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Hypo Hounds

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Incredible creatures, read they can even be trained to detect cancer, above all else love & devotion from them is like no other animal.
 
Ah! I didn’t know there was another outfit working in this area. Medical Detection Dogs is the charity I was aware of who provide and support training for hypo-alert dogs. I’ve done a bit of fund raising for them in the past.

Sadly my pooch seems less than gifted in the hypo-alert department. 🙄
 
Training, Mike! Think of how many utterly stupid labradors (or any other breed of dog) you may have met in your life, yet how very many labradors train into brilliant Guide Dogs for the Blind !

Some friends of ours often house puppies for them, regular walks in mixed environments, basic things like learning to sit at kerbs whilst only crossing a busy road at a crossing and have been doing that for about 40 years. Sometimes depending on their stage and their development, we are asked not to fuss them, or only do it ONCE. They are only usually allowed to live in their (big LOL) kitchen and the confines of their back garden, not in the rest of their sprawling bungalow. Lots of games though whilst out in parks etc, to keep a check on their recall and sight/hearing - they specify which toys they should use at what age, to chuck for them to retrieve to start to distinguish 'play' from 'on duty'.

Really interesting - but their real training only starts when they go back to Leamington.
 
trophywench said:
to start to distinguish 'play' from 'on duty'
Click to expand...

Yes, much as i admire their training and the amazing service they provide i’ve also felt a bit sorry for all the dog things they have to train out of them, and wonder if they ever really feel properly off duty. Not that I’ve known one properly to see them in all situations.
 
Some of them just aren't suitable Mike, as they can't be trained full stop - eg pulling on a lead far too much when going for a walk, or not listening when they are recalled - but they haven't a clue when they are born! which is why they have to choose the volunteers who look after the dogs either when they are recently parted from their mothers or at any stage thereafter. The blind person and the dog both need training - some have never had ANY experience of dogs - and it makes a difference whether the blind person is alone, or part of a couple or family.

There is an awful lot more to it - excuse the pun - than meets the eye!
 
My labradoodle knows if I’m going low before I do !! He won’t leave me alone and constantly hits me with his paw .
 
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