It's the time we know you've all been waiting for - the third pupdate for our Sponsored pup from Guide Dogs!
Douglas has had a little bit of a setback this time, his Puppy Raiser Caroline said she noticed that he wasn't being himself, as usually loves tummy rubs and cuddles, but he'd been a lot quieter.
After a trip to the vet, it seems that Douglas has some problems with his joints in his front legs, so he's got some scans and tests booked in and hopefully they'll find out more soon!
Caroline has made Douglas' walks a little bit shorter, and he is now on pain medication which has made him more comfortable.
Caroline says "I want to make sure that Douglas doesn't become bored whilst resting, as he's used to being out and about. As we don't want to put too much pressure on his joints, we're only doing leisurely walks"
They recently took a trip to the local cricket pitch following one of these shorter walks, and Douglas was able to relax and watch the cricket match, where he kindly and calmly sat next to an elderly gentleman to give him reassurance. The wife of the gentleman asked if Caroline and Douglas could stay with the gentleman while she got a drink, as he suffers with dementia but loves dogs. Douglas waited for his cue from his Raiser, and he leaned into the gentleman. "It was the sweetest thing to watch, and helped Douglas learn that there are some situations where being calm and quiet are important" says Caroline.
Before Douglas' slight setback, Caroline said he was making great progress, but he's become much calmer around other dogs now and his recall has really improved - she's very proud of him!
And we at CTL are too, what a lovely young pup he is!
Did you know that although Labradors & Golden retrievers are the most common pure breeds in the Guide Dogs UK training programme (and historically crossing these 2 breeds has produced the most successful guide dogs) but did you know that Guide Dogs UK also breed and train German shepherds, poodles and curly coated retrievers? As well as becoming successful guides, they have other benefits as longer strides, and they can shed less hair, which can prove very beneficial for guide dog owners with allergies to dog hair!
Keep your eyes peeled for the next pupdate!
All pictures taken from the Guide Dogs UK Pupdate booklet.
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