I'm Fliss

Get to know me

As soon as Lauren returned to the Canine Partners training centre a few weeks later, I recognised her immediately. From there, we embarked on a two-week course, which she described as the hardest thing she’s ever done, but I loved every moment! By this point, I had completed two years of training, so I took everything in my stride. After all, I began preparing for this moment at eight weeks old with the help of a volunteer puppy parent, before moving on to advanced training after my first birthday. It is during this time that dogs are matched with a suitable applicant ahead of on-site training.

During our course, we learned how to play safely, put on my purple jacket, and attach my harness without hurting Lauren. I mastered independently doing all the tasks I learned over the past two years, such as helping Mum get dressed, doing the washing, pressing an emergency alarm, retrieving items, and finding her life-saving medication. I also learned to ignore distractions, walk smartly alongside her wheelchair, settle in public places, navigate doorways, and play off-lead. Obviously, I was already a pro at everything – I was just waiting for Mum to catch up and learn all the commands! From our first night together in the on-site chalets to the last, we still had plenty of time for cuddles, playing with my beloved monkey I’d kept from my puppy mummy (and still do today), and developing our bond. Once we finally made the long drive back to Newcastle, I met the rest of my new family and started the job I was born to do and love.

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 recognising when she was having an allergic reaction and helping her call for help from either the family or the nasty green people (also known as St John Ambulance). It’s now common for me to wake her in the middle of the night to alert her to an allergic reaction. 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. But I’m also great at providing Mum with a fluffy cuddler on the bad days.

Lauren and Felix were even able to create Access Your Life, which wasn’t possible before I arrived because they were always busy keeping her safe and didn’t have time to focus on anything else. Now, we’ve been on many trips together, as I can help Mum with her daily routine, even when we’re away from home. Some of my favourites include visits to the beach and trips to Disneyland Paris. I also get to attend disability events with Mum and Dad, which they call work, but I really enjoy it! 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!