But she's hardly jealous. Before Endal came along, the Partons' marriage was under serious strain. Endal learned his skills in CPI's converted shed near here. The charity's head dog trainer Nina Bondarenko spends about 18 months training dogs like Endal from puppyhood. We call it trial and success, because every time the puppy tries something, we make it successful for the puppy.
Unsuccessful behavior is ignored, and daring work is approved with a noisemaker that clicks.
Soon, puppies realize that the clicking sound means they've done something really clever. Graduates have included Labradors, retrievers and poodles. In a very real sense, the dogs choose their partners as much as the disabled choose their dogs. And work it is. Endal can open Parton's clothes washer and pull out the wet garments.