The trainers of the hungarian guide dogs:
dr. Tamás Mezősi
I am a teacher. I was mentoring other students even in my school age, and unto this day, though in a different form, I am still living for this passion. I received my education and teacher diploma at Kossuth Lajos University of Science, I gained my diploma in law and economy at Miskolc University, I got my Rehabilitation professional for visual
impairment diploma at Eötvös Loránd University. Furthermore, I received qualification for training therapy dogs, guide dogs for blind, service dogs for motor impaired and seizure alert dogs. I am continuously learning unto this day: profession, humanity, teamwork. I am able to apply all of those at our Foundation. I train dogs, teach people with disability, and support my colleagues, but my main task is to ensure the financial background of the Foundation. I lead the work of the Foundation deliberately and with great professional humbleness. I serve my country as a volunteer rescue dog leader at Hunor Common Rescue Team.
(Trafi 2018, Fecske 2016, Fanni 2015, Marcipán 2015, Ebu 2014, Kenobi 2014, Szilaj 2014,
Pax 2014, Ében 2012, Rusty 2012. Borcsa 2012, Tami 2012, Blake 2011, Bogyó 2011, Maci
2011, Joey 2010, Opál 2009, Dió 2008, Fiona 2008, Labda 2000)
My Service Dogs:
- Labda (Ball): (28 11 1998 – 14 07 2012) She is a Labrador retriever castrated female dog. She started her rescue dog „career” beside the famous Mancs at the Special Rescue Team of Miskolc. She got the highest level of international qualification in ruins research, area search, and tracing as well. She worked abroad firs after the earthquake in Turkey (2000). When aging, Labdácska was very effective as a therapy dog, she participated in all of our programmes, we could count on her confident knowledge and firmness.
- Dió (Walnut): (June 2006 – April 2019) She was born in 2006, she is a Labrador retriever, castrated female dog whose parents were rescue dogs as well. She also became a successful rescue dog; We participated together in the rescue after the earthquake in Sumatra (2009). Dió also got the highest level of international qualification for area search and ruin search by the age of 6 years. She was effective as a therapy and demonstrator dog as well, due to her kind personality and great working capacity.
- Trafi: (2015) He is a trained guide dog for blind, service dog for motor impaired people and a seizure alert dog. I give demonstration with him on the work expected from the service dogs, to the people living with disability and turning to us for information. He is also a trained therapy dog who helps with me in the home of adolescent autistic people. As a third scope of his activities as a rescue dog, he gained the highest international qualification in ruin search and area search. We volunteer together for the HUNOR Common Rescue Team, e.g., we participated in the Vigorous Warrior 19 NATO Peace drill.
Piroska Komondi
I have agriculture engineer degree. I have been dealing with dogs since my 13 years of age: including exhibitions, dealing with hunting dogs, blood tracking, breeding, organising and leading Beagle dog school. I also learnt dog grooming, and dog training, then I found myself in the middle of the rescue dog world. As a training leader I coordinated the development of 15-25 dogs of the team, over 6 years. I also trained my own dogs. Meanwhile organising and executing several searching dog demonstrations, examinations and competitions, I participated in real searching, international practicing as well. I also completed paramedic training and I participated in a volunteer fire-fighter course. I also worked in an ambulance as a paramedic. I trained searching dogs, then in the Foundation I trained guide dogs for blind. At the same time, I was working as a veterinary assistant. I regularly participate in further trainings for trainers, and veterinary assistants and in the subject of ethology to enable myself to complete my work on an appropriate level.
2008 Due to visiting a rehabilitation teacher training, I became more effective in my work for training guide dogs for blind.
2011 I was qualified as a Habilitation dog trainer.
2017 I was qualified as a Guide dog for blind trainer.
2018 I was qualified as a Service dog for motor impaired trainer
2018 I participated in a seminar in Australia, organised by IGDF (International Guide dog Federation) and in a conference for breeders in England (UK).
2019 In the spring, I participated in a conference organised by EGDF (European Guide Dog Federation) in Tallin, Estonia.
2019 I participated in a 3-week course for breeders at the Guiding Eyes for the Blind (NY State, USA) organised by their School for Guide dogs.
2020 We (our Foundation) initiated a middle European network for breeders with other European schools for guide dogs, involving international experts.
(Mézes 2014, Jampi 2013, Frida 2013, Demi 2013, Miksa 2012, Mandula 2009, Rusty 2019)
My service dog:
Diamond: February 2012, she is a female Labrador whose ancestors are in a working lineage. She happily demonstrates in our programmes for adults and children as well, showing how guide dogs for blind can lead. She is very sensitive, who is able to adapt to every interested person, she can guide everyone at their own pace. She is also trained as a searching dog.
Mária Kovács Nyíriné
I have a strong bond to dogs since my childhood, I always collected the dogs in the neighbourhoods and took them home. My parents had to realise that I needed a dog on own, so I was 8 years old when I got my fist dog, a Caucasian mix dog. I started to train guide dogs for blind in the Csepel Dog School in 1992, my first dog was a „fairy” Labrador female. One very rarely meets such a good-natured dog, she nearly helped me to train her. I spent 6 years at Csepel Dog School and several training and handing over the dogs is associated with my name. I was on maternity leave with my children until 2007. I missed dealing with dogs, therefore I joined to a foundation in 2008 which was terminated in December 2010 due to lack of financial resources. After this I contacted Baráthegyi Foundation, where I got the opportunity to continue the job which became a part of my life. I hope that my work, provides the opportunity for several blind person to participate in
the traffic with a well-trained guide dog.
2011 I completed exam and got qualification as a trainer for Habilitation dogs.
2017 I completed exam and got qualification as a trainer for Guide dogs for blind.
(Mokka (Mocca) 2020, Geniusz (Genius) 2020, Kávé (Coffee) 2020, Körte (Pear) 2020, Ion 2019, Ikon (Icon) 2019, Dolly 2019, Indigó (Carbon) 2018, Bruno 2018, Dolly 2017, Gordon 2017, Gandhi 2017, Felhő (Cloud) 2016, Gesztenye (Chestnut) 2016, Gamma 2016, Fülöp (Philip) 2016, Fidzsi (Fiji) 2016, Bonca 2015, Bözsi (Beth) 2015, Fahéj (Cinnamon) 2015, Elvis 2014, Tex 2014, Maya 2014, Kira 2014, Cassie 2013, Vacak (Measly) 2013, Andy 2013, Mézi (Maisy) 2012, Dani (Dany) 2012, Jerry 2012, Frodó 2011, Mázli (Fluke) 2010)
Mónika Köbli
I graduated from the environmental research major of the University of Debrecen. I used to be an environmental administrative clerk in a Mayor’s Office for many years. I continuously had the feeling that something was missing from my life and it took long time for me to realise what it was. They were the dogs and that I wanted to help those people who are really in need. And then, came the divine spark. I contacted a foundation which was specialised in training guide dogs for blind and I was working only in this field from the beginning of 2010. The foundation got financially ruined, but with my colleague, we were not the type who easily give up. After many try we finally found Baráthegyi Foundation for School for Guide Dogs and Service Dogs, where finally we found those aims, moral and ideological norms which are guiding the foundation and important for us as well. I hope I can strengthen our team as long as possible, and together we can make many needy person’s life easier! May be so… I completed my exams and got my qualification as a trainer for Habilitation dogs in 2011, and as a trainer for Guide dogs for blind in 2017.
(Latte 2021, Mese 2020, Inga 2019, Frutti 2016, Tesla 2016, Gina 2015, Bogi 2015, Oti
2014, Emi 2014, Morisz 2014, Dana 2014, Nico 2013, Szeder 2013, Rusty 2012, Trevor
2012, Tami 2012, Ében 2012, Dennis 2011)
Darinka Farkas
As long as I can recall, I always loved dogs, I admired their loyalty and character. I was a little child, when I got Sheila Hockenn’s wonderful biography, Emma and I, from my mother. This novel incredibly sensitively described the selfless and affectionate relationship between the guide dog and her visually impaired owner. This captivating story had impressed me so much, that from then on, someone asked me “what will I be when I grow up?” I answered, a trainer for guide dog for blind. And so it happened! After graduation I completed education and qualified as a patrol dog trainer, then a habilitation dog trainer, and then as a guide dog for blind trainer. I was so lucky that after school I was employed by the Guide dog Training School of the National Association for the Hungarian Blind and Visually Impaired People, where I was working as a guide dog trainer for 12 years. This year my life had reached such a turning point that I had to change, but I did not want to give up my profession. The Baráthegyi School for Guide Dog for Blind provided the opportunity for me to continue my work with these wonderful dogs and to further develop my professional knowledge by joining to its team and help my fellow visually impaired people regain independence.
(Brendon 2017, Gyömbér (Ginger) 2017, Bagira 2020, Aysha 2018, Hablaty (Chatty) 2018,
Ice 2019, Szamos 2019, Bebe 2020, Kapitány (Captain) 2021, Morze 2021)
Emese Barkóczi Királyné
I graduated in 2011 as a physiotherapist and even back then I dealt with movement development with dogs. Then I completed a habilitation dog trainer qualification and for four and a half years I worked in the children’s rehabilitation department of a county hospital, where I developed children with my own therapy dog. I consider it to be my profession to help others, so I was pleased to join the foundation to make the life of the visually impaired better by training guide dogs.
(Google 2017)
My service dog:
- Bóbita: a black female Labrador born in 2014. She went to resident nurseries, hospitals and schools to develop children as a candidate therapy dog. With her sweet and pliant nature, she brings a smile to everyone’s face. She likes people and is happy to work with anyone at any time: in programs aimed to combat exclusionary attitudes one can always count on her, either she is with my colleagues or with me.
Zoltán Vida
I’ve been strengthening the Baráthegyi team since 2013. I got to know the work of the Foundation at first as a client, when I applied for my guide dog. I know by experience that how great help can be given by such a wonderful dog to its visually impaired owner.
Therefore, it is a great pleasure for me that I can work for my fellows and the guide dogs.
My job is to test the guide dogs in the last part of their training if they are ready for the cooperation with a visually impaired person. Besides I teach informatics to visually impaired people thereby supporting them to get to know and take advantage of the development of the technology. My other important task is to participate in sensitizing programmes where people get insight of the world of visually impaired people.
