Southampton News Winter 2009

Southampton Puppy Training Satellite

Weekly puppy classes are held at Hounsdown Community Hall, Southampton. Judith, the Puppy Satellite Trainer started as a dog foster homer for Canine Partners in 1996, then was a Puppy Parent and worked with the dogs in advanced training. She also worked with established Partnerships as an aftercare officer and started the very first Puppy Satellite in 2001. She has seen and helped many tiny puppies through to fully-trained Assistance Dogs, with her huge amount of experience.

Contact Judith Warner, Puppy Satellite Trainer on 0238 084 0469.

Up and Coming Events

Have your event advertised here, please call 08456 580 480
17-Jul-2012 Charity Golf Day at Batchworth Park Golf Club, Herts

If you are keen to become a Volunteer Puppy Parent and you would like to visit our puppy classes to learn more: please fill in this Puppy Training Department Form. We appreciate all your support and if you would like information on other local Canine Partners' volunteer opportunities, please contact us.

News from the Puppy Parents

It has been an exciting time ranging from articles in the local newspapers to the appearance of one of our own home grown puppies - Noah, in a television report. As well as the weekly training meetings at Hounsdown Hall, we are very lucky to live in one of the most beautiful and latest National Parks - the New Forest. We often undertake lovely forest walks with the puppies and introduce them to the ponies, cows and sometimes pigs that roam the countryside.

Many a pup has also found the muddy wallows that frequent the forest and have returned to the car a different colour! Living near to the south coast we are able to train the pups in the fresh air at the beach at Lepe. Another of our training adventures is at Longdown Dairy Farm where the dogs can be introduced to all types of animals ranging from beautiful Jersey cows, goats of all sizes, hissing geese, snorting pigs as well as alpacas and Highland cattle to fully socialise the puppies. The last time we went, the alpacas decided to chase us, but the dogs remained calm and well behaved, and as for the Puppy Parents, well let’s say they became very agile…

To get the dogs used to the perils and perhaps tedium of shopping, they have been taken to a large Marks and Spencer, where weaving between shoppers who concentrate more on the goods on show than where they are going, often proves difficult. The draw of lovely smells and food on offer can also lead to some amusing incidents where the dog is told, “don’t touch” and a member of the public replies, “but I wasn’t going to!” The lift also becomes a focus for attention as we get the dogs used to going in and out without bolting through the doors.

Southampton fundraisers

Fundraising has been in full swing with volunteers Alison and Kevin leading the way with various schools in the area. Walks have been undertaken at the local secondary school and two primary schools. The dogs lapped up all the attention!

We are certainly very grateful for all schools for their contributions. The school work has been particularly encouraging – the Southampton Team have seen over 1600 children in the last academic year.

Activities include the Bluebell Walk at East Grimstead – charity Bluebell Walk hosted by regular supporters Annie and Derrick Standen, Swithun Wells School – Sponsored Walk, Cardiff Rainbows, Guides and Brownies – Sponsored Walk, Chick Flick Nights – Lesley and Alison did two “Chick Flick” nights to raise money for Patrick Fisher’s London to Paris Bike Ride covering 300 miles; he raised nearly £1,500!

Talks and fundraising at Tractor Club – Norfolk, Topaz Club and Evergreen Club, Hilmarton Luncheon Club, Bold Forester Quiz Night – the quiz master even donated his charges to us! Shows attended included the Labradoodle Trust Show - Penny brought her motor home so we had bacon and sausages and loads of cups of tea.

These and other activities have raised around £7,500 and done much to raise our profile in the area.
We held our dinner dance on Saturday 12th September at Steeple Court Manor in Botley. With over 120 people attending, they enjoyed a warm sunny evening; perfect for the Champagne and Strawberries reception. After a demo by Trainer Clare and her Demo Dog Doyle, we sat down to a superb four course meal, putting guests in the mood for buying raffle tickets, especially after some emotive words from Andy Fields with his Canine Partner Emily. Scores of donated prizes and a star prize auction raised over £1,000 and the whole evening raised over £3,600!!

For information on each Puppy Training Satellite utilise these links:
West Sussex; East Sussex; Essex; Hull; Bedford; Gloucester; Isle of Wight; East Scotland; West Scotland.

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