Gypsy :: Hearing Dog
Gypsy is a six year old mongrel, partnered with MK resident Janet Durbidge who is profoundly deaf and does not benefit from hearing aids. Janet relies on Gypsy 100% to alert her to everyday sounds in Janet’s own silent world, including wildlife on their walks, which Janet appreciates.
Gypsy was a rescue dog from RSPCA in Cardiff as one of a litter that had been dumped. She was the lucky one out of the litter when Hearing Dogs chose her for her alertness to sounds at the age of 3 months. She was taken to the Selby training centre in Yorkshire before being partnered with Janet at the age of one.
Gypsy loves meeting people and she is very gentle with children so she is very popular with them on outings. Gypsy enjoys going for a ride to the shops on the bus, but she especially enjoys the services of Virgin when Janet goes on train journeys because they receive VIP treatment!
Janet would not be without Gypsy because she is Janet’s “Ears”. Gypsy was Hearing Dog of the Month in March 2005. She also won Rescue Hearing Dog of the Year in June 2008
Gompa :: Hearing Dog
Stan and Gompa have been partners since 2006. Stan is profoundly deaf and wears a hearing aid.
Gompa came over from Finland with his mother, who is also a Hearing Dog. He was chosen because of his quick responses to noises and has been trained to alert Stan to sounds such as: the telephone, cooker timer, alarm clock, smoke alarm and doorbell. He will also alert Stan when someone wants him.
When any of the sounds go off, Gompa puts his paw on Stan and Stan asks “What is it?”. Gompa will then lead Stan to the source of the sound. However, if it is the smoke alarm, instead of leading Stan to the source, Gompa lies down, which means danger.
Iris :: Hearing Dog
Iris is a gorgeous cockerpoo (poodle x cocker spaniel), bred and born at the Hearing Dogs Headquarters, The Grange. This cross breed is a popular choice for Hearing Dogs because they do not moult.
She is a Hearing Dog partnered with deaf MK resident, Jane Minard and they travel to work together to London, where Iris is very popular with Jane’s work colleagues.
Jane says that Iris is a very clever and crafty dog, she knows in advance what is going to happen and she is particularly quick in alerting Jane to the smoke alarm. Her favourite toy is a tennis ball, which she always carries in her mouth when she’s not working. She is particularly friendly and affectionate.
Larrie :: Hearing Dog
Larrie is a Chinese Crested Dog and is partnered with MK resident Doreen Monk. Doreen writes:
I was surprised to be told after not more than twelve months wait that The Grange had a dog for me, I was expecting to have a two year wait so I was pleased, I do not show my feelings very much but was quietly excited. He came to stay one night with me to see how we would get on and I liked him immediately.
Accordingly I went to stay at the Grange for five days for MY training, It was a very nice stay, I was on my own but the couple who were next door were very nice neighbours, Mark and Joan have a guide dog for the blind as Joan has Ushers, they were there to meet up with a nice black Labrador for Mark. Meals at The Grange were very nice and I was made very welcome, with training every day on sound work and information on Larrie’s needs.
Sarah, Larrie’s trainer took me in hand whilst there and is just on the end of the internet or the mobile phone for any problems I may have. I brought Larrie home on the Friday and we settled down to get to know each other. He is a very determined little dog, I have to be firm with him but I love him to bits. He is very attractive after his morning wash and brush up but gets really filthy after a run in the field near my home so has had a few baths! He is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff one of those with fluffy fur and butterfly ears, just the right size for me, walks by my side and is usually very obedient.
I must remember that he is a working dog, trained to tell me about sounds in the home and he does, not always, but he is improving and it is up to me to keep him working but even more importantly, to me he is a companion and very affectionate and I am glad that I have him.
Larrie passed his final with flying colours in March 2009 and is now a fully fledged hearing dog. Doreen writes:
I am very proud of him, he seems to know he has done something good and it is very easy to see a change in him, he trots behind me following me on the paths. We went on holiday a week or so ago, on a Warners Break, near Lowestoft, I have been there before without Larrie and it is a big difference when you have a dog with his distinctive burgundy coat. People are ready to talk to you and I was not lonely this time, many people tried guessing his breed and I was proud to say that he was a donated pedigree Chinese Crested Powder Puff (what a name) and “no” he was not half a Yorky but “yes” he was a good companion for me ! As well as being my ears in many ways.
Cope :: Hearing Dog
Cope is a Labrador x Retriever and was donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity. He was too excitable to make a Guide Dog but makes the perfect Hearing Dog and is partnered with MK resident Brenda Campbell.
He was initially trained in the Yorkshire centre and brought down to The Grange last November where he met Brenda. Since that meeting Brenda’s life has changed for the better and he gives her a great deal of comfort and security. Cope alerts her to the doorbell, her mobile phone, the all important fire and smoke alarm and he also makes the perfect alarm clock, waking her up each morning. Plus he lets Brenda know when her husband is calling her. When out shopping people can easily see Brenda is deaf now – this is a very important part of having a hearing dog as deaf people can often be mistaken for being rude when actually they just haven’t heard something.
Brenda works with deaf children and Cope is very popular amongst the children. He alerts Brenda to the school bell and also tells her when other teachers are calling her.