Scent training helps Hero find confidence after losing his sight

After losing both eyes, Hero became withdrawn and anxious. Now the working cocker spaniel from Clevedon, North Somerset, is finding his way through familiar activities again, with help from his owners and trainer Lucy Shipway.

Scent training gives him a task he can complete without sight. Shipway guides him to find small hidden scents, helping him explore his surroundings through his nose. His owners say he has regained confidence.

The approach sits alongside everyday adjustments. Dogs Trust’s guidance recommends consistent verbal cues, reassuring a blind dog with your voice, and keeping furniture in familiar positions.

Hero’s experience is one reported case, rather than evidence that the same training will work for every dog. It does not restore vision, and unfamiliar places still require careful support.

For his owners, progress is visible in ordinary moments. One evening, Hero found his favourite toy and brought it to them on the sofa: a familiar invitation to share time together.

Sources

• BBC News — Dog who lost both eyes learns to navigate by scent
• Dogs Trust — Tips for owning a deaf or blind dog