Introducing the Engaged Family Dogs - Flo...
- engagedcanineservi
- Jun 20
- 2 min read

First up is Flo, my soul dog! Anyone who knows me knows Flo, she has been in my life for almost 6 years now. Our journey started when Flo moved in to the kennels I was working at, beginning her Detection Dog journey at 7 months old. COVID lock downs made the kennels quieter than normal, so I was lucky enough to get involved with her training journey, seeing her progress to a fully operational detection dog! She then moved out to France to work for UK Border Force. It wasn’t long before we were reunited, as shortly after this I became a Detection Dog handler, following her out to France where she became my search dog.
We had 3 great years together in France before I started to notice some changes in Flo, she didn’t seem to have quite the same excitement as before and then she started to show some fur loss. After some testing she was diagnosed with low Thyroid and began life long medication. She was soon back to her old self, except she had lost some of her zest for operational search work and so at the grand age of 4 she retired, moving home with me!
Flo took to life at home brilliantly! After a good few months settling down we then began our next journey together, volunteering for Therapy Dogs Nationwide. Flo is a natural Therapy Dog - she had been my rock through some difficult times and visiting care homes, hospice and hospitals alike was no different, she spreads her magic healing powers wherever we go!
Myself and Flo are still active members of Therapy Dogs Nationwide and even now she enjoys training and scent work, especially if there is a ball involved!
For more information about rehoming retired or unsuccessful search dogs have a look at Redpaw rehoming, there are plenty of wonderful dogs looking for 5 star homes!
If you are interested in finding out more about Therapy Dogs Nationwide have a look at their site too, it is such an incredibly rewarding role! Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions on this too, I’d be happy to answer if I can!
Ellie
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