Hi, my name is Heartly. I'm a 3-year old, female black labrador.
I'm referred to by most members of the public as "a blind dog," but, I am not blind by any stretch. It would be bad if I was, for my owner is blind, and that's my job to guide her through the environment safely. It is not my job to take her where Mum wants to go; she still needs to know herself, but I'm her eyes. Nor is it my job to make the correct decissions in regards to crossing roads; she still has to listen for cars; doing the "look right, look left" deal (okay, listen right and left then.) In saying this though, part of my training involves me stopping for cars if Mum is day dreaming and started to cross the road prematurely.
Let me tell you about my life so far:

I was born into theGuide dog Association of Victoria, where I stayed with my Mum Imogen, my father Fimba, my two sisters and three brothers til I was six weeks old.
Then I went to a family who volunteered to raise me. They were required to, not necessarily train me, but to socialize me to different environments. This meant they took me practically everywhere they went. I went to the movies with them, to the football, (yes, they were real big on the football) and, as they lived near the beach, we always went there.
Well, after twelve months of being with them, (on my first birthday infact) the dreaded phone call came. I knew it was someone from guide dog's, wanting to take me away because I heard Mum (as I called her) say to Dad "we've got to say goodbye to her tomorrow. Next week she'll be assessed, and if she passes, our dog will become a blind person's guide dog, can you believe that?" My Mum was laughing with excitment, but crying at the same time. I was also excited, but sad at the same time.
The next morning, we had visiters. All the friends of my puppy-walking family came to see ... me! I felt very proud. They kept on saying "I'm sure you'll do it heartly. But we'll miss you." A few hours later, I was in the car with my parents, heading for dog school in Melbourne. It was a long drive, but I didn't care as I was getting plenty of pats. Once at the school, we met with my future trainer. I was shy as I hadn't seen this man before. He patted me and said "hello Heartly. I saw you when you were just a little puppy." I thought I was a little puppy still, but, I had been told I'd grown over the twelve months I was in aspendale with my ... parents? nah, not any more. Oh no, what's happening. The woman, who had been so kind to me was crying now, which made it worse for me. The trainer put his arm around her, "she'll be fine. We'll look after her." What? Where, what will I be doing? Then, both the Aspendaler's bent down and hugged me. "goodbye Heartly. We love you. Please do your best, good luck. We wish we can keep you, but that's probably not meant to be. Goodbye," After a while I gave them both a friendly lick, and they walked off. I stared after them, and they stared back at me and waved. Then I turned, the trainer put my leash on, and I was put in a kenil with a few other dogs my age.
I soon got to know them, and, boy, did we have a great time. I went through a busy week though. I went through days of being heeled around on leash through different environments; residential streets, shopping strips, boy, I walked the whole town it seemed! But after the week was up, I got to spend the weekend with one of my trainers. I had passed. And, the very next week, my training of becoming a guide dog was to commence. Well, the first week of my oficial training was spent doing much the same as my assessment week. I was just being heeled everywhere you could think of. It wasn't long before something called a "guiding harness" was strapped around me. The trainer would hold a handle, and I would lead him around obsticles such as overhanging tree branches, cars that were parked illegallyy, etc etc. I was also taught to stop at every curb I came too, and when I heard the comand "forward" I was to start walking across the road. Week by week I was then introduced to public transport; trains, trams and busses as well as how to sit properly in cars. Well, before I knew it, I was eighteen months old and my training was drawing to a finish. All my other kennil mates had also been through the extensive training I had. By this time I'd gotten to know my trainer exceptionally well, and I'd grown to love him. I wondered what all this is for? what's going to happen to me now? It was the weekend at last, and, the trainer had a little meeting with our kennil. He told us that our future handellers were to arrive here at the school on Monday where they will commence training. "What training?" I wondered. Well, all seemed quiet for the next couple of days. The only time we saw people were when the kennil girls would come with our food and water, as well as cleaning the kennils. I was puzzled. "what is going on?" But I had little time to wonder. For it was apparently Tuesday afternoon when my wonderful trainer started getting us all out our kennil one by one, leashing us, and taking us inside the residential training house. "oh, here we go again," I thought as a leash was attached to my collar, and it was my turn to be taken inside the building. We went into a room where a girl was sitting on a chair, she appeared to be waiting for something or someone. Of course, being the kind of friendly, excitable dog I am, I naturally rushed up to her and wagged my tail as she started to stroke me. The trainer uttered a few words, then left, leaving me and her together. I started bounding all over her bed, running around like a mad thing, just to let her know I was cool. All she did was drag me back where she started stroking me again. Well, it wasn't long before the girl gave me her name. I like the name Rachel, how nice! Well, I am Rachel's guide dog. Over the four weeks we stayed in the centre, we went on many outings with my trainer (also Rachel's instructor.) We basically went over all the routes I walked in training, but this time I was in the hands of a realistic blind person. It was, from then on, my responsibility to keep her safe and free of any obsticles in our path or overhanging.

Now we're at home, it's been even better.
Mum and myself recently moved out of home (of which my grandparents and aunt is living) and into our own small unit.
I love it here! And I still get to see my other family heaps. They often bring me home to run around my old big backyard. I just love going for runs once in a while, even though my Mum does take me on a lot of walks.
From last year she went back to study. She is, I think, doing her VCE, though she says she had already done it before. Anyway, it's great fun! We go into the city, and the CAE (Centre For Adult Education) is right next to Flinders Station; how convenient for my loving Mum!
Last year she did English, Psychology and Human Development. This year she is doing literature, Religion in Society and year 11 Drama.
She hopes to go onto uni to study "secondary education" next year!
She tells me that ever since she got me, it is way easier for her to make friends, though her confidence now has a lot to be desired.