I'm Fliss

Get to know me

In September 2017, after a two-year wait, my mum Lauren, received the exciting call that we had been matched! The following month, she travelled from Newcastle to Midhurst for our matching visit. After working, playing, and sharing cuddles, it was clear we were a perfect match. She then returned to the Canine Partners training centre a few weeks later and began a two-week course, which she described as the hardest thing she’s ever done, but I loved every moment. After all, I had been preparing for this moment since I was eight weeks old until my second birthday.

During our course, we learned to play safely, put on my purple jacket, and attach my harness without hurting Lauren. I mastered tasks such as helping Mum get dressed, doing laundry, and pressing an emergency alarm. I also learned to ignore distractions, walk alongside her wheelchair, and play together off-lead. I was already a pro at everything – I was just waiting for Mum to learn all the commands!

Nowadays, I can physically help Lauren with many things, like helping her undress and fetching her medicine bag. I even learned to save Mum’s life by detecting her allergic reactions and helping her call for help from either the family or the nasty green people (also known as St John Ambulance). This isn’t something Canine Partners taught me – I’m just such a good girl and have a close bond with Mum that I do it myself!

Everyone naively thought I would only assist Lauren, but thanks to my superstar skills, our family can now leave the house and sleep in their beds, confident that I can raise the alarm if an emergency occurs. They can rely on me to help Mum when we are out of the house, so she doesn’t need someone watching over her constantly.

Lauren and Felix were even able to create Access Your Life, which had not been possible before I arrived, because they were always busy keeping her safe. So, we get to attend disability events, which they call work, but I really enjoy it because I help Mum with her routine, even when we’re away from home. So, if you ever see us, please come over for some doggy love, waggy tails, and even emotional support hugs if needed. I think it’s fair to say my job is pretty cool!