Meet the graduates: Becky Rex

Becky Rex has secured her dream job after graduating from Harper Adams University.

The recent FdSc Animal Management and Welfare graduate and has started training to become a qualified guide dog mobility instructor with Guide Dogs for Blind Association in Shrewsbury.

The 23 year-old said: “I started at Harper in 2013. I always wanted to work with dogs, especially in dog training so I decided to apply for a placement year with Guide Dogs for the Blind and was accepted.

“From my placement, I learnt that was what I wanted to do, so I applied for a job with them, but didn’t get it. They recommended that I applied again once I’d graduated, and I’ve been offered a job. It’s a dream come true!

“I’m going to be joining a three year training course to become a guide dog mobility instructor. The job is split into three phases. Firstly, I train the dogs for ten weeks in advanced training; teaching them how to guide. I match then match them to someone who’s blind or partially sighted and you match them on a number of criteria including, how fast the person walks, how much sight they’ve got and if their sight is going to deteriorate. Everything is looked at on an individual basis. I then train them together for two weeks, making sure that they get used to each other and are aware of how each other thinks.

“There’s also some after care to ensure that they are having a successful partnership.”