My Canine Partner
Discussion
I thought I’d share my experience of Canine Partners and introduce my new friend Mary.
She’s 2 years old now and is a Labrador with a splash of retriever in her and quite small for this type.
A lot of dogs CP train are this mix. Apparently they tend to have most success with this type as Labs are very willing but can be a bit giddy while Retrievers are a bit more calm but can also be a bit stubborn. Hopefully this cross enjoys the best qualities of both breeds.
CP are trying to breed their own dogs now to ensure puppies are of suitable stock, but even so, 25% of dogs are withdrawn as they aren’t 100% suitable.
If this is the case then trainers and “puppy parents” get first refusal ( several trainers now have ex-assistance dogs very successfully) and sometimes they become a Police dogs. The dogs welfare really is a priority and a lot of care is taken to ensure a good home is found.
As they grow up they are placed in homes of volunteers who expose them to all sorts of things like children, cats, noise from traffic etc. They then enter full time training by the specialists. Here’s a short video about it
https://youtu.be/qSjezj3fA2U
Incidentally Clare was my trainer and was great.
You are meant to get a call 8 weeks before to arrange a matching visit to meet the dog. It didn’t work out this way for either of us though!
I was on the waiting list for over 2 years and so there was plenty of time to umm and art about if it was the right thing or not. However, Mary was previously matched with another guy who, half way through the course, decided it wasn’t for him.
His loss my gain!
Before that she’d been marked as dual purpose, being both an assistance dog and a hearing dog but had been withdrawn as she gets a bit of travel anxiety.
This meant Mary was more than ready to go but with no match until my file was looked at
I needed a dog who wasn’t to big and was very good with other animals and children and Mary fulfilled this criteria.
I had to go to the West Sussex training centre as, despite living only 10 minutes from the Midland centre, that’s where Mary lived.
There were 2 other partners on the course. Barry (a black lab cross) and Wilbur.
The 2 weeks residential training was hard, especially as I was away from my family, but they really helped you through every stage.
We learnt basic obedience when walking and going through doors etc. The most impressive thing at this stage was, having owned dogs who’d wrap their leads around you at any opportunity and chase squirrels, was just how good she was at walking alongside a wheelchair.
This progressed over the week to residential streets and ultimately the high street with visits to shops using lifts.
We also had sessions on grooming, health checks, insurance and fund raising.
What can she do?
Pick things up
Open doors
Shut doors
Switch on light switches
Get the post
Empty the washing machine
Lift up the footplate of my chair
Lift my feet back on
Take my shoes, socks, jacket, jumper off
And much more!
After 2 weeks we came home and all the training went out of the window!
So many new smells!
The family love her. My Wife thinks there’s a marked, positive, change in my outlook.
The cats are wary although the kitten is very, very interested in the new member of the family.
This is only the start to it though. There’s a lot of aftercare visits, two this week, two next week and then weekly, fortnightly, monthly for the first year and then twice a year after 12 months if every thing goes well. They really do want the partnership to be a success.
It costs £20000 to support a dog through its life. The money is entirely raised through donations, be it small one offs to corporate sponsorship. Next time you get chance, put something in their tin because it really has made a difference to my life already.
Why Mary? It wouldn’t be my first choice but if you give £5000 you can name a dog. Normally this is the reserve of corporate donations but in this case, a guy really worked hard to raise the money so he could name a dog after his Wife who’d been a life long supporter of CP. Her name was Mary and I think that’s nice.
Thank you everyone involved at Canine Partners and thank you for reading.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/ilkvtNyQ.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/fSdldGvy" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fSdldGvy.jpg)
She’s 2 years old now and is a Labrador with a splash of retriever in her and quite small for this type.
A lot of dogs CP train are this mix. Apparently they tend to have most success with this type as Labs are very willing but can be a bit giddy while Retrievers are a bit more calm but can also be a bit stubborn. Hopefully this cross enjoys the best qualities of both breeds.
CP are trying to breed their own dogs now to ensure puppies are of suitable stock, but even so, 25% of dogs are withdrawn as they aren’t 100% suitable.
If this is the case then trainers and “puppy parents” get first refusal ( several trainers now have ex-assistance dogs very successfully) and sometimes they become a Police dogs. The dogs welfare really is a priority and a lot of care is taken to ensure a good home is found.
As they grow up they are placed in homes of volunteers who expose them to all sorts of things like children, cats, noise from traffic etc. They then enter full time training by the specialists. Here’s a short video about it
https://youtu.be/qSjezj3fA2U
Incidentally Clare was my trainer and was great.
You are meant to get a call 8 weeks before to arrange a matching visit to meet the dog. It didn’t work out this way for either of us though!
I was on the waiting list for over 2 years and so there was plenty of time to umm and art about if it was the right thing or not. However, Mary was previously matched with another guy who, half way through the course, decided it wasn’t for him.
His loss my gain!
Before that she’d been marked as dual purpose, being both an assistance dog and a hearing dog but had been withdrawn as she gets a bit of travel anxiety.
This meant Mary was more than ready to go but with no match until my file was looked at
I needed a dog who wasn’t to big and was very good with other animals and children and Mary fulfilled this criteria.
I had to go to the West Sussex training centre as, despite living only 10 minutes from the Midland centre, that’s where Mary lived.
There were 2 other partners on the course. Barry (a black lab cross) and Wilbur.
The 2 weeks residential training was hard, especially as I was away from my family, but they really helped you through every stage.
We learnt basic obedience when walking and going through doors etc. The most impressive thing at this stage was, having owned dogs who’d wrap their leads around you at any opportunity and chase squirrels, was just how good she was at walking alongside a wheelchair.
This progressed over the week to residential streets and ultimately the high street with visits to shops using lifts.
We also had sessions on grooming, health checks, insurance and fund raising.
What can she do?
Pick things up
Open doors
Shut doors
Switch on light switches
Get the post
Empty the washing machine
Lift up the footplate of my chair
Lift my feet back on
Take my shoes, socks, jacket, jumper off
And much more!
After 2 weeks we came home and all the training went out of the window!
So many new smells!
The family love her. My Wife thinks there’s a marked, positive, change in my outlook.
The cats are wary although the kitten is very, very interested in the new member of the family.
This is only the start to it though. There’s a lot of aftercare visits, two this week, two next week and then weekly, fortnightly, monthly for the first year and then twice a year after 12 months if every thing goes well. They really do want the partnership to be a success.
It costs £20000 to support a dog through its life. The money is entirely raised through donations, be it small one offs to corporate sponsorship. Next time you get chance, put something in their tin because it really has made a difference to my life already.
Why Mary? It wouldn’t be my first choice but if you give £5000 you can name a dog. Normally this is the reserve of corporate donations but in this case, a guy really worked hard to raise the money so he could name a dog after his Wife who’d been a life long supporter of CP. Her name was Mary and I think that’s nice.
Thank you everyone involved at Canine Partners and thank you for reading.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/gXX6nkRA.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/fSdldGvy" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fSdldGvy.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/fSdldGvy" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/fSdldGvy.jpg)
Stuart, this is probably the best thing I have read on PH for a long time. Thank you for taking time out of your day to make your post.
Mary sounds like a smashing pup and i'm in awe of what she can already do. It is incredible what dogs can achieve with the right training and how wonderful that wife can see an improvement in you. Please give Mary an extra belly rub from me & my far from well trained mongrel.
And please keep us updated.
Mary sounds like a smashing pup and i'm in awe of what she can already do. It is incredible what dogs can achieve with the right training and how wonderful that wife can see an improvement in you. Please give Mary an extra belly rub from me & my far from well trained mongrel.
And please keep us updated.
Piha said:
Stuart, this is probably the best thing I have read on PH for a long time. Thank you for taking time out of your day to make your post.
Mary sounds like a smashing pup and i'm in awe of what she can already do. It is incredible what dogs can achieve with the right training and how wonderful that wife can see an improvement in you. Please give Mary an extra belly rub from me & my far from well trained mongrel.
And please keep us updated.
^ This. Wonderful Mary sounds like a smashing pup and i'm in awe of what she can already do. It is incredible what dogs can achieve with the right training and how wonderful that wife can see an improvement in you. Please give Mary an extra belly rub from me & my far from well trained mongrel.
And please keep us updated.
TR4man said:
I just love this picture so much!
Me too.It is amazing what dogs can do. From detecting cancer, drug searches to all sorts of assistance dogs.
They are truly amazing creatures.
Regular updates of your life together will, I am sure, be appreciated.
Glad to hear having her has improved your mood. They are just so good at that
Well yesterday was a sharp learning curve!
I have kept a diary of her toilet habits and while I was training it was no. 2’s first thing and last thing.
Yesterday Jenna the aftercare trainer came after lunch. Mary toileted and then we went for our first local walk. Very quickly she stopped listening, was very distracted and seemed in a hurry.
Initially we thought it was new smells and area but then Jenna said she needed a poo so we turned around.
Talk about anxious to get back! Unfortunately 100 yds from home it was to late and she dashed for the grass snapping the mag loc on her lead.
She didn’t make it and looking very embarrassed let go in the middle of the lane!
Obviously i5 wasn’t her fault but as it was our first walk I’d forgotten any poo bags. I dashed home, leaving Mary and Jenna to get my scoop.
Lesson learned about her body language, being equipped and 2 poos before afternoon walks!
Luckily she didn’t run off at all when her lead broke and Jenna was there to help so all in all a good time for it to happen.
We’ve just been for a walk and the difference was night and day. Attentive, walking nicely alongside and not distracted at all , even when we passed other dogs
She tugged my socks off last night which I still find very funny and she thinks is a brillant game. Dogs like smells!
Incidentally, a Magloc is a magnetic “clasp” type thing which joins the lead to the collar which is particulary handy if you’re not very dexterous anymore. The magnet is very strong but the ring attachment not so. Luckily Mary never normally gives sudden tugs but yesterday was an exception.
I have kept a diary of her toilet habits and while I was training it was no. 2’s first thing and last thing.
Yesterday Jenna the aftercare trainer came after lunch. Mary toileted and then we went for our first local walk. Very quickly she stopped listening, was very distracted and seemed in a hurry.
Initially we thought it was new smells and area but then Jenna said she needed a poo so we turned around.
Talk about anxious to get back! Unfortunately 100 yds from home it was to late and she dashed for the grass snapping the mag loc on her lead.
She didn’t make it and looking very embarrassed let go in the middle of the lane!
Obviously i5 wasn’t her fault but as it was our first walk I’d forgotten any poo bags. I dashed home, leaving Mary and Jenna to get my scoop.
Lesson learned about her body language, being equipped and 2 poos before afternoon walks!
Luckily she didn’t run off at all when her lead broke and Jenna was there to help so all in all a good time for it to happen.
We’ve just been for a walk and the difference was night and day. Attentive, walking nicely alongside and not distracted at all , even when we passed other dogs
She tugged my socks off last night which I still find very funny and she thinks is a brillant game. Dogs like smells!
Incidentally, a Magloc is a magnetic “clasp” type thing which joins the lead to the collar which is particulary handy if you’re not very dexterous anymore. The magnet is very strong but the ring attachment not so. Luckily Mary never normally gives sudden tugs but yesterday was an exception.
Fabulous story, I hope you have many successful years together.
My Phoebe (same mix as yours) was a partially trained service dog but she is too nervous around other people so I kept her (it's a bit long and complicated to go into here) and she is a marvel. She helps wherever she can (though at 11 years old she needs her own 'helper dog' and Chester is too stupid and fat to help anyone! ) and pees and poos on command and always in the gutter, she pulls socks off, fetches the post, gets whatever I need.
Now that she is a cripple herself, it has been very hard to break her of all her GOOD habits and let her just relax and take life easy.
Dogs really are the most wonderful creatures and we are so blessed that they like us as a species.
My Phoebe (same mix as yours) was a partially trained service dog but she is too nervous around other people so I kept her (it's a bit long and complicated to go into here) and she is a marvel. She helps wherever she can (though at 11 years old she needs her own 'helper dog' and Chester is too stupid and fat to help anyone!
) and pees and poos on command and always in the gutter, she pulls socks off, fetches the post, gets whatever I need.Now that she is a cripple herself, it has been very hard to break her of all her GOOD habits and let her just relax and take life easy.
Dogs really are the most wonderful creatures and we are so blessed that they like us as a species.
Well that’s just over one week now and it’s been brillant,
We’ve been on 2 really long walks this weekend with me and the Wife. Really well behaved with plenty of focus. She wasn’t brillant in the car, she gets a bit stressed, but gets in with no hesitation at all. I was warned and advised about this so hopefully she’ll get used to this.
This morning was quite funny. We went into the local deer park and before long a big herd passed in front of us. A bit worried.
However a couple of minutes later two adults giving 2 kids piggy backs loomed out of the sun. The huge strange creatures with legs sticking out of the side nearly gave her kittens!
Speaking of which, Mary is now getting really good at finding and bringing the phone. Unless our kitten is sat in the doorway. There’s only one boss in this situation and it’s not Mary!
She’s also been very good at getting stuff out of the washing machine and tumbler dryer. There’s virtually no slobber but I’ve not told my Son what she does because he’s a bit of a germ fanatic.
Someone asked me what’s the cost of Mary to me,
Well obviously there’s the day to day costs and insurance is compulsory, although CP have a deal with a specialist company with no increase in premiums over the life of the dog.
Apart from that, the training for both me and Mary was free and she cost me a whole £1 to be her custodian. CP retain overall ownership but this is for everyone’s benefit.
A few pics from Saturday. We’ve got the vets and a free run session this week with my trainer.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/1UKE5eSh.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/Ai7DDMsX" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/Ai7DDMsX.jpg)
We’ve been on 2 really long walks this weekend with me and the Wife. Really well behaved with plenty of focus. She wasn’t brillant in the car, she gets a bit stressed, but gets in with no hesitation at all. I was warned and advised about this so hopefully she’ll get used to this.
This morning was quite funny. We went into the local deer park and before long a big herd passed in front of us. A bit worried.
However a couple of minutes later two adults giving 2 kids piggy backs loomed out of the sun. The huge strange creatures with legs sticking out of the side nearly gave her kittens!
Speaking of which, Mary is now getting really good at finding and bringing the phone. Unless our kitten is sat in the doorway. There’s only one boss in this situation and it’s not Mary!
She’s also been very good at getting stuff out of the washing machine and tumbler dryer. There’s virtually no slobber but I’ve not told my Son what she does because he’s a bit of a germ fanatic.
Someone asked me what’s the cost of Mary to me,
Well obviously there’s the day to day costs and insurance is compulsory, although CP have a deal with a specialist company with no increase in premiums over the life of the dog.
Apart from that, the training for both me and Mary was free and she cost me a whole £1 to be her custodian. CP retain overall ownership but this is for everyone’s benefit.
A few pics from Saturday. We’ve got the vets and a free run session this week with my trainer.
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