What's up dog?

Bred by Guide Dogs NZ, and trained as one for the first few years of his life, Brody œcareer changed to become a Mobility Dog in 2020 where he completed his advanced training before being matched with me in 2021. He is half golden retriever, half Labrador, and as we like to say, 100% kangaroo. When hes excited, he bounces up and down on all fours, especially when its time to put on his jacket and get to work. Brody is happiest when hes helping someone - just ask him to do something for you, and his tail starts wagging a mile a minute. Hell happily do the same task over and over, just for the joy of getting to help (although a few pats or treats occasionally dont hurt either!) Before becoming disabled, I puppy raised two Mobility Puppies from 8-weeks old to ~18months old, after which they went off to advanced training, and ultimately, placement as working dogs. As a puppy raiser, I had seen first hand how incredible these dogs can be, and knew in practice the tasks they could do, and in theory the way this would benefit someone in the future.

Now two years on, its almost impossible to name all the ways Brody helps me, from the day to day tasks he completes which give me independence, to helping me run a small business at home and find purpose in each day. Brody allows me to pace my energy, as well as save energy in countless ways. He does this by completing tasks I am no longer able to do, or might just be too difficult to complete with my health that particular day. Brody can bring me my medication, fetch things from another room when I am unable to get out of bed, or go get my husband for help when I need it. He is trained to open and shut doors, to bark on command for help, and to ˜brace to help me get up off the floor when I need assistance. He also provides Deep Pressure Therapy where he lays across my legs or chest to provide pressure which in turn helps lower my heart rate, and helps calm my central nervous system when I get overwhelmed.

One of his favourite things to fetch is my slippers, but thats probably because it usually means Ill be getting up soon and then it will be breakfast time! The incredible thing about Brody is all the little ways he has learnt to help me, without being trained. Such as standing extra close to me in case I fall when standing or getting dressed on days Im feeling particularly wobbly - sometimes even before Ive noticed that Im not feeling so well.

He enables me to run my small business Books for Less, which I set up after becoming disabled. Not only does he assist in all the practical ways, hes also become somewhat of a mascot, and is probably more well known on our social media than me! As a bookshop dog, he constantly brightens peoples day with his silly antics and amazing tasks, as well as shining a light on the incredible work that Mobility Dogs do.