Meet Paddy's Pack
Paddy the leader of the pack
Phantom loves to strike pose!
Pickles by the seaside.
Pixie loves to shop!
Pup of the month: Paddy!
Age: One year
Breed: Golden Retriever
D.O.B: September 11th 2020
Favourite Things: Listening to live music with my carer
Training Update: Practicing wearing walking equipment e.g a head collar
Fun Fact: I am a sensitive soul
Your generosity gifted Debbie with independence,
a renewed sense of purpose in life and companionship.
Debbie, who is legally blind, was this year matched with her first Seeing Eye Dog, Zazu. This remarkable working dog was also just recently a sponsored pup and spokes-puppy for ‘Zazu’s pack’.
Although the two have only been working together for a short time, Debbie said Zazu has made a huge impact in her day-to-day life.
“I can’t see much out and about. I find moving around in social spaces and crowds the most difficult. I hadn’t realised it before but in the last few years, I’ve started to become anxious in those situations.
I’ve tripped and hit the deck a couple of times which is a real shock. Those little things compound and really make you lose your confidence.
Zazu’s given me more independence, a lot more reason to get out and walk more. She’s definitely one in a million. She’s very, very clever and a lot of fun.
I would like to say thank you to everybody because it’s a huge process to raise these dogs. Sounds like a cliché but they really do change lives.”
Catch up on what Paddy's Pack have been up to!
Paddy's Pack Latest Update - No.4
Woof! Hi it’s me, Paddy. Writing to you is one of my most favourite things to do. I love sharing all the adventures from our pack with you. We have been having so much fun! And guess what? We turned ONE in September. Aren’t we growing up fast?
Before I tell you of our other adventures, I want to thank you again for being such an incredible supporter of our pack. It means the world to us. With you by our side, we are getting the very best training and working hard to be the best Seeing Eye Dogs puppies-in-training we can be.
When I last wrote to you, I remember I told you a bit about my siblings Pixie, Pickles and Phantom. Today, I want to tell you all about what my sisters Pony and Pixie have been up to.
I’ve enclosed a photo of Pony sitting by the fireplace with one of her best friends, a cat. Sitting in
front of the fire before bedtime is one of her favourite things to do. Looks very cosy, doesn’t it?
Pony lives with her puppy carer Laura who says she is doing really well with her training but is not too keen on the ‘down’ cue. So, Laura is working with the puppy development trainer from Seeing Eye Dogs to help Pony master it.
I heard that Pony could get a bit excited when meeting people but she has really improved recently when she is in her puppy training coat. Oh, and something exciting happened a while back. Pony went for a stay at Seeing Eye Dogs HQ and the trainers were very happy with her. They said she is a sensitive soul but enjoyed her stay, spending her time working with the trainers and also having a good time playing with the other Seeing Eye Dogs puppies-in-training.
The other day, a big dog came right up to Pony when she was out walking with Laura. She did really well at ignoring it. I am super impressed!
Not becoming distracted is one of the most important things we need to learn to be a Seeing Eye Dog, I’ve had some good practice at that. One time I went out with my puppy carer Dan and his friends on a Saturday night in Chapel Street. At the restaurant, they had a DJ playing music.
It was loud but I heard Dan tell his friends that I was so good, it was like there was no music playing. Yipee for me!
Except for during lockdown, I go just about everywhere with Dan to get used to being in different environments. We go to Bunnings a lot and go grocery shopping. I even had a holiday in Brighton.
But my favourite thing is going to the fenced hockey field near my place to meet up with a puppy friend of mine. It’s so much fun to swap training stories and to have a run with another Seeing Eye Dogs pup.
My puppy development trainer is called Claire. She has helped Dan to make me feel more comfortable wearing walking equipment such as a head collar. But I did hear Claire tell him that my training is a ‘work in progress’. Oops! I promise I will keep practicing.
I know if I keep practicing really, really hard, I can grow up to be a Seeing Eye Dog. Yay! I will feel so proud to graduate as a Seeing Eye Dog. I can’t wait to be able to help someone who is blind or has low vision to live the life they choose.
My sister Pixie sends a big woof, hi! You won’t believe what her puppy carer Emma told Seeing Eye Dogs. “Pixie loves interacting with people. Pixie believes that everyone she meets is a paidup member of the Pixie Adoration Society.” Yes, that’s what she said! She loooves getting pats and attention from everyone. Of course, there are no pats when we are wearing our puppy training coats.
Pixie’s report card said she has to work on her bird and dog distraction skills, but “she is a beautifully calm pup when she’s working and has grown up to be a lovely responsive puppy.”
That’s just as well, because Pixie has spent some time at Seeing Eye Dogs HQ recently which she really enjoyed. I think that’s because she has such lovely manners and there are so many people and other Seeing Eye Dogs puppies-in-training to meet and play with there.
Pixie told me her best fur friend is Persia, a Labrador puppy. They play together – a lot, but Pixie knows when it’s time to stop play and be on her best behaviour to work on her skills and commands.
In Paddy’s pack, we all have different lives. But what we have in common is YOU! We are so very, very lucky to have amazing people like you helping us to grow up to be the best that we can be. We really couldn’t do our important job without your kindness and we are really thankful that you are sponsoring our pack.
Thank you again for all your support for Paddy’s Pack. It means the world to us that you are by our side and sharing in our adventures. We will continue to try our hardest to make you proud.
Until my next update, HUGE puppy cuddles – oh, and Merry Christmas: it’s almost Santa time! So, I have enclosed a couple of Christmas cards for you. I’m so excited for Christmas and can’t wait to tell you all about it when I write to you again soon.
Paddy xox
