Fred the Golden Retriever - Part 3

Woof,

SURPRISE!

As of tomorrow (tomorrow being Saturday) Ben and I are going on a hike in the Grampians National Park! He and I will be gone for a whole week! It’s so exiting it almost seems as though were going to the moon. We are going to trek through the wilderness and just have a relaxing time together. Throughout the duration we will be camping in the National Park and enjoying the wildlife. He has been busy packing since Wednesday and has told me that he and I will have a great time together.

CONFERENCE

On Thursday Ben went to a conference to speak about the great work of the Royal Society for the Blind. Throughout the duration of the speech I had to stand up on stage next to Ben to assure him that it's ok and to show people what it was like to be a Blind Dog and what I do to assist Ben every day. My reward was a game of fetch and TWO Schmackos which I absolutely loved.

GOING AWAY

I'm so excited about going away tomorrow. I've been so excited that I can hardly contain myself or even sleep. When we leave tomorrow, Ben and I are going by car to have lunch at Stawell and then go on to the National Park. We won't get far in half a day but at least we'll settle in alright. I know that everything on our little adventure will go fantastically. Anyway, must go to get some sleep.

Yours Sincerely,

                        Fred

                                             Signed:  

I am so excited about going on an adventure with Ben

Fred the Golden Retriever - Part 2

Woof, Again!

MY PAST

The Kennel

In my last blog I didn’t really tell you about my past. I was born in a Dog Kennel in Melbourne. My mother (Lottie was her name) died straight afterwards from birth complications.  I never knew my father because he was killed in an accident. This left me without any parents. Sometimes I feel as down as a puddle but I don’t think about it.

The carer at the kennel, who was a woman, cared for me until I was one year old. She and I had so much fun together playing ball and Frisbee and going for walks. I guess because I had no parents I was treated better than the others in the Dog Kennel.

Royal Society for the Blind

When I was one year old I was accepted into training to become a blind dog for the Royal Society for the Blind. Here I underwent 12 months of training with a man called Graham. He taught me how to guide my future master across roads and streets and help him know where he was. The one thing he did drill into me was that I was a playful dog and should avoid temptation when on duty. He taught me that I should be attentive, alert and direct with my duty.

Finishing training and meeting Ben

After 12 months of training I was put onto the list of dogs to be accepted for blind people. Ben asked for a playful but alert and attentive dog. Graham thought that I was perfect for the requirements and he suggested me to Ben and I was accepted immediately. When I first met ben I let out a big ‘WOOF” to show I was happy. For the past month Ben and I have been together and it has been wonderful to serve him to aid his difficulties. I still think it is daunting going through crowds. It feels like I’m stuck in a small room. To help me I remember that Ben needs me so we stay closer together.

Throughout thick and thin, this is my past in a nutshell and how I got to where I am now.

Yours Sincerely,

                             Fred                                

                                         Signed:

Here I am with Ben on duty

Fred the Golden Retriever - Part 1

Woof!

WHO I AM

I am a Golden Retriever from Bendigo, Central Victoria, Australia. My name is Fred and I am a Guide Dog. My job is to guide my owner (Ben) wherever he wants to go. Because he is blind he needs assistance from me to get around.

I was trained at the Royal Society for the Blind in Melbourne when I was two and then Ben came to get me. He and I are best buddies. We go everywhere together. When I’m with him I am a serious and on duty dog, but when I’m free, I love to chase the next door cat or play with my toys or chew a bone.

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Sometimes Ben and I go to the park and have a casual relaxing time. He throws a ball or Frisbee to me and I drop it as his feet and he throws it again and again. This is soooo much fun! You never know where the ball or Frisbee is going to go. I do a lot of “BARKS” when I’m catching it because I’m so excited. A lot of people love to come up to me and pat me but only when Ben doesn't need me. I love all the attention but when I’m on duty with Ben, I need to resist the temptation.

WHAT I DO

In a normal day, Ben and I will go around the centre of Bendigo and go to his work place which is at the Council Office attending to issues within the town. Ben can’t read so he has to feel in Braille. He leaves me outside to play on the lawns while he completes his work. On the way home we drop by the shops and get him and I some food.

Anyway, must go now,

                                       Fred

                     Signed:

 

Here I am collecting the ball for Ben