I have limited vision so knew it was a pram & person with a baby but they didn’t greet us, so not our friend, I apologised & told Ava to look again. But Ava was insistent. Ava just kept sniffing the other pram. I was really embarrassed & tried to turn around. 2/

Suddenly my friend V appears & says “oh hi I didn’t know you were coming here today!” V was there by coincidence. So it turns out Ava had taken me to “friends”, she had recognised the pram & baby! But V was in the loo & her nanny, who I haven’t met, was holding the baby 3/

I was stunned. Ava had found someone I didn’t even know was going to be in the cafe. Ava just stood wagging her tail like “see it is a friend! Baby is friend! I found them!” Then my antenatal class Mums turned up, I waved goodbye to V & had a lovely catch up with the group 4/

Apart from my partner, who Ava can find on command, I always thought Ava finds people because they greet us & she takes me to the people waving & saying hi! I had no idea she could independently recognise & find another baby! 5/

Once again, I am amazed by my beautiful smart girl @GuideDogAva She is the reason I can be an independent, confident & very sociable blind Mum! The best big sister with paws ever. 6/

Video shows Guide Dog Ava’s face lying at Little One’s feet. Little One is in his play gym excitedly babbling & wriggling. He is unintentionally repeatedly kicking Ava in the snoot & face. She just lies there occasionally adjusting but completely tolerating the gentle kicks 7/7

I’m so glad our little story has brought joy to people! You can follow Ava’s adventures on @GuideDogAva same handle on TikTok & Insta, there are lots of photos & videos! If you want to support future pawfessionals like Ava you can donate to @guidedogs

@BlondeHistorian Stories like this is why my wife and I have raised seven puppies for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

@meathead Amazing! Ava loves seeing her puppy raising family

@BlondeHistorian I am amazed at how smart your dog is! I hope she gets some extra treats tonight ❤️

@JulietJoestar She had her favourite a big carrot!

@BlondeHistorian Aww just all kinds of adorable cuteness. I want me a golden like Ava, but not sure I’d like a guide dog at the moment but I’m about to pop out my little angel in a couple months, and dogs like this are awesome.

@ms_denverqueen Yeah it’s about the right time for you & your needs. Good luck with baby!

@BlondeHistorian So has Ava met this baby before? I’m guessing if she has, she recognizes the baby’s scent. Retrievers have amazing noses. She may have also smelled your friend V’s path. But very cool, regardless!

@tatterededge Yes many times and they’ve visited the house too. I’m still amazed she made the connection

@BlondeHistorian Could it have been the smell from the baby? I know dogs have an amazing sense of smell so could she have recognised that?

@Tami_A Yes it’s just that she made the connection with “friend” that stunned me.

@BlondeHistorian Isn’t that amazing! And aren’t the people who train these dogs volunteers too? Wow wow

@CommsKick For the first year to 18 months they are raised by volunteers but then they undertake 6 to 9 months of training with professionals at the guide dog school.

@BlondeHistorian Your baby has an extra parent. Difficult to know whether Ava or your baby benefits the most. She will teach the little one to walk and always keeps her safe.

@AndyZealand They are going to be besties