National assistance dog charity Canine Partners is launching its 10th annual Bluebell Walk campaign with a plea to UK dog owners to make 2013 its best year yet.
The Charity, which has satellite branches across the UK, has raised more than £120,000 in the past nine years from the annual series of walks at beauty spots in some of the loveliest parts of the country.
And this year organisers are hoping that more people than ever will join in the annual campaign for its tenth anniversary.
Canine Partners Events and Challenge Co-ordinator Libby Rome said: “Almost a quarter of all households in the UK have at least one dog, imagine if even a fraction of those families helped a person with disabilities to have their own assistance dog by going on one of our Bluebell Walks, it would be an amazing way to help.”
As well as a series of large organised walks throughout the UK where there may be an opportunity to se

e a demonstration of the work that the Charity does, it is hoped that dog walkers across the country will join in the fun with their own Bluebell Walk.
Libby Rome added: “We are hoping that the tenth anniversary event will be our best yet. Every year the walks get bigger and better so I hope as many people come along as possible, it really is a fabulous family day out.
“But you don’t have to organise a large event Continue reading →

Thanks to two charities – Jerry Green Dog Rescue and Canine Partners – three unwanted puppies are starting a new life training to be assistance dogs for disabled people.

Labradors Finn, Oscar and Sonny (now called Rolo, Rex and Rizzo) were taken in by Jerry Green and then offered to Canine Partners, a national charity which provides specially trained assistance dogs to enable people with disabilities to enjoy greater independence and a better quality of life.
The dogs will spend a year being socialised with puppy parents to teach them basic core skills and obedience before receiving advanced training from Canine Partners, who are based in West Sussex.
They will then be partnered with a disabled person to help them with practical tasks such as opening and closing doors and cupboards, getting undressed, pressing buttons and switches, unloading washing machines and tumble driers and fetching help in an emergency.
“This is the first time Canine Partners have adopted dogs from Jerry Green Dog Rescue and we were delighted by the charity’s offer of support,” said Julie Berkley, Canine Partners’ Manager of Puppy Supply and Training.
“Our canine partners provide practical day-to-day assistance with tasks that may be difficult, painful or impossible for their disabled owners to perform. They also offer companionship, unconditional love and affection which is so unique to dogs.
“Labradors and retrievers are best suited to this kind of work as it harnesses their natural abilities, so we were very pleased to be able to take these three Labrador puppies from Jerry Green and to show that rescue dogs can make fantastic assistance dogs.”
David Foulds, Chief Executive of Jerry Green Dog Rescue, said: “These puppies would have cost Canine Partners a considerable sum had they been bought from a breeder so we were only too pleased to help them with this adoption.
“The puppies will be absolutely adored throughout their training and when they move into a home. They will make a massive difference to a person with disabilities for the rest of their lives.”
If you would like to adopt a dog from Jerry Green Dog Rescue visit the website www.jerrygreendogs.org.uk and make contact with your nearest rescue centre. If you would like further information about Canine Partners, please visit www.caninepartners.org.uk.

Following a highly successful Crufts 2013, which saw almost 150,000 dog lovers enjoy the world’s greatest dog show, the Kennel Club is offering people the opportunity to buy tickets for Crufts 2014 at a discounted rate.

For a limited time people can purchase tickets for Crufts 2014, which takes place from 6-9 March at the NEC in Birmingham, at this year’s price. The tickets will cost £14 for adults and £10 for concessions (plus booking fees) until 19 April 2013. Children under eight will continue to go free.

When the discount period ends tickets, including Best in Show tickets, will formally go on sale in September, at 2014 rates, which are yet to be confirmed.

Vanessa McAlpine, Kennel Club Events Executive, said: “We saw a fantastic turn out to this year’s event, as people came along in their thousands to see the world’s biggest dog event. Many people have already asked us about next year’s show and so we are offering dog lovers and Crufts fans the chance to buy tickets for 2014 at 2013 prices, enabling people to lock the date into their diaries at this early stage.

“The consistent popularity of Crufts is down to the special place that dogs hold in our hearts and how the event celebrates that special relationship between man and dog. Whether you are looking for information on buying a suitable and healthy puppy or rescue dog, wanting to shop for your four-legged friend, or watch the huge range of competitions and displays, there is something for every dog lover at Crufts.”

To book tickets for Crufts 2014 at the discount rate visit www.crufts.org.uk/ticket-office or call the Ticket Factory on 0844 444 9944.

Mary Ray from Rugby, Warwickshire won her 100th Obedience Championship Certificate at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts after winning the Obedience Championships with her dog Levi, a seven year old Working Sheepdog.
Mary, one of the leading dog trainers in the UK, is the only handler to have achieved such success in many different disciplines of dog training with the same dogs. She has been winner of the Crufts Obedience Championships four times including this year, has qualified or won every major British dog agility competition and is the leading authority on freestyle and heelwork to music, having started the sport in the UK in 1990.
At this year’s Crufts, Mary also won the Obedience World Cup with Levi and came second in the Obedience Championships for bitches with another of her Working Sheepdogs, Foxy.
Following her latest success, Mary said: “The highlight of my entire career is winning Crufts – it is always such a special feeling when you win. I’ve definitely been lucky to have such special dogs all throughout my career.”
Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “Congratulations to Mary on reaching this wonderful milestone. She has proven what can be achieved with hard work and dedication.”
Crufts took place from 7 – 10 March 2013 at the NEC, Birmingham. For more information visit www.crufts.org.uk.
The results for Crufts 2013 can be found online at http://crufts.fossedata.co.uk/. For free downloadable images from Crufts 2013, please go to http://www.w-w-i.com/crufts_2013/.