I started here at Puppy School.
My trainer said that I was cool.
And just as I was getting set
T'was time for me to see the vet.

Who said "Oh dear, Oh me, Oh my,
There's a problem in one eye."
"But she should still maintain good sight"
So leaving puppy in some plight.

I've trained to work so much you see,
But a Guide Dogs life is not for me.
Guvnor and Missus shed many a tear
Cos of my age, just over a year.

I loved'em dearly and you know they'll see
I'm not a failure, not Zahra, not me.

Sent in by Dennis & Val Coomber

I am sure that most Puppy Walkers will agree that having an older dog to set an example to a young pup is a good thing.

We are fortunate to have an ideal Mentor for our pups in a retired Guide Dog Dorcus (or Dorky to her friends).  Dorcus will soon be 15 years old and is still enjoying life to the full.  She is a golden lab/retriever cross and was retired 5 years ago on the death of her guided owner.

Since her retirement she has led an active life, and is still doing so.  Fundraising for Guide Dogs is one of her hobbies and she enjoys the fuss and attention it brings On many of her  fundraising trips she is accompanied by our   current Guide Dog pup and tolerates all the   mischievous thing the pup gets up to in the course of their outing together.

As a team both Dorcus and the pup work very well in getting the attention of passers by and we are then able to explain the life of a Guide Dog from start to finish. While both dogs enjoy the "hands on" element.

Picture Dorky and current pup Rose (aged 5 months)

Emailed by Yve Strawson

The puppies have gone into training
Some better behaved than the rest
And Dennis and Val helped me rear them
So I'm sure they'll all pass the test

Dennis has always played mid-wife
And Val has had puddles to mop
Between them they've loved every puppy
But it's time for whelping to stop

I know I'm only a lodger
And the Guide Dogs could take me away
But if Dennis and Val will still have me
I'd like it if they'd let me stay.


Cos their love and devotion is touching
Their empathy almost canine
A dog's lucky to own such nice humans
And I'm proud to say that they're mine.

Sent in by Michael Briggs  from Crawley