First taste of media for EJ

EJ has adopted Endal as his mentor and Endal is giving him plenty of encouragement along the way.

ENDAL Junior (EJ) has really taken to his new role as Gulf war veteran Allen Parton's assistance dog and is training with a huge enthusiasm and even showing his natural potential to be a great media hound at the same time!

Recently at the crack of dawn Allen, Endal and EJ appeared on BBC Radio Solent talking about the transitional changes from Endal going into retirement and the introduction of young EJ and what the future hopes are. EJ barked on cue with military precision during his introduction, announcing his arrival to the listening audience in his own way, "He really is so much like Endal and is picking up on a few of Endal's traits, most good and a few bad" said Allen.

After two hours on the radio the intrepid trio, with a BBC film crew in tow, then attended puppy class at Canine Partners' national training centre at Midhurst, in West Sussex. More interviews and filming during the class, which when the star is a little 17-week-old puppy, the outcome very unpredictable but EJ didn't let the team down and was the perfect model throughout.

As if that was not enough limelight for little EJ and Endal, BBC South Today came to the Parton home in Clanfield later in the evening to do a live transmission during the evening programme. Live TV and two dogs - maybe not two words one would normally use comfortably together - but veteran Endal posed regally on the sofa with young EJ at his feet, both behaving impeccably during the interview with Allen and his wife Sandra.

Allen proudly said "I thought when Endal retired our lives would be a wee bit quieter but EJ has other ideas on this subject and he has already become quite a celebrity and he is only 17 weeks old. Endal's large yawn, live on air at the end of the programme, really said it all," laughed Allen.