Archie in videos

Archie's Volunteer Puppy Trainer Alison has shared lots of fab videos! They really give such a great impression of the lovely life he's leading.

First up, Archie does like a snooze on a very comfortable paper bag.

But where did the paper come from? A cardboard box, of course! Which then immediately becomes Archie's next favourite thing in the world because it's full of interesting smells and sounds.

But what was in the box that makes an ideal toy? Apart from a paper bag that makes an ideal bed? An actual toy, of course! Which makes an ideal toy. Archie's forgotten the bag/bed and box/toy and much prefers his actual toy/toy.

Out and about in the lovely fresh air now. Archie, like most puppies his age, likes to stop at a tree and give it a sniff. We can't help but notice how he looks quite dramatic when he pauses on it, looking into the distance. Perhaps he's contemplating his future life, helping a deaf person to leave loneliness behind?

And, again as per most puppies, Archie loves being off-lead. He's very well behaved though, and will come back when called.

Back indoors now. So, Archie's been on a paper bag for a bed, played with a box for a toy, and then played with an actual toy. Now, he's found a new thing to be excited/interested/curious about. A hoover! His new favourite thing! In the world!

So how is this all training?

Well, we want Archie to be happy. That's the main thing. Happy puppies learn better, and make their eventual deaf partners happy too. And we just want our puppies to be happy because we love them.

But also, everything Archie does builds up his confidence, in himself, in his senses, and in the world around him. When he helps a deaf person, he might be in all sorts of different situations and environments, from busy high streets to supermarkets, from woodland to fields. Some of them he will be trained in, but others, perhaps less so. With his confidence, he treats new experiences as interesting rather than scary. That's how we build a hearing dog!

And it all starts with a very, very cute little puppy indeed...

So, there you have Archie - a life in videos.

We hope you enjoyed them. We did! And we'll have more for you in the next Puppy Pen. Until then, as always, thank you for sponsoring Archie!