Week 1 - Robson meets Matt Cardle!

Well here goes with our first Diary entry for Puppy Robson. He’s been with us now for several weeks and has settled in really well. He had a puppy friend to stay for the first three weeks so training was a little hard and playing was definitely the name of the game. What it did solve for us as a family was whether it would be good to have two puppies at once…No!! It was hard work and was almost impossible to do any Guide Dog training! Robson took a while to settle after his friend left, and took his playfulness out on Umber who was not impressed. He did however let Robson curl up with him to sleep.

Robson is somewhat over excited when out walking on his lead and already uses his strength to pull us whenever he can, so we are doing lots of short stop, start walks to try and sort this and his eagerness to jump up when on the lead. He’s keen to be on the move all the time and just like a typical man hates standing in queues and at the checkouts. He’s just about got the hang of avoiding the wheels on trolleys in shops now, and enjoys riding on buses but would prefer a seat to himself rather than the floor.

Robson has visited several schools where I have been booked to do a talk and is getting much better about settling down on the floor while I talk but still likes to sit on my knee towards the end, but I think that’s more because he’s very nosy and wants to see everyone rather than for the cuddle!! He really likes children but does like to hang on to sleeves. He went to his first birthday party this week and tried desperately to join in the fun.

A typical day for Robson starts early at around 3am when he likes to go out and spend, believe me we are working on making that a little later! He will go back to bed until 5.30am but then he’s most definitely up and raring to go. He has his breakfast at 7am (which he has to have in a big bowl with a variety of bones in it to slow down his eating) then he comes to work with me at 9am. This could involve working in the office or going out visiting other offices in the van.  We come home at 1pm for lunch and then we either do some training in town, go to the beach or for a free run all depending on the weather.

Robson really likes Wednesdays as we have a friend come to play after school before we go to Brownies. Robson gets lots of fuss at brownies but has also learnt that sometimes he has to lay down quietly when they are busy. This week he had an interview for Felixstowe TV, a local internet station and got invited to meet Matt Cardle. I’m not sure he knew who that was but he kissed him anyway and posed for lots of photos!!