Perth Gran has trained up 25 pups!

Aug 29 2008 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Gran has trained up 25 pups!

A PUPPY walker from Perth yesterday revealed how she once trained a guide dog for a Glasgow Rangers fan – by taking the pooch to St Johnstone games!

Elma Smith (70), from Beechgrove Place, is celebrating the delivery of her 25th and last puppy after 20 years’ service rearing the next generation of guide dogs.

The big-hearted grandmother trains the Labradors and Retrievers until they are old enough to attend the Guide Dogs for the Blind school in Angus.

She said: "One of my dogs ended up going to a Rangers fan in Glasgow who went to every home game, so it was good we took it to McDiarmid Park to get it used to the noise first," she said.

Elma started her career as a puppy walker after seeing adverts on TV and in the PA.

She explained: "I take the puppies in when they are six-to-seven-weeks-old, then I hand them over to the guide dog training school in Forfar when they are about 18 months.

"I find it rewarding and it's nice to know that you are helping somebody else and giving them their independence."

Before the dogs learn their trade at the Forfar centre, they are taken round the Fair City so they are not intimidated when they are handed over to the school and, eventually, their new owners. It can cost as much as £34,000 to fully train a guide dog.

“It's important the dogs are used to people and places before training starts,” added Elma.

"So they are introduced to as many activities as possible.

Elma – who has four grandchildren and shares her house with her pet cockatiel Gizmo – is now set to concentrate on looking after dogs at the other end of the age spectrum.

“The dogs have always been no trouble and easy to look after.

“Although one of them ripped up my linoleum once, I will definitely miss them.

“I am going to take in retired dogs now so I still have the company,” she added.