Guide dog user Hong Sen posing for a photo with his guide dog Clare.

Woof! Hi there, I’m Clare, a proud guide dog and this is my story. For the past seven years, I’ve been working with my blind human, Hong Sen, helping him navigate life safely and confidently. Let me take you on a little journey through my paws, uh, I mean shoes (do dogs wear shoes? Let’s pretend they do).

From Melbourne to Singapore

Guide dog Clare as a puppy, peacefully sleeping curled up on the floor.
Guide dog Clare as a puppy, basking in the sun alongside her dog friend.
Guide dog Clare wearing her training vest.

I was born in Melbourne, where I trained to be a guide dog. Training was intense! I learnt commands like “forward,” “stop,” and how to guide my user around obstacles. By the time I turned two, I was basically a guide dog prodigy and was ready to meet my forever partner. That’s when I met this strange man named Hong Sen.

Our First Meeting

Guide Dog User-Hong Sen And his Guide Dog entering MRT gantry.

Our first meeting? Let’s just say it was… awkward. I thought, who is this guy and does he think he’s in charge? During training, I had my own ideas about which routes to take because, let’s face it, I knew best. But then this guy had the nerve to try steering me in directions that made no sense. I was like, Um, excuse me, sir, do you even know what you’re doing? It wasn’t exactly love at first sight, but over time, we figured each other out. Turns out, Hong Sen wasn’t so bad after all. He learnt to trust me (because I’m awesome), and I learnt to go with his flow (begrudgingly, at first). Now, we are the dream team, and honestly, I can’t imagine life without him… though I do reserve the right to roll my eyes when he gets in my way.

Daily Adventures

Clare lying on a cat soft toy and appears to be sleeping.
Clare appears to be sleeping. She is wearing a ladybug inspired outfit.
A yellow labrador guide dog, Clare, is lying on her back. She is biting her rope toy while her user watched her.

Every weekday morning, I guide Hong Sen to his office. It’s my job to keep him safe, and I take it very seriously. Guiding is like solving a puzzle. I need to make sure we avoid obstacles, cross streets safely, and get to where we need to go.

When we arrive at the office, my work slows down a bit. While Hong Sen is busy typing away at his desk, I enjoy a well-deserved snooze. Sometimes, his coworkers come by to play with me. They’re all so nice, always bringing me new toys. But they also have this funny habit of dressing me up. One time, they put a ladybug outfit on me. I mean, I didn’t sign up to be a fashion icon, but hey, if it makes them happy…

Trained to Toilet on Command

A close-up of guide dog Clare wearing her toileting harness.

Here’s something cool about me: I’m trained to toilet on command. Yes, you read that right. My human takes me out at specific times, and I do my business when he says the word. I know, it’s amazing. Most dogs would call it a superpower. It’s all part of being a professional guide dog, and I’m pretty proud of it.

Weekends Are for Fun

Guide dog Clare in a taxi ride.
A close-up of three yellow Labradors smiling at the camera; they appear to be covered in mud.
A guide dog seated beneath a table in a coffee shop.

Weekends are the absolute best because that’s when things get a little more exciting! Hong Sen often meets up with his friends, and of course, I guide him to cafes, parks, or restaurants. It’s usually a lot of fun, but sometimes there’s a hiccup. Some restaurants don’t let me in, even though I’m legally allowed to be there. I can see how exhausting and frustrating it is for Hong Sen to deal with these situations. He handles it with so much grace (better than I would, honestly), but I wish more people understood and respected the law.

On the brighter side, weekends also come with special perks. Occasionally, guide dog users arrange meet-ups, which means play dates with my colleagues! It’s like the ultimate doggie reunion. We run, play, and share all the juicy gossip about our humans. It’s a good time. After all, even hardworking guide dogs need some fun and socialising too.

We also meet lovely people on the street. Some smile, ask about me, or compliment how beautiful I am. But here’s a little PSA: when you see me wearing my harness, I’m working. I know it’s hard to resist petting me because, well, I’m adorable, but please don’t distract me. My job is to keep my human safe, and I take that responsibility very seriously.

So yeah, weekends are a mix of adventures, challenges, and a whole lot of tail-wagging fun. Just don’t forget to respect the working dog rules when you see me on duty, okay? Thanks! Woof.

The Joy of Being a Guide Dog

A collage of two photos the right photo shows a blind user sitting with guide dog Clare resting calmly beneath his leg, while the left photo is a close-up of Clare smiling brightly in her working harness.

Life as a guide dog is full of love, challenges, and little victories. I get to spend every day helping my best friend navigate the world, and in return, I’m showered with love, belly rubs, and the occasional treat. Sure, I have to deal with the occasional ladybug outfit in my fur, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

So, that’s my story so far. If you ever see me on the street, give me a smile and a friendly hello, but remember, no petting while I’m working! Thanks for taking the time to read about my life. I’m Clare, the guide dog, and I love what I do. Woof woof! 🐾

So yeah, weekends are a mix of adventures, challenges, and a whole lot of tail-wagging fun. Just don’t forget to respect the working dog rules when you see me on duty, okay? Thanks! Woof.