Mark and I have been very busy lately. What with keeping up with work, kids and household commitments we've taken on something new. We're volunteers with the Royal Society for the Blind (RSB) and we have a new puppy to raise and educate. Charlie has come to live with us for 12-18 months, he's a pure Labrador and today he's 9 weeks old. One day he'll become either a guide dog or an assistance dog.
Facebook link (https://www.facebook.com/RSBfocus/photos/a.200599916619765.56868.197356673610756/1024184560927959/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/charlie-8-weeks-1.jpg)
Geez he's a beaut PP!
I'd never be able to give him back. Well done for taking him on.
It'll break your hearts to give him up and I believe the only cure is to get another one ASAP. It's a great thing to do to be able to contribute to someone else's life in such a positive manner.
He already has that calm composed look about him.
Well done!!!:good::good:
We have two labs (different colours but no longer have a black). Lovely dogs -all labs are we think- but ours would never have the discipline for the task Charlie might take on later. What was that snide comment about their upbringing!
So cute :)
Good on you MarkN & PP. This is a great cause ... (& you get to enjoy the cuteness of the puppy)....
Great work :good: good on you for helping the RSB I am sure Charlie will be life changing for someone one day.
My 3 1/2 yr old is completely blind and always hoped she would be able to walk to get a guide dog sadly it doesn't look like she will so will probably end up with a cat for her to play with lol
AWESOME, gorgeous puppy, well done to you both :friends:
Quote from: 'NZCoinerrors' pid='76714' dateline='1438348363'Great work :good: good on you for helping the RSB I am sure Charlie will be life changing for someone one day.
My 3 1/2 yr old is completely blind and always hoped she would be able to walk to get a guide dog sadly it doesn't look like she will so will probably end up with a cat for her to play with lol
:heart:
Hey Charlie. :d_sunny:
a handsome little fella
pat pat
They're a great dog with a wonderful disposition. We had Ben years ago, a darker gold variety, and had the square head just like Charlie. What a lovelly dog he was. Good luck with Charlie, he's a ripper.
Must be near time for an update, pretty please :blush2:
Quote from: 'ausjack' pid='79077' dateline='1441827100'Must be near time for an update, pretty please :blush2:
Who are you talkin' about?
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/what-ya-doing-charlie.jpg)
It wasn't me Charlie
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/not-me-charlie.jpg)
Great photos PPH!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
cutie pie!!
Looking good Charlie.!
Thanks heaps PP :) my god he's a gorgeous dog and getting so big so quick :give_heart:
He's totally gorgeous. I notice he's growing into his feet too. :grin:
If he makes the grade, does he keep his name?
Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='79192' dateline='1442022420'He's totally gorgeous. I notice he's growing into his feet too. :grin:
If he makes the grade, does he keep his name?
Yes, I think so.
So how's my little mate going, I miss his updates and been thinking about him the last few days :cray:
He's at the beach today with Mark and the kids. I am home working. But that's ok, I hate sand.
How is his obedience training going?
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='82984' dateline='1450655658'I hate sand.
:dodgy: Yes it get's into all the nooks, cranny's and cracks doesn't it :whistle2: :angel:
Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='82991' dateline='1450671659'How is his obedience training going?
He's doing really well. He's so very calm when we're out and he's great at the shops. He toilets on command and "sit" and "down" and "come" and "stay" perfectly. He stops at doors and waits at kerbs and stairs. He sits at dinnertime and waits until the whistle. He's great with the lift and he loves the travelator because sometimes he gets bikkies on it. But yesterday he leaped off the travelator which wasn't good.
When he sees one of his brothers or his mate "Ollie" the labradoodle he goes nuts. That's his kryptonite.
Quote from: 'ausjack' pid='82968' dateline='1450612461'So how's my little mate going, I miss his updates and been thinking about him the last few days :cray:
He's all legs at almost 7 months now. He's also decided this afternoon 3 hours before dinnertime that it's time for food so he's wide-eyed and right there anytime you move.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/charlie-xmas.jpg)
QuoteI hate sand.
Handy hint -never pack sandwiches for a beach picnic. No need to ask me how I know; you should know too.
I find sand very handy in the garden. It is the only thing that seems to keep slaters away from destroying my seedlings.
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='82998' dateline='1450678943'Quote from: 'Goldseeker' pid='82991' dateline='1450671659'How is his obedience training going?
He's doing really well. He's so very calm when we're out and he's great at the shops. He toilets on command and "sit" and "down" and "come" and "stay" perfectly. He stops at doors and waits at kerbs and stairs. He sits at dinnertime and waits until the whistle. He's great with the lift and he loves the travelator because sometimes he gets bikkies on it. But yesterday he leaped off the travelator which wasn't good.
When he sees one of his brothers or his mate "Ollie" the labradoodle he goes nuts. That's his kryptonite.
Quote from: 'ausjack' pid='82968' dateline='1450612461'So how's my little mate going, I miss his updates and been thinking about him the last few days :cray:
He's all legs at almost 7 months now. He's also decided this afternoon 3 hours before dinnertime that it's time for food so he's wide-eyed and right there anytime you move.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/charlie-xmas.jpg)
:yahoo: look at how big he's gotten, thanks for the pic he's a nice looking dog :hi:
Thanks for the update and he sure is looking to become a big dog. I bet there will be a tear in ones eye when you have to hand him back.
handsome doggy
I hope that the resident afternoon walker - no matter what the weather is - doesn't take him out in the midday sun or else we really would have mad dogs and Englishmen!
No he doesn't get to go out if the weather is hotter than mid 30's. It's one of the rules! But because he is special he can get dropped off at the entrance to the shopping plaza and we can get into all sorts of mischief inside. The ladies at the sushi train restaurant just love us.
At present Charlie is being considered for their breeding program as he's got the best hips around so he may have another shorter term job prospect before he's trained to be a guide dog. We'll have to wait and see.
Wow, a hippy-hippy doggie. Go Charlie, go! 2 careers in one little pooch. :good:
Obviously a hip dysplasia free candidate for a dual career. Labs are prone to that (basically a genetic condition) and arthritis.
How's Charlie doing?
Quote from: 'Nevol' pid='98661' dateline='1474668615'How's Charlie doing?
He's still here with us. Next week he's going to a reproductive vet clinic to , uh, give a donation with the eventual aim of producing mini Charlies. Here he is on the bus last week.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/charlie-bus.jpg)
Charlie you stud, looking good :)
Looking abit dog tired there.
If he is a working dog then why does he think he's on the front yard just chilling!
OMG look at how much he's grown :give_heart:
All Charlie's brothers (Clark and Clancy) and a sister (Cyndi) have gone into formal guide dog training. One sister is being kept for breeding to have little baby Coco's. Charlie has met with the ladies and left some samples in the freezer for potential future use. He's been de-sexed but had some complications from the surgery (should get some stitches out today) so bonus for us we get to spend Christmas with our Charlie boy! He'll be at the coin show in 2 weeks. Our boy will start training in January with Operation K9 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj-JviuBsfE), the joint RSB/RSL program teaming assistance dogs with returned soldiers. At this point he'll be leaving our care. Here he is below coming home from the Vet 2 weeks ago.
(http://www.mycoinalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/charlie-home-from-the-vet.jpg)
It looks as if we'll be getting a little beige Christmas present with 4 paws. One of these pups is coming home with us mid-December!
(http://www.mycoinalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/M-puppies.jpg)
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='101683' dateline='1479680292'(http://www.mycoinalog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/charlie-home-from-the-vet.jpg)
Geez PPH, I love your new HMV car stereo, complete with sub-woofer!
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11067/hmv.jpg)
.... I was going to say that it may have been one of the new state of the art "Sit-Nav" systems, complete with Satellite Dish-licker, but I thought better of it ......
... ooops, pressed Post Reply.
PS: Charlie looks great and I bet you can't wait for your new puppy. Such a lovely thing to do PPH & Mark.
Excellent work PP and Mark. He doesn't look too happy but then I don't think I would if I had that done :shock:
But he is looking really good and good luck with the new addition :)
Quote from: 'purplepennyhunter' pid='101683' dateline='1479680292'At this point he'll be leaving our care.
Will probably be sad to see him go, so best to think of the great job you've done with him, not to mention the joy of a new arrival :good:
Also how he'll help someone that needs it :)
Charlie has a new playmate! 8 week old pure labrador guide dog puppy 'Maisy' has come to stay with us. She's a lovely little girl and Charlie is so gentle with her.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/maisy-day-1.jpg)
Aww gee! She's lovely! :yahoo:
Is that one of the pups that were in the Box at the coin show ??
Quote from: 'trout' pid='102808' dateline='1481838279'Is that one of the pups that were in the Box at the coin show ??
It's one of the pink collared pups in post #39. They didn't make the coin show.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart::heart:
Well our time with Charlie is at an end. He'll be heading off tomorrow to be looked after by a new family and start attending school during office hours. He's going to become part of the RSB & RSL Operation K9 (http://www.rsb.org.au/operation-k9) program and at the end of his schooling will be placed with a returned veteran who has been diagnosed with PTSD. He'll be missed but he's meant for bigger and better things than being a pet. We all wish him the best.
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/charlie-last-days.jpg)
Do you still get to keep the Little bloke ?
Quote from: 'trout' pid='103999' dateline='1484466534'Do you still get to keep the Little bloke ?
The big bloke is Charlie he's going. The little bloke (blokette) is Maisy, she's staying for the next 12 months or so while we
corrupt train her.
Quoteshe's staying for the next 12 months or so while we corrupt train her.
:)
Quote from: 'trout' pid='103999' dateline='1484466534'Do you still get to keep the Little bloke ?
Our little blonde girl is Maisy, yes she's staying for about a year. She's shaping up to be a lovely little pup too.
She's certainly a cutie! Congratulations with your great effort with Charlie. :hi:
QuoteShe's shaping up to be a lovely little pup
She is already that by the looks.
bye bye Charlie boy
:cray: sniff sniff
How lovely and sad at the same time. I must commend you both for the fine effort you are putting into these lovely dogs, well done :)
(http://www.australian-coins.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10035/Hug-Day-4.jpg)
We said goodbye to our mate Charlie in January and have actually had him back about half a dozen times throughout the year for short stays. Each time he and Maisy play like they were never apart. Last week we went to a demonstration where his trainer showed us the skills he has been taught to date. This week we've been given the last opportunity to have him back for a couple of nights. This will be yet another last goodbye. October 4th is the exciting day where he goes home to his new place with his new client, a veteran with PTSD. He's passed all his training and is a fully fledged assistance dog with the Operation K9 program. We will get to attend a graduation ceremony in December and hope to meet his new client then. It's been such a long road and at times we weren't sure of the outcome but we're so pleased he's found his place in the world.
lovely story ,
well done mark and pph .
:thank_you: :thank_you: :thank_you:
You both need or should deserve a big pat on the back. Well done.