 One of Hectors great moments, in the water yet again. He doesn't mind if it's winter or summer, he just loves the water!!
Lots of tears were shed this morning when alas we had to say goodbye to Hector. I think I was close to being inconsolable. Myself and Hector got up real early and had our last walk on the sea front at 7am. Then it was home for breakfast, a play in the garden and a nice groom. Before we knew it the phone was ringing just after 9am to say that Stephen was on his way to collect Hector. We packed up his freshly washed favourite blanket and some of his favourite toys to have in the van on the journey to Cork. The task of putting Hector in the van was made easier because Nikita, his good friend was already in the van and they were going to travel to Cork together.
I still can't believe he is gone. Every time I came back into the house today I was expecting to be met with his wonderful and enthusiastic greeting that he always gave. The guys in Cork now have the privilege of having his most exuberant and joyous welcomes. That is something we will all miss dearly.
I am sure the Guide Dogs will keep us posted on Hector's progress. Heres wishing Hector the best of luck from us and to say we love him and we will miss him lots and lots.
Hugs and kisses from Aidan, Michele, Alice and Sarah.
 Marguerite brought Hector for a run on Monday with the delectable Chenna.  Hector and Sarah having there last little chat and play this morning.  The time eventually arrived where we had to say goodbye. Not one of my better moments, the tears were welling up and I could hardly talk.
Happy Birthday Hector and Papa!!!  Hector and Papa on the night of their birthday celebrations. Hi everybody, thought it was about time we gave you an up-date on how Hector has been getting along since the last blog.
Hector had his 1st birthday on the 17th of October which he celebrated with Papa, (Aidan's dad) who celebrated his 83rd birthday the same week.
 What has he got his eye on, another dog in the distance, one that might play with him, maybe!!! Another milestone that was reached recently was "The Breakfast with Hector show". It reached it's 1st birthday, which I am sure was well celebrated by all involved.
It has been hugely successful show, appealing to listeners who were fed up listening to the hum-drum, down-beat talk of recession, world economy and how the government and banks let us down!
 Hector having a little rest after his mad run and play at St Anne's Park the day of his 1st birthday! Any way, all that aside, lets talk about the main man himself, Hector. Hector has matured so much over the last few months, it is quite incredible how he turned from adolescent to a much more settled and calm dog. He is so easy to take anywhere. He is excellent in the supermarket, restaurants, coffee shops and great with young children. However he still has his odd mad moment when he has to get rid of his surplus energy. He has even stopped chasing our cat (well most of the time) and she is starting trust him a little too.
Hector; Yes, can you believe it, I am all grown up now, I am one, I am one, I am a big boy now!!! They are praising me non-stop at the moment so I suppose I must be doing something right!!!
I went to the park for a great big play on my birthday and then I shared my birthday with Papa, I didn't mind sharing it with Papa because I know he really loves me and he is always so nice to me.
He spent a couple of weeks on holidays with Caroline Brady and her family while we had mid term break and caught up on some commitments that could not be postponed.
 Ben Brady with Hector on the day Hector came back from his 3-week holiday with the Brady's, where he was really happy and very well looked after. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will be catching up with Hector the Godfather shortly for a radio interview.
Ciao......Michele and Hector!
We had a wonderful afternoon at St Annes Park, which is one of those real treasures that we have here in Dublin. St Annes Park spreads between, Clontarf, Killester, Dollymount and Raheny. It has an abundance of fabulous grounds with spectacular trees and foliage. It has an amazing amount of football pitches, pitch and putt course and tennis courts. How lucky can we be!!!The sun came out and soaked us with its autumn warmth. No need for rain coats or umbrellas. Each and every person was enthusiastic and obviously has Irish Guide Dogs close to their hearts. Even though we unfortunately didn't have access to the IGD Flashes people were still very generous and made donations. Thank you to all who came out and did the walk.
Don't forget to get out and walk today and support the IGDB by buying the HIGH-VIS FLASHES!!! BE SAFE, BE SEEN!!! The flashes are being sold for adults and children and they are even selling ones to fit around your dogs collar in pharmacy's and veterinary clinics nationwide.
We have the full support of Hector O'hEochagain and Roy Keane.
Roy Keane will be doing the local walk in Cork as a representative for the Irish Guide Dogs! Go on get out there and walk!!!
Ciao...
All across Ireland, IGDB have organised local walks through their network of volunteers and they're inviting you to bring along your friends, family and dogs to get active and walk for us in your community. IGDB Family Dog Walk is brought to you in association with Bayer (Drontal Complete Dog Wormer), Uniphar and Rotary International in Ireland. Bayer is sponsoring the campaign; Uniphar will be selling the bands through their network of pharmacies and vets, and Rotary International in Ireland will be supporting by organising walks in communities countrywide. There are two ways to support IGDB. You can: The reflective bands are a great safety accessory, especially during the autumn /winter months when days get shorter and darker. Ensure your family's safety by wearing them on your wrists or ankles. We also have a size suitable for your dog's neck! The visibility bands are on sale for €5 (pack of 2).You can also support IGDB by participating in one of the walks and raising money through sponsorship. IGDB Fundraising Team have sponsorship cards available for all walkers who'd like to help IGDB in this way. If you'd like to plan a walk in your community or if you would like to help IGDB sell their bands through your store, please contact Jennifer Foran-Smyth on Lo-call 1850 506 300 or direct on 021 487 8229 or e-mail [email protected].
Roy Keane and Hector O'hEochagain are both promoting and supporting the IGDB Family Dog Walk!!!
Hector (4-legged) and myself are going to be at "St Annes Park" tomorrow for 3pm. See you there!!!!
 Hector teaching Hector the ropes for broadcasting!
If you have never been to the National Ploughing Championships like me, then you must make it your business to mark it into your diary and go next year. It is for young and old alike. The Dublin Horse show is the same but different. The Dubs go the Horse Show for all the different horse class competitions, the retail stands and the social aspect of it. The National Ploughing Championships the competitions are different, its ploughing with machinery and horses, retail stands selling combine harvesters and the like and clothes and many other wares and lots of socialising.
The place was buzzing with a really light and fun atmosphere, lovely contrast to all the doom and gloom of the recession that bombards our lives everyday on the news and in the papers! Such a nice change!
Anyway we did our live interview, if only hector could talk it would be so much easier, I'm not that good at it and am really nervous. The 4 legged hector would be brilliant, if only he really could talk!!!!
Hector: You know what I think this broadcasting lark is just not for me, especially Hector's slot, I couldn't be getting up at that hour of the morning, as I have said many times before, I really do need my sleep and the idea of a six o'clock rise is just too much! Thanks for showing me the ropes though Hector, I do appreciate it!!
 The 2 Hectors with the wonderful volunteers who manned the IGDB Stand at The National Ploughing Championships!
Hector was really impressed with our 4 legged Hector. He couldn't believe how much
he had grown and he felt he was calmer and more settled.
We introduced a Halti to Hector last month as he was pulling a little too much sometimes and as he is such a big and strong dog we want to know that if any one who is not strong is able to walk him without the fear of him pulling them and Hector bringing them for a walk instead of the other way round!
Hector took to the Halti easily enough and walks really well on it. Hector O'hEochagain was easily able to manage the Halti.
Hector walked him around the grounds and called into the IGDB stand to say hello to all the volunteers. They had been there since early morning and would not be leaving till late that evening. They were doing this for the 3 days of the National Ploughing Championships.. Very committed volunteers.
We all went for a coffee after visiting the IGDB Stand and Hector under normal circumstances is really good at sitting quietly in a coffee shop or restaurant for a reasonable length of time. This day though he was not so good because he wouldn't eat his breakfast when we arrived, so needles to say after a couple of hours he was really hungry and he spent most of the time trying to eat all the old discarded chips of the ground while I was trying to drink my coffee.
Hector: I was hungry, whats a dog gotta do to get some grub!! I know, I know, I didn't eat my brekkie but I was just so excited with the whole journey and then all the new smells and people and those big big machines, I just couldn't eat then but the huger caught up on me, sorry Shell!
 Hector walking Hector alongside Paddy Delany the Head of fundraising for the IGDB.
Just before we went on air Paul Howard, aka Ross o'Carroll Kelly was being interviewed about his new book. He kindly stopped and allowed us to take a picture of him with Hector.
Hector: Yeah he gave Hector O'hEochagain his new book Mama Mia for keeps but he didn't give me one. i know I can't read but a freebie is a freebie!!!
 Hector with Paul Howard, aka, Ross O'Carroll Kelly at The National Ploughing Championships.
Don't forget guys mark your calendar for next years National Ploughing Championships! Talk soon...............
 Hector enjoying the sunshine - making the most of the few sunny days we may have left before winter hits! We have a bit of an exciting day tomorrow. We are going to the Ploughing Championships in the morning. We are meeting Hector O'hEochagain for a radio interview at 8.00am. That means we will have to tuck up in bed early tonight. A bit of beauty sleep will be required, as we will be on the road by 5.30 in the morning. Now thats an early start!
Paddy Delany, Head of Fundraising for the Irish Guide Dogs is traveling down in the morning. We will rendezvous at the Red Cow Inn and travel in one car.
I am really looking forward to the event.
Hector: Oh gosh, thats a bit early for me, I am going to have to snooze in the car, cos a dog like me needs his sleep. They can't expect me to be on top of my game and looking good unless I have had at least 10 hours sleep. If I get enough Zzzzzz's I reckon I will thoroughly enjoy the day. I heard Michele talking about it, it sounds really exciting and I am going to meet my Godfather again, yippeee.  Its never too early to start catching those zzzzz's! We will get as many photos as we can from the Ploughing Championships and put them up on the blog.
Ciao.....
Well since we were last in touch we have attended a puppy picnic in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Hector went on a sleep-over for a long weekend and generally having fun and growing up!!! We were also thrilled to have Ike our previous dog back with us for 5 days. Ike is a working Guide-Dog and is partnered to Darragh who has fallen head over heels for him. Hector was made up because he had someone to play with 24-hours a day.
We had a great afternoon at the puppy picnic as did the dogs. There was a really good turn out, with tiny young pups to the more mature and bigger dogs.... like Hector! i posted lots of photos from the afternoon onto the Irish Guide Dog's Facebook.
Jim in photo below along with another colleague organised this event on the grounds of Cathal Brugha Barracks. Both Jim and his colleagues work in the Army.
A huge big thanks to both of them for organising such a great picnic, it was so much fun. Thank you!  Here is Jim with another puppy walker, Jim was the organiser of the Puppy-picnic !!  Picnic is in full swing and Ken is here chatting to puppy walkers and checking how all the pups are doing.  Oh Guys, I just know this is going to be soooo much fun!!  Play for the big boys, great fun.  There were older puppies and then there were the lovely fluffy cute tiny pups!  And then there was a really tiny pup who just couldn't stay awake for it all!!! I felt very privileged to get the opportunity to meet Ike in June but then to actually have him come and stay for a few days was truly an added bonus.
Ike was one of those dogs that you would say has been here before! Ike never was giddy and silly, he was always mature and sensible and rarely had to be instructed more than once, he was so obedient. Ike was born with his graduation scroll in his paws!!!
Hector and Ike got on really well. Ike was very patient with the high energy Hector. He played loads with Hector but had quite a calming effect on Hector and when Ike felt play time was over he would let Hector know and they would both snuggle down for a snooze.
Darragh and Ike are a very well matched pair. Darragh is very diligent and very caring towards Ike. He is very focused and tuned into Ike, it is really wonderful to see someone work so hard and effortlessly to ensure they are the best team!! Well done Darragh. Darragh's partner Emma is also wonderful with Ike. They all make a really good team.  I think it would be safe to say that Ike and Hector got on well....photographic evidence is fairly sound!!  Ike and Hector up in the living room watching telly! This weekend we had to go away and it wasn't really an appropriate place to bring Hector. We were very lucky with the very generous family who live around the corner. They took Hector to stay with them from Thursday to Monday evening.
They minded him so well and appeared to have had great fun with Hector. Their son Ben really enjoyed having him to stay, his description of Hector was "Hector is a very tall, big dog who is a very sloppy drinker!!"
Thank you so much Caroline and Peter for minding Hector, he seemed to have really enjoyed his stay with you. Till the next time.
We might be heading to the ploughing championships in Athy soon. Watch this space!!
Hi everybody, we are back now as summer holidays are coming to a close. We have had a really nice summer and we hope you all had fun during the summer months.
Hector has done plenty of things since we were last in touch.
Hector: Oh boy, did I have a brilliant summer. I made loads of new 2 and 4 legged friends and learned new tricks (swimming). I will tell you about my escapades as we go on!!
Well as you can imagine, Hector has just turned 10 months old and he is so much bigger and stronger after his holidays, maybe even a little naughtier!!!
Hector: you talking about me there, I am impeccably behaved, huh!!!
I didn't say really naughty, just a little naughty!  Who's a handsome boy! So what did we get up to since we were last on-line?...............
went to Roundstone, Connemara, Co. Galway, for July
visited Saint Brigids Gardens
had a tour of Kylemore Abbey
made friends with Prince my new Boxer friend who taught me to swim
went shopping loads of times in Clifden and had coffee in "Walshes"
learnt to swim really well
did a photo shot with Hector O'hEachagain in the Galway Studios
sailing
jumped in to Nikitas grannys window to say hi!!!!! Oh Oh! A day by the sea, Gurteen Beach, Roundstone.  A stunning sunny day on Gurteen Beach, Roundstone. Rare but fabulous!!  Under cover from the sun! A visit to St Brigid's Gardens, Connemara, Co. Galway!  A visit to St Brigids Gardens, Connemara, Co. Galway. Well worth a visit.  St Brigids Gardens, Connemara, Go. Galway. Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Co. Galway.  Kylemore Abbey.  Alice and Rian going for a tour of the Abbey while we waited and enjoyed the misty views.  The shore at the lake fronting Kylemore Abbey. My new friend, Prince!  Prince, my new friend who taught Hector to swim. The day Hector learnt to swim, lessons given for free by Prince.  Prince, do you think today is a good day to teach Hector to swim?  Okay lets go then! Hector, are you watching me???  "Go, go, go..."  "Now you've just gotta go for it Hector, paddle those paws like mad and your away, okay, follow me!"  "So come on, in you go, voila and you're done!"  "Now you've got it" Well done!! Well, I think thats all we can fit in this week, check in next week and we will give you more photos of our summertime adventures!
So long, talk soon...... Michele and Hector!
 Hector in the garden this morning. Hi everyone, its hard to believe all schools are out and the summer holidays are here. We are heading off to the West of Ireland to a great fishing village called Roundstone in Connemara. Hector is going to have so much fun with lots of walks, visits to local towns and hopefully great days on the beaches. We will be taking plenty of photos of our excursions and I will put them up on the blog when we return home the beginning of August. Here is hoping for lots of sunshine and fun!!!!  Opal and Hector Also a few weeks ago we were introduced to a lovely working guide dog called Opal. She belongs to Dominique. Dominique and Opal started there journey together in April. They did there introductions and training in Cork and came back to Dublin after two weeks. They are getting on so well and much to Dominique's surprise she has room in her heart to love 2 dogs, Holly her retired dog and Opal. Dominique has kept Holly so they now have a bust house with 2 big dogs.
Opal came and stayed a night with us because Dominique had a special night out at Mary Blacks concert. Opal and Hector got on really well and Opal settled in without any problems. Dominique and Opal were reunited the next day at lunch time. Opal was happy to be back home with her rightful master!!!
Enjoy the rest of your summer guys.
Well, here is to a great summer, we will talk in August, adios amigos!
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