A MONMOUTH grandmother who has tunnel vision and severe hearing loss is leading a busy life thanks to the help of Kandy - one of just two dual-trained dogs in Wales.

Geraldine Newman, who is celebrating 20 years of guide dog ownership this month, is both guided around obstacles and alerted to sounds by three-year-old German Shepherd retriever and guide dog Kandy.

Mrs Newman said: “She trained as a guide dog first, then went to Hearing Dogs for the Deaf to learn extra skills.

"If the doorbell goes or the phone rings, she nudges my thigh. If the smoke alarm goes off, she lies across my feet, and it’s down to me to get us both outside.”

Mrs Newman started to struggle with her hearing when she was just 29.

She explained: “Tests revealed that I was practically deaf in the right ear and couldn’t hear much with the left. I had to have hearing aids and I started lip reading.

“Then problems began with my eyes. I had tunnel vision and night blindness. The condition Retinitis Pigmentosa was diagnosed and I could no longer drive my company car.”

Overnight Mrs Newman lost her job as a sales representative and couldn’t even take her son to school

But help was at hand in the form of her first guide dog, a yellow Labrador named Ted.

“I was once again able to get out and enjoy life to the full,” she said.

“I am independent and like being able to go wherever I want, without waiting for someone to come and help me.”

Ted was followed by a second dog, Earl, and a third, Garth, who required a week of intensive training.

Mrs Newman said: “We had to spend a week in a special flat run by Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. We learnt to deal with everyday things like the cooker timer, the alarm clock, the phone and the smoke alarm. But this time round, with Kandy, we did all our training at home.”

Mrs Newman, a widow, enjoys her independence and travels regularly by bus.

The pair can also often be seen engaging with the public at Guide Dogs events.

She added: “Volunteering for the charity is my way of giving something back and saying thank you.”

Kandy will also have a starring role at Mrs Newman’s son’s wedding later this year by carrying a horseshoe at the wedding.