Stephen and Geraldine have been volunteer Puppy Parents for Canine Partners since November 2016. They are currently looking after their third puppy-in-training. This is their story:

Our primary role within Canine Partners is as Puppy Parents but we are also core members of the East Midlands Community Group and Stephen is a trained Volunteer Speaker for the charity. We have been volunteering for Canine Partners since November 2016, when our first puppy arrived at just seven weeks old!

As puppy parents our role requires us to provide early education and socialisation of the puppy in our care. We introduce the puppy to new environments, take them on all forms of public transport as well as introducing them to both town and rural surroundings. Our ultimate aim is for our puppy to be well behaved, friendly and able to adapt in all social aspects.

We both enjoy going out and meeting different people, striking up a conversation whilst training our puppy or talking to groups such as the WI and other Social Clubs. It’s great to be able to raise the awareness of Canine Partners in this way. Helping out with demonstration voice overs as part of the Volunteer Speaker role is a great opportunity to work with the demo dogs and their handlers at larger events.

We both worked for a leading global Pharmaceutical company opting to take early retirement after a large reorganisation. We had talked about getting a pet dog and having visited some rescue centres, we both realised that perhaps this was not the best route for us as we wanted to give something more worthwhile back to a “dog” charity. A chance visit to Chatsworth Country show saw us walk past the Canine Partners stand.  After having a really good chat with both volunteers and meeting some of the dogs, we walked away knowing we had found ourselves a really great charity to help. This set the ball rolling for us and a couple of months later our first puppy arrived and we have never looked back.

We really enjoy volunteering for the charity and being part of the wider family – it’s nice to be able to draw on past career experiences to help Canine Partners. We always look forward to being able to make a positive input and to help the charity increase its awareness.

The most rewarding aspect of being a puppy parent, is seeing your puppy grow from eight  weeks into a fully trained, working assistance dog – transforming the life of the partner! It’s hard to put into words how proud you feel and the sense of achievement, knowing that all your hard work and effort has completely changed a person’s life.

We would have no hesitation in recommending Canine Partners to anyone if they are looking for a volunteer role. Whether being a Puppy Parent or helping out at an event, you will always get a warm welcome, meet lots of lovely people and have a huge support network behind you.

Pam has volunteered for Canine Partners twice a week for over 11 years. During this time she has volunteered in the office and has fostered over 56 dogs. This is her story:

My love of dogs begun my volunteering journey at Canine Partners, I not only love volunteering for the charity but I also get my ‘dog fix’ whilst I work! I volunteer at the Southern Training Centre in the Aftercare Department.

My main role is to keep numerous data up to date when new partnerships are created, I post dog jackets and various other equipment to partners, and I help prepare for Partnership Ceremonies. I assist with quarterly stocktaking of jackets and wheelchair equipment, I update the microchips when new partnerships are formed, and I assist with emailing all of our established partners (over 450 of them) when important information needs to be sent to them quickly.

Before I became an office Volunteer for Canine Partners, my past experience was all in an admin capacity so I felt was able to bring that knowledge to the charity. I have been volunteering twice a week for over 11 years and over that time I have also been a Weekend Fosterer for dogs in Advanced Training. I looked after 56 dogs over the seven years I was a Weekend Fosterer and I currently still help out as an emergency fosterer, taking care of dogs when their partner has gone into hospital.

Canine Partners is a lovely charity to be associated with and I am always in awe of the wonderful tasks the dogs are trained to do to help people with physical disabilities. This could not be achieved without the dedication of my colleagues, who are a terrific group of people to be associated with. The team, especially my manager, are hardworking and dedicated.

John has been a volunteer Puppy Parent for over nine years and is currently looking after his 9^th puppy-in-training, Rhondda. This is his story.

I begun volunteering at Canine Partners as I want to help people who have various medical conditions to have a better quality of life, which a canine partner assistance dog can help them achieve. Until I volunteered with Canine Partners, the only experience I had was having puppies during my teenage years and I had also been a Puppy Parent at another assistance dog charity beforehand.

As a Puppy Parent my main role is to teach them the basic skills required to become an assistance dog – sit, stay, retrieving, touch, tug and recalls.  I help to train each puppy with social skills for around 14 months. This includes getting them to use all forms of transport, such as buses, trains and the car. I will take them to various shopping centres and different social occasions – anywhere that they may need to go and any situation that they may encounter during their working life. I ensure they meet all types of people in the general public plus various animals too!

The most rewarding thing about volunteering for Canine Partners is attending the Partnership Ceremony for each puppy I help to train, as you get to listen to the various stories from the partners about how having a canine partner assistance dog has changed their life. The most heart-warming story I heard was from a young lady who said before she had her canine partner she would be ignored, but now she has a canine partner everyone stops to ask her how she is and what her dog can do. She explained how having a canine partner had opened up her social life, and it’s hearing stories like that that makes volunteering even more rewarding for me.

There are many reasons why I think people should consider becoming a Puppy Parent for Canine Partners, but one thing that I love is how I get to meet other like-minded people who are also Puppy Parents at social gatherings. I also love getting the chance to tell people I meet about Canine Partners  whilst I am out shopping or walking my puppy. The most important reason for me though, is having the chance to make a difference to the life of someone living with a physical disability.

Rachel has been volunteering as a B&B fosterer since 2016, and has just finished fostering Johnnie, an 18-month-old Labrador x Golden Retriever. Fosterers typically tend to foster the same dog for a full 17 weeks during their advanced training, to ensure the dog has some continuity, familiarity and is settled.

One of the reasons that Rachel decided to volunteer was the loss of her wonderful black Labrador, Murphy, back in 2014. He was 16 years old and left a huge hole in their family:

“We were devastated and said we could never put ourselves through that type of loss again. However, a couple of years on we desperately missed having a dog around but still didn’t feel we were ready to commit to having another dog of our own. We have a busy work and family life, so we aren’t in a position to have our own dog. We researched Canine Partners and the amazing work they did, which led to us learning that they needed volunteers to foster their incredible dogs in training. For us this was an easy decision, we got our dog fix without the full-time commitment and at the same time we could help a charity we believed in. As they say, the rest is history!”

Rachel describes a typical day as a B&B fosterer:

“Most dogs just fit in with you as you go about your day; they follow you about to see what you are up to or just chill out on their bed. If it’s a working day for the dog, then we drop them off at the Midlands Training Centre in the morning and pick them up at the end of the day. They then come back home for playtime, dinner and to just chill out. When they’re with us it’s their time to rest and recuperate, we don’t do any training with them.”

Rachel describes her experience of being a Canine Partners volunteer:

“It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. To watch the dog grow and develop over the 17 weeks they are with us is fantastic, and to think that you have played a part in that is very humbling. We have learnt so much from the fantastic trainers and met some wonderful people.”

Become a volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30^th anniversary year:

At the moment both of our fostering lists are closed to new enquiries, but there are lots of other ways you can volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30th year. To find out more, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/volunteering

Nick retired from paid employment in 2017, and wanted to spend some of his time volunteering. Living just minutes down the road, he would pass the Canine Partners Midlands Training Centre almost every day but didn’t know much about the Charity.

After attending one of the Canine Partners Information Sessions and seeing the amazing dogs in action, as well as hearing first-hand from Partners about how the dogs had changed their lives, he realised that he wanted to help, and to raise awareness of what the charity does.

Nick describes the various volunteer roles he has fulfilled for Canine Partners:

“I started working with Canine Partners as a Volunteer Speaker, giving talks to local community groups (schools, brownie packs, WIs, etc.). My wife and I have also done some Weekend Fostering of the dogs that are going through their Advanced Training and I have helped out with some of the administration work that needs to be done in the centre’s offices. I am a retired Crisis Management consultant, so I have been supporting the Canine Partners Corporate team, as well as helping to make sure that the charity’s own contingency plans and processes are a little bit more robust.

The area where I have done most work is as a volunteer at Canine Partner’s events, both at the Midlands Training Centre and around the Midlands. This Event Volunteer role could involve anything from serving tea and cakes at one of their Afternoon Teas, presenting at one of the regular Information Sessions, helping with the plant crèche at RHS Chatsworth, or supporting fundraising stalls. Once you are registered as a volunteer you are kept informed of upcoming events and, if you’re available, you can sign up to help.”

Nick describes his experience of being a Canine Partners volunteer:

“It is incredibly rewarding to know that the work you do is helping to change the lives of people with disabilities. As an Event Volunteer you get to meet some lovely people, go to some interesting places, and spend time around some wonderful dogs.

I volunteer because it gives me the variety and flexibility that I enjoy. If you have some spare time, no matter how much or how little, it is a rewarding and fun way to make a real contribution to a fantastic charity. Did I mention that, as a Canine Partners volunteer, you get to spend some time around some wonderful dogs?”

Become a volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30^th anniversary year:

There are lots of ways you can volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30th year. To find out more, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/volunteering

Laura looks after one of the Canine Partners’ demonstration dogs, five year old yellow Labrador OJ. Laura and OJ go to Canine Partners events and show the public what practical help our dogs can be trained to provide, by demonstrating the tasks that our dogs may do to help in the day-to-day life of one of our partners.

OJ can help with retrieving items such as the phone or a crutch, he can tug off clothing and he can empty the washing machine – just to name a few! Laura and OJ go to various events across the UK, including the annual Canine Partners carol services, Canary Wharf, and various Country Fairs.

Laura describes how she became a volunteer Demonstration Dog Handler:

“In my day-to-day job I actually work for Canine Partners in the Applications Department. I get to see first-hand the difference our dogs can make to someone’s life and to be a part of spreading this message in the work I do with the demo team is so rewarding. I am very passionate about what Canine Partners does and I am naturally a dog person myself, so to now have my own dog whom I can continue training and take to events representing Canine Partners is an honour.

I originally worked in the Advanced Training Team at Canine Partners so I have experience in training our dogs task work. I was in a good position to take on and continue training OJ, and to progress the amount of task work he knew in preparation for demonstrations. I am also quite a people-person and enjoy talking to people, especially if it is about something I am so passionate about. It will always be a pleasure to spread the word, and talk about my experiences of seeing how much a canine partner can make a difference.”

Laura describes her experience of volunteering for Canine Partners:

“I get to visit so many places and meet so many people, other volunteers and working partnerships, and being part of such a passionate team is inspiring.  Another huge aspect is that I get to take on the responsibility and training of a demo dog who has become a huge part of my life and who I have the pleasure to see grow in his confidence and skill set.

Volunteering for Canine Partners is such a rewarding role with such variety and social benefits. It means I get to visit places I would never normally have the chance to go to and meet people I would never normally come across. There are also not many charities where volunteers can have such an involved role and have the chance to meet many of our partnerships and see first-hand the impact the charity has.

I am so proud to say that I work and volunteer for such a worthwhile charity and am looking forward to celebrating our 30^th Anniversary.”

Become a volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30^th anniversary year:

There are lots of ways you can volunteer for Canine Partners during our 30th year. To find out more, please  visit caninepartners.org.uk/volunteering

Puppy Parents play a vital role in the early socialisation and training of a canine partner. At eight weeks old, we place each puppy with a volunteer puppy parent to live with them for around 14 months, until they are ready to move to one of our dedicated centres to start advanced training.

Our Puppy Parents care for the puppy with support from the Canine Partners expert trainers, who teach them the fundamentals of puppy socialisation and simple commands to begin the puppy’s training. During this time the puppy is learning the skills needed to become a well-rounded dog, that will go on to transform the life of a person with a disability.

Glenis describes how she became a volunteer Puppy Parent:

“When I was a child, my dad gave me a little corner of our garden. I delighted in tending my small patch, often sharing seeds and cuttings, special visitors never went away without dutifully inspecting my produce, and my favourite people would also leave with a precious posy of whatever was in bloom.

All through my childhood, my dog would be at my side, my best mate, suffering the dressing up, the pram and boat rides, the bandages for pretend wounds, always there for me. Sadly, in life, autumn must come, and just as the flowers in my garden withered and died, so too, must I lose my beloved best mate.

As an adult, I had my new little plants to love and nurture, until they grew independent, and left the garden to pursue their careers, and develop their own gardens. Always the dog in my life has been as important to me as my own family, until one day, when having bade a tearful farewell to a precious four legged friend, I decided I could no longer go through this pain of watching a dog grow old and leaving me.

It was at this point that I contacted Canine Partners, a charity which trains dogs to give disabled people a level of independence. It would be easy, I thought, I can have a puppy, love it, nurture it, with no worries of food or vet bills, no kennel fees, then after a year, give it back, so that someone very special can benefit, just like my flowers of long ago.”

Potential volunteers are often concerned about how they will feel when their foster puppy leaves them to start their advanced training – Glenis describes her experience:

“Give it back? Could it be done? Was I selfless enough to do this? There are over a million disabled people in this country, many of whom could benefit because of a dog, a dog who has learnt the skills necessary to help. A dog can change someone’s winter into summer, could I be a part of this process? Well, I am now about to start anew with my eleventh puppy!

Honestly, saying good bye is not easy, each one of my pups takes a bit of my heart when it leaves, but my tears are not full of pain, and sorrow, they are full of pride, and joy. My pups are the flowerbuds in my garden, they will bloom into instruments of love and care. I would love it if more people would join me in creating a bouquet for someone special.”

Become a volunteer Puppy Parent for Canine Partners during our 30^th anniversary year:

Being a puppy parent is highly rewarding, challenging and fun, offering a chance to learn new skills and meet like-minded dog lovers. We are on the lookout for volunteers like Glenis to take on this vital role and to provide a home for our amazing puppies. To find out more about becoming a Puppy Parent or to apply, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/puppy-parents/

After retiring in 2013, Angela was keen to do some volunteering, and as she  had always wanted a dog, becoming a puppy parent for Canine Partners was ideal – all the pleasure of having a dog but without the long term commitment.  However after becoming a Puppy Parent and also being a volunteer Fosterer, Angela was approached by Canine Partners‘ Breeding Department to see if she would like to foster a canine partner mum.

Being a Brood Bitch Holder means that you will get a well-socialised dog to live with you as part of your family, with all the support, guidance and advice you need to continue her training. You will have the opportunity to raise a litter of puppies, with a member of our Breeding Department on hand every step of the way to give you all of the support and guidance you need.

Angela describes what it’s like to become a volunteer Brood Bitch Holder:

“I had no experience as a Brood Bitch Holder and thought I wouldn’t be the right sort of person to do it, but the team at Canine Partners reassured me, and after we discussed at length what it entailed, I decided it fitted in with my family lifestyle and agreed to go ahead and do it!

“Fay lives with us as a well-trained pet and is such a joy – she is a very special girl and so loving and gentle. I was nervous when it came to the time for her to have her puppies, but the support I had from the team at Canine Partners was second to none. They were with me every step of the way and nothing was too much trouble to ensure I had everything I needed to support Fay and her puppies. They were available 24/7 if I had any concerns between their visits.

“The pride I feel seeing the puppies go on to be with their puppy parents is immense. I get regular updates on how they’re doing as well as photographs which is wonderful. I am very proud of my girl as she is a very good mum and has produced some beautiful and clever pups, who will go on to change someone’s life. To be there at the birth of a potential canine partner is very special indeed and something I will treasure forever.”

Angela describes how her experience of being a volunteer Brood Bitch Holder has enhanced her life post-retirement:

“I wouldn’t hesitate to encourage someone to take on the role of Brood Bitch Holder – it has enhanced my life immeasurably. The time you spend bringing up the litter goes so quickly and whilst I was sad to see the puppies go, it was lovely to have my girl Fay to myself again and I was so proud of how well she did.

“Being involved with Canine Partners was the best decision I have made in my life. I have learnt so much and met some wonderful people. It has given me a purpose in life since I retired. When you see the end result – a dog that has changed someone else’s life for the better as a canine partner, words can’t really describe the sense of pride and fulfilment it gives you.”

Become a volunteer Brood Bitch Holder for Canine Partners during our 30^th anniversary year:

We are on the lookout for volunteers like Angela to provide a home for a canine partner mum and support her as she brings the next generation of assistance dogs into the world.To find out more about becoming a Brood Bitch Holder or to apply, please visit caninepartners.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering/brood-bitch-holder/ or contact our Breeding Department on 01530 225943.