We have a new addition

I dont like dogs. My mate has always had Labradors, and they come close to being likeable, but they give my other half bad athsma.
I dont like the fact they ruin your house and make everything smell. Something cats dont do.
I dont however dislike dogs as much as horses. Those things are vile and are only good for making glue. Why do people insist on riding them on the roads???? :evil:

Aww, they're gorgeous and it's great to know they'll make such a difference to someone's life. :D How long do they spend in training before they move on to their new homes?

Haven't spotted the snow theme yet.... :lol:

Tony_H wrote:I dont like dogs. My mate has always had Labradors, and they come close to being likeable, but they give my other half bad athsma.
I dont like the fact they ruin your house and make everything smell. Something cats dont do.
I dont however dislike dogs as much as horses. Those things are vile and are only good for making glue. Why do people insist on riding them on the roads???? :evil:

Not a fan then Tony?

We have a yellow lab, he's a complete fruit cake. Would never make the grade for any kind of training, unless sausages are involved. He's just turned 2 and still steals socks and pants, chews my furniture and thinks the back garden is a race circuit. Wouldn't change him for the world.

They are gorgeous dogs, baby is extremely cute.

NellyPS wrote:

He's just turned 2 and still steals socks and pants, chews my furniture and thinks the back garden is a race circuit.

From my experience, they don't get any better with age. My Jack Russell would insist on bringing me shoes when I sat watching TV - the problem was, they were never mine and never a pair! :lol: Loved her to bits though. :D

Tony_H wrote:I dont like dogs. My mate has always had Labradors, and they come close to being likeable, but they give my other half bad athsma.
I dont like the fact they ruin your house and make everything smell. Something cats dont do.
I dont however dislike dogs as much as horses. Those things are vile and are only good for making glue. Why do people insist on riding them on the roads???? :evil:

That must be a nightmare for Mrs H - is it just dogs or does any type of fur set off her asthma? One of my best friends is allergic to fur and he has an awful time - it doesn't even need the presence of the animal as I gave him a lift in my car (which must have had stray horse hairs in it) and his eyes streamed and itched for days (though still not as bad as an asthma attack.) Funnily enough, his opinion of horses is now similar to yours! )

Cats aren't always the saints you make out thought – I've had many a kitten try to shin up the curtains, and especially the Christmas tree! :lol:

In defence of some horse riders, a lot of us would rather not be on the roads as it's not particularly safe and extremely annoying for the drivers (I can see things from both sides). Unfortunately, unless you live in the middle of nowhere the options are a bit limited. I make a point of not going out when it's busy, sticking to the verges where possible, avoiding narrow roads completely and try to only use the roads to get to bridleways etc.
What does make my blood boil is the idiots (on both horses and bikes) that insist on either riding two wide or riding up the middle of the road. Add to that the fact that they are often in dark coloured clothing (at dusk) and on blind bends and you've got a recipe for getting squashed and a horrific accident. Oh, and it gives the rest of us a bad name! :twisted:

Anyway, back to guide dogs.... :D

bandit wrote:Oooh such a cutie :D How can you bear to hand them over?

Firstly, you know it is a working dog, and what the pupose of training is. We have regular emails and the odd phone call from the blind person.

Secondly, having an overlap does make the parting a bit easier.

You are right though, it isn't easy.

Except for the first guide dog,~ he would have qualified as a leader in the Mafia. :twisted:

Lynn_D wrote:Aww, they're gorgeous and it's great to know they'll make such a difference to someone's life. :D How long do they spend in training before they move on to their new homes?

Haven't spotted the snow theme yet.... :lol:

Just over a year with us, then about five months at next stage training at the Forfar centre. At the end of this, we get to see them work, and spend an afternoon with them.

The dog then goes for advanced training, that could be anywhere, but ours have been in Edinburgh. About five months.

Then 2 weeks bonding with the blind person, 2 weeks in an hotel with the bp, then 2 weeks at the bp's house, learning the house, the routes to shops, work, vet etc.

About a couple of years in total.

Lynn_D wrote:

Tony_H wrote:I dont like dogs. My mate has always had Labradors, and they come close to being likeable, but they give my other half bad athsma.
I dont like the fact they ruin your house and make everything smell. Something cats dont do.
I dont however dislike dogs as much as horses. Those things are vile and are only good for making glue. Why do people insist on riding them on the roads???? :evil:

That must be a nightmare for Mrs H - is it just dogs or does any type of fur set off her asthma? One of my best friends is allergic to fur and he has an awful time - it doesn't even need the presence of the animal as I gave him a lift in my car (which must have had stray horse hairs in it) and his eyes streamed and itched for days (though still not as bad as an asthma attack.) Funnily enough, his opinion of horses is now similar to yours! )

Cats aren't always the saints you make out thought – I've had many a kitten try to shin up the curtains, and especially the Christmas tree! :lol:

In defence of some horse riders, a lot of us would rather not be on the roads as it's not particularly safe and extremely annoying for the drivers (I can see things from both sides). Unfortunately, unless you live in the middle of nowhere the options are a bit limited. I make a point of not going out when it's busy, sticking to the verges where possible, avoiding narrow roads completely and try to only use the roads to get to bridleways etc.
What does make my blood boil is the idiots (on both horses and bikes) that insist on either riding two wide or riding up the middle of the road. Add to that the fact that they are often in dark coloured clothing (at dusk) and on blind bends and you've got a recipe for getting squashed and a horrific accident. Oh, and it gives the rest of us a bad name! :twisted:

Anyway, back to guide dogs.... :D

Other things set her off, but its mainly dogs. It actually isnt the hair that sets off athsma, its their saliva. Certain cats can do it also when they start washing themselves. She appears to be immune to our cat though. I know what you mean about cats being mischievous but they dont destroy furniture, pooh everywhere (except in other peoples gardens apparently) or demand physical activity.

As for the horses thing, I still think horses should be banned from roads altogether. They were designed for soft surfaces, thats where they should stay. If you live in a town, go out to the rural countryside to ride one, if you have to ride one of course. The arrogance of horse riders really gets to me, like you are obliged to stop, slow down, make room, etc. I think its probably got something to do with the fact that most people who have horses also have too much money (bit of a generalisation I know), and therefore think they are automatically more important than the rest of us. A bit like the people who drive Jags and Mercs at 69mph in the outside lane of motorways. Aaaaarrgghhhh. I want a sticker made up for my car saying "I beep at horses" or "I dont slow down for horses".
GET OFF MY ROAD!!!