Final blog entry - Usher goes to training school

Well the time has come for Usher to go on the next stage of his journey and sadly for my years worth of diary to finish.

As part of this very last diary entry I have put together a final video on You Tube entitled ‘One Year, One Dog, One Family’ which takes you through his whole year, I hope you like it.

The diary started over a year ago with Osborn my first puppy who became quite poorly with an auto-immune illness, which he recovered from and although he was transferred to another puppy walker nearer the Guide Dogs Specialist Vets for on-going monitoring, at the time of writing this, I am thrilled to say that Osborn has been taken into Atherton Guide Dog Training Centre for the final part of his journey to become a guide dog.  It seems very strange to think that both Osborn and Usher will be in the training centre at the same time. Osborn is fit and well and it is only down to the many people that looked after him that he has got this far.  All the best Osborn my little ‘Prince of Darkness’ we love you very much.

I then introduced you to Usher, a little black bundle of fluff who has turned into the most amazing (and huge!) dog.  I am so proud to have had him in our family and he has such a wonderful nature and so much love to give that I am sure that if he passes through training he will make the most fantastic and loyal guide dog.  There will be a large part of my heart that goes with Usher, I know that when my Supervisor comes to collect him, I will cry many tears, however some of those will be happy ones, in that he is on a journey and that he is ready for the next stage.  As someone told me once, the best thing you can do is give them ‘roots and wings’, the secure upbringing they need to do their job properly, but the confidence to cope with whatever life deals them.

I can honestly say that Puppy Walking is one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I have spoken to so many people, been to so many interesting places and done so many different things that I never thought I would have done.  If by following my diary you have thought about becoming a puppy walker, make that step and find out more, I actually feel proud to be part of something that could change someone else’s life and I will always have some very special memories.

I hope you have enjoyed my diary and following my journey with Usher.  I have really loved writing it and I am hoping that someday soon I will be able to share photographs of Usher in a white harness.  As for the next step for us....we are already thinking of when our next guide dog puppy could join our family....

Janice

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