Mayor delighted by cute puppies in training to become assistance dogs

PUPPIES learning to become amazing assistance dogs delighted the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead at a training class in Horley.

The Mayor visited the class at Horley Methodist Church on Monday 7 January 2019 to learn more about the charity and meet volunteer puppy parents, who look after and help train the puppies from eight weeks old.

“It was amazing to see the puppies that will go on to transform the lives of people living with physical disabilities,” says Councillor Dorothy Ross-Tomlin, The Mayor of Reigate and Banstead.

“I was really impressed with their behaviour and amazed by what they will go on to do for disabled people.”

Canine Partners is a national charity that trains amazing assistance dogs to transform the lives of people with disabilities, boosting their confidence and independence.

The dogs are taught a range of everyday tasks including picking up and fetching items, opening doors and helping to undress a person. They can even help to load and unload a washing machine and they can fetch help in an emergency.

“The Mayor was able to watch a range of ages in the class, from River who is only 16 weeks old to Norman who, at 14 months old, is ready to go to advanced training very soon,” says Helen Bannan, Surrey Satellite Coordinator and Puppy Trainer for Canine Partners.

“We need more volunteer puppy parents in this area to help us train amazing puppies to become assistance dogs.”

Puppies-in-training live in the volunteer’s home from around eight weeks old until they are ready to start advanced training when they are between 12 and 14 months, at the Southern Training Centre near Midhurst or the Midlands Training Centre in Leicestershire.

“The puppy department are on hand to guide and support you through being a puppy parent whether you have experience with dogs or not,” says Helen.

“Training involves home visits, one-to-ones, town visits and puppy classes in order to socialise the puppy and get them used to all situations they may need to be in as a fully trained canine partner.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer puppy parent please visit caninepartners.org.uk/puppy-parents/ or call 03456 580480.