Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs

29/05/2026

Meet Cheddar, one of the Helpful Hounds school dogs 🐾🧀

She has made such a huge difference for the children in the school that she visits, which is dedicated to supporting children with special needs. Not just that, she also provides direct support for her owner Cerys, who is autistic.

Well done Cheddar, what a good girl 💙

28/05/2026

⚠️Volunteers wanted! Helpful Hounds is looking for volunteer Puppy Parents right now in East Dorset - can you help? 🦮

Could you provide a loving home and help raise a future assistance dog? Full support is provided, and you’ll make a life-changing difference to a young person and their family in your local area.

Find out more here: https://helpfulhounds.org.uk/puppy-parents/

26/05/2026

A brilliant session recently with Evie! 🐾

Busy shopping environments have been a challenge for Evie due to excitement and impulse control, which can lead to barking. Today, after lots of hard work from her owner using clicker and reward training, Evie walked calmly from one end of the shops to the other with hugely reduced barking and fantastic focus.

We practised calm walking, settling on a bench to watch the world go by, and even worked on calmly entering and exiting shop doorways — something Evie has previously found very exciting.

There is still work to do, but the improvement today was fantastic and shows exactly what consistency and positive reinforcement can achieve 💛

Well done Evie and family — keep up the amazing work! 🐶

21/05/2026

20/05/2026

Only a few days to go until the Attico Raffle closes! We're delighted to have the support of this local gem in the heart of the Westbourne.

There's some brilliant prizes, donated by local businesses and with only 500 tickets released - you're in with a shout 👏🏻

Get you tickets here today:

Buy a raffle ticket today to support our local charity, Helpful Hounds Assistance Dogs, and be in with a chance to win one of our fantastic prizes.

20/05/2026

At Helpful Hounds, we know all dogs (yes, even assistance dogs) need balance - a chance to just be a dog and have some fun. So before getting in work mode, Havana burnt some energy with a fun walk and some fresh sea air. 🏖️

She then did some super public access work ignoring all distractions and took it all in her stride. After, she did some brilliant settle work in a cafe supporting her human after an exam.

Well done to the whole family!

19/05/2026

Helpful Hound Rina and Charlotte have received their Royal Kennel Club Puppy Award. Congratulations to both of you 🙌

They're both working super hard and we're so pleased for them 🐾💙

17/05/2026

Please share!

🐾 Helpful Hounds is looking for volunteer Puppy Parents in East Dorset! 🐶

Could you provide a loving home and help raise a future assistance dog? Full support is provided, and you’ll make a life-changing difference to a young person and their family in your local area. ❤️

Find out more here: https://helpfulhounds.org.uk/puppy-parents/

17/05/2026

Izi and Blaze are all set up and ready to go at the Allendale Centre in Wimborne this morning!

If you're visiting today, please stop by to speak to us about volunteering opportunities and learn about the great work we do in the community.

15/05/2026

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re celebrating the incredible impact dogs can have on our wellbeing. 🐾💚

At Helpful Hounds, we see every day how assistance dogs can help reduce anxiety, build confidence, encourage social connection and bring comfort during difficult moments.

Our Community Dogs programme helps bring these benefits into schools, organisations and community settings, creating safe, supportive spaces for young and old alike.

Whether it’s a calm walk, a comforting cuddle, a reason to get outside, or simply knowing you’re not alone — dogs have a unique way of supporting mental health in ways words sometimes can’t.

This week is a reminder to check in with yourself and with those around you. Small moments of connection matter — and sometimes they come with four paws and a wagging tail. 🐶