Lyn Kolsteren, a Baha user since 1998 and chairperson of the Baha users support group, tells the story of her hearing dog Liffey
November 2006
The few weeks until I went to the centre for my training week soon passed. The week was like a working holiday, I was very well cared for and made very welcome, as Liffey and I lived and worked together, by the various people at the centre.
We mainly worked with Brenda, a very special person who had been Liffey's trainer for four months. We all got on well and enjoyed the progress that Liffey and I made. Liffey began to bond with me soon after we began our week, each day she became closer to me and me to her. I also lost some weight from all the walking in the fields we did between training sessions! It was such a rewarding experience.
Then we came home on the 24th, and it was down to us to chill out over the weekend until the Monday when Lou, our post-placement officer, came over three days to help me learn how to continue the training at home. Each day we did some “sound work” in the home, with the doorbell, phone, smoke alarm, cooker timer and alarm clock. We also went out to different places, such as the park to check out how she would be for me off lead (perfect of course!) to Tesco to shop, and to town. She was so very well behaved throughout.
Click here for more information on the Baha users support group.
Click here for more information on Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
