Each week, I used to read a particular advertisement in my local paper. Then I heard a woman talking on Radio 4. She explained how she had never been able to go out without her parents or husband - until she got an assistance dog. Now, she could venture out on her own, and could enjoy independence for the first time in her life. So I finally rang the number in the advert! "Come up and watch a puppy class, and talk to puppy parents to find out what's involved," I was told. Five years later, they've asked me to try to tell you! Puppy Parents join Canine Partners for many reasons - some to discover how to train a puppy, others to meet a new circle of likeminded friends. Some, like me, do it for the end result - the finished partnership.
I watched classes of different-aged puppies - baby (aah!), toddler, teenager (the 'Kevin' stage!) and the pre-advanced age. Two things were apparent - there was so much to learn and everyone was having a lot of fun. I had my own eight-year-old dog, Boris, and naively thought it would be okay giving the puppy up after a year - I wouldn't love it in the same way as my own dog! Plan A was about to go pear-shaped. On picking up Josie, the cutest little black velvet Lab-Retriever cross, I was horrified to find myself 'in love' within the hour - well, probably less!
Boris and I struggled to become bilingual, and I seemed to be at least a pair of hands short! Trainers, Puppy Parents and Josie were enormously patient and generous with their time and my ineptitude. Eventually, it all started to make sense and my timing got together with my brain.
Before we knew it, Josie left us. So how was that? I liken Puppy Parenting to bringing up a child. If we've done our job properly, they go off into advanced training, as an 18- year-old goes off to university. Yes, it ends in tears - but, as Nina says, "Dry your eyes on a new puppy.
So, I wiped away my tears on Lottie. If you've read this magazine before, you will have seen her gracing the cover last year proudly beside her 'man', Jim Arnott. Lottie was always going to choose a man. I nicknamed her Luscious Lashes Lottie-tottie. She was sponsored by Friskies (now Purina) and now the rookie Puppy Parent started to diversify! I travelled around for Canine Partners with Lottie, including to the photographic studio used by Dogs Today. How Lottie loved modelling! I also went to many dinners where Lottie and I would do a demo.
Josie, in the meantime, had completed her advanced training, had chosen the perfect Partner, and was to have her graduation ceremony. I went along, clutching a photo album of Josie's puppyhood to give to her Partner. It was such a thrill to meet Andrew Armstrong and to see what a partnership he and Josie had. It made complete sense of what I'd been doing.
It was soon time to hand in Lottie for her advanced training. A quick 'high five', a whispered "Be good and be kind", and a walk away with only prickly eyes. I was getting better!
Poppy followed Lottie, and the pattern repeated again. Then along came Quest, a fourth-generation cream Labradoodle. He was the sort of puppy who makes a Puppy Parent look good! He was a gentle giant and yet so careful around the house. He was also funny - the sort of dog who made you laugh every day. Quest was such an easygoing dog that he and I were invited to go along with the team to do a big demo at Holkham Hall in Norfolk. At only 11 months old, he was undaunted and really enjoyed the occasion.
He was aptly named - on a quest to graduate and find his Partner, any selfrespecting gallant knight would, of course, choose a lady! And so he did, and is now happily partnered with Trish, who so deserves him.
After Quest, I had a couple of dogs for a few months or so, and learnt a lot from them, and I now have Phoebe, another Goldie - very smart and beautiful and very female! Phoebe and I, along with three other puppy parents and their puppies, were very honoured to take part in a private demonstration for Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor. It was a unique and treasured day for us all.
What is it like for the rest of my family and for the families of other puppy parents? Well, that's another article. It does require the whole family being on board. I know mine have enjoyed and benefited from the experience. My husband would like to come back as a Canine Partner - if only to enjoy the Primula cheese spread that we use as a top treat!
These last five years have really flown by. How I wish I had come across Canine Partners earlier! It's been my privilege to have had the puppies as puppies and it's the Partners' privilege to have them as dogs.
So... could you be a puppy parent? If I can, you certainly can!
Author: Jill Ridgers, Volunteer, Puppy Parents
