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Canine Partners

 

This is Juneau (Cleynehage You Know)—a very special boy for me and another ‘FIRST’ for Laurina. He has not got Winners’ Cups with his name on but has achieved a very special identification – he wears a Canine Partner jacket, now that he and I have graduated as an Assistance Dog Working Partnership.

Canine Partners is a progressive charity that aims to transform the lives of people with disabilities, enabling them to live more independently by partnering them with highly trained assistance dogs.

 

 
Our application and assessment were successful and Juneau joined the programme for the advanced training in January this year at the Canine Partners Training Centre.
 There, a dedicated and enthusiastic team of trainers work with each dog, out in public places with a wheelchair—at the end of this they are able to respond to around 100 commands relating to specific needs. Chrissy, his trainer, said of him at the graduation ceremony ‘He was a joy to train, quick to learn and always enthusiastic, she ‘fell in love with him!’
In April we joined five other new partnerships on a two-week residential training course which was an overwhelming experience. I was apprehensive, my first time away on my own. Now I am so proud of what Juneau and I achieved together, the beneficial ways in which I learned to ‘manage’ myself and get the most out of participating. Juneau gives me confidence and makes social interaction so much easier. I also saw the difference these dogs were going to make to the lives of other people and I now have a positive purpose in my life---to spread the word about the work of this wonderful charity and raise funds so that many more people can have their lives changed and enriched by one of these Canine Partners . 
Juneau is my helper and my  friend. He senses when I am having a bad day and gives me unconditional love. If you would like to read more about the work of the charity visit www.caninepartners.co.uk.
We are prepared now to give talks/ visit any organisations that would like to invite is. I have a DVD, photos, information leaflets and material and stickers for children. Plus Juneau is always willing to demonstrate some of his tasks!!! We live in West Somerset but are happy to travel (with John, my husband and his boy, Rohan Juneau’s son) up and down the M5 (especially to homes of other Cleynehage relatives!!)

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