By Fiona Daniels
I've been volunteering with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People for 7 years. I started with puppy socialising after meeting another puppy socialiser whilst out walking my dog. The puppy generally comes to live with us when it's 8 weeks old until it's about a year old. During that time we teach the puppy basic obedience, attending puppy classes fortnightly with our Puppy Socialising Trainer. We also get the puppy used to going everywhere with us and meeting lots of people of all ages. We take them into shops, schools, coffee shops, pubs, churches, on buses, trains etc. Once they are fully fledged Hearing Dogs they will accompany their deaf recipient everywhere, so they have to be used to all different situations.
I've been volunteering with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People for 7 years. I started with puppy socialising after meeting another puppy socialiser whilst out walking my dog. The puppy generally comes to live with us when it's 8 weeks old until it's about a year old. During that time we teach the puppy basic obedience, attending puppy classes fortnightly with our Puppy Socialising Trainer. We also get the puppy used to going everywhere with us and meeting lots of people of all ages. We take them into shops, schools, coffee shops, pubs, churches, on buses, trains etc. Once they are fully fledged Hearing Dogs they will accompany their deaf recipient everywhere, so they have to be used to all different situations.
Currently I am socialising cockapoo Freddy, who's a cheeky boy, but is doing really well, he seems to take most things in his stride. When he's 10-12 months old he will leave me and go to one of the 2 training centres (in Buckinghamshire or Yorkshire) to do his soundwork training. This normally takes16-18 weeks, at the end of which he'll spend a week with his recipient being trained together on site before they go home to start their new life together.
I am often asked how I can bear to part with the puppy after having had them for 8-10 months. My answer to this is I do find it hard, but you soon get over it and when you hear the stories of what a huge change they can make to a deaf person's life, it makes it all worthwhile. And you then get another adorable puppy to start all over again with!
I am often asked how I can bear to part with the puppy after having had them for 8-10 months. My answer to this is I do find it hard, but you soon get over it and when you hear the stories of what a huge change they can make to a deaf person's life, it makes it all worthwhile. And you then get another adorable puppy to start all over again with!
I also foster a brood bitch who has puppies which then go on to be Hearing Dogs. The Breeding Scheme has been expanded over the last few years and now produces about 50% of the puppies needed, the remainder are sourced from reputable breeders.My first brood bitch was Hope, a cockapoo who had 4 litters and is now enjoying a well-earned retirement with us. This was her final litter; the dad was a cocker spaniel.Hope is now a registered PAT dog.
My current brood bitch is cocker spaniel, Ginny, who had her first litter of 6 cockapoos in Sept 2011. The dad was a black poodle, who'd fathered mostly black puppies in previous litters, so it was a bit of a surprise when Ginny produced 4 chocolate, 1 apricot and 1 black puppy.
The puppies are born in our house and we look after them for their first 8 weeks. During that time we start their socialisation by encouraging lots of visitors of all ages, not that people need much encouragement, who wouldn't jump at the chance to cuddle a cute puppy! Amongst other things we also take them for car rides and carry them down to the road so that they get used to traffic noise from a young age. At 8 weeks old the puppies will be transferred to their full-time Puppy Socialisers.
The puppies are born in our house and we look after them for their first 8 weeks. During that time we start their socialisation by encouraging lots of visitors of all ages, not that people need much encouragement, who wouldn't jump at the chance to cuddle a cute puppy! Amongst other things we also take them for car rides and carry them down to the road so that they get used to traffic noise from a young age. At 8 weeks old the puppies will be transferred to their full-time Puppy Socialisers.
Ginny's first litter have done extremely well. 5 of them have successfully made it to become Hearing Dogs, the sixth was withdrawn due to lack of confidence and adaptability.
Hearing Dogs has a waiting list of people wanting to rehome the dogs that don't make it, as they are all lovely well-trained dogs, but not all dogs are suited to the life they would lead as a Hearing Dog.
Ginny is expecting her second litter in mid-May. This time the father is an apricot poodle, so we await their arrival with interest to see what colours she’ll have this time! One of the puppies will hopefully be suitable to be Hearing Dog for the Cockapoo Owners Club who have been busy fund raising for Hearing Dogs and will be able to select their puppies name.
If anyone is interested in volunteering for Hearing Dogs ,I would certainly recommend it, it’s extremely rewarding.
Hearing Dogs has a waiting list of people wanting to rehome the dogs that don't make it, as they are all lovely well-trained dogs, but not all dogs are suited to the life they would lead as a Hearing Dog.
Ginny is expecting her second litter in mid-May. This time the father is an apricot poodle, so we await their arrival with interest to see what colours she’ll have this time! One of the puppies will hopefully be suitable to be Hearing Dog for the Cockapoo Owners Club who have been busy fund raising for Hearing Dogs and will be able to select their puppies name.
If anyone is interested in volunteering for Hearing Dogs ,I would certainly recommend it, it’s extremely rewarding.