Blind Spaniel Masters World Through Scent

A working cocker spaniel named Hero has demonstrated extraordinary resilience after losing both eyes to a painful condition, glaucoma. Initially, the Clevedon-based dog became withdrawn and anxious following his diagnosis and operations in January and seven months later. However, specialized scent training, introduced by his long-time trainer Lucy Shipway, has enabled Hero to regain his confidence and navigate his surroundings with remarkable success.

The training focuses on honing Hero's sense of smell, teaching him to locate specific scents like cloves or oily cloths. This has allowed him to compensate for his lost sight, using his olfactory senses extensively. Fergus Cronk, a veterinary ophthalmologist, performed Hero's operations, noting that glaucoma is a painful condition often leading to blindness if untreated. Hero's owners, Jane Stuart Brown and Rob Grubb, are profoundly proud of his adaptability and spirit.