Trainee Guide Dogs Undergo Halloween-Themed Training at Warwick Castle

As Halloween approaches, families throughout the UK are getting ready for various spooky-themed activities. In Warwick, a unique group of young animals, distinct from typical children due to their fur, also participated in such preparations, as they are destined for significant roles later in life. A group of 12 trainee guide dogs, reminiscent of a Scooby Doo episode, visited Warwick Castle’s Halloween trail. This visit aimed to accustom them to maintaining composure in unfamiliar settings, where unforeseen occurrences and occasional loud sounds might arise. Given their young age, the attraction reduced the intensity of its usual Halloween scares, such as “boos, bogeymen and bumps in the night,” as these puppies advanced in their training for future working roles. A spokesperson for the Guide Dogs charity stated that this specialized training session, attended by the puppies and their handlers, offered a “safe and fun experience” designed to “build confidence ahead of their first Halloween.” Trainer Severine Godson commented that her puppy, Opal, her 35th dog in training, typically exhibited a “very calm” demeanor. Godson elaborated: “The environment here did hype her up a little bit which is what we want but she’s taking it all in her stride which is [also] what we want.” She added, “We want them to be able to cope with any environment.” Concluding, she remarked, “This is different and she’s coped, which is great.” Yvonne Smith, another trainer, began volunteering for the charity following her diagnosis with pulmonary fibrosis. She reported being given a prognosis of three to five years to live, but her health subsequently improved, which she attributed to the physical activity from “running after puppies and walking them.” Her most recent trainee is a labradoodle named David. Regarding David’s self-control, she noted: “When they hit a certain age they get a bit hormonal and they start to forget everything we’ve taught them but David’s got to an age now where he can sort of decided to control himself a little bit.” For updates from BBC Coventry & Warwickshire, follow them on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Further details on their external linking policy are available.