Meet Leslie, one of our volunteers who is helping guide puppies on their journey to become life-changing assistance dogs. Leslie from Leicestershire, has been volunteering with us for three years, since losing his beloved wife.

He welcomed his first puppy, Candy, four months later. After 18 months, Candy left for Assistance Dog Training. Leslie recalls seeing her partnered for the first time: “I watched a lady in a wheelchair cross the car park with her dog by her side. My coordinator mouthed, ‘It’s Candy.’ I was in tears, overwhelmed with pride.” My week with Ada Monday Leslie’s second dog, Violetta, is now in training getting ready to be partnered, while his newest pup, Ada, is just beginning her journey.

“From early socialisation to learning good manners, every second with Ada is an adventure.”

Monday:

Ada and I begin our day with breakfast before heading into the garden. She spent some time exploring and playing, before we have a short training session practising “sit” and “stay”.

Tuesday:

Ada comes with me as I go about my day, making the role really flexible. Today we popped to a local café and had a walk around the park. She was well behaved meeting new people and seeing cyclists for the first time; although she did try to chase a squirrel! These little everyday moments are perfect for practising her focus and training in real-life situations.

Wednesday:

Wednesday is puppy training class with our wonderful Puppy Coordinator, Katie. Surrounded by other pups, Ada practised recall, walking politely by my side and settling in busy spaces. Even with lots of distractions, she stays focused…most of the time!

Thursday:

Today I took Ada to her puppy physio session, which involves lots of stretching, balancing and navigating small obstacles. Starting these exercises young helps keep her muscles and joints strong – an important part of growing into a healthy, happy dog.

Friday:

It’s my job to make sure Ada has lots of socialisation, so I’m always looking for ways to help her experience new things and build her confidence. Today, we explored a quiet nature trail together. Ada practiced walking calmly on the lead, which she loved. Lots of sniffing new scents, we even met a few friendly dogs along the way.

Weekend:

By the end of a busy week, Ada has grown in confidence while having plenty of fun along the way. The weekend is the perfect chance to discover new experiences – we go on longer walks, play games and squeeze in a few training sessions. Puppy Training

Volunteers like Leslie guide each pup through their crucial first year, helping them gain confidence, learn good manners, and build strong foundations for the life-changing tasks ahead.

Find out more about volunteering with our dogs to help create life-changing assistance dogs.