Dogs for Good

Did you miss out on a place in the TCS London Marathon ballot? If so, we’d love for you to run for Dogs for Good on the 27th of April 2025. We have charity marathon places available! Learn more here: https://loom.ly/F6S0jes

Last week five staff members attended the recent Assistance Dog International (ADI) trainers workshop in Belgium. They networked with other Assistance Dog charities and learnt how other organisations work. Alongside this, they also spent time doing practical exercises including training dogs to participate in their own healthcare. Our trainers came back brimming with confidence and buzzing with new ideas that they will share with colleagues and volunteers to further help our dogs with their training.

SHE DID IT! Our very own Mary has completed her Three Peaks Challenge, becoming the first female in a wheelchair to do so. The news has been spread far and wide... she's even been featured in the The Mirror. Alongside her assistance dog, Sheldon, she took on the challenge earlier this month, supported by volunteer members of the British Army and our friends at Škoda. The self-proclaimed 'SuperGran' said, "I am hoping to raise enough money, around £30,000, to support a dog like Sheldon through its life with someone. My dogs have brought me joy, independence, and confidence, and I want someone else to have those things too. "I was told it couldn’t be done, and so I was just going to do it, and that was all there was to it. You just push on through. If I say I'm going to do something, I’ll do it!” We'd like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has supported Mary throughout this adventure, from donating to her page, helping with her training, and sending inspiring messages of support. A challenge like this requires a team spirit, and there is no team like #TeamSheldon! If you would like to support Mary and help her achieve her fundraising goal, you can do so here: https://lnkd.in/ejBNmuQw

We are holding an Autism Family Dog Service information session for professionals working in health, education or in the dog sector to tell you more about our Family Dog service. The aim of the evening is to give you information about the service, so that any families that you are working with that you feel the workshops might be appropriate for, you can signpost them to us. The evening will consist of a presentation taking you through the origins of the service, who the service is aimed at and the topics that the workshops cover with an opportunity to ask any questions at the end. https://loom.ly/TPThl6o

Tomorrow is #TakeYourDogToWorkDay We have gathered our top tips to make sure your dog, you, and your colleagues have the best day! 🐶 Comfort Breaks: Ensure your dog goes to the toilet before work and find suitable outdoor spots for regular breaks. 🐶 Pack Essentials: Bring your dog's bed and toys. Position the bed away from high-traffic areas and make sure they can see you. 🐶 Adjust Expectations: Be patient and calm as your dog gets used to the office. 🐶 Safety First: Keep hazards like hand sanitiser, wires and snacks out of reach. 🐶 Gradual Introduction: Introduce your dog to the office. Allow exploration and bring their bed to meetings if needed. 🐶 Friendly Introductions: Inform colleagues about your dog’s preferences. Use commands for greetings and provide treats for colleagues to give.

We are holding an Autism Family Dog Service information session for professionals working in health, education or in the dog sector to tell you more about our Family Dog service. The aim of the evening is to give you information about the service, so that any families that you are working with that you feel the workshops might be appropriate for, you can signpost them to us. The evening will consist of a presentation taking you through the origins of the service, who the service is aimed at and the topics that the workshops cover with an opportunity to ask any questions at the end. https://loom.ly/TPThl6o

Great news to kick off the weekend! Our very own Chief Executive, Ed Bracher, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, published today. His OBE has been awarded in recognition of services to disabled people. Ed joined Dogs for Good in 2023 and prior to this appointment, spent 17 years at Riding for the Disabled Association as Chief Executive. “It’s obviously a great honour to be recognised in this way through both the nomination and selection process,” says Ed. “I feel strongly that it is a shared honour however, and that I am receiving it on behalf of the large community of talented and inspirational people – both my staff colleagues and the incredible volunteers I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside over the years.”

Today is the start of #VolunteersWeek. We appreciate our volunteer colleagues and the essential contribution they make to us, and this week gives a great excuse to celebrate all our amazing volunteer colleagues. Throughout the week, we will highlight specific volunteering roles, how important they are to our work, and how others can get involved.

It's a very big #ThankYouThursday today as we give a huge thank you to our friends at @guardspoloclublimited For the second year, Guards Polo Club invited us along to take part in and benefit from the proceeds from their annual dog show. It was a great day of entertainment for their members and families including plenty of dog show classes, a raffle, wonderful food and of course, polo matches to watch in the afternoon. Our mascot George enjoyed the day too, not winning any prizes sadly but enjoying taking part in the agility course!

Could you be a puppy socialiser? This fantastic and rewarding role is great for a variety of people from young professionals to those who have retired. By caring for one of our puppies, you'll be supporting them throughout their journey to becoming an assistance dog for a physically disabled person, helping an autistic child navigate life or helping multiple people in a community setting. Not only will you help support people, but you'll also have the ability to join a larger social community of Dogs for Good volunteers and staff and be invited to events like our pop-up cafes and engagement days. Learn more about this brilliant volunteering role here: - https://loom.ly/9LxeIyY See less