Vesper: Training and entertaining

During lockdowns and social distancing, it's been very important to keep our hearing dogs trained and entertained. Reduce their training, and it just takes longer before they can help deaf people. Let them get bored, and their energy levels will just rise until they get frustrated.

So, it's just as well our amazing volunteers are brilliant at both! Vesper and her volunteer Debbie have done a great job of making sure she's both trained and entertained - and looking magnificent along the way.

First, the training. Below, you can see a brilliant example of impulse control.

This is whereby Vesper has learned that she really doesn't need to obey her immediate impulses. If she's a good girl, and waits for the cue, she'll get all the treats she wants. This is very important, so that she doesn't get over-excited near the meat counter at a supermarket, or run off to chase birds when getting out of the car. As you can see, she's great at it! That's her 'Really, you want to test my impulse control? Again? It's sooooo easy!' face.

More training below.

Yes, that's training too. Vesper continues to learn about the world, and her place in it, whether that be meeting huge horses, or little rabbits (actually, that could be a huge rabbit!). The main thing, if she has these new experiences in a calm, controlled manner, then it won't be a problem for her in future. So, rabbits are ticked off in Vesper's mind!

Even during lockdowns and social distancing, Vesper can accompany volunteer Debbie to the supermarket. Below, you can see how well she waits while Debbie starts packing the car. She also looks great in her 'I'm learning to be a hearing dog' burgundy coat!

That's enough training. What about the entertaining?

Well, how about a snuffle mat for starters?

Debbie hides Vesper's food in here, so that she has to snuffle around for it. 

Vesper really enjoys it!

Plus, it slows her down rather than eating it all in one go (she is a Labrador after all!)

There also still plenty of fun to be had with friends...

You've met River (left) and Flash (middle) before in previous Pupdates. They're great pals. The finger to the right is, we think, Debbie's, and she'll probably be saying 'Wait' to the three amigos so that they stay still for the photo. As you can see, they're all great at it!

Vesper and Flash also had a great time 'sharing' a ball (we think that's what's going on here...)

... and River and Vesper had little dog snuffles!

Finally, we did say earlier that Vesper is looking magnificent. As you could see in the snuffle mat shots, her fur is so glossy and shiny because she's a happy, healthy dog. We couldn't resist including this photo below showing just what a handsome girl she is (and yes, girl dogs really can be handsome!)

That's all for now. Until next time, thank you for sponsoring Vesper!