Guide dog pups visit spooky castle to test resolve

Families across the UK are preparing to visit various spooky-themed events as Halloween looms - and in Warwick, it's been no different for one set of special youngsters.

This bunch, though, are rather more furry than your average child and will perform important tasks when they come of age.

Like a scene out of Scooby Doo, the group of 12 trainee guide dogs visited Warwick Castle's Halloween trail as a way to prepare them for remaining calm in unusual environments, where the unexpected may happen along with the occasional loud noise.

But still being young, the attraction toned down the normal level of boos, bogeymen and bumps in the night as the puppies took the next step towards their working lives.

A spokesperson for the charity Guide Dogs said the special training session, during which the puppies were joined by their handlers, provided a "safe and fun experience" to help "build confidence ahead of their first Halloween".

Trainer Severine Godson said her puppy Opal, her 35th training dog, was normally "very calm".

She explained: "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.

"We want them to be able to cope with any environment.

"This is different and she's coped, which is great."

Another trainer, Yvonne Smith, started volunteering for the charity after she was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

She said she was given three to five years to live but her condition improved, which she put down to the exercise gained by running after puppies and walking them.

Her newest trainee is a labradoodle called David.

"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," she said of his resolve.

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.