Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
Spencer - Guide Dog 🐾
- Thread starter Boogie
- Start date
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
I think the Keir one should be possible once visiting can happen again!All my pups owners have been in touch but Spencer’s is becoming a friend. I’ve got great hopes for a visit one day, as I do with Keir.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I am so happy that Spencer has such a wonderful home.
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Spencer and Sid. 
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
I always thought of Spencer as quite tall! He looks tiny next to Sid! I'm so glad to see him happy, lovely lad!
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Wow! Sid is magnificent!
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Latest ‘report’ from Terry and Spencer -
...
Good evening everyone.
I hopeyou are all safe, well snd happy
Spencer, myself and my partner decided we would pip into Harrogate yesterday - reason being - we have been having drive thru Costa coffee for the last week or two - and one of my apps notified me that Cafe Nero was now open for takeaway coffee
Cafe Nero is the king of coffee ( to me haha ) , Harrogate is beautiful and also home to Bettys Tea Room - so, it wasnt a dofficult decision, and it would have been rude not to go with all of that on offer haha.
It was a beautiful sunny day for the most part, so we parked yp and walked down the stray and duly pipped into Cafe Nero formour drinks - Cappucino for me, Chai Latte for my other half and a cup
Of chilled water for the star of the day Spencer.
We sat on the grass, spencer had a great roll around and enjoyed sun bathing. The atmosphere was lovely and it wasn’t too busy at all. People were respectful, keeping at a distance and the whole atmosphere was great.
We then went to Bettys Tea Room. There was a short queue, with a member of staff on thw door. I disnt realise there was a tope line to queue behind and so was stood at the wrong side of it, in the middle
Of the pavement lol. The young lady staff member was wonderful, asking me If I could just take a few atrides to my Left, and she was very complimentary about Spencer.
She guided us inside and explained that we just needed to walk straight ahead to the counter and a lady would get anytbing we needed. Could not have asked for better service.
Spencer has got quite doggie distracted of late, and totally tried to lurch over to a couple of little Pooches. Bearing in mind of course, he is just on leash, not harness. I think also, he hasnt been exposed as much as he would have been for the last three Months to other dogs on his everyday journeys due to corona. I‘m Sure that my GDMI will be able to get this sorted when we recommence training.
We went to see relatives and had tea in their garden, Spencer mwt thwir two littlw doggies and entertained himself chewing on plastic milk bottles lol
As we were leaving, the heavens opened up, it thundered and lightened and rained heavily. But Spencer dosnt bat an eyelid.
It was a full day out, which we havent really done with Spencer befor now, and he was well and truly zonked aftwr his dinner - slept like a baby
...
Good evening everyone.
I hopeyou are all safe, well snd happy
Spencer, myself and my partner decided we would pip into Harrogate yesterday - reason being - we have been having drive thru Costa coffee for the last week or two - and one of my apps notified me that Cafe Nero was now open for takeaway coffee
Cafe Nero is the king of coffee ( to me haha ) , Harrogate is beautiful and also home to Bettys Tea Room - so, it wasnt a dofficult decision, and it would have been rude not to go with all of that on offer haha.
It was a beautiful sunny day for the most part, so we parked yp and walked down the stray and duly pipped into Cafe Nero formour drinks - Cappucino for me, Chai Latte for my other half and a cup
Of chilled water for the star of the day Spencer.
We sat on the grass, spencer had a great roll around and enjoyed sun bathing. The atmosphere was lovely and it wasn’t too busy at all. People were respectful, keeping at a distance and the whole atmosphere was great.
We then went to Bettys Tea Room. There was a short queue, with a member of staff on thw door. I disnt realise there was a tope line to queue behind and so was stood at the wrong side of it, in the middle
Of the pavement lol. The young lady staff member was wonderful, asking me If I could just take a few atrides to my Left, and she was very complimentary about Spencer.
She guided us inside and explained that we just needed to walk straight ahead to the counter and a lady would get anytbing we needed. Could not have asked for better service.
Spencer has got quite doggie distracted of late, and totally tried to lurch over to a couple of little Pooches. Bearing in mind of course, he is just on leash, not harness. I think also, he hasnt been exposed as much as he would have been for the last three Months to other dogs on his everyday journeys due to corona. I‘m Sure that my GDMI will be able to get this sorted when we recommence training.
We went to see relatives and had tea in their garden, Spencer mwt thwir two littlw doggies and entertained himself chewing on plastic milk bottles lol
As we were leaving, the heavens opened up, it thundered and lightened and rained heavily. But Spencer dosnt bat an eyelid.
It was a full day out, which we havent really done with Spencer befor now, and he was well and truly zonked aftwr his dinner - slept like a baby
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Well done Spencer xx
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Lovely to wake up to this morning x
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
Good boy Spencer 
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
What a lovely man and wonderful home he is giving to Spencer. And of course good boy, Spencer. 
I think all of us with lockdown-ified socially deprived dogs who now get WAY more excited about seeing other dogs can be somewhat relieved that it also affects a highly trained guide dog like Spencer. That will help me not pull the rest of my hair out the next time Carbon goes willy-nilly across the beach at even an 'imagined' canine playmate*!
*Yes, Carbon did that the other day to some poor lady who was walking by herself on the beach. He couldn't believe a human was there without a dog, so ran off towards her anyway. When he got there and saw there WAS not dog, started barking at her. Human? Without dog? Alert! Alert! Clearly a serial killer on the loose! Argh. Lots of apologies ensued.
I think all of us with lockdown-ified socially deprived dogs who now get WAY more excited about seeing other dogs can be somewhat relieved that it also affects a highly trained guide dog like Spencer. That will help me not pull the rest of my hair out the next time Carbon goes willy-nilly across the beach at even an 'imagined' canine playmate*!
*Yes, Carbon did that the other day to some poor lady who was walking by herself on the beach. He couldn't believe a human was there without a dog, so ran off towards her anyway. When he got there and saw there WAS not dog, started barking at her. Human? Without dog? Alert! Alert! Clearly a serial killer on the loose! Argh. Lots of apologies ensued.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
It is wonderful to have news of Spencer and his owner sounds a super chap, it must be heart warming @Boogie to get his letters.
@Emily_Babbelhund, my Lab Drift used to do this, if he saw a person without a dog, he would bark at them! Very wise, as someone without a dog has something missing in their character
@Emily_Babbelhund, my Lab Drift used to do this, if he saw a person without a dog, he would bark at them! Very wise, as someone without a dog has something missing in their character
- Location
- Harrogate
Please will you pass this on the next time you have contact with Spencer's familyLatest ‘report’ from Terry and Spencer -
...
Good evening everyone.
I hopeyou are all safe, well snd happy
Spencer, myself and my partner decided we would pip into Harrogate yesterday - reason being - we have been having drive thru Costa coffee for the last week or two - and one of my apps notified me that Cafe Nero was now open for takeaway coffee
Cafe Nero is the king of coffee ( to me haha ) , Harrogate is beautiful and also home to Bettys Tea Room - so, it wasnt a dofficult decision, and it would have been rude not to go with all of that on offer haha.
It was a beautiful sunny day for the most part, so we parked yp and walked down the stray and duly pipped into Cafe Nero formour drinks - Cappucino for me, Chai Latte for my other half and a cup
Of chilled water for the star of the day Spencer.
We sat on the grass, spencer had a great roll around and enjoyed sun bathing. The atmosphere was lovely and it wasn’t too busy at all. People were respectful, keeping at a distance and the whole atmosphere was great.
We then went to Bettys Tea Room. There was a short queue, with a member of staff on thw door. I disnt realise there was a tope line to queue behind and so was stood at the wrong side of it, in the middle
Of the pavement lol. The young lady staff member was wonderful, asking me If I could just take a few atrides to my Left, and she was very complimentary about Spencer.
She guided us inside and explained that we just needed to walk straight ahead to the counter and a lady would get anytbing we needed. Could not have asked for better service.
Spencer has got quite doggie distracted of late, and totally tried to lurch over to a couple of little Pooches. Bearing in mind of course, he is just on leash, not harness. I think also, he hasnt been exposed as much as he would have been for the last three Months to other dogs on his everyday journeys due to corona. I‘m Sure that my GDMI will be able to get this sorted when we recommence training.
We went to see relatives and had tea in their garden, Spencer mwt thwir two littlw doggies and entertained himself chewing on plastic milk bottles lol
As we were leaving, the heavens opened up, it thundered and lightened and rained heavily. But Spencer dosnt bat an eyelid.
It was a full day out, which we havent really done with Spencer befor now, and he was well and truly zonked aftwr his dinner - slept like a baby
View attachment 16511
It was lovely to read about Spencer's visit to my home town, Harrogate. The town has had quite a bit of bad press recently with social distancing or lack of it. Glad you enjoyed it, wished I had been up town, I might have seen you.. Well done Betty's
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
I‘m having just the same with Echo!What a lovely man and wonderful home he is giving to Spencer. And of course good boy, Spencer.
I think all of us with lockdown-ified socially deprived dogs who now get WAY more excited about seeing other dogs can be somewhat relieved that it also affects a highly trained guide dog like Spencer. That will help me not pull the rest of my hair out the next time Carbon goes willy-nilly across the beach at even an 'imagined' canine playmate*!
*Yes, Carbon did that the other day to some poor lady who was walking by herself on the beach. He couldn't believe a human was there without a dog, so ran off towards her anyway. When he got there and saw there WAS not dog, started barking at her. Human? Without dog? Alert! Alert! Clearly a serial killer on the loose! Argh. Lots of apologies ensued.
Today we are going to my brother’s farm for the twin’s seventh birthday, we will sit in the gazebo. Echo will hare around with Bryn, my niece’s Springer. It will do him good!
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Wonderful to read all about Spencers day out, and how much he is loved. What a lovely man.
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
This is SO something Maxx would doYes, Carbon did that the other day to some poor lady who was walking by herself on the beach. He couldn't believe a human was there without a dog, so ran off towards her anyway. When he got there and saw there WAS not dog, started barking at her. Human? Without dog? Alert! Alert! Clearly a serial killer on the loose! Argh. Lots of apologies ensued.
And Kipper - with more confusion and less barkingThis is SO something Maxx would do
Boogie
Moderator
- Location
- Manchester UK
Another update
.......
Guide Dog Training Day 3 - covid style.
So, today, has been both exhausting and illuminating.
Yesterday, my gdmi said that if I wanted to practice putting the harness on 2-3 times at home, put it on, walk from one room to the other, take it off and do it again later, then I could , and it would be good practice.
Under normal circumstances, I would not be allowed to keep the harness at all until trained. But due to covid, the less handling of thw guide dog equipment and passing between different people, the better. So, on the forst day of training the harness was wiped down with antibacterial fluid, left at my door and then we would put the harness on outside under Gdmi instruction from A distance. Ordinarily, the harness would be taken back by the gdmi after the sessions.
We did the practices last night , and once this morning and other than me fiddling to fasten the girth strap buckle, the putting on and off worked likea charm.
So, this morning, we replicated the more real life situation of me getting Spencer “dressed” for work in the house, and then when I go out thw door, and meet the gdmi we can crack straight on.
We did the usual walk into the village, but this time we planned to extend it, by also walking up to the co op, and also throw in some verbal obedience on the move. Also remembering all that had been done so far.
Spencer was a STAR! So, on route, whilst walking, I would ask spemcer to “sit” but, waiting for him to do that as opposed to me
Stopping and then he has no other option than to sit. I had never thought about this before, but, if I say sit, then I stop and hold the handle and lead, the pressure would then automatically get him to stop and sit, rather than him following a verbal Command, it would be a physical Reaction. And there will be times when I need to ask him to sit on the move.
Without hesitation, he would sit within a few paces of me asking, i would then slow, get into my number one position beside him and stop. We did this a few times on the walk into the village as well as the walk back. Also, doing this correctly could make the difference between stopping outside the correct shop, rather than a few paces forward and entering the wrong shop.
At the zebra crossing in the village, on the apptoach, I would mo ask him “ over to the crossing” rather than asking him to first “stand” and then move over. Which is great and quicker for when we are in busier situations. So we discussed markers for myself, so that I knew when to ask him to move over - in this case, it was a change in the path - it is paving stones, then Changes to tarmac. Its amazing what you feel
With your feet when you dont see.
We then crossed to the street and almost immediately into an over to the kerb to get into the square. I asked him to find a seat, and he took me To our usual bench. This bench is important in a number of ways.
1. We have a rest
2. Its a good tactile
Marker, to orient mysef with. On this particular bench, I know that if I want to go back home, i can walk to the end of the bench, when I reach the arm, I know its four paces forward and then, there is an opening to get to the kerb. If I want to go for a cuppa to the deli, i know if I feel the bench behind my legs, then i ask him forward, and he will take me forward and doagnally to the opening that leads straight to the crossing that takes me to the deli steps. I can the n Choose to turn left to the co op if I wish.
These tactile markers are a fabulous way to orient myself, and I rely on it so Much to find my way by myself.
We then made our way to the co op, we had to cross a road, then , i asked him over, he took me along the wall of the pub ( i did detect him looking into the beer garden ( he must have fancied a pint - and I wouldnt have objected either haha )
The AMAZING thing was that he then automatically located the path and did a step stand on the kerb, to let me know a high kerb was there ( he stopped, placed his two fron legs onto the high kerb and waited ( i felt this through the handle ) i was so so pleased he did that. A quick “forward” and off we went. He then Located two steps, the same way, i knew then I needed him “over” and he took me around trolleys and a sign and straight through the co op door, and we were in!
I was amazed - and felt so so proud, my shoulders lifted and im sure the grin on my face was huge.
We are going to do some
Intense shop work at a later date in here, getting Spencer to target several sections I would always want to go to, as well as to customer services.
We came back out and re- traced our steps home. On the way home, i learned to understand more, through the handle the angle at which Spencer had stopped at the kerb and if I needed to get him to straighten up a bit before moving on.
Learning the angles he is at and understanding the reasons he is doing this has helped me a great deal. The gdmi said, and I half actually noticed that today, we seemed to be moving so much more in tune and a complete unit. It felt intuitive and so so good.
At one point, i walked into a big bush - but, to be fair, it was on a corner and was at head height. My gdmi showed me what to do to reinforce the “protectove bubble” Spencer needs to observe. So a quick tap On the bush, the command over at the same time as moving my Arm
To the left, and then a quick forward sorted this. We soon approached a very similar situation, and Spemcer simply took me over to avoid my head hitting this one. Spencer was worn out when we got home, I was pretty exhausted too. But, as the gdmi said, he has done a sterling job and throughout the long walk, he has had many other things thrown into the mix, and has had to make thousands of decisions along the way.
I absolutely 100% have complete Trust in Spencer to keep
Me safe and get me to where i want to go. When I thought our. Bond could not get any closer, I was wrong, we are so much closer now than we wete three days ago.
The gdmi made
Me super proud and said that to watch us work together was lovely, Spencer clearly trusts and feels comfortable at my side, he listens to My every word, his tail is wagging away and we are just so in sync.
Im A very very happy man and I feel like I dont quite deserve the amazing gift of Spencer, which has taken so Much work, love and dedication from So many people involed in guide dogs
I feel Like the world is opening up once more, and that I can make My own choices about where and when I want to go. Without expecting someone else to be available for me. I feel
Like less of an imposition and a burden and more like a free spirit.
Thank you so
Much everyone x
.......
Guide Dog Training Day 3 - covid style.
So, today, has been both exhausting and illuminating.
Yesterday, my gdmi said that if I wanted to practice putting the harness on 2-3 times at home, put it on, walk from one room to the other, take it off and do it again later, then I could , and it would be good practice.
Under normal circumstances, I would not be allowed to keep the harness at all until trained. But due to covid, the less handling of thw guide dog equipment and passing between different people, the better. So, on the forst day of training the harness was wiped down with antibacterial fluid, left at my door and then we would put the harness on outside under Gdmi instruction from A distance. Ordinarily, the harness would be taken back by the gdmi after the sessions.
We did the practices last night , and once this morning and other than me fiddling to fasten the girth strap buckle, the putting on and off worked likea charm.
So, this morning, we replicated the more real life situation of me getting Spencer “dressed” for work in the house, and then when I go out thw door, and meet the gdmi we can crack straight on.
We did the usual walk into the village, but this time we planned to extend it, by also walking up to the co op, and also throw in some verbal obedience on the move. Also remembering all that had been done so far.
Spencer was a STAR! So, on route, whilst walking, I would ask spemcer to “sit” but, waiting for him to do that as opposed to me
Stopping and then he has no other option than to sit. I had never thought about this before, but, if I say sit, then I stop and hold the handle and lead, the pressure would then automatically get him to stop and sit, rather than him following a verbal Command, it would be a physical Reaction. And there will be times when I need to ask him to sit on the move.
Without hesitation, he would sit within a few paces of me asking, i would then slow, get into my number one position beside him and stop. We did this a few times on the walk into the village as well as the walk back. Also, doing this correctly could make the difference between stopping outside the correct shop, rather than a few paces forward and entering the wrong shop.
At the zebra crossing in the village, on the apptoach, I would mo ask him “ over to the crossing” rather than asking him to first “stand” and then move over. Which is great and quicker for when we are in busier situations. So we discussed markers for myself, so that I knew when to ask him to move over - in this case, it was a change in the path - it is paving stones, then Changes to tarmac. Its amazing what you feel
With your feet when you dont see.
We then crossed to the street and almost immediately into an over to the kerb to get into the square. I asked him to find a seat, and he took me To our usual bench. This bench is important in a number of ways.
1. We have a rest
2. Its a good tactile
Marker, to orient mysef with. On this particular bench, I know that if I want to go back home, i can walk to the end of the bench, when I reach the arm, I know its four paces forward and then, there is an opening to get to the kerb. If I want to go for a cuppa to the deli, i know if I feel the bench behind my legs, then i ask him forward, and he will take me forward and doagnally to the opening that leads straight to the crossing that takes me to the deli steps. I can the n Choose to turn left to the co op if I wish.
These tactile markers are a fabulous way to orient myself, and I rely on it so Much to find my way by myself.
We then made our way to the co op, we had to cross a road, then , i asked him over, he took me along the wall of the pub ( i did detect him looking into the beer garden ( he must have fancied a pint - and I wouldnt have objected either haha )
The AMAZING thing was that he then automatically located the path and did a step stand on the kerb, to let me know a high kerb was there ( he stopped, placed his two fron legs onto the high kerb and waited ( i felt this through the handle ) i was so so pleased he did that. A quick “forward” and off we went. He then Located two steps, the same way, i knew then I needed him “over” and he took me around trolleys and a sign and straight through the co op door, and we were in!
I was amazed - and felt so so proud, my shoulders lifted and im sure the grin on my face was huge.
We are going to do some
Intense shop work at a later date in here, getting Spencer to target several sections I would always want to go to, as well as to customer services.
We came back out and re- traced our steps home. On the way home, i learned to understand more, through the handle the angle at which Spencer had stopped at the kerb and if I needed to get him to straighten up a bit before moving on.
Learning the angles he is at and understanding the reasons he is doing this has helped me a great deal. The gdmi said, and I half actually noticed that today, we seemed to be moving so much more in tune and a complete unit. It felt intuitive and so so good.
At one point, i walked into a big bush - but, to be fair, it was on a corner and was at head height. My gdmi showed me what to do to reinforce the “protectove bubble” Spencer needs to observe. So a quick tap On the bush, the command over at the same time as moving my Arm
To the left, and then a quick forward sorted this. We soon approached a very similar situation, and Spemcer simply took me over to avoid my head hitting this one. Spencer was worn out when we got home, I was pretty exhausted too. But, as the gdmi said, he has done a sterling job and throughout the long walk, he has had many other things thrown into the mix, and has had to make thousands of decisions along the way.
I absolutely 100% have complete Trust in Spencer to keep
Me safe and get me to where i want to go. When I thought our. Bond could not get any closer, I was wrong, we are so much closer now than we wete three days ago.
The gdmi made
Me super proud and said that to watch us work together was lovely, Spencer clearly trusts and feels comfortable at my side, he listens to My every word, his tail is wagging away and we are just so in sync.
Im A very very happy man and I feel like I dont quite deserve the amazing gift of Spencer, which has taken so Much work, love and dedication from So many people involed in guide dogs
I feel Like the world is opening up once more, and that I can make My own choices about where and when I want to go. Without expecting someone else to be available for me. I feel
Like less of an imposition and a burden and more like a free spirit.
Thank you so
Much everyone x
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire