Senna shows how to settle

Our hearing dogs perform lots of amazing tricks. As well as recognising important sounds, and being fantastic company for deaf people, they're great at settling.

This is the term we give to how our dogs simply zone out in public spaces. Yes, we want them to be friendly and say hello to people. Yes, we want them to run around with wild abandon in parks, make friends, get happy and muddy and do all the things dogs love doing. But we also want to make sure they're well behaved in places like coffee shops, supermarkets and libraries. These are places that deaf people will certainly want to visit, and so our dogs need to be able to accompany them wherever they want to go.

The good news is that we want them to be happy doing this. The great news is: Senna loves it, and is brilliant at it!

First of all, notice how he's now wearing his 'I'm learning to be a hearing dog' burgundy coat:

Not only does he look very smart in it, the coat tells people that he's training to be an assistance dog. This means he can go into certain places by law. The coat also signifies to people that he's doing a job - which will eventually be looking after a deaf person. It's a very visual signal, and one that really helps deaf people. Instead of having to explain that they're deaf, people are already primed because they've seen the coat. It can completely change people's attitudes, and they can become very friendly and accommodating once they understand the situation.

So, looking very proud, Senna is able to visit places such as newsagents, and he's no bother to anyone...

He can do this because he knows he'll get a treat and a fuss afterwards. There's no need to start hassling anyone for attention. Senna's trainers have made sure that, if he does this, he'll just be ignored. But if he makes the 'right' decision and is calm, then all good things will come. So, he waits, and all good things come! We call this 'reward-based' training and it's a very positive experience for all concerned - puppy, trainer and partner alike.

Now, see how Senna settles in our very own restaurant at the Grange training centre:

Even under the table, he's happy just keeping himself to himself.

The Grange is always full of people and dogs, plenty of hustle and bustle. There are so many distractions, from the sounds to the smells, from the people giving him a bit of a cuddle to the other dogs wanting to have a game of run-around.

But Senna is such a good boy...!

We're really proud of him. You should be too, because you've supported him this far. Senna certainly looks very proud, don't you think? From all of us at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, thank you for sponsoring Senna!