AN Ilkley teenager who suffers from epilepsy believes her life will be transformed by a rather special four-legged friend.

Torie Klein, 19, of Hollingwood Gate, is confident Juno the labrador retriever (also right) holds the key to greater independence and more enjoyment from life.

Eight-month-old Juno is being trained to recognise when Torie is about to suffer a seizure.

Juno is being trained by Sheffield-based Support Dogs charity. Juno will be taught to recognise the signs that precede an attack and alert Torie by becoming excited and barking, giving her time to recognise the signs that a seizure is on the way.

Dogs are trained to the same standard as Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Torie said: "I have been suffering from epilepsy since I was seven years old. My epilepsy has put many barriers in front of my life which I have tried to confront, such as not being able to play sport, not going out for long periods of time, like in the evening."

"At the beginning of this year my mum read an article about Support Dogs in the British Epilepsy Magazine. Now my life is starting to change," she said.

"We have had Juno since she was a puppy and she goes everywhere with me," said Torie.

Juno has enjoyed her first session with her Support Dogs trainer, making her one of the first dogs in the world to acquire these skills.

Torie's battle with epilepsy has impressed her mother, Avril Konrad. She said: "She's had a rough time of it but she never grumbles or feels sorry for herself. She just has a 'let's get on with it' attitude. Hopefully Juno will give her the freedom that she wants and needs."

Val Strong, training manager for Support Dogs, said: "We are the first organisation in the world to do this type of training as far as I know. Having a support dog can dramatically change people's lives."

She said: "One person said that before she had a dog she had epilepsy with a little bit of life but now she has a life with a little bit of epilepsy. Dogs don't have a sixth sense but they can be taught to look for behavioural changes in a person that happen before a seizure."

Juno should become an increasingly familiar sight in Ilkley with her red support dog coat in the coming weeks and months.

Juno will be encouraged to think a seizure is actually a good event. Every time the dog witnesses its owner suffering a seizure it is taught to bark and get excited and is rewarded with treats.

Initial training includes ensuring the dog is comfortable within the home environment, knows basic commands and that the owner has control over the dog. Following this, the dog is socialised in a variety of situations and environments.

Advanced training includes a period of intensive residential training for specific seizure alert work. Torie and Juno enjoyed their first official training session at the weekend.

Torie said: "It seemed to go pretty well. We walked along The Grove as Juno began her training. I'm hoping it will make a real difference. I'm just looking forward to the day when I can go out for walks with her," she said.

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