This month in training: November 2025

Hearing dog in training Barney has been doing a great job travelling on different types of public transport.

It's vital that Barney is confident travelling on the public transport he might use with his future deaf partner, so an important part of his training is about getting comfortable with the unusual sounds and movement of the bus.

Barney wasn't fazed by any of it and did a brilliant job - just look at that happy face!
 

Barney’s brother, Baloo, bumped into the Andrex puppy on his recent visit to the supermarket.

There are lots of potential distractions in supermarkets, such as tasty items on shelves, trolleys and a large number of people.

However, brilliant Baloo was a superstar and kept his focus in the busy shop.
 

Amazing April has been on her very first trip to the garden centre.

Garden centres are one of the first public places we introduce our younger dogs to, as they are relaxed environments with lots of interesting sights, sounds and smells.

As April builds her confidence in public places, she'll start exploring busier venues like supermarkets and the high street.

This is a key part of April's hearing dog training as she will accompany her future deaf partner everywhere they go.
 

Pasha is in the final stage of his hearing dog training, and this is when our clever dogs focus more on training that is specific to the deaf person they have been matched with.

This bespoke training can be anything from more practice in a busy town - if the future deaf partner works in a bustling area - to increasing the interaction with children if they have kids, or in Pasha’s case getting used to being in a hospital environment.

Well done, Pasha!

Koko's been to the pet shop.

With so many toys to choose from, Koko did a super job on her visit and showed off her very impressive impulse control.

She kept her focus and wasn't distracted by any of the exciting smells or the tempting toys on the shelves.

It's important Koko feels comfortable exploring public places with her future deaf partner, so everything is done at her own pace.
 

The very clever Gryffin has passed the third stage of his hearing dog training - the Puppy 3 Star.

Gryffin has been busy building his confidence in the public places he will visit with his future deaf partner like supermarkets and cafes, as well as getting used to travelling by different modes of public transport.

He's done a brilliant job and next up will be learning how to alert his future deaf partner to important and potentially life-saving sounds.