Troy

Date of birth: November 30, 1987.

Breed: Golden Retriever cross Yellow Labrador.

Puppy walkers: Gerald and Liz Hodge, Devon.

Trainer for advanced stage: Emma Hebard.

When qualified: June 1989.

Notes: Troy was the 50th guide dog to qualify from the Cardiff training centre.

Nickname(s): Troy-boy, Troybles.

Something that always reminds me of the three weeks training I did with Troy is a song. Beautiful South had just released what was to become their first hit, Song for Whoever, which took them to no. 2 in the UK charts. I remember Red Dragon Radio playing it like there was no tomorrow. At first I really didn't like it, but after three weeks of constantly hearing it on the radio, it finally grew on me, and, as I say, it now brings back some wonderful memories of some very hot days during June 1989.

Troy used to have great fun playing with another guide dog in our town whose name was John. He was Emlyn Taylor's guide dog, and we used to meet at the local day centre. It wasn't long before Troy and I would take a walk to town to visit Emlyn and John at their home. I remember one day, I needed to go to town, and didn't have time to call in to see Emlyn. Troy on the other hand thought that was exactly where we were going, and tried to cross the road to get to their house at every available chance. When he finally realised that we weren't going to see them that day, my right shoulder somehow firmly met a lampost! Punishment maybe?

Another funny moment took place when Su, Troy and I went shopping in Kwik Save. We were walking around the aisle when this little old lady spotted Troy and began making a real big fuss of him. All of a sudden, there's Troy on his back, legs in the air, still wearing his harness, having his belly rubbed! I turned to su and said in a lowish voice-but loud enough for the lady to hear: " "I wonder, if I laid on my back, would she tickle my belly too?" The next thing I know this gentleman who was stood just behind me to my right starts laughing out loud. I soon discovered that he was the lady's husband! They always spoke to us if they saw us in town after that.

During one holiday that we spent as a family at the Cliffden Hotel in Teignmouth, Devon, we booked in on a coach trip to the Shire Horse Centre near Plymouth. While there, Su's uncle Harry had taken me down to meet one or two of the horses, while Su kept hold of Troy for me. Apparently, he was quite agitated while I was with the horses, so much so that as Harry brought me back to Su, Troy pulled his lead clean through Su's hand, and ran as fast as he could towards me. I'm told that as he neared, he launched himself at me, all 5 stones of him, and his head met me perfectly in a rather personal area!! Needless to say, I crumbled to the floor in a heap.

On a visit to Su's family in Gosport, Hampshire, when we had both Troy and Isaac, Su's mum looked out of the back window and saw a dog tucking in to some apparently delicious fox droppings. Of course, Isaac being new, young and a bit of a wicked skins, and Troy being her baby, she told Su that Isaac was being disgusting and that Troy wouldn't do such a thing! Su, looking out of the window, was able to confirm that the dog who was enjoying that treat, was, in fact, Troy!