After nearly two year of intensive searching all around the world for the very special little Dog that is eventually going to take on the role now filled by Canine Partner Endal.... it has been announced that the hunt is now finally over!  

Last Thursday evening a new arrival entered the Parton Household in the form of a little 8 week old Yellow Labrador puppy called Endal Junior "EJ" and already he has started his assistance dog training in earnest to become Endal's most worthy successor.

Endal having acquired worldwide fame  by being voted the world's most intelligent dog, Dog of the Millennium and is now recognized as the most decorated peace time dog ever.... his ability to operate a cashpoint machine and more recently the chip and pin machine has made him arguably the world's most famous assistance dog too. Over 300 film crews from all around the world have filmed Endal going about his daily chores and he is also half way through the making of a movie about his amazing story.  For the last eleven years Endal has been faithfully at the side of his disabled  human partner Gulf war veteran Allen Parton enabling him to experience a real quality of life and independence through his unconditional love and devotion.

ENDAL AND EJ

passing on the knowledge

At twelve years old the veteran yellow Labrador Endal is now becoming a pensioner and very soon preparing for a well earned retirement but not before taking on the most important role of mentor and training a junior to take over his job.

"After every meal Endal will pass me up his food bowl" said Allen "and very soon EJ will twig that is what dogs do and he will follow Endal's lead and it is this learning by example which I dearly hope will enable EJ to achieve without any pressure."

"It is also so ironic that little "EJ" should have been found in Liphook a mere 15 miles from where we currently live said Allen. The breeder Joy Venturi Rose, of Leospring Labradors (http://www.leospring.co.uk), actually grew up in the house on the opposite side of the road from my childhood home, in Haslemere, and she even went to school with my older sister, Sadly though because of my head injury I have lost all memories of her and our past but I guess some things are meant to be and we have met up again through our love of a very special breed. She has bred some absolutely stunning dogs and many are prize winners, being from part show and part working stock ...EJ's pedigree is just so ideal for the intended role we have in mind.

 I recently received an email from our dear friend Jo Coulson, once the secretary for the Labrador club of great Britain, saying that Joy had recently had a litter of Labradors of which three were yellow boys (Labrador + yellow + boy the search criteria). I quickly arranged to have a viewing and Sandra my wife, puppy operations manager for canine partners did the early assessment and EJ maxed out on the points ....scoring very highly. On our very first visit to see the three dogs EJ was the one that settled down right along side the wheelchair as if that was where he had chosen to be. I had a real feeling of De ja vu as this was just how Endal and I first met and bonded.  A period of reflection, to consider all the effects of the changes and impact of taking on a new puppy, took place and at eight weeks old we adopted EJ Arizona (Joy named all the puppies after Royal naval warships which is most appropriate as the dad is called Anchorman and Allen had himself served in the Royal Navy for 20 years)

From pulling Allen into the recovery position to putting his bank card in to the cashpoint and chip and pin machines Endal has amazed everyone with his self-taught abilities. Endal was socialized at canine partners by a puppy parent but never had any formal advanced training which makes his story even more amazing. Endal was partnered with Allen when he was just one year old and has gone on to achieve so much which Allen attribute to Endal's unquestionable ability to learnand problem solve.

It has been already been agreed by canine partners that Endal will retire to me when the time comes said Allen "and it will by my absolute pleasure to care for him in his old age and hour of need...permitting me in some small way to repay him back  what is an unrepayable debt!

What are Endal's view on the new arrival? Well after a few days of the obligatory growling and barking by Endal thankfully young  EJ quickly accepted his junior role and position in the doggie hierarchy and once again a sense calmness and  order has descended on the Parton household. 

Endal now sports two shadows the newer one quite small but always at his side!

Well EJ, looks like you have your work cut out if you are going to fulfil Endal's dreams of you for the future; sure he has taught you well !

Good luck little lad ...