We were welcomed with open arms and settled into there own accommodation - they like us to stay on site so we can be with our allocated doggy and also work alongside us.
I had a trainer - Lucy who helped train me and show me how to work with Inca - She was great, she taught me so much about Incas personality, the commands I needed to learn, the dos and donts and her diet. I also had a talk from one of the Kennel staff who taught me how to groom, clean Inca's teeth and look after her.
It was an intensive week - but we also adventured of the site so i could learn how to deal with visiting shops/supermarkets.. cafes, using public transport, using the car ( Inca has her very own seat belt for travelling!), taking her for walks in the park and general every day activities.
me walking inca
Inca adjusted to us very well, i did feel sorry for my husband because he had suddenly had to become redundant from alerting me for sounds - but hearing dogs staff were keen to include him as much as t hey could. He was also trained to call me - so this will no doubt improve things for us at home!
They also had a training house - where Inca did much of her sound work - for those of you who do not know much about hearing dogs for the deaf , they work closely with deaf people to alert them to sounds. Incas role for me was to do the following :
- Wake me up to the Alarm Clock - my husband was so looking forward to this so he doesn't have to wake me up no more ha ha!
- Telling me Someone is at the door, in my case this would be a intercom bell and a door bell - which sadly i did miss when noone was home - so was forever picking up parcels from the post office!!
- My husband and daughter calling my name - she would come and tell me i was wanted and lead me to them -his is will help them so much as they have to run around after me or chucking soft items or stomping the floor to get my attention!
- An oven timer - i never hear this - so sometimes i do forget to double check the oven and food can get burnt
- A Fire alarm - a huge danger that i no doubt need alerting to - i have too many storys about me and not hearing fire alarms - especially when in the loo - this has always been a huge worry for me and much of my cause to anxiety
- Door knock at work - im forever jumping out of my skins at work - too many a time someone has come in my office and ive not heard them - id be working away and suddenly id be shocked as i didnt hear them enter the room.
- Some people do ask for phone ringing - but I've chosen to not have this because i don't answer the phone at home and don't need it
She also has to nudge me with her nose
- as soon as she nudges me I know shes alerting me to something, i would then ask her 'What is it?' with open armed gesture - i would follow her and she would then lead me to the sound.
On my training week we repeated this alot - we also built her confidence up by using squeakers - Inca was trained this way and actually loves doing this activity so the more often she did this exercise the more stronger her nudge became.
A very clever doggie and a very special one too!
The other sounds she may react differently as waking me up would mean she would place both paws on me and show me the alarm clock for which i would reward her!
Alerting me to the fire alarm she would drop and lie down on the floor so i would automatically know it was an emergency.
I was then given her coat, some toys, her bedding and most things she needed to make her welcome to my home - for which i made a small donation towards. She adores her teddy and ball - just holds and sucks it ! Its the retriever in her that does that - soo cute!!
We also had photos taken for our passport so if we did get approached in shops I could show them why i was allowed and that it was illegal to refuse access for us under the equality act.
Many people think hearing dogs are free they are not i still have to provide food and also pay her insurance but in my eyes shes worth every penny - as when i took her home I realised more then - how much more she would benefit me. If i did need help however hearing dogs did say they would support me but for now me and my husband work so we felt we could manage.
Through out my life I've always had anxiety and depression as its difficult being deaf especially as its deteriorated, i didn't like being in situations by myself without a companion, i couldn't hear things - many a times I've never heard a fire alarm and been left stranded and most of all i had to rely on my family to always do things for me - I wanted to become more independent.
I knew taking Inca home would enable me to achieve this and also help me improve my quality of life. By the way my family loves her too !
Join me next week for a follow up on how we get on with my regional trainer and also how Inca settles into my home and work place.
For those of you who want to know more about hearing dogs heres the link : http://www.hearingdogs.org.uk/
