Park show date for helper pups

Helper dogs charity Canine Partners is staging a special Rouken Glen skills show next week, with some of its cutest '“ and smartest '“ puppies.

The event at Rouken Glen Pavilion on Wednesday (August 16), aims to show puppies being trained so that they can one day help disabled people with everyday tasks, boosting their independence.

Meanwhile Canine Partners is urgently recruiting people to become puppy parents, also known as puppy walkers, who look after and help train these future assistance dogs in their homes until they are about 12 to 14 months old.

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The volunteers also help with basic obedience and skills training, with support from one of the charity’s experienced puppy trainers.

Among the charity’s current puppy parents is Marjorie Johnston (pictured) who is currently looking after her third puppy, Ursa, a six-month-old Labrador cross golden retriever.

She said: “I had been involved in the charity in other ways, but then I had a bit of time on my hands so decided to become a puppy parent.

People say it must be hard giving up the puppy, but you have to think about what they end up doing.

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“When you see an active partnership it makes it all worthwhile.”

Canine Partners Scotland’s puppy trainer Verity Bowell said: “It is vital that Canine Partners recruits more puppy parents so that we can help change the lives of more disabled people.

“Without these essential volunteers, we cannot train the numbers of dogs that are needed.

“By taking a puppy into their homes our volunteers know they can make an enormous difference and give someone back their independence.”

Wednesday’s event is at Rouken Glen Pavilion in Rouken Glen Road from 10.30am-12.30pm.

There’s more information on Canine Partners at caninepartners.org.uk/puppyparties.

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