Hearing Dog puppies face giant encounter at Royal Armouries in Leeds
A group of hearing dog puppies had an unforgettable encounter, when they came face-to-face with a full-size Mughal-era elephant wearing full body armour on a visit to the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, with their staff trainer and volunteer dog trainers.
The unique outing was part of their training to become life-changing hearing dogs and was designed to help them get used to unusual sights and sounds – key skills they will need when supporting their deaf partners in everyday life.
It was also a reminder of the crucial role volunteers play in Hearing Dog puppies’ development.
With demand for hearing dogs continuing to rise, the charity urgently needs more volunteer trainers to help care for and prepare the pups to become life-changing companions.
Visitors to the museum were delighted to see the pups confidently exploring the exhibits and posing for photos alongside them. The highlight of the day was a close inspection of the museum’s resident Mughal era elephant, dressed in full body armour, which the dogs all took in their stride.
Amy Twamley, Dog Training Advisor for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, said: “When our pups are accompanying their deaf partners in their everyday lives, they’ll come across lots of different sights, sounds and experiences.
"To make sure they feel relaxed and comfortable in a range of different settings – whether that’s a crowded railway station, a hospital, or even unusual exhibits in a museum - we organise visits such as todays as part of their training.
“We are so grateful to the museum team for allowing us to visit with the dogs.
"With all its fascinating exhibits, it’s the perfect place for the dogs to practice staying calm, focused and confident no matter what’s around them.”
Tamsyn Hazell, Visitor Services Manager at the Royal Armouries Museum, said: “It’s been brilliant seeing the puppies in the museum today, and to be able to support the training for their important work. They seemed unphased by their encounter with our elephant!
“We really value collaboration with organisations such as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, as part of our aim to make the Royal Armouries accessible to all.
"We welcome people with all access needs, with detailed accessibility information on our website https://royalarmouries.org/leeds/accessibility, and our friendly Visitor Services team are on hand to support whenever needed.”
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has an urgent need for volunteer puppy trainers in Leeds, Otley and other parts of Yorkshire. To find out how to become a volunteer dog trainer for the charity, please email the Volunteering team at http://hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer-puppies, call 01844 348100 or find out more on the website www.hearingdogs.org.uk/volunteer