Today is International Guide Dog Day!

 

To celebrate, I have completed the Guide Dog Tag recently created by Emily on Fashioneyesta.com and which I’ve been tagged to complete by Holly from Catch These Words.

 

1. What is your guide dogs name?

 

My guide dog’s name is Jazzy AKA Jaz, Jazzy-wazz and J Dawg.

 

2. What is the breed of your guide dog?

 

Jazzy is a black Labrador golden Retriever cross. She looks much more labby in appearance with short hair and quite a square face, though with a fluffy Retriever tail!
3. How old is your guide dog?

 

Jazzy celebrated her 3rd (in human years) and 21st (in doggy years) birthday last week on the 21st of April. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this royal highness celebrates her B-Day the same time as the Queen.

 

4. Where was your guide dog trained?

 

Jazzy was puppy-walked in Manchester. Her puppy-walkers fostered her for a year, teaching her basic obedience and socialising her.

She then receibed advanced guide dog training at a guide dogs training center, before she was part of a trial Guide Dogs Liverpool were conducting that has dogs receive one-to-one training with a trainer for about 3 months before being matched.

 

5. When did you qualify with your guide dog?

 

Jazzy and I qualified on the 26th of February 2015. In guide dog terms, we are a relatively new partnership.

 

6. Is he or she your first guide dog?

 

Yes

 

7. Summarise your guide dogs personality in five words?

 

Sensitive, loving, endearing, cheeky, protective.

 

8. What is the best thing about your guide dog?

 

The best thing about Jazzy is her brilliant memory. She has astounded me more than once after we’ve been to a café/shop/restaurant once, and the next time we go passed it she indicates that place to me again. She continues to do this whenever we pass that place from then on, so that after I’ve been somewhere once I can be pretty sure that Jazzy would find it for me next time.

 

9. What is the funniest thing your guide dog has ever done?

 

Jazzy makes me laugh every day because she’s such a funny character. I think one of the funniest things she’s ever done happened when I was at the cinema with my family.

Jazzy licked the ear of the man sat in front of my mum, but he failed to see the pitch black culpret in the dark theater, so when he turned around he gave my mum a very dirty look. Jazzy had immediately hidden under my chair as if she knew exactly what she was doing!

 

10. Has your guide dog ever gotten you into any embarrassing situations?

 

Not long after we qualified, Jazzy initiated herself as a true student by scoffing someone’s discarded kebab from the floor and reproducing it later on in the middle of my lecture. Such a fresher!

 

11. What is your guide dog like on harness?

 

Jazzy is quite sensitive so she needs a lot of encouragement on harness. She is a brilliant worker and her distraction levels are reasonably low. Like I mensioned she has a fantastic memory and I know she loves her job because her tail is always wagging.

 

12. What are some of your guide dogs quirks?

 

Jazzy acts as my personal alarm by shaking her whole body repeatedly until the bell on her play collar wakes me up. She never sleeps when we’re out, she’s always people watching and will make sure to position herself with a good view. She has a habit of rubbing herself on your legs, a lot like a cat. If you sit on the floor, she will definitely try to sit on you. She is very interested by anyone putting on socks or shoes and will have her face right beside your feet, watching closely. When I let her off for a free run she jumps and prances like a lamb, before rolling like a mad thing in the long grass.

That’s just to name but a few!

 

13. Where does your guide dog seem to work the best?

 

Jazzy can get bored quite easily so I definitely think she works best on new routes, whether that be in the middle of the city or a quiet neighbourhood. She’s a very inquisitive dog.

 

14. What is your guide dogs favourite thing to do when off harness?

 

Playing tug of war, eating carrots, sitting on my lap or running wild.

 

15. Has your guide dog ever done anything that goes beyond the call of duty?

 

I’ve recently realised that Jazzy is very atune to my emotions. I think she goes beyond the call of duty every time she nudges my hand when I’m feeling anxious and every time she plonks herself in my lap when I’m upset. She’s my calming influence and my comfort blanket.

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about my beautiful life changer on #InternationalGuideDogDay and please check out my Dog Blogs for an insite into Jazzy’s world.

 

If you’re a guide dog owner, why not complete the guide dog tag about your own furry friend.

 

I nominate The Upside Down Chronicles to complete this tag