Scott Allen, founder of Scamp’s School of Dog Training, suffers with nerve damage in his spine
A man has shared how he helps disabled people train their own assistance dogs, having done so himself with his pet pooch, May.
Scott Allen founded Scamp’s School of Dog Training, which is based in Cannock, Staffordshire.
Recent success with his business has enabled him to grow his ‘life-changing’ charity – Access Disability Services – which helps disabled people train their dogs to become qualified assistance dogs with full public access.
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Scott has seen profits hit an all-time high since his move to Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre, which is run by Staffordshire County Council.
This additional money has enabled him to grow Access Disability Services, which provides subsidised assistance dog training to help disabled people live more independently.
Scott, who has damaged nerves in his spine, knows firsthand just how life-changing an assistance dog can be.
He trained his own dog, May, when she was just 18 months old.
Now three, she helps Scott with daily challenges such as picking up dropped items or fetching his phone when he needs medical help.
And when her uniform is off, she is a bouncy and playful pup who loves nothing more than a good game of fetch.
“May is an absolute lifesaver for me,” Scott said. “Assistance dogs change people’s lives.
“That is just the best part of the business. When you see people who’ve got the confidence go out because they know, if something goes wrong, their dog will negate their disability, it makes it all worthwhile.”
Scott has worked for years as a professional dog trainer and behaviourist, travelling across the region to help owners with their pets.
But, as demand grew for his services, he found himself spending more time on the road than with his dogs. His home had also become a full-time office, making it hard to switch off from work.
That was when Scott decided to make the move to Cannock Chase Enterprise Centre.
He said it was a “game-changer” for his business and added: “A unit at the enterprise centre was the obvious choice. No ridiculously long-term leases to get tied into, friendly and helpful management staff, modern well-kept units and being situated right on the edge of Cannock Chase made it a no-brainer. We moved in and never looked back.
“Not having to travel so much meant my time was more effectively spent and so productivity increased, profits went up and I had more free time. My lounge once again became a space to relax and unwind after a busy day.”
The demand for Scott’s services has grown so much that he’s now preparing to move into a larger unit within the centre to accommodate his expanding team and training activities.
Martin Murray, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Staffordshire County Council, added: “Scott’s story is a brilliant example of how our enterprise centres help local entrepreneurs not only build successful businesses but also make a real social impact.
“The growth of Scamp’s School of Dog Training shows what’s possible when businesses have access to the right facilities and flexibility. It’s fantastic to see that success translating into such meaningful support for disabled people through his charity work.”