My Bedtime Story

We love Hairy Maclary so much, that we decided to read another book about him tonight. We hope that you love him as much as us. Do you have a pet that is as adventurous as Hairy Maclary?

- Alan 🐾

Alan's Friend Hank

Today I'd like you to meet my friend Hank. He is probably my best dog friend and he lives just up the road from me with his humans

who have known Mrs Cox for years and years. Hank is a bit younger than me - I think he's two - and sometimes he wants to play when I've just had enough and want to have a snooze....a couple of times I've had to get a bit cross and tell him just to stop. He gets the message eventually. Hank is a bit of a mixture of lots of types of dogs and is very handsome. I love him because he is fun to play with especially tug of war games with our toys. We've even had sleepovers at my house - Hank was a bit naughty though and slept on the furniture when Mrs Cox wasn't looking....

- Alan 🐾

Puppy Footage

Look what Mrs Cox found, some footage of me and my Labrador friend Lucy playing when I was only a few weeks old. I sure did bounce around a lot! Puppies are very excited all the time because all the things they see are new to them. I'm currently the size of Lucy so you can see how much I have grown in five years! Mrs Cox could pick me up back then, now I'm much too big.

- Alan 🐾

My Bedtime Story

Hairy Maclary is one of my favourite dogs from a book because he goes on so many adventures! He also has a lot of cool friends. Keep your eye out for my posts about my friends on my blog, they are all interesting and unique!

- Alan 🐾

Alan's Activities

Hi friends - today we are doing more of our jigsaw. It is so hard!! I'm exhausted by helping putting bits of it together. I think I'll have to have a snooze after this because I've worked so hard....and we still are not sure what the picture will be!! I am enjoying it though. Have you done any jigsaws lately?

- Alan 🐾

Alan Wearing his First Guide Dog Red Coat

Hi everyone. I was at a bit of a loss as to how to amuse myself today so Mrs Cox suggested I have a look through my photo albums. So I did that and look at this photo of me that I found! Two days before I went to live with the Cox family my siblings and I had photos taken in our very first red coats. These are the coats guide dogs who are in training wear. We have to get used to them as soon as possible so they don't feel strange to us. The purpose of our coats is to help us get used to wearing things because when we graduate as working guide dogs we have to wear a special harness. Also our red coats let the public know we are special dogs who are allowed to go almost everywhere. Otherwise people think we are being naughty when we are going into shops and on buses and even planes!

Have you ever seen a guide dog wearing a red coat when you have been out? Did you know it is important not to talk to them or try and pat them? Difficult I know as we are so gorgeous but very important. If we are to be good at our job we need to concentrate very hard and not be distracted - just like at school when it's learning time! 

- Alan  🐾

My Bedtime Story

This book has such beautiful illustrations! They are by Selina Young. If you ever see this book in a library or store definitely have a look.

- Alan 🐾