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Do something wonderful: be a Puppy Parent to a future assistance dog!
National charity, Canine Partners, urgently needs volunteers to become puppy parents in West Sussex to ensure that they can continue to train assistance dogs in the county.
This vital role allows Canine Partners to team a specially trained assistance dog with a person with disabilities.
The Charity is specifically looking for volunteers who can take a puppy into their home from the age of eight weeks until they are 12-14 months old. They will need to be available to attend regular puppy training classes at the training centre in Heyshott, near Midhurst, and to teach the pup basic obedience and core tasks that will be vital as they move on to advanced training.
Janet Whipp, who is a puppy parent based at the Charity’s Heyshott training centre puppy has taken many dogs through their initial training. Her latest pup, Magnum, is now undergoing Advanced Training prior to being matched with their disabled partner.
Janet said: “I decided to become a puppy parent because I had heard about the fantastic work of Canine Partners and my social conscience kicked in – I felt I could do something which would benefit other people.
“Being a puppy parent brings out every emotion there is. There is always a lot of laughter when there is a puppy about. When you see that dog changing the life of a person with disabilities and knowing you have played a part in it, you feel proud enough to burst!
“I adore the work I do with Canine Partners, to think that I can give a little dog a start in life that will see it go on to change someone’s life is worth everything to me. I can’t recommend it enough. The moment I started here I became part of the Canine Partners family.”
Puppy parents will have the full support of Canine Partners’ puppy trainer, Elaine Potter, at the national centre near Midhurst, West Sussex. And all expenses relating to the pup’s training will be met by the Charity.
Elaine added: “Our puppies begin their training as soon as they are placed with their puppy parent. The puppies need a welcoming and understanding home to live in while they learn the skills that they need to become an assistance dog. The emphasis at puppy class is on having fun as you teach your puppy basic obedience. You will be guided on how to socialise your puppy to the many different environments that an assistance dog will have to cope with. If you are at home most of the day, have commitment and a sense of humour, and would like to play a part in training a puppy to help a person with a disability, then why not become a puppy parent?”
If you or someone you know would like to be a puppy parent, contact The Puppy Department today!
Call 01730 716017 or email elainep@caninepartners.org.uk
