"Henry" a Golden retriever, came to live with us in November 2006.  He was eight weeks old, a ball of off white fluff on four legs, with deep black pools for eyes and he mistook our other dog, Tommy, also a retriever for his mom!  He is a  gorgeous looking puppy too pretty to be a boy, but he is and one day, hopefully, if all goes well, he is going to make someone a wonderful guide dog.  For our new puppy isn't really our puppy, he is a Guide Dog Puppy and some time in the summer of this year he will leave us for formal guide dog training at their centre in               Leamington.  But let's not talk about that now, for the sadness that I know we will feel when he goes is far outweighed by the pure joy he is bringing us now.
Dogs are not fully vaccinated until twelve weeks old and cannot walk where other dogs walk due to the risk of serious      infection, but guide dog puppies have to start their training as soon as possible and some of you may have seen me     walking the streets of Webheath        carrying Henry in my arms.  We often sat on the bench at the top of Downsell Road watching the cars and busses go by.  We even went round the block on a bus.  We visited town numerous times and sat amongst the palm trees, so many people came to
Say hello and stroke him.  The muscles on my arms would put 'Mrs. Universe to shame' the weight I was carrying!  By the time Henry was allowed to walk the streets he was 12.5 Kilo's.
Our first 'proper' walks were quite       

hilarious.  Henry would go a few steps forward and then sit and stare at me, the pockets in my coat were positively bulging with squeaky toys and treats to try and get him to move forward.  I had promised the playgroup a visit at the village hall but it might just have been the other side of the world, it took weeks to get there, but one day, 'just like that' without realizing, we made it and without hardly a sit on Henry's part.
Our walks now are really enjoyable all our hard work has really paid off.  Henry walks really well with his head proudly held high and his tail constantly wagging.  He doesn't stop to sniff on the lead and he only stops when I decide to stop. Two of the many requirements needed to     become a guide dog.  He will wait at the kerb side and doesn't shy away from the traffic and all this confidence he has comes from the weeks of carrying him everywhere in the safe embrace of my arms.



Regards Henry's Mom