Glorious Garry the support dog pup could change a child’s life
This handsome chap has just started ‘big school’ – where he will learn awe-inspiring skills that will change a life.
Black Labrador pup Garry is one of the younger dogs at the Sheffield-based Support Dogs charity.
The 17-month-old pooch arrived at the organisation, which trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to help autistic children and adults with epilepsy or physical disability to live safer, more independent lives, when he was just eight weeks old.
He then moved in with tireless volunteer puppy socialisers Katie Sully and Stuart Ellerington and attended regular puppy classes, while learning vital socialisation skills.
As part of his socialisation, Garry has attended various events including at universities, schools, supermarkets, fetes, markets and theatres – including at a Support Dogs event at Sheffield City Hall featuring New Order and Joy Division legend Peter Hook – raising awareness of the charity, helping to fundraise and recruiting new volunteers.
He’s also well known in the Chapeltown area of Sheffield, being a frequent visitor in the local shops, cafes and pubs.
Following a six-week transition period, Garry has just transferred from the charity’s puppy team and is now under the watchful eye of trainer Emily High.
Emily described Garry’s initial stages of training.
She said: “Weve been seeing how he is in all different environments – taking him to the shops and on walks, doing free runs.
“We’ve also been doing some taskwork and doing basic obedience, for instance seeing if he will nudge my hand or start to ‘lap’.”
A nudge could be life-saving for someone on Support Dogs’ epilepsy seizure alert programme – it could be a signal that they are about to have a seizure.
Support Dogs is the only organisation in the UK training epilepsy seizure alert dogs. These dogs can give up to an hour’s advance warning of an oncoming seizure, giving a person time to get somewhere safe to have their seizure, in privacy and with dignity.
A nudge or a lap – putting their head on someone’s lap - from a support dog could also signal safety, calm and comfort to an autistic child who has perhaps found everything too overwhelming.
Support Dogs also trains disability assistance dogs to help people with a physical disability to live more comfortably, such as opening doors, unloading the washing machine or fetching items.
Emily said: “We have ‘toolbox’ tasks, which are basic tasks which all dogs will learn, and we will later decide which of our three programmes each dog will be more suited to.
“Garry has got an affinity with children, so he could go on to our autism assistance programme, but it is very early days to determine which programme he will go to.”
As well as transitioning to full-time training and going into Support Dogs’ training centre more often, Garry will soon be moving from his puppy socialiser to his volunteer doggy foster carers’ home, a household with two children.
“We are aiming for as smooth a handover to ‘big school’ as possible – between the puppy team and trainer and from puppy socialiser to foster carer, because any disruption can be quite unsettling,” said Emily.
She added that Garry “loves to be busy” and what she personally loves about him is his “really sweet and cheeky personality”.
Support Dogs relies entirely on voluntary donations. To find out more, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.