These dogs really are men and women’s best friends
Canine Partners, who change the lives of people with disabilities through specially trained dogs, showed off their skills at the Dean Country Park Family Pet Show in Kilmarnock.
The Ayrshire charity carried out assistance dog demonstrations in the main ring as Danny Gallagher carried out a demo with Heston the dog showing the tasks a canine partner can do on a daily basis.
Dale Gormley, Scotland Community Manager for Canine Partners said: “This was another fantastic local event for Canine Partners to be part of.
“It is fundraisers and volunteers that are the lifeblood of the work that we do in changing the lives of people with disabilities.” Canine Partner dogs are used to offer vital support and help to people living with a disability.
The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant’s needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging.
They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency.
The charity is working in partnership with Help for Heroes, and aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces.
These life transforming dogs also provide practical, physiological, psychological and social benefits including increased independence and confidence as well as increased motivation and self- esteem.
A canine partner assists with everyday tasks which are difficult, painful or impossible for individuals with a disability to perform, such as:
helping with undressing; loading and unloading the washing machine; retrieving or picking up dropped items; helping with the shopping; retrieving money and card from a cash machine; opening and closing doors; pressing a pedestrian crossing or lift button and fetching help in an emergency.
And in Ayrshire they are looking for people to become puppy parents.
Puppy parents look after our amazing puppies from the age of eight weeks until they are 12 to 14 months old, taking them into their homes, socialising them and teaching them all sorts of fundamental skills.
As a puppy parent, you will be fully supported by one of our trainers.
The training will include home visits, one- to- ones, town visits and classes. As a result of this training you will learn how to socialise and teach commands.
The charity pays for food, veterinary charges and training equipment.
And when the puppy is around 14 to 16 months old, after all your hard work the dogs are allocated to one of our two centres for Advanced Training.
You you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your input into that puppy will ultimately change the life of someone with a physical disability.
For more information on how you can help Canine Partners in Scotland, call 01786 447208 or visit www.caninepartners.org. uk.