Nearly 30 years and still going strong!
.JPG)
Carol Atkinson is a remarkable lady. Although in her seventies she is still a Guide dog puppy trainer nearly 30 years after taking her first puppy in for training. Carol, and her husband Seymour, have lived in Cross Field Sacriston for the past 48 years, and she currently has her 27th guide dog puppy Ben, who has just started his puppy training. She got into training the puppies after a friend of hers who was also a guide dog trainer, suggested she take on a puppy. Although she had no formal training, she gave it a go and 30 years later is still providing early stage training for guide dogs of the future.
Her main role is to “socialise” the puppies, getting them used to various places and methods of transport, in preparation for their working life. She is often to be seen either on trains or buses or around shops and shopping centres such as the Metro Centre, acclimatising the puppies to environments they will spend their working life in. She has the dogs for 1 year, before they are taken on to the next level of training. Carol has had Ben her current puppy for three months and she feels he has the exact temperament to go on to become a great guide dog.
Carol is determined to reach her goal of having 30 puppies who have benefited from her training before taking the next step in the training programme “I just love having the dogs around the house” said Carol “although the problem is I know I have to hand them back after a year and you cant help but get attached to them”
Carol has been recognised by the Guide dog for the Blind association, being awarded a Gold trophy by in recognition of 200 months of puppy training, and it is her intention to add many more months to that total.
Having spent time with Carol and Seymour, you can tell that the puppies are in an ideal environment in which they can thrive, given the care and love both Carol and Seymour show to them. As I left, puppy number 27 Ben, was dozing peacefully next to Carol, but no doubt this was just a “Paws” in his hectic training schedule!
.JPG)
View all Cestria Life articles