Luca and Mia

Time for more Luca!

Did you know that his volunteers have two guinea pigs, called Popcorn and Waffle?

Neither did Luca! But he does now...

Is this training, or fun?

Well, it's certainly fun to watch, but actually every interaction Luca has with other animals is good for his training. He needs to be happy around all sorts of animals potentially, whether pets such as other dogs or cats (or guinea pigs), or, when out in the fields, cows and horses and suchlike. It wouldn't do for Luca to be startled or afraid. Instead, with such gentle introductions, he becomes happy and confident with new experiences.

During lockdown and social distancing, Luca also grew very close to Mia, the daughter of Helen, his Volunteer Puppy Trainer.

Isn't that a lovely picture? Luca looks so happy and relaxed. So does Mia! This is all part of why our volunteers are so important. It's through their care and love - which they give for free - that our dogs grow up confident and secure. It really does form the foundation of everything we do.

Mia played a very active part in looking after Luca, as you can see.

Grooming is not only essential for a healthy dog, it's also a great way for Luca to bond with his 'humans'. Eventually, when he's partnered with a deaf person, the more time they spend together doing these kind of things, the deeper the bond will be.

Some dogs aren't sure about grooming and brushing, especially on their tummies. However, we have a sneaking feeling Luca might absolutely love it. What do you think?

During lockdown, and even now with social distancing measures in place, we've needed to ensure that all our dogs are physically and mentally stimulated. Bored dogs just don't learn well. We're very happy to tell you that Luca had plenty of stimulation!

That is what's called a snuffle mat. The idea is that, instead of giving Luca his food which he might bolt down really quickly, Helen (and, we expect, Mia too!) hide food and treats in the mat, so that Luca has to 'hunt' for it. Our dogs really enjoy using snuffle mats, especially those with keen senses like our Luca!

Luca continues to do really well, through your support. We hope you enjoyed this latest 'Luca installment'! And, as always, thank you so very much for sponsoring him.