First day of puppy school for seven newest assistance dogs

These cute puppies will spend the next 24-months training to be a lifeline for those with physical and psychosocial disabilities.

The latest litter of puppies destined to become assistance dogs have been dubbed the “E-litter”. They are: Echo, Everly, Elroy, Emerald, Euan, Else, and Eleanor, Picture: Tim Hunter.

Seven adorable puppies are about to embark on their first day of puppy kindergarten, training to become the newest assistance dogs.

Dubbed the ‘E-litter’, Echo, Everly, Elroy, Emerald, Euan, Else and Eleanor are the next puppies who will spend the next 24 months being trained by Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA).

They will then spend their lives as companions for children and adults with physical and psychosocial disabilities, such as severe PTS and complex autism.

For 15-year-old Max, nothing has helped him as much as his Autism Assistance Dog, Watson.

Not only is Watson a “best friend”, but he also helps Max to regulate at home and school.

“People aren’t going to be able to help him, but Watson can,” Max’s mother, Selena McMurray said.

Puppies like those in the ‘E-litter’ will go on to support children and adults with physical and psychosocial disabilities, such as severe PTS and complex autism. Picture: Tim Hunter.

An assistance dog has made a big difference to Max’s quality of life, according to his mum, who says he can now “do things that (he) wouldn’t normally do because (he) doesn’t have that barrier anymore.”

And Watson isn’t only helping Max, he benefits the whole household.

“He helps all of us, he knows when someone needs support or if something’s up … he instantly will calm us down,” Ms McMurray said.

The ‘E-litter’ are only one cohort of puppies who will become four-legged companions, and the ADA is hoping increased community support will help them train more puppies and open up more frequent assistance dog applications. “Training a puppy is a complex and expensive job, making it a long wait for those in need, but we know that our remarkable dogs completely transform lives,” ADA CEO Tim Taylor said.