Dog of the Month:

Once qualified, the two-year-old Fox Red labrador will help to keep an autistic child safe and will be a source of comfort and stability.

Zeus has passed his assessments and has been matched with a young client and their family.

After further training for both the client’s parent and Zeus, he will go to live with the family in May.

After six months to a year of living and working together, Zeus and his client will be assessed in the hopes of graduating as a successful Support Dogs partnership.

Emily High, a trainer with Sheffield-based Support Dogs, said: “Zeus knows how to nudge, which could be used to let someone know the client needs help, and he has also been doing lap work as putting their head on someone’s lap can be comforting.”

Zeus has also been training to ‘brace’, which means he will use his strength to stop a child from bolting away from their parents or caregivers into the path of potential danger.

But behind the working dog is a loveable character.

“He’s very giddy,” said Emily.

“He’s quite a bouncy boy – a bit like a Tigger, but so very sweet and affectionate as well. I just love his goofy, happy-go-lucky nature.”

When not focusing on his training, Zeus absolutely loves running around.

He loves fish and belly rubs from the son of the volunteer doggy foster carers he lived with in Sheffield during training.

As well as training and providing assistance dogs to help autistic children to live safer, more independent lives, Support Dogs, which was founded 32 years ago, also supports people with epilepsy or a physical disability.

To find out more about the charity’s work, please visit supportdogs.org.uk