Is Ted the world’s best canine carer?
IT’S said that a man’s best friend is his dog, but one teenager and her pet springer spaniel have developed a remarkable partnership.
Chloe Fuller, 19, has trained her faithful assistance dog Ted to become her full-time canine carer – getting her undressed and even loading the washing machine.
For Chloe, of Langwood Avenue, Haslingden, the process of training up her own dog has been lifechanging, having been forced to leave school for home education aged 13 after developing heart condition postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and Ehlers Danlos, which affects her joints.
Three-year-old Ted now responds to more than 100 commands corresponding to vital tasks Chloe would struggle to do alone, including fetching her shoes and phone, and even removing her socks with his teeth.
The animal-lover has been a wheelchair user for three years.
Wanting a new challenge, she became involved with Dog Assistance In Disability (Dog AID), a notfor-profit organisation which helps people with physical disabilities train their own pets to become qualified assistance dogs. At her first meeting with Ted as a puppy, he backed off in fear at the sight of her wheelchair, but on their second encounter they formed a unique bond.
Chloe said: “We have succeeded beyond my own and others’ expectations. The fact that there is this little creature that is so overjoyed having to do anything he can for you takes the sting out of having to ask. It makes it less depressing, he takes your socks off ever so gingerly with his teeth – you can’t not smile when you’ve got a dog doing that.
“I almost say it in a bit of a blasé way. I really wish I could remember it’s not as normal for everybody else for a dog to get you undressed.”
The former Haslingden High pupil added: “The moment he climbed on to me I knew that was it, the bond was very instantaneous, and it’s become another level.
“He never leaves my side. He knows I need something before I have even managed to get the words out. The only thing mum has to do now is make meals and drinks, I haven’t quite figured out how to get Ted to make a cup of tea yet!”
Ted qualified as an assistance dog after just 13 months training, making his partnership with Chloe one of the youngest and quickest at Dog AID.
Chloe, who lives with her mum Nic and two younger brothers, says she has been ‘bitten by the training bug’ and she is now training Ted to complete dog agility courses. She said: “It is primarily a sport for those who run – but we give the people on two legs a run for their money.”