ASK Drummer to sit and he will.

Ask him to pick up the post, take a can off a shop shelf or clothes out of a washing machine and he’ll do that as well.

And that’s because Drummer is an assistance dog, who since last November has been helping Jay Denton, who has multiple sclerosis.

The mother of two, of Craven Drive, High Woods, Colchester, was diagnosed with the condition in 2001, although her first attack was in 1993.

She said: “I went through all the tests but they refused to diagnose it as MS because it was just one attack.

“I was fine for nine years but then within four months I lost my walking and had very severe attacks. I did it all in one hit.”

She read about assistance dogs in a magazine article and decided to contact charity Canine Partners to see if one would be suitable for her.

“It’s a bit like adopting a child,” Jay explained. “I had to fill in an application form giving them a rundown of what I could do, and then an occupational therapist came to see me at the house to see whether I would be suitable, as well as the surroundings.

“It’s a real partnership. One of the first things they wanted to know was whether I would be able to look after him properly. Take him for walks, things like that.”

Originally, the charity lined up a dog called Doyle for Jay and, after a brief residency course, where they met each other and did some training together, Jay took him home.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t like being in my car,” she explained.

“Bless him, he was so lovely and didn’t make too much fuss, but you could tell he didn’t like it, and I just said to the charity I can’t have a dog who doesn’t like being in a car. My car is my escape route.”

The charity found a new dog, white labradoodle Drummer.

Jay added: “I found out he came from a breeder in Colchester, so he’s come home.

“The charity brought him up here and after one day I knew he was the one.”

Canine Partners initially train the dogs for two years. Much like Drummer with Jay, the dogs then continue their training in their new home.

Jay said: “At the moment he can fetch the post, help me with my shopping by taking items off the shelves and pick up clothes and put them in the washing machine. We are also training him to draw the curtains.

“At some stage he will get to an age when he will need to be retired and then the charity can get me a new dog.

“Then we just have to decide whether we keep Drummer as a family pet or get him rehoused, but I think we already know what that decision will be.”