H&C

“The week started with a one-to-one session with Claire Lush, Dogs for the Disabled’s puppy coordinator, to help me with a specific situation for which her experience and immediate support was invaluable. At the weekend, Ruby had a rather concerning experience with another dog while we were in the town centre, and I wanted to ensure that she had no lasting ill effects. As we were walking through the shopping area, a dog rapidly approached Ruby and immediately invaded her space whilst continuously barking at her. Ruby was very startled, and, although I quickly moved on, she was clearly shaken and unsettled. To help address the potential issue of Ruby developing the same reaction on meeting all unfamiliar dogs, I immediately arranged to meet with Claire the following day at a local park. Claire brought four other dogs to meet and then play with Ruby, where we also encountered a variety of other dogs as well. Fortunately, Ruby seemed to be absolutely fine, and appeared to thoroughly enjoy the meet-and-greet sessions – even taking quite a shine to a 12-month-old black Labrador called Jester. I also used the opportunity to practice recall in the wide-open public space, both by voice and using a whistle. Ruby responded extremely well. The later part of the week was quite upsetting for a different reason, as my own dog was taken ill and has had to stay in hospital for the last few days. So I have not done as much additional work with Ruby as I had planned, but she really has been an absolute star. I returned home from the vet after one of the many visits and was feeling very upset. Ruby came straight over to me, put her little head on my knee and just looked up as if to give me the comfort and reassurance I needed. It was so sweet. Mind you, ten minutes later she was outside, chasing my other dog around the garden, playing with him and teasing him in equal doses. The unsettling experience at the beginning of the week was certainly consigned to history!”

“Regular readers of this blog will already know how fortunate I feel I am to be able to work with Dogs for the Disabled. From meeting inspirational clients and seeing Ruby’s skills develop week to week, to being involved in a wide variety of unique experiences and events, such as the charity’s recent 21st birthday celebrations. This week, Ruby and I were lucky enough to witness at first hand one such up-lifting occasion: 20 Dogs for the Disabled supporters literally throwing themselves out of a moving plane at 12,000 feet to raise much-welcomed funds for the charity. Each volunteer was sponsored to make the tandem skydive, taking place at Hinton in the Hedges Airfield, where the speed of descent touches 120 mph. Amongst the merry (but nervous) band of jumpers were one of the charity’s clients, numerous supporters (including Sophie Lowe – pictured below – from West Bar Vets in Banbury) as well as Dogs for the Disabled staff and family members. As I had previously made a tandem skydive, my husband, Tim, volunteered to take the plunge for our family, so Ruby and I were there in a supportive capacity and were also using the event as a socialising experience. With volunteers, their families, charity supporters, staff and over a dozen dogs in attendance, there was quite a crowd. Ruby was not phased by this, quickly calming down after her initial excitement, and proceeding to make firm friends with a 12-week-old Border Collie. Distractions such as the small plane ferrying the skydivers to the start of their descent or the loud tannoy announcements for volunteer’s Familiarisation Training, did not affect Ruby, and she seemed to enjoy all the photo opportunities through the day. Despite the intervention of rain clouds for a short while, all jumps were successfully completed, and over £5000 will have been raised for the charity. The charity is always in need of volunteers and business supporters, whether raising funds or donating time and energy. If you read this blog and would like to help, please get in touch using the website below. It is not always a visible role, but is absolutely critical to the work and success of this wonderful charity. Thank you.”

“If you can picture this scene: a huge, loud, whistling and clanking metallic beast moves menacingly towards a small black dog sitting wide-eyed and perfectly still, bar the sweeping wag of its tail along the platform floor. If you can picture this, then you have captured the scene on the Monday morning that I went with Ruby to take my mum to the station to catch her train home. Ruby was not phased one bit as the train pulled in, and was more than happy to step with me into the carriage, have a look around, and then step out again. She sat beautifully as the train departed, and we even went for a walk up and down the platform while other trains came and went. The constant socialising and exposure to every day experiences certainly seems to be paying off, as Ruby does not react to loud vehicles or people. During the rest of the week I visited town a couple of times, ensuring that time in the bank, shopping centre or among shoppers is not a distraction for Ruby. For these experiences, I believe it is much more about frequency with a short time for each visit, rather than just visiting once a week and spending two hours walking around. It seems to work for Ruby, and she’s continuing to progress in and around the town centre. Back in the countryside on one of the daily walks with Ruby and our two Labradors, I stopped to pick a few blackberries and managed to capture a photograph of Ruby emulating Oscar, the older of our two dogs – delicately picking one or two of the ripe fruit to enjoy, followed by a paddle in the nearby pond and a roll in the grass to dry-off. A perfect country walk.”