Canine Partners Gloucester Puppy Training Satellite Celebrates 1st Birthday

The Gloucester puppy training satellite for national charity Canine Partners, who provides specially trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities, has recently celebrated its first birthday.  A party took place at Oldends Pavillion in Stonehouse near Stroud on 18 April, where they hold weekly puppy training classes.

Eleven puppies attended the party, along with their volunteer puppy parents from the local area who help look after them whilst in training.  They were joined by family, volunteers, people who offer temporary foster homes for the dogs and staff.  A cake was decorated with sugar icing models of Puppy Trainer Heather Loan and Yannick, Heather’s demonstration dog.  Guests enjoyed a picnic, whilst the dogs played party games and were given 1st birthday balls on ropes.

To enable Canine Partners to train more puppies to become assistance dogs, it has now established over 12 puppy-training satellites throughout the country including the one in Gloucester.  Here puppies are given their basic training by their puppy parents to learn a range of commands that will enable them to pick up dropped items, open doors, operate pedestrian crossings and much more.  After that they will return to the Canine Partners national headquarters in West Sussex for advanced training.

Heather Loan comments, “We have had a really successful year recruiting puppy parents, enabling us to train more puppies in the area.  The support we have had from the local community has been overwhelming but we are always looking for more people to help us by volunteering or becoming puppy parents.”

Arthur Findlater from Sapperton has multiple sclerosis and was partnered with canine partner Daxi in 2008.  “I depend on him for all sorts of practical things.  He picks up things I drop such as my spectacles, cheque book, pens and money and he fetches things for me.  He opens gates and doors; he supports me if I fall.  However, just as important to me are the emotional and psychological benefits I get from the partnership.”

For further information on getting involved with Canine Partners in Gloucester please call Heather Loan on 07826 232 727.

Canine Partners for Independence. Registered in England No. 2516146. Charity Commission Registered No. 803680. Scottish Registered Charity No. SCO39050

   Sitemap | Help | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Links   © Copyright Canine Partners 2009. All Rights Reserved