Sound start for learner hearing dog teams

New Zealand's first home for hearing dogs and their hearing-impaired owners has opened.

The house on Hydro Rd, just south of New Plymouth, will be used to house a dog and owner after the dog has been trained, but before they return to the outside world as a team.
This bonding time was important, said Marilyn Johnston, of the New Zealand Hearing Dogs Association.

"We used to house them in there," she said, indicating the office. "Then we put them in the training house, but that was too disruptive for the training." (click on title for full article)