YEAR 1 children at Stowford School recently received a special visit from Jo and her guide dog Eunice.

The children learnt how dogs, such as Eunice, can help blind and partially sighted people with their daily life. Eunice, and her owner Jo, demonstrated how a dog can help guide someone through a crowd of children without being distracted.

She also knows her left and right and follows commands such as ‘up-sit’ which means stand up.

Guide dogs help to keep their owners safe while out and about and in their own homes, without them life would be extremely difficult.

Pauline, a guide dog trainer, told the children that the puppies go through a long training programme which includes being trained not to chase cats, to only go to the toilet first thing in the morning and last thing at night – never when out with the owner!

The owner of a guide dog often keeps them as a pet once they reach retirement age - between the ages of 7 and 10 - but if they cannot, the dog is re-homed.

Teaching assistant Mrs Fry said: ‘Children and staff thoroughly enjoyed the experience, especially being able to stroke Eunice. The pupils got a real insight into Jo’s life with Eunice and were surprised how much training is involved.’