MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

Received in the post this final update on Isaac, who has now settled to his full-time adult career.

Isn't he grand?!

MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

As you are all aware, here at Capital 'Ell' Love Central, giving is considered a great part of Love. Giving without need or expectation of return. Spontaneous giving lends itself best to this... a cup of tea or soup for a homeless person, a hand across the road for an elder who may be struggling. These givings we can give, wave, and move along knowing another has been uplifted by so simple a gesture and our hearts are a little raised also.

Then there is the regular giving; donations to chosen charities. We may never actually witness direct benefit of our offerings, but we can see the overall benefits to society and occasionally to individuals. Our reward is in knowing we have, in fact, made a difference, no matter how small. No other reward is required.  At the end of February, this came through; many of you have followed Isaac's journey with me and now we have a new fellow to send loving vibes to!!! Yes, I shall continue the sponsorship and hope that Irvine proves to be as handsome and responsive as Isaac has been.

Dear Yamini,           Thanks to your generosity, Isaac is now nearing the end of his two years of training, and you’ve seen first-hand how he has grown from a tiny six-week-old bundle of fur, into a handsome, capable and affectionate dog. We hope you have enjoyed sponsoring Isaac. The regular Pupdates and photographs have shown how far he has come, and we hope you’re as proud as we are. From everyone here at Guide Dogs, thank you for helping Isaac with all his training over the last two years.

Isaac's last Pupdate

Isaac is such a sweet and intelligent boy, and we are excited to see who he will finally be matched with. You will receive Isaac’s bonus Pupcard in June, when you’ll hopefully get to meet Isaac’s new owner and see the difference that Isaac is making to their life.  Until then, I’d love to introduce you to one of our new pups, Irvine. Irvine is a confident and adventurous pup who likes to explore lots of new sights and smells. He loves nothing more than playing in the garden with his sister, Immie.  If you would like to help Irvine begin his exciting journey, you don’t need to do anything. Your sponsorship will continue exactly as it did with Isaac. Rest assured that you will be right at the heart of Irvine’s wonderful journey.

Menosukhi... what again???

Yes oh yes, but this is fur a furry good reason... there has been another update on Isaac... feeling proud of the lad!!!

Pupdate 5 – Advanced Training

We went to visit this shining star at our Reading Mobility Team and were very impressed with his progress since we last caught up with him. Isaac has now moved on to advanced training with Guide Dog Mobility Trainer Adrian, and they are an unstoppable pair!

“Isaac is just seamless, he is such a nice boy,” smiled Adrian. It was great to see Adrian and Isaac out and about in training. Adrian was making ‘mistakes’ when walking to get Isaac used to walking with a person who is blind. It didn’t faze Isaac though, he just carried on as normal and was using all of the skills he has now learnt. Gold star to Isaac!

When Adrian met Isaac the main thing he needed to work on with him was his confidence. “He just needed a bit more courage, I use clicker training but instead of the click I use the word ‘Yes’,” Adrian told us. Clicker training is a positive enforcement technique where every time a pup does something right, they hear the click alongside a treat if the trainer is feeling generous.

Isaac’s boarder, Cressi, told us that Isaac is a gentle lad. “He loves people and he is great in any situation.” The exciting news is that Isaac has recently been matched and will begin his partnership training very soon. 

We were told that his owner lives in Oxford and often visits the city centre, supermarkets and the park which soon Isaac will be guiding him to! He also has two teenage kids which is great for Isaac as he loves children. Soon they will begin to work together to learn their key routes and to build their working relationship and of course their bond.

We are so proud of Isaac and how far he has come and cannot wait to update you on his partnership in his next Pupdate in February!

Menosukhi Monday

Haven't had a dedicated menosukhi for a while; a post of pure sentimentalism and awwwwwsomeness. Am a bit late getting this one to you, but there was the minor matter of getting various travels reported. When I returned from the overseas jaunt, amongst the pile of mail behind the main door was a pupdate on Isaac.

Isn't he grown handsome??!!!







You may need to biggify the next one

...or maybe not...


It has been wonderfurs being able to be part of Isaac's progress from puppy-hood to his impending graduation.

That next pupdate will be the final one for Isaac. Yes it has been two years already! Each pup is only sponsored for 24 months - till they are placed with their furever host.

Another pup will need sponsoring thereafter.

Watch this space!

A couple of add-on critter picturs, jus' cuz...

This is Merlin at the Maritime Museum in Halifax. You'll recall I had my own rather good mug-shot of him from my visit there in June. This is a capture from the webcam - yes, I'll be keeping tabs on him!

Less exotic birds awaited my return to the Bonny Land. You may guess from the hunkering down that this homing pigeon is less than impressed by the falling rain and wintry wind... in July...
(Look closer, yes that's raindrops you can see!)

Out the back of our building, a puddy-tat finds a major sunpuddle!!!

Menosukhi Moments - PUPdate

Well, having gotten the review of the Great Downunderparts Trip completed, it's back to usual transmission here at the YAMster's hutch. As if by some great alarm clock in the ether, the next pupdate for ISAAC arrived on Friday! 

Pupdate 3 - Isaac's training begins!

Isaac’s training has begun!

Isaac has just started at Guide Dog Training School with his new trainer, Helen. We caught up with them both to find out how he’s getting on.

The first thing that Helen will work on is the bond between them. She explained: “It’s important Isaac is willing and trusting in me so that he has the confidence to follow my instruction.” She’ll sit with him and find out what motivates him – whether it’s toys, food or physical touch. When she first met him, he seemed very interested in her food pouch, “so I know he’ll respond to food, which will help the bond,” laughed Helen.

After that, she’ll test his general obedience, commands like ‘sit’, ‘down’ and ‘stay’ and then start some heel work, which will be new to him. Helen explained: “Isaac needs to learn the difference between walking on a lead, when he needs to keep close to you, and walking in harness, when he will need to walk slightly away from the person he’s guiding.”

Poor Isaac caught kennel cough the day he was due to arrive at the training school. This meant he spent an extra month with his puppy walkers to avoid the other dogs catching it too. Helen explained: “We do vaccinate all our dogs but kennel cough is like the common cold, there are lots of different spores in the air and we can’t protect the dogs against them all.”

Fortunately Isaac is much better now and has settled in kennels. He’s met all the other dogs that Helen is working with and is mixing well with them. “They’re a confident bunch, quite excitable at play time!” Helen laughed, “so it’s good that Isaac is happy to be with them.”

Helen is still getting to know Isaac but she said: “He’s a really sweet, responsive young dog. He’s quite confident but has a sensitive side.”

We’re so pleased that Isaac is feeling better and is now ready to start his guide dog training. He’s certainly got a lot to learn and we can’t wait to catch up with him in his next Pupdate in June!

Menosukhi - an Isaac PUPdate

I would have put this in next Monday, the usual spot for menosukhiness. However, as you will see, it was booked for a special occasion. Today, then, here is the latest news on Isaac, my sponsor Guide Pup in Training.

Remember this little face?

For the few newer readers; Isaac was born in the British Guide Dog Association breeding programme very nearly a year ago.

In December, the GD folk called for sponsors for his batch. There was Isaac and two other little blokes, both goldies. I put it to the vote here and Blogville chose Isaac.. which I was delighted with as in my heart I kinda already fallen for him! As you all know, black furred doggies often get the short end of the stick in the 'choose me' stakes.  Anyway, I duly signed up! Look at him now...

There has already been one PUPdate (click here if you missed it) and here is the second.

Isaac

Pupdate 2 - New discoveries 

We caught up with Isaac and his puppy walker, Cynthia, and were delighted to hear that Isaac is coming on leaps and bounds!

Cynthia, plays a vital role in Isaac’s socialisation and education. “Isaac is a quick learner, who is cautious, but very loving and friendly” Cynthia smiled. They attend puppy walking classes biweekly, which Isaac loves because he gets to meet lots of other puppies and practice his skills. In recognition of his hard work in these classes, we were delighted to hear Isaac was recently given his Kennel Club Bronze Award.

“Isaac is excellent in new places; we visited castles and went for lots of runs in Cornwall. Even with the crowds of people, Isaac didn’t put a foot wrong!” Cynthia beamed.

“I help build his confidence by exposing him to as much as possible, such as taking him to lots of different shops” Cynthia explained. Isaac’s hard work has really paid off and he is now much more focused and less fazed by busy environments.Confidence is key for our pups in order to make decisions on their own when they become a guide dog.

Cynthia is taking Isaac to meet qualified guide dog, Sarge, and his owner. Cynthia also puppy walked Sarge, so it has been many years since she last saw him!

Isaac’s best skill is to sit and stay. “Sometimes I leave Isaac’s sight and he will still wait until I call him – it’s like the penny has dropped!” Cynthia laughed. Keep up the good work Isaac!

We can’t wait to hear more about Isaac’s progress in his next

Pupdate which will be with you in February!

Menosukhi Monday...with reminder

There I was, wondering whatever I could plant in the post fur a Monday that would start your week with a smile and a bit of awwwwwsome. Then the following turned up in my mailbox - pawfect timing!!!

Remember this little guy???

Yup, this is Isaac, now not so little.

What an incredibly handsome fellow he is turning out to be - as if there was any doubt!

Well this photo arrived in the post, so I can add it to the photo album I got sent when Eric the forever-stuffy came to stay.

At the same time, the email update came with all the latest news of how Isaac is doing in his training. Might as well just cut and paste, because who can tell it better than the folk on the ground?!

Isaac

Pupdate 1 - Settling in

Isaac’s guide dog journey began when he moved in with his puppy walker, Cynthia. We recently caught up with Isaac and Cynthia at their home in Rochford to find out what he has been getting up to. 

Isaac seemed right at home with Cynthia “He’s a very relaxed pup and he even knows the routine for bedtime now”. When we visited Isaac he was more than happy to show us all that he has learnt so far, such as ‘sit’, ‘wait’ and ‘lie down’. “He is a very quick learner” Cynthia smiled. 

One of Isaac’s favourite things to do is play with Cynthia’s two other pets, Meg, a Border collie cross, and Mog their cat, who is only a week older than Isaac! “They love playing with their toys in the garden; the cat even gets involved”, Cynthia told us.

Isaac has also been on lots of adventures recently, including the car, train and even the bus for a day trip to Rayleigh. “He is so well behaved, he just lies there and doesn’t let anything phase him”, Cynthia explained. Isaac also gets to go along with the ladies that lunch: “He is the only boy, but he doesn’t mind as he gets lots of attention and cuddles”. What a lucky boy! 

As well as puppy walking Isaac, Cynthia has also puppy walked six other puppies over the past eight years! She has a lot of other puppy walking friends who all go on walks and free-runs together. “Isaac loves seeing his other puppy friends who are also becoming guide dogs. It is so lovely to see them all growing up together” she said. This is great for socialisation skills that Isaac has been learning as well. 

As the summer approaches, we asked Cynthia what Isaac will be getting up to. She told us that Isaac will be going on lots of free-runs in Magnolia Park. “I know that he will go off and come back when I call him; his recall is amazing”. Sounds like a lot of fun! 

Isaac is a very calm and gentle dog and we’re all very proud of how well he is doing. We look forward to hearing more about what he has been getting up to in his next Pupdate in October. Keep up the amazing work Isaac – you are well on the way to becoming a guide dog!

Now as if that wasn't enough... how about this?

BRILLIANT, EH?

Might as well take this opportunity to remind you that there are poems required for the entertainment pages here, which will add to the all the wonderful happenings on Blogville Rodeo Day, July 9th!!! 
Got five already - let's at least double it - Giddy up cowpokes!!!

...now for one final awwwww shot....

pee ess - the latest on Angel, my other sponsor pup at PDSA, is that she had a resurgence of her skin condition and it is being treated with good results, but her epilepsy is well under control. She sent me tail wags as well a couple of weeks back - but no photo as she was camera shy due to the eruptions...

Menosukhi for Monday

You remember Isaac? 

Well, it took a while for the sponsor pack to arrive. It was worth the wait.  Look what came...

Information with some real-life stories of dogs already placed and working, the official certificate, a great little calender, a fridge magnet with Isaac on it, a hard copy of Isaac's photo and an album into which each update photo can be placed.  ...but of course there was more...

MEET ERIC (oh don't ask me; it was just the name which jumped into the thought space as I pulled him from the package...)

He came with a special message on his vest...

Licky the Lucky Puppy (escapee from the IKKY SHOPPE) was fairly gagging with joy at his new little companion...

Eric survived the introduction unscathed.

I know, I know; soppy ol' aunty. 

Did you know I have a number of rescue stuffies? They get into a bit of mischief now and then. When they think I'm not looking.

Don't worry. It's a menoplyxinaemic thing.

Menosukhi - just a wee bit sentimental

This is an immediate followup to yesterday's post on communication - thank you for the comments received! F&E, you just know how to extract the essence, M&S's mum clearly knows a think or two and Joanne lifted my heart with mention of a favourite author of my younger years - John Steinbeck. There was a man who could wrangle words and make us feel them... there are a few quotes from his works which got noted in my 'remember for life' book.  Things like "A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ", "There is more beauty in truth, even if it is a dreadful beauty", "...and they began the day with hope", "What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness"... that last one is particularly pertinent for we Northerners just now.

(I regret, in young arrogance of great memory, not having noted the publications from which I extracted the words - not just Steinbeck's, but many others over the years....tsk... who knew then that menosoup would shake all the recall from me...???)

Anyway. Following the theme of communication, I had been setting things up for this one; it is a cut and paste from Guide Dogs about how a little boy's life is being changed - this also follows up on the mention I made when telling you about Isaac and how not all the dogs in training necessarily make it to full guiding status; here we discover that there is another purpose which can be fulfilled!

Oliver and Lucy

21 Jan 2015

Black Labrador retriever Lucy is a Guide Dogs Buddy Dog and has been paired with Oliver. Buddy dogs are guide dogs that haven't qualified to work as mobility assistance dogs but can improve the quality of life of blind and partially sighted children and young people. Oliver’s mum describes the impact Lucy has had on their family:

"Oliver had a brain injury when he was two days old as a result of neonatal hypoglycaemia. As a result he has lost most of his vision, he has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, some learning difficulties and has an autism diagnosis.

"Oliver cannot express himself easily emotionally, although having said this he is a very very loving little boy when you understand him. He couldn’t say simple things like ‘goodnight’ to us, but that has changed and we are sure it’s Lucy’s influence on him. He tells Lucy that he loves her, and he has done so every night since her arrival.

School have noticed a change too. Oliver is in Year 1 (his third year at the school) at his special school, and his teachers have asked him everyday to say 'yes I'm here' in registration. He had always refused, until now. They are so thrilled with him and the language progress he is making.

"He has advanced in literacy too. Prior to Lucy's arrival Oliver used mostly verbs, nouns, pronouns and prepositions to communicate verbally, but since the first evening of Lucy arrival we noticed his use of adjectives.

"His mobility has improved too. While Oliver still needs adult support when he’s with Lucy, he’s no longer needs an adult to support him on both sides. Lucy seems to guide him somehow (even without her guiding gear).

"We can't leave him for too long by himself because of his epilepsy but in time Lucy may possibly be able to alert us to a seizure. She seems very intelligent indeed."

Oliver and Lucy were featured in a video for BBC Ouch. Watch the video below.

There are many of you who will be unable to utilise the BBC link (i.e. outside the UK), so do please use the Guide Dog link up top to access the page this article came from and you may be able to watch the embedded version there. (I was unable to embed here as my blog ID is actually based in India - but was able to watch at GD site quite happily... and it is worth watching so do take the time!)

Now, didn't that make you all 'menosukhi'???

Menooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwww...&*>

Thanks to those of you who had your say in the comments box last week- there was also a bit of 'backroom' exchange and the decision has been made...

The future Guide Dog I am sponsoring is ISAAC!!!

Isn't he just the cutest bluey-black???

That is a very serious look;

"Is this the world? Am I expected to do that? Really???"

There will be regular updates from the Guide Dog folks on how Isaac is doing (or so it is stated), which I shall look forward to; some of you will know that not every pup who goes to training necessarily passes the test to become a fully fledged assistance dog.  Let us all cross paws that Isaac proves to be a star!

In this picture he is but six weeks old - though I think he is several weeks older now.  He is Retriever x Labrador. His dad is called Jinty and his mum, Lottie.

As if this wasn't enough cuteness for the day... check out the video below! (Not Lottie, but Daisy, a 3yr old Golden Retriever with her first ever litter.)

Menosukhi - Extra Extra Extra !!!

Office of Wellness and Concerns

The observant among you will have noted a new page tab, Meno-Links, appear this week.  It is about spreading the message of GIVING.  I am no moneybags, let me tell you, very far from it.  I have always believed, though, that as long as there is enough to feed, clothe and home myself, the rest is for sharing. Still with a level of judiciousness, but sharing as best one can.

I have shared with you before, one of my sponsored pets through the PDSA scheme. This year I would like to add a new sponsorship. I have long supported the Guide Dog folks and now it is time to do just a little bit more.  Not much; but ten quid a month from 100 folks would mean a lot.  I am faced with a bit of a dilemma though. There are three pups available for sponsorship at the moment... and I can't choose between them!!!

I need your help... via the comments box, tell me who you think I ought to pick.  The one with most votes will be it.  If I could afford it I would love to take all three of course. Common sense must prevail though, so make your barks heard, leave your pawmarks below and I'll act on the results post haste &*>

Here are the names and the video to help you help me.