Webster - Our Guide Dog
As far as we know Webster is the first Guide Dog to have his own page on the Internet.
LAW on the WEB got together with the Guide Dog for the Blind Association (www.guidedogs.org.uk) and agreed to sponsor Webster as he underwent his training to try and become a guide dog.
With the help of his puppy walking family, his Puppy Walking Supervisor and trainers at Leamington, he is now a fully-fledged guide dog. You can follow his progress from puppy to his new career as Vaughan Rees' best friend, here on Webster's own page. We hope you enjoy reading these pages, and that just maybe you might be inspired to also help out with the GDBA's great work. There are plenty of ways as you'll see from their site.
Webster Updates (simply click on a date to take you there)
June 2001 (7 months old)
This is our first visit to see Webster in his puppy walking family home near Bromsgrove, just outside Birmingham. They took Webster on just before Christmas last year, when he was just 8 weeks old and he is their first guide dog puppy. They will keep him and look after him for the first year or so of his life, and, with the aid of Jason Mann, the local Puppy Walking Supervisor, they will train Webster to behave properly in all types of situations and settings - supermarkets, shopping centres, at schools, offices, at home, with people, with other dogs etc. They also have to deal with the more mundane matters of house training, obedience and general behaviour. After this Webster will return to the Leamington Spa Guide Dog Centre for another 6-8 months of training in how to become a guide dog.
Webster is only seven and a half month's old, but he is already a big dog. When we arrive, complete with our two young children, he is very excitable, but he soon settles down. He is used to children as his puppy walking family have two of their own of similar ages.
Jason is pleased with Webster's progress to date. There have been relatively few problems with him so far, although other dogs are proving to be a bit too much of a temptation at the current time. He's due at the vets tomorrow though for "the snip", which will probably go a long way to curing this problem. Only 65% of all dogs that the GDBA start in training actually make the grade, but things are looking hopeful for Webster, even at this relatively early stage in his guide dog career. We'll follow him as he grows up and give you regular monthly updates and photos. If you have any comments or questions email us webster@lawontheweb.co.uk
July 2001 (8 months old)
Webster is continuing to make good progress and has gone to the Centre at Leamington for a short "kennel break". This is to give him a chance to get used to the kennel environment/routine for a short period (1-2 weeks) while he is still a puppy, so it does not come as a shock to him when he starts his training for real in a few months time. While Webster is in at the Centre he will be walked by one of the trainers, his day will be as follows....
7:30am Wake up call, Webster will be let out, along with his kennel mate Brian, the black labrador, while his kennel is cleaned.
9:00am Breakfast is served
Webster is groomed and checked check for any health problems.
Webster is returned to his kennel with toys/bones to play with.
11:00am Webster is taken for a walk and practices his obedience.
He is returned to his kennel for a well deserved rest.
2:00pm Webster goes for a run
3:45pm Tea time
5:00pm Webster has an early evening sleep
7:00pm Webster is put out in the grass and plays with other dogs.
9:30pm Lights out. Webster goes to be bed.
August 2001(9 months old)
Jason saw Webster for a quick visit on Friday 10th August (longer visit in 3 weeks time) and took him to the train station. He was very good and didn't even notice the train come in and was happy to jump on and off. He continues to make good progress.
While he was in on his kennel break he was walked by one of the trainers who thought he was at a good standard for his age. He happily went into all environments (town conditions + quiet areas) also displaying good obedience. Webster also seems to have overcome his problem of being distracted by other dogs while working. At the training centre he would happily walk past other dogs without trying to pull towards them.
Jason is very pleased with Webster. He is a lovely dog, who is happy and confident in all areas, and all he really needs now is time to mature.
November 2001 (1 year old)
Webster arrived for training at Leamington very excited and curious about what was in store for him. He quickly settled into to his kennel with his two kennel mates (two black labradors).
Webster is looked after by Andrew who takes care of all the dogs in block 2. His trainer is Cheryl. At present she has 6 dogs in training, five are black so Webster is the only yellow dog.
For the month of November she concentrated on bonding with Webster and familiarising him to his new environment. For the first few weeks she walked Webster in quiet areas encouraging him to focus on her using a toy. Toys and treats were also used to reinforce obedience commands previously taught to him by his puppy walker. 
These commands include teaching Webster to be responsive to the following commands: Sit, Wait, Come, Stand, Steady, Heel, Down. Although quite bouncy and excitable (we can confirm this, and might add he's a pretty big!) Cheryl is pleased to say that Webster has a lovely nature and temperament and is settling in well.
December 2001
This month has seen Webster progressing to full-harness and being introduced to various aspects of guide-work. He is being taught to walk in a straight line and not wander around corners. This will enable his future owner to orientate themselves in the area they are travelling in.
Webster is also taught to sit at every down-kerb and wait until given the command "Forward". On hearing "Forward" Webster crosses the road and locates the pavement on the other side.
He is also being taught right shoulder work. This term is used to describe the dog's response to obstacles in the environment. E.g.. lampposts, people, etc. A dog will naturally avoid bumping into a post, however a guide dog needs to consider its owner in such situations, and leave enough room for them.
At present Webster is receiving full support with his training and is rewarded with praise or treats for each individual achievement. He is doing very well but is distracted by cats at times. It is because of this that Cheryl trains Webster in areas where there are cats and reward him for avoiding them.
January 2002 (14 months old)
Webster is progressing well in his full-harness. He can still be bouncy and excitable at times but is gradually learning that he is responsible for his trainer as well as himself. This improves his conscience and encourages him to concentrate and keep calm and steady.
Webster also has plenty of play sessions with his kennel mates, and often goes for a run with them in parks and fields. At present Webster is being familiarised to busy areas, slowing and stopping for crowds etc. However he is still receiving full handler support from his trainer.
February 2002
Webster is still gaining experience from walking in busy areas, however full support from his trainer, Cheryl, is gradually being withdrawn and Webster is taking responsibility for himself and being rewarded with praise and treats for doing so. Webster is still very excited and distracted by cats at times. He sometimes goes home with Kate (kennel staff) to habituate him with cats. Hopefully his fascination will lesson as he gets used to them.
March 2002
There has been a marked improvement with Webster's response to cats. Although excitable when they run, he will work past them and still remains responsive to commands.
Full support from Cheryl has continued to be withdrawn as Webster takes responsibility for guiding her in the environment.
Webster looks happy and relaxed and is progressing well in his work. Because of Webster's progress he has recently moved onto advanced training. His new trainer's name is Phil Brocklehurst. Phil will consolidate Webster's work for about 3 months. During this time Phil will be considering potential clients to whom Webster might be suited.
April 2002
Webster is fine.
Phil reports that he has been reinforcing all the skills that Webster had learnt with Cheryl. The main area that Phil is concentrating on is crowd work in busy areas. Webster will stop if the path isn't clear, walk on when it does become clear and guide around people when there is enough room. So far this is going very well.
May 2002
Webster is progressing and working well in all conditions. Phil is presently looking for a match for Webster. This will involve looking at people on our waiting list, assessing their needs and seeing if Webster would be suitable for them.
June 2002 (19 months old)
Webster continues to progress. He has been matched to a 60 year old gentleman who will be training with him at Leamington. We have heard from this gentleman's grandchildren, who are very excited about the fact that their Grandad may soon be getting a dog with his own presence in cyberspace. Fingers crossed for all concerned.
June 2003 (2 and half years old)
Webster qualified in July 2002, and his "graduation" picture takes pride of place in our office. We were very pleased recently to chat with his new "owner" Vaughan Rees. Vaughan is 62 and lost his sight in a road traffic accident a few years ago. Webster is his first guide dog and he has "surpassed any expectations" that Vaughan had of him.
"He is superb. A Rolls Royce with autopilot", Vaughan told us. Webster has given Vaughan the confidence to do things he would never have attempted before on his own, including trips to London and using the London underground. Webster had never encountered an underground station or trains before, but he coped admirably.
Webster is enjoying life in the countryside - chasing the odd rabbit, and has his own lighting system for walks at night. And just to make sure he stays fit and healthy he has his very own electric toothbrush.
We are thrilled that Webster has found a happy home and is the Web Star we knew he would be.