Your final Puppy Update

Bella has graduated!

Picture this: a little ball of fluff, full of joy and boundless energy, with eyes that sparkle mischievously. That’s how our Bella started her training journey. Remember how she used to pinch the toilet roll and run off, leaving a trail behind her?

Now she’s grown up to become an immensely capable hearing dog, making a world of difference to her deaf partner’s life. Your generosity made this possible, and we can’t thank you enough.

Bella as a cute puppy and beautiful Bella wearing her qualified Hearing Dogs jacket with immense pride

A lifeline for her partner

We’re thrilled that Bella is doing exceptionally well in her new role as a hearing dog to her deaf partner.

Bella is incredible at alerting her partner to important sounds, such as the alarm clock in the morning. Whenever it goes off, Bella jumps up on the bed to let her partner know it’s time to wake up.

Bella practising alerting to the sound of the alarm clock with volunteer dog trainer Fiona

She can also alert her partner to smoke alarms and fire alarms. She would do this by gently but insistently nudging them with her nose and then lying down to signal that there’s danger nearby. This simple act could potentially save their life.

You may remember that Bella’s volunteer dog trainer, Fiona, was impressed by Bella throughout her training. She said, “Bella is a delight to train: she learns quickly and loves to please.”

Bella is also a pro at assisting her partner outside the house, ensuring they are safe and connected with the world around them. By proudly wearing her burgundy Hearing Dogs jacket, she makes an often ‘invisible disability’ visible. The jacket also serves as a talking point to help to connect her deaf partner with their local community.

Bella’s incredible journey: from a tiny pup into a life-changing hearing dog

"A lovely life together"

We love introducing our puppy sponsors to the deaf person their pup is paired with in the final update. But sometimes the deaf partner prefers to remain anonymous, which is the case for Bella’s partner.

Every partnership we create has a dedicated partnership instructor. They support the partnership throughout the dog’s working life. As Bella’s partner has requested anonymity, we caught up with her partnership instructor, Darren. He tells us: “Bella is making a real difference to her deaf partner. They have a real bond and a lovely life together.

“Bella has lots of energy and loves rushing about everywhere. She runs down the garden, around the house, and becomes a black blur in the distance in her favourite field when she goes for walks. After all that rushing about, she loves curling up for a contented nap!

“She’s been enjoying various expeditions with her deaf partner. They’ve made trips to National Trust sites, watched processions and even light shows. She’s enabling her deaf partner to live a full and rounded life, and this is thanks to the amazing people who sponsored her.” 

Thank you so much!

Bella’s journey from a playful puppy to an accomplished hearing dog has come to an end. But her new life with her deaf partner has just begun! She’s doing a brilliant job of helping her partner live life to the fullest, just like they deserve. It’s all thanks to your generous sponsorship of Bella.

We are eternally grateful. It would be amazing if you could consider sponsoring another puppy and helping another deaf person. But for now, thank you from everyone at Hearing Dogs – your kindness means the world.