the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Month 9

We have been back to work properly this month now Usher has fully recovered from being neutered. However as this stage of Usher's training we seem to be just going over and over all his existing...Read the full post for Month 9 >>

Posted by Janice, 10:23am Tue 31 Aug 2010

Month 8

This month has been a quiet month for Usher training wise as he has been neutered. He does love the vets and the veterinary staff at our local vet hospital as we go there to get him weighed and...Read the full post for Month 8 >>

Posted by Janice, 11:57am Tue 31 Aug 2010

Month 7

We have had yet another busy month and some rather exciting news, but more on that later.
Usher has been out and about with me nearly every single day, we have been practicing stairs and he is so...Read the full post for Month 7 >>

Posted by Janice, 10:24am Tue 31 Aug 2010

Month 6

I have been decreasing Ushers lunchtime meal and moving that food allowance to his breakfast and tea, eventually he had no lunch left and did not seem to mind so much, although did keep one eye on...Read the full post for Month 6 >>

Posted by Janice, 3:44pm Wed 21 Jul 2010

Month 5

Usher has been growing into his body, he is beginning to lose what I call the 'spider' look where his legs look all long and gangly and like they do not belong to his body.  He is still on three...Read the full post for Month 5 >>

Posted by Janice, 3:38pm Wed 21 Jul 2010

Weeks 15 and 16 with Usher

This week has been quite exciting, Usher and I have completed our Kennel Club Puppy Foundation Award. We have been going to normal dog training classes every Saturday morning for a little while now,...Read the full post for Weeks 15 and 16 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 5:20pm Fri 16 Jul 2010

Weeks 13 and 14 with Usher

We have just been settling down in our new house this last two weeks, although we are living in the same town, we are on a new estate with lots of pathways and new areas to explore. We have...Read the full post for Weeks 13 and 14 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 10:48am Wed 5 May 2010

Week 12 with Usher

Well its moving time and Usher spent a few days with a Guide Dogs Boarder.  He had a fantastic time as you can see by the photographs. I took all his bedding and his crate, plus his food and toybox....Read the full post for Week 12 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 2:00pm Tue 4 May 2010

Weeks 10 and 11 with Usher

Apologies for two weeks diary at once, I seem to be running around like a headless chicken at the moment.  I move house tomorrow!!  I'm writing this with Usher and Alfie at my feet surrounded by a...Read the full post for Weeks 10 and 11 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 2:02pm Tue 4 May 2010

Week 9 with Usher

It has been a very busy week in the puppy walking household, Usher and I have been packing boxes in preparation for moving house in two weeks.  Well, lets just say I have been packing, Usher has been...Read the full post for Week 9 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 3:06pm Mon 15 Mar 2010

Week 8 with Usher

Usher and I have been out for a 'free run'. This is the term that Guide Dogs use for a pup's time off lead having fun. I am very lucky in that when I had Osborn, the local secondary school gave me a...Read the full post for Week 8 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 2:42pm Mon 15 Mar 2010

Week 7 with Usher

This week has been the start of our puppy training classes. Because I work part-time I can only make the ones that Guide Dogs run for all their pups every time there is a school holiday. So I...Read the full post for Week 7 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 12:15pm Thu 11 Mar 2010

Osborn is back on the puppy walking scheme

There is some fantastic news regarding Osborn. He has finally come back into the Puppy Walking Scheme which is absolutely amazing considering just how poorly he was, it is only down to all the...Read the full post for Osborn is back on the puppy walking scheme >>

Posted by Janice, 4:12pm Mon 22 Feb 2010

Week 6 with Usher

The most exciting thing that has happened is that this week Usher has finally had his second vaccinations and we can now go out for a proper walk outside in the big wide world. A really fantastic...Read the full post for Week 6 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 2:06pm Tue 23 Feb 2010

Week 5 with Usher

This last week has been quite a challenge, I have been quite poorly still, so Usher and I have only been on very short trips out and as Usher had not had all his vaccinations he has actually been too...Read the full post for Week 5 with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 2:05pm Tue 23 Feb 2010

Week four

I cannot believe Usher has been here four weeks already, it has gone so quickly and he is growing so fast. I weighed him this evening and he is currently 9.5 Kg!!! He is eating well and he is...Read the full post for Week four >>

Posted by Janice, 5:13pm Mon 8 Feb 2010

Week three

Usher is now 9 weeks old and seems to have really grown this week. Usher is now getting better at walking in shops without deciding to stop and he is really enjoying himself. I am making the trips...Read the full post for Week three >>

Posted by Janice, 4:52pm Tue 2 Feb 2010

Week two

This week has been about settling into a routine with Usher and considering this is only week two, it is like he has always been here. He is still surprisingly calm for such a young puppy and...Read the full post for Week two >>

Posted by Janice, 5:14pm Mon 8 Feb 2010

The first week with Usher

Well we have had a good few days.. I have tried to keep to the same routine, just so Usher knows what is expected of him and it makes him feel secure in his new home. I have made sure that if I go...Read the full post for The first week with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 3:28pm Tue 19 Jan 2010

First Day with Usher

Well having had Osborn, I knew what to expect this time, we had rehydration solution to give him as they can get quite stressed on the journey. This tastes quite sweet and is very attractive to the...Read the full post for First Day with Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 10:49am Tue 19 Jan 2010

Introducing Usher

Well we have a new arrival! His name is Usher and he was born on the 23rd November 2009. His Golden Retriever mum is called Tess and his black Labrador dad is called Peter. Usher was meant to come...Read the full post for Introducing Usher >>

Posted by Janice, 10:37am Tue 19 Jan 2010

An Update on Osborn

I've been in close contact with the Guide Dog Centre at Toll Gate where Osborn has been receiving specialist medical treatment for his auto-immune condition.  The good news is that he was able to...Read the full post for An Update on Osborn >>

Posted by Janice, 10:04am Tue 19 Jan 2010

Week Five

Since writing the last blog poor Osborn has been very ill with an auto immune condition.  He is going to visit the Guide Dogs' vet hospital at Tollgate today.  The specialist team will look after...Read the full post for Week Five >>

Posted by Janice, 11:25am Thu 3 Dec 2009

Week Three

Last week I said that we were going to pick up something really special. At the beginning of the week we had a very important visit to do. When Osborn has finished all his injections and is...Read the full post for Week Three >>

Posted by Janice, 12:41pm Mon 23 Nov 2009

Week Two

This week I found I’ve got to be really careful when I say that ‘busy’ word in the house, as that is what we say when Osborn is going to the toilet in his spending pen. When on the telephone to my...Read the full post for Week Two >>

Posted by Janice, 9:25am Tue 17 Nov 2009

Osborn's Litter

Bit of a mid-week update, in advance of my normal weekly diary entry on Friday as Ive had some beautiful pictures sent to me. When Osborn arrived I got the details of both his doggy Mum and Dad and...Read the full post for Osborn's Litter >>

Posted by Janice, 12:49pm Tue 10 Nov 2009

The First Week

The first night I was lulled into a false sense of security, Osborn slept most of the night, brill I thought.  The next night however.. Can you hear that? Of course you can, it’s the deafening...Read the full post for The First Week >>

Posted by Janice, 12:22pm Tue 10 Nov 2009

The First Day

Two days before Osborn arrived I had my puppy placement visit.  I was given a development folder, which is a bit like a training bible, it goes through everything you could possibly ever want to...Read the full post for The First Day >>

Posted by Janice, 12:20pm Tue 10 Nov 2009

Introduction

I’ve wanted to puppy walk for Guide Dogs ever since I watched the Blue Peter guide dog pups as a child (didn’t we all) I got my first dog 15 years ago, and over time have fostered and had rescues...Read the full post for Introduction >>

Posted by Janice, 11:58am Tue 10 Nov 2009


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