Yay - got them. Don't know what the problem was this morning.

Bengie looks such a sweet ole fella with his greying muzzle. Gorgeous.

Thanks Paul.

wonderful to read Bengie's story Paul,

really brings it home to you just how much we take our pets for granted, when in fact they can do so much good.

i am sure all the kids can't wait to see him again,

thanks for posting.

Suzanne

Week 3

Well we're really getting into the swing of things now. Bengie has learned that the PAT collar and lead are different from his normal collar and lead and that when we put them on him he knows what to expect.

Let's see - today's highlights....

Well the 14 year old girl (M) who has had a bit of a tough time recently and is very shy is really getting to know him. She volunteered the information that she is going to be making a 'Bengie's Room' sign for the door of the parents' room that we use as our base. She groomed and stroked him. Then she asked if she could take Bengie for a walk. So off we went, on a tandem lead so that I could be in control while she led the way along the corridor, stopping at the head teacher's office to say hallo, then right to the end of the corridor saying hallo to people along the way, Up the stairs to the second floor and back along the way we had come, saying hallo to many people again. Finally we got to the stairs at the other end of the hallway that led us back down again and Bengie was brilliant. M was a little unsure of herself on the stairs and Bengie's guide dog instincts kicked in immediately as he paused, slowed down and turned to check on her as he took each step at her pace, waiting while she prepared herself for the next one. If it had been in public there wouldn't have been a dry eye in the house!

Taking the children back to their classrooms at the end of the session has become an established routine now and they all really enjoy it. We have also started to go to classrooms to collect children for the start of their sessions, although we had some unexpected outcomes. We went to the soft play room to collect a little boy (H) to bring him back to our base. But H was having such a good time he did not want to come. Instead, all the other pupils in the room, including some who had seen Bengie in previous sessions gathered around for some boisterous hugs. Bengie picked up some of the soft balls they had and they all thought that was fun. If it hadn't been for his tough claws on the inflatable mats I think Bengie would have had a good old romp with them all in soft play.

There will be a pause in our visits now as we're off on holiday and then it's half term and we made sure that they all understood that because there is a lot of anticipation in the kids now.

Another great success, you must be so proud of (yourself and) Bengie.

Enjoy your holiday.

Angie

I forgot to add that one of the more able pupils took Bengie's photo. The plan is to add it to the gallery of photos of all the staff - the only canine member!

this is lovely I think both you and bengie have a calming effect paul,it deffo reads to me you get as much enjoyment as the dog and the little humans do,hats off to you,dorothy

Pets as Therapy have asked me to post a picture of Bengie working on the local group's facebook page. I hope to get one of the lad with the phobia (or should I say ex-phobia). Just need to get parental permission. I'll post a link to the facebook page when we have it.

Awwww, that's so lovely... Well done Bengie

Our daughter was absolutely petrified of dogs till we bought Bob home.... He's a big lab but we call him our gentle giant It's amazing how children respond to dogs.

Louise

Bengie @ Hexham Priory School - Week 5

Another good visit today the highlights of which were that M, the girl who had volunteered to make a sign for Bengie's room delivered it to us today 'Bengie's Office - Woof!' it says.

The other highlight was an impromptu fire alarm, caused by the cooking of pancakes. So we all traipsed outside while the children waited for the fire engine to turn up. The little boy J who had been leading Bengie around the classroom got to walk him all the way out to the assembly area, and back again by which time he was so attached to Bengie that he did not want to go back to his classroom!

The whole school got to pet Bengie in the playground and then we all waved goodbye to the firemen. A great time was had by all.

Fortunately it was a sunny afternoon.

just had a look at the pictures of the gorgeous Benji , what a lovely thing to do x