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Become a Puppy Parent and Help Train an Assistance Dog
By: Hannah Newberry
Sussex based charity Canine Partners trains dogs to become assistance dogs. A key member of the team involved in training these dogs is that of Puppy Parent. Cherry Gillbard is Puppy Parent to Yarka.
“Being a Puppy Parent is an incredibly rewarding role and I only wish I had started earlier!” says Cherry Gillbard.
Cherry Gillbard lives near Chichester and has been a Canine Partners Puppy Parent for 2.5 years. Puppies stay with Puppy Parents from approximately 8 weeks old until they are considered ready to be returned to the charity to continue their training, from approximately 12 months of age.
Although previous experience with dogs is not required, a Puppy Parent must meet the following criteria:
• Be at home most of the day
• Have a secure dog friendly garden
• Have the stamina to manage an active young puppy
• Attend regular puppy classes
• Follow Canine Partners training methods
“I absolutely adore dogs and have always wanted to be involved with training dogs, but never took this up,” comments Cherry. “I first came to visit Canine Partners three years ago and as I have a severely disabled son with cerebral palsy, I have first hand experience of the restrictions being in a wheelchair can have - it was amazing to see the freedom a Canine Partner can bring to a person with disabilities.”
Cherry and Yarka
“As well as undergoing some basic training to be a puppy parent you have to be able to be at home with the dog, as well as having the time and energy to take them out to socialise in places like the supermarket, train stations etc," Cherry explains. "We attend puppy classes once a week, though you don’t have to go as regularly, and there are classes in Midhurst, Bedford, Southampton, Uckfield, Cheshire and Hull.”
The weekly puppy classes give Cherry and other Puppy Parents the chance to learn from the trainers and practice many of the commands that are integral to the puppy’s education. “I wouldn’t say they are hard work,” continues Cherry. “However they can be a little tiring, but are so rewarding as there is always something new to learn and I get such satisfaction seeing how quickly the puppies master commands.”
On a day-to-day basis, puppies live with their Puppy Parents. Canine Partners will provide food and equipment for the puppy and cover all veterinary and insurance costs for the duration of the Puppy Parent relationship. Training is incorporated into daily life and ideally Puppy Parents do specific training for short periods each day to teach the puppy something new. They also reinforce basic commands such as down or stay, which the puppies will encounter numerous times a day once with their disabled partner.
Yarka opens a drawer
One of the hardest parts of being a Puppy Parent is giving the puppies back when they are ready to go into Advanced Training.
“I think all Puppy Parents cry when they hand them back, but we know what they are going on to do and how much they will be able to transform someone’s life. The puppies are gorgeous at all ages and it is so exciting being with them as they learn and develop into an assistance dog. I would recommend being a Puppy Parent to anyone who has the time to offer these puppies the start to life that they deserve.”
For further information please call Canine Partners on 08456 580480 or visit their web site at www.caninepartners.co.uk
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