Feb 2023: A new puppy is here! 

Smart Pups is a charity, which provides trained service dogs to assist children with special needs. They were one of the first winners and recipients of PetSure’s PetCause™ campaign, which decided to use the funding for a new puppy for their program.  

“We are very fortunate to have PetSure support our charity and help us achieve our goal, which is to improve the quality of life for children with special needs by training assistance dogs in task-specific skills.” 

Monique – Operations Manager, Smart Pups 

24 Feb 2023: We have a name! Meet Elliot 

PetSure were given the opportunity to name the new Smart Pups puppy! We were asked to come up with a name that started with ‘E’. The staff at PetSure shortlisted ‘E’ names and we put a poll to our Instagram for our followers to vote for the official name and the winner was ‘Elliot’ 

Smart Pups describe Elliot as a ‘gentle, cuddly, and playful boy with loads of character!’ 

Smart Pups trainer Erin, recently took Elliot out to a shopping centre, where he was learning to socialise with other humans and getting used to different environments. ⁠ 

May 2023: Foster family and prison program

Current Age: 6 months 

Elliot is described as ‘a lovely, large young pup who is six months old.’ 

‘Most mornings when his crate door is opened, Elliott will stay put with his front paws crossed and a sad look on his face, as if to say “must I go out?!” When he does get moving, he’s a great eater and lightning fast – especially when food is involved. 

Elliott has a very distinct bark that sounds like the honk of a seal, and he’s not shy to voice himself. Despite his opinions, he’s one of the most pleasant and easy-going dogs in the kennel run. He rarely makes a mess in his pen and loves cuddles and attention from the kennel staff.’ 

Elliott is currently doing well with his training, but sometimes he needs a bit of motivation. He loves short, fun training sessions and is learning basic obedience and manners. 

Smart Pups place their training dogs with foster families so they have a with a nurturing environment until they are ready for placement. This ensures that they receive a loving experience, as our kennels can be noisy at times. Typically, the foster families take the puppies home on weekends. As part of our training program, we work with the foster families to teach the puppies essential commands and skills. This collaborative effort helps lay a strong foundation for their training journey.

Below are some comments from the girls in his foster family:

Aliza (youngest)- “I have enjoyed doing tricks like which hand with Elliot and cuddles with Elliot. And love giving him kisses.”

Aisha (oldest)- “I have enjoyed his cuddles and nuzzles, he makes me feel really happy, I love how he understands how I feel inside.”

Recently, Elliott was selected for the prison program and started a 4-week rotation at Palen Creek Correctional Centre on 18th May 2023 . He’s being trained by the dog handling team, living with them 24/7, and enjoying their full attention for the month. The handlers and staff love Elliott’s lovable and goofy nature, and he’s sure to thrive in the program.

Helene Christensen from Smart Pups describes the prison program “The program serves multiple purposes. Firstly, the inmates are taught commands and essential skillsets to train the dogs, contributing to their development and training journey. Additionally, the program exposes the puppies to a different environment, enriching their training skillset and preparing them for diverse real-world scenarios. Moreover, the program has a positive impact on the inmates themselves. It provides them with a sense of purpose and responsibility, fostering personal growth and rehabilitation within the prison environment. By participating in the training and care of the puppies, the inmates experience the joy of nurturing and making a difference in these dogs’ lives. Overall, our prison program is a powerful initiative that benefits both the puppies and the inmates, creating a unique and impactful training experience within a correctional setting.”

We can’t wait to see how much progress he’ll make!

Pictures of Elliot at 6 months

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