Christmas Romeo, New Year’s Day Romeo, Smart Romeo!

Romeo recently left his volunteer socialiser Joyce, to start his soundwork training, which he’s doing at our centre in Yorkshire. It’s a big step for a little pup, but we think Romeo’s going to cope in style. He does everything in style!

Joyce is already missing him however. “Life is now very quiet indeed!” she says. “I especially miss him observing everything I do and dropping a toy on my foot in the evening and staring intently at it in the hope that I would play. I also have to listen out for the postman, doorbell, cooker timer and the washer finishing, all things Romeo did for me while he lived with me.”

Soundwork training is what really distinguishes hearing dogs. They are incredibly well trained, not just in obedience but in recognising important sounds and alerting deaf people to them. We will tell you all about this in his next printed update.

In the meantime, here are some choice photos from Joyce, who has been socialising him for the past year and knows him better than anyone…

Christmas Romeo

Joyce usually liked to take Romeo for a run around the Yorkshire Arboretum, a beautiful 120 acres populated by trees from around the world. However, that was closed for Christmas, so his regular walks were in the fields and woods around home, where he became very muddy. On this particular occasion, given how shaggy he’d become, it took three lots of water to get him clean!

Romeo is saying “Come on!” Not that he’s impatient you understand. Just full of energy!

New Year’s Day Romeo

There was a Welly Walk at the Arboretum on New Year’s Day, perfect for clearing the head. However, it was very wet, just like the fields.

Here’s Romeo enjoying a race with an old friend. That’s always been one of Romeo’s strongest traits, his ability to make friends wherever he goes. We’re in no doubt that these two characters are really enjoying their run-around!

Smart Romeo

He became very shaggy over Christmas so he had a haircut the week before he went in for training, at our training centre. Now he only needs one lot of water after his walks!

Here you can see him looking very smart with his pal Dipper, waiting for a biscuit.

Finally, this is a photo Joyce took on the day he left to start work with his trainer, Helen. It’s a typically thoughtful pose, at the top of the stairs. We’re so pleased that, even after a haircut, he still manages to glow ginger around the edges.