I am very excited for them both.
They have been training at a hotel for a week now, Gypsy will be home with her this weekend, then another week at the hotel before they are partnered and qualify. I think about them both often, every day and wonder how they are getting on. Gypsy did really well at Big School and had a wonderful trainer. But I know she will really love being settled in one place with a daily routine. She will be her owner's first guide dog.
So a line of firsts for Gypsy - she was my first guide dog puppy, her trainer's first pup as a GDMI (Guide Dogs Mobility Instructor) and her owner's first guide dog.
(We now have puppy 2 - http://twigletgdp.blogspot.co.uk/ )
Last week we went to a hotel and met Gypsy's trainer, then followed them at a distance while she worked for about twenty minutes. She was amazing, she didn't put one paw wrong. It was a very busy town and she was as steady as it's possible to be. She's only 18 months old.
She got our scent on the wind towards the end of her walk and kept looking back!
Then we met her at the hotel - she knew us instantly and jumped all over us. We gave her her presents and her trainers told us about her new owner. We spent over an hour with her.
It was very emotional and incredibly special. She has grown up SO much and darkened a lot in colour, she's fox red now! - while her nose has pinkened even more!
I was proud and thrilled. I shed a tear as we left her, of course, but - at the same time - I can see that she's ready for an amazing job ahead of her and I wish them both all the joy in the world.
Here is a short video of our day -
http://vid1106.photobucket.com/albums/h371/BoogiesAlbum/Meeting%20Gypsy.mp4
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