This month in training: June 2025

Piper has started learning how to alert her future deaf partner to sounds, Saxon has been into a busy city, Vinnie is a very happy visitor to a garden centre, and more.

1. "Got it!"

Thanks Piper, that's certainly one way to alert us to a sound!

Piper is in the early stages of her soundwork training, and full of enthusiasm for the cooker timer.

Soon she'll learn how to alert her future deaf partner to sounds by nudging them before leading them to the sound, rather than bringing the sound to them.

2. Super Saxon has been sightseeing and he went to visit the commemorative poppies at the Tower of London

Saxon's future deaf partner might live in a city, so our clever Labrador has been on a number of training trips into London to make sure he feels comfortable in such a busy environment.

Not only does Saxon always do a great job in the hustle and bustle of a city, but he is also a superstar on public transport, and this time he even travelled by water taxi!

3. Saxon’s brother Shadow is also proving to be the paw-fect passenger

It's so important that Shadow is confident travelling on the different public transport he might use with his future deaf partner. So, a big part of his training is taking the bus to get comfortable with the unusual movements and sounds.

Shadow did a super job on the bus, settling next to his volunteer trainer and enjoying the journey.

4. Big smiles at the garden centre for Vinnie

Our clever cocker spaniel is in the third stage of his hearing dog training and has been visiting public places, working on his focus and impulse control around the tasty distractions.

It's so important Vinnie feels comfortable in the busy places he'll visit with his future deaf partner, and he did a super job in store with his volunteer.

Well done, Vinnie, you definitely deserve a big tasty treat after that.

5. Zebedee is going to be a life-changing hearing dog after passing his final assessment!

Our clever Labrador has grown into such a wonderful boy, and we know he is going to make the world of difference to his deaf partner.

Zebedee has had an amazing team behind him throughout his training and the biggest thank you must go to them.

Congratulations to Zeb and his team.

6. A day out for Kika!

A key part of her training sees Kika getting comfortable with the unusual sights, sounds and movements of buses so that she can travel on public transport confidently with her future deaf partner.

Well done, Kika.