Last month, we introduced a brand new series to our blog where we celebrate one of our amazing volunteers each month. You can read about our volunteer of the month for July, demonstration dog handler John Flower, here.

This month, puppy parent Katerina Roberts shares her experience of puppy walking for Canine Partners, including the adventures she gets up to with her current puppy in training, Simba.

Discovering Canine Partners

Five years ago, a chance meeting in a hospital out-patients clinic changed my life. I was waiting to see my consultant to discuss my lung cancer diagnosis when a fellow patient with a yellow Labrador sat beside me. My natural instinct was to smile and then I noticed the dog wearing a red jacket. The lady explained that her dog was a Medical Alert Dog – a working dog – and that was my introduction to the world of assistance dogs. I was hooked!

Today I am a puppy parent for Canine Partners. Over the years I have fostered and nurtured bundles of furry pups who not only have brought sunshine to those dark and often depressing days, but also gave me a reason for living and helped me recover. They filled a gap in my heart, but most of all I felt good playing just a small part, in return for so much joy, in helping disabled people lead more independent lives.

Taking in a 7-week old pup and teaching it basic good manners needs a lot of patience, discipline and a healthy sense of humour. But what I love most about this job is having the time and energy to expose the pup to different situations and environments, so that when it graduates to big school (aka advanced training) at around 14 months, the trainers are able to work with a well-balanced, happy and confident dog.

Adventures with Simba

My current pup, Simba, is eight months old and is part of the family. He accompanies us to shops and supermarkets, pubs and clubs, cafes and restaurants often travelling by bus, train or car. He watches me swim and do salsa and ballroom dancing and always holidays with us. He’s stayed in hotels, log cabins and caravans and visited museums, stately homes, animal parks and other attractions, flying the flag for Canine Partners in his little purple working jacket.

With my husband, Eric, we also raise awareness of the charity through talks, focusing on the benefits of puppy parenting and the wonderful advice, support and supervision you get from your trainer through home visits and obedience classes. You never feel alone or unable to cope with a problem relating to yourself or your dog because help is always there – plus your circle of friends grows through meeting like-minded people at fundraising events and other activities for the charity.

I often hear comments like, “Oh I could never give him up!” That’s when I explain that you get a warm feeling inside when you know another pup will come along and that the one leaving you is going on to do amazing work.

My last Canine Partners pup, Wisteria, is one of those dogs and is successfully partnered, as is my first pup, Clayton, who is from another assistance dog charity and is now working with an autistic child. Of course it was hard giving them up but I have fond memories each time I read their diaries which I kept throughout their puppyhood. I’m keeping one for Simba too so by the time he’s all grown up and wearing long trousers he can pass on his precious puppy memoirs to his new partner!

> Find out more about becoming a puppy parent