“You will fall in love with him straight away.” Those are the phrases of the coach of a Red Fox Labrador being ready to help anyone who experiences seizures.
Published thirteenth Nov 2023, 11:50 GMT
Ellie, a coach with Sheffield-based charity Support Dogs, is working with Chris, a two-year-old canine in coaching.
She has excessive hopes he’ll ultimately go onto the charity’s seizure alert programme, having the ability to alert a shopper of an oncoming seizure as much as an hour upfront, permitting them time to get to a place of security and privateness.
Such dogs must be in tune with their shopper, in addition to having persistence and love, she says.
“He has been doing lots of work which gives him exposure in different environments, and focus work,” explains Ellie, who has been coaching Chris since January.
The duties he has been studying embody fetches, pick-ups and pulls, nudges, in addition to “watch me”, which is crucial in making certain the canine can provide a warning to an oncoming seizure.
“If the client has mobility issues, Chris will also learn disability task work, depending on who he is matched with,” Ellie explains. “The dogs can also be trained to fetch a blanket, which can help when the client comes round from a seizure.
“Chris will also fetch things and can also pick up his lead if it’s dropped and can load the washing machine. That’s not necessarily part of the seizure alert programme, but he can do it anyway.”
Ellie describes the pooch as being “a big goofball” who’s “very excitable”. “He will jump up with all four paws and is really clumsy – he usually falls over when he lands.”
He is at present being fostered by volunteers in Chapeltown. A household with two boys takes care of him on evenings and weekends when he’s not at Support Dogs’ coaching centre.
Support Dogs is a Sheffield-based nationwide charity which trains help dogs to assist autistic kids, adults with epilepsy or adults with a bodily incapacity to dwell extra unbiased lives.
It is hoped that Chris will probably be matched with a shopper by early subsequent yr.
To discover out extra, go to www.supportdogs.org.uk
