Nikolai Liakhoff

Nikolai Liakhoff, MBE (1897–1962) was a Russian guide dog trainer. Born in Odessa, now in Ukraine, Liakhoff won a bravery award while serving as a Cossack guard in World War I. Her guide dog school collapsed due to the Great Depression, so Liakhoff was given the choice of working in the US or the UK; he reportedly chose the UK because it had a monarchy.

In 1933, Liakhoff went to the UK to be the trainer for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which was founded in 1934. Involved from the earliest stages of the charity's life, Liakhoff and his program was instrumental in the successful development of guide dog training in the UK. Liakhoff was awarded an MBE in 1953.