Takes the Lead

Pippa takes the lead

Pippa was a puppy

One day Pippa was settling down for a quiet nap with her five brothers and sisters. “It’s a great life,” she thought, “but I can’t wait until I grow up. I wonder what will happen to me?” Pippa snuggled into the basket and started to dream…

Although she was too young to realise it yet, Pippa was a very special puppy. Her parents had been carefully chosen for their intelligence and good nature. If Pippa took after her parents, she was probably going to be a guide dog and help people who can’t see very well. What a happy and rewarding life for a dog!

When she was six weeks old

Pippa said goodbye to her family and went to live with Mrs Brookes and her family. Mrs Brookes was one of the many puppy walkers who help to raise future guide dogs by looking after pups until they are just over a year old. Pippa’s new home seemed a bit strange to her at first but she soon decided that being the centre of attention was great fun and settled down to enjoy it.

She had fun playing with her toys and made friends with the children

She also learned to walk on a lead and obey simple commands such as ‘sit’, ‘down’, ‘stay’ and ‘come’. She was also getting used to many of the strange sights, smells and sounds outside the house. At first she found these rather frightening, but she soon enjoyed them.

When she was just over a year old

The time came for Pippa to leave the Brookes family and begin her guide dog training. Mrs Brookes had tears in her eyes when Sylvia, the puppy-walking supervisor, called to collect Pippa, but she was bringing another puppy for Mrs Brookes to look after. Soon the family was busy running around after a new bundle of mischief.

Pippa enjoyed the training programme at the Guide Dogs Training School. She was an intelligent dog and liked being active. It was nice being praised when she did things correctly.

Over the next few months

Jenny, one of the instructors, took Pippa around obstacle courses, taught her to stop at kerbs and took her into the nearby town. There she learned how to guide a blind person in shops, along crowded pavements and across busy roads. She also took her on buses and trains. And then came the big moment in Pippa’s life when Jenny introduced her to the blind man whose life she was going to share.

Pippa’s new owner was called Nick

He and Pippa spent three weeks learning to work together safely. Nick had lost some of his sight two years before in an accident and now could only see dark shapes and bright lights. When he walked around he would bump into things and did not see cars coming, so he could not cross roads alone.

Nick can only see dark shapes and bright lights

Nick relied on other people and a long cane

With Pippa, he would be able to get to work, go to restaurants and visit friends as easily as anyone else. Pippa and Nick took to each other straight away and soon they were weaving their way through crowds like experts. Jenny watched them approvingly as Pippa avoided a pram that was suddenly pushed out of a shop in front of them.

Jenny was very pleased with Pippa

After three weeks she gave Pippa a shiny medallion for her collar. This meant she was a fully qualified guide dog.

Nick and Pippa didn’t need Jenny to watch them any more, and she and Nick enjoyed their new freedom together.

It wasn’t all work for Pippa

When she had the harness on, which was usually for three or four hours a day, she knew she was working and concentrated on keeping Nick safe. But when not wearing the harness, she was free to run in the park and play in the garden with Nick’s children, Tom and Jo.

Nick worked in a bank where he gave people advice about their money. To get there he and Pippa had to catch a train and then a bus. It was not a difficult journey once they got used to it.

One day when they were going home a little boy stroked Pippa while she waited to cross the road. Pippa has to concentrate very hard when she’s working, but on this occasion she was distracted and wasn’t ready to cross when Nick told her to. “Oh dear!” thought Pippa, “I wish they wouldn’t distract me when I’m working and wearing a harness”.

As the years went by Pippa and Nick became a familiar sight in the neighbourhood. They were such a successful team that other blind people who met them wanted to enjoy the freedom that Nick and Pippa had together.

Sometimes Nick would take Pippa into the local school to tell the children about their life together

Soon after Pippa’s tenth birthday Nick said to her: “You’re beginning to feel your age aren’t you girl?” When Jenny came for one of her regular visits she agreed with Nick that it was time for Pippa to retire.

Pippa was not sorry when Nick began training with a new guide dog. She knew she had done a good job and she was ready to hand over to a younger dog. At first she felt a little jealous when Nick and his new guide dog set off to work in the morning. But she was never lonely because Sarah, Nick’s wife was at home most of the day and always took her for a run in the park. When Nick came home at night he always made a great fuss over her, and she knew that he loved her just as much as ever. Pippa the retired guide dog curled up and thought, “What a lucky dog I am”.

Pippa the puppy yawned and woke up from her slumber.

The puppy-walking supervisor: a Guide Dogs’ employee who manages a number of puppy walkers. Puppy walkers are just some of the 10,000 volunteers that help Guide Dogs deliver its service and raise funds.

Guide Dogs Training: there are four Guide Dog Training Schools; Forfar, Leamington Spa, London and Atherton where dogs are trained to work throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In harness: the guide dog is wearing the yellow fronted harness with the handle attached. When wearing the harness the guide dog knows it is working. When the harness is taken off the dog will play like any other dog, until called back by its owner. If the guide dog owner is standing, allowing the handle of the harness to rest on the dog’s back, it means he would like some assistance.

In schools activities: many guide dog owners and puppy walkers often speak in school assemblies. Contact Guide Dogs fundraising office on 0870 600 2323, to find out about the many schools activities we offer or email [email protected]

To learn more about our amazing dogs and what its like to be blind or partially sighted visit www.guidedogs.org.uk/schools , for fun, interactive teaching resources. Retire : We promise to look after each of our puppies, working guide dogs, guide dog ‘mums’ and ‘dads’ and retired guide dogs for their life. Guide dogs usually retire from work around 9 or 10 years of age. At this time the guide dog may remain with their owner, family or friends, or Guide Dogs will rehome the dogs to new owners, where the dog can enjoy their well deserved retirement.

Turn a puppy into a life changer with Sponsor a Puppy @ School

Every life changing guide dog starts off as a tiny, playful puppy. By sponsoring a class of puppies, your school or group can follow the amazing journey of 3 of our pups as they grow up to become life changing guide dogs.

You will receive regular pupdates and photos, fun lesson plans and activity sheets to learn more about Guide Dogs and a wall chart to track your pups’ progress.

Call: 0845 600 6787 Email: [email protected] Visit: sponsorapuppy.org.uk

Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979) 3805 01/13 www.guidedogs.org.uk • 01189 835 555