Old dogs can learn
their own new tricks

THAT famous saying that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not one you could easily apply to 10-year-old Labrador Endal.

This super dog has once again conquered yet another modern technology with his normal enthusiasm and nonchalant manner as if though he was born to it. He now does the Chip and Pin when shopping for his disabled partner Allen Parton. "What can I say?" said Allen. "At 10 years old Endal still manages to amaze me with his abilities doing things that dogs shouldn't be doing!"

Assistance dog Endal's role at the Supermarket checkout used to be unloading the items in the basket onto the conveyer belt, then passing up Allen Parton's wallet to the assistant for payment and then collecting it at the end of the transaction. But now with the introduction of the Chip and Pin system part of his role is slowly becoming somewhat redundant. Allen said "Stretching from the wheelchair to put my card into the slot of the Chip and Pin machine as with the cashpoint machine is painful and this with my involuntary shaking not an easy thing to do and can be very embarrassing in front of a long queue of people". Endal once again has come to Allen's rescue and now puts the card in and collects the card at the end. "Keying in my pin number is my only role now...I am so sure Endal could do that too", says Allen, "but then again I'd be redundant in all this so I'll not tell him my pin code just yet.

Clanfield's Co-op store manager Mr Paul Bailey said: "We are all now so used to seeing Allen and Endal coming into the store most days and going about their shopping, it really is truly awe-inspiring to watch this partnership at work and it is something the store's staff never tires of witnessing as Endal conducts his work with such dedication and professionalism, gently taking items off the selves and filling Allen's shopping basket with pin-point accuracy. Allen is able to shop totally independently and the only time we ever have to help is if something they want is on a high shelf. We always pride ourselves on the service that we provide to our disabled customers and because of that we welcome all assistance dogs to our store. Endal has become come a firm favourite with all our staff and customers, young and old. His enabling skills are humbling and his ability to aid Allen to shop at our store just so incredible.

"We all know and have heard about Endal's amazing ability to be able to operate a cashpoint machine, (he's still the only dog in the world to be able to do this) and then taking the money card and receipt out and passing it all to Allen. We have all witnessed this for ourselves at the store's own cashpoint machine... so this really is just a natural progression in a very illustrious career and another thing to proudly add to his CV!"

Asked is there is a true a role and justification for dogs like Endal in this modern world where everything is becoming push button and automated, like doors etc, Allen quickly replied "I think Endal has more than secured his future role by adapting to all the new technological advancements that present. I am so, so fortunate to have an assistance dog that is truly able to problem solve and think for himself. It is not until you become dependent on others through illness or accident that not having to ask for help with regards to the smaller tasks gives one such independence. If I accidentally drop something Endal has caught it before it hits the deck and is delivering it back to my lap before I have even realised it has gone. Stretching from the wheelchair to reach for things is difficult, but with Endal's help I am so independent there is nothing we cannot achieve together."

It is his amazing ability to master what ever fast moving technology throws his way and adapt to it almost instantaneously as he has proven in the past. Allen says: "Quite recently we had the opportunity of trying out South West trains' new rolling stock that replaced the ageing slam-door trains that had plied the region's network for some 40 years. Without any prompting reliable Endal just leapt up and operated the train's push button system to open the door and then went on inside to operate the inside doors.

"New advances even affect the design of new washing machines. Because of the latest regulations and directives manufacturers are having to reach stringent standards, i.e. they now have child-proof doors, this is making it very difficult, if not impossible, for the dogs to operate the doors (a task the dogs are trained to do). Having a thinking, problem-solving dog though, means they can quickly adapt to pushing a button to open the doors. Endal has taught me one great lesson in life and that is that one should never say never! New tricks are a breeze for an old dog.