Dear Martinborough People, Because I am a well bred labrador I know the right thing to do when leaving a place is to say “thank you for having me”.
I have had a lovely time living on Todds Road for the last eighteen months. This rural life has suited me down to the ground. The smells and distractions (some of which were forbidden) on Shooting Butts Road each morning will be an enduring memory. I loved shopping at PandK. Thank you all for being so kind and helping me to learn quickly. The lovely people at Mitre 10 were my favourite – lots of great smells there too. But it was the floor at Nara that I loved the best – always needed a good licking! Sorry (not sorry), Dan.
Thank you especially to the Labradorian speakers amongst you – Rebecca and Sophie in particular. It’s always good to know that there are special people out there who really get being a lab. Not always easy of course, because our noses are so good at finding food – often the sort we are not supposed to have (Sarah was so strict on this!)
I am off to live in special digs in Auckland (a bit like university for guide dog trainees). Sarah and Martin were great as trainers (Martin was my bestie), but there’s only so much they can teach me. I need the real professionals now.
So, thank you all so much for having me. It’s been a blast. I have heard rumour that there will be a new guy in town – short, small and black, named Rocket. He’ll be wearing the Blind Low Vision New Zealand uniform when he’s out and about (bit embarrassing, but those are the rules). No doubt he will be very cute and possibly quite good looking. It comes with the territory, so they tell me. ah, well.
Yours pawfectly sincerely Brian (Guide Dog in Training)
Submitted on behalf of Brian by Sarah and Martin Harvey who have learned much from raising Brian
3 Life Lessons from Living with a Labrador
- Find joy in the ordinary things each day.
- Love your people and check on them regularly.
- Know what’s for dinner and always have it on time.
