Stella

This silky black shiny lady dog sitting in dappled sunlight, amongst an amazing carpet of gold toned autumn leaves, is Stella. She was a flat coated retriever cross goldie. My first guide dog, she worked with me for six or so years, before deciding she wanted to retire aged eight and a half. She bossed us all around from very early on, and did not stop once she was retired. When Big came along to work with me some eighteen months after Stella retired she bossed him about as well. Often sneaky and somewhat manipulative (although a total darling with it), she ran rings around poor Big and his gentle, simple heart. What she couldn’t get by asking she achieved via stealth. Dear girl, such a diva.