I am Ike, I am a ten-year-old "ex-guide dog for the Blind". I am a 3/4 Golden Retriever, I enjoy dog agility and going for walks.

I was born on 19th May 1990, one of four puppies bred from Guidewell Tait(GR) and Alma(GRxYLAB). At the age of six weeks, I came to my puppy walkers. I was a very naughty puppy, I used to jump over the fence and run out the door when it was open. I also used to steal things that weren't mine, especially from upstairs where I wasn't allowed. In April 1991 I left my puppy walkers to go to the training centre. Here I was trained by Jay Taylor at Redbridge, she said this about me on 7 June 1991:

"Ike has settled down well into kennels and to his work. He appears to be a bright, willing dog although slightly sensitive at times

He walks out well after a few problems at the start, but now his attachment to me has improved he is working satisfactorily. Ike can be a bit aloof and stubborn when he is working and when distracted he can switch off from the handler. He has shown some dog distractions and has a great love of people walking past him and can try and jump up at them. I think some of this is due to the fact that he is a bit immature, but hopefully this will improve with time."

In late October 1991 I was moved from Redbridge to Wokingham Training Centre, at this time Jay Taylor wrote about me again:

"Ike is progressing well in his work and appears to be very quick to learn all the tasks asked of him.

Ike's attitude to work has greatly improved and his aloofness and stubbornness has decreased. His dog distraction and other distractions have decreased and he now takes his work very seriously, although he does have a very relaxed and laid back attitude when working.

Ike's social behaviour has improved and his obedience is of good standard, including his recall when free-running. He appears to be maturing into a very nice dog and, hopefully, will continue to progress well."

I qualified as a guide dog at the end of February 1992, my new blind owner was called David Cooper. I went to live with him down in Goring-by-Sea, near Worthing, West Sussex.

In June 1992 I went with Dave to Cliffden, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Holiday centre. While there I met another dog called Mara and her owner, Margaret. In the December 1993 edition of Forward the Journal of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association this was printed:

"David was walking with Ike his golden retriever in the hotel grounds, when Ike stopped, tail wagging, to greet another dog. It was Mara, Margaret's dog. The couple started talking and got on so well that they spent the whole week together.

Within a month, David visited Margaret in Belfast, and in January they got engaged. Wedding bells rang on July 24 when they got married at Jenny Mount Methodist Church in Belfast, and they were joined in church by Ike, Mara and Dora, Margaret's retired guide dog.

The couple returned to Cliffden for their honeymoon, where their romance had begun."

On Wednesday 6th October 1993 I returned to my orgininal puppy walkers after they agreed to adopt me, where I now live as a normal pet.

In May 1994, Sharon and I started doing dog agility with Letchworth DTC. Click here to go to their site. My Kennel Club registered name is Ike of Stanborough. I go regularly to agility competitions, but am not very good, my friendly nature makes me want to run off to the people, especially the judge!

Here are some photographs of me doing agility:


Sharon and I at Bretons in 1999

This is a Starters Agility course

I got 10 faults

Once I slipped up and got it right - at only my second show in 1996 at Cippenham! It was raining, all of my clear rounds were in the rain and two of them at Cippenham.

I retired from dog agility at the end of 2000 at the age of ten.

I am now thirteen and still enjoy carrying the shopping in from the car, going to the park and having rides in the car. I live with new puppy, Lady. Below are some pictures of me taken on my 13th birthday.

Created: 20th March 1997
Last Modified: 16th October 2003