Surgery

Sometimes as puppy raisers we are called upon to perform duties and make tough decisions beyond the scope of raising and training. Today was a particularly difficult day, as two cherished members of our household underwent surgery.

Having brandished a needle and thread back in middle school for Home Economics, I was deemed the reigning "Expert" and assigned the role of lead surgeon. A duty I did not relish.

The first patient on my table was Moose. He is best buddy and bunk-mate to Praxis. However, a minor head/antler wound put him out of commission several days ago. Moose's surgery was quick and relatively painless - for me at least, Moose didn't say much.
My second patient was Gator. Gator is widely known across the country as 'Merit's baby'. He has traveled to many dog shows and racked up enough air miles to circle the globe. However, nearly a year's worth of loving left Gator with a gaping hole in his rear-end. Gator is no stranger to the operating table, having received his first surgery following a pee incident and a perilous trip through the washing machine which left him in dire need of back surgery. After twenty minutes and a few choice words, the tough decision was made to amputate Gator's tail. This required several cosmetic surgeries and Gator will never look the same again.

Both boys anxiously sat in the waiting room (laundry room) desperate to find out if their friends would survive. Proof of life came after the wash cycle where both Moose & Gator remained intact, but only those who emerged from the dryer in one piece would be returned to their partner.

When it comes to raising puppies, there is no such thing as an uneventful day....

Praxis and Merit are happy to report that they have been reunited with Moose and Gator.

Let's hope they all remain in one piece from this day forward!

Service Dog or Pet?

It is inevitable that every day when one of our trainees goes to work, we will encounter someone who wants to tell us about how their pet dog should/would be a wonderful service dog. They usually say something to the effect that their dog is so well-mannered, loves people, was so easy to train, etc. The reality is that even with two years of intensive training, careful puppy selection and overflowing support and resources, maybe if we’re lucky, 1 out of every 3 dogs will become a guide dog. Another may be suitable for a different working career (service dog, assistance & mobility, hearing alert, diabetic alert, etc.) and the third will become a phenomenal pet.

While almost any pet dog has a quality or even a few that would make them a good service dog, the high standards of service work demand that the dog possess every one of the following criteria:

·        Adaptability – While many pet dogs thrive under their daily routine, service dogs are the adventurers, the ones always living on the edge. In a single day they might be expected to navigate crowds, lay quietly in a café, travel through city traffic, or board a plane and spend a few days living and working in an entirely different environment. Anything goes and they have to be ready to handle it all.

·        Confined Spaces – By some miracle an 85 lb Labrador can cram his entire body under the seat of an airplane, under a desk chair, on the floor in front of your car seat and absolutely love it. Claustrophobia and personal space are terms completely foreign to a service dog.

·        Dog Distractions – A service dog must be friendly around other dogs, however, their desire for playtime cannot override the task at hand. A service dog is so focused on their job that lying under a diner table with four other puppies is just another lunch meeting.

·        Drive – Lazy and Crazy dogs don’t make good service dogs. A service dog needs to have a desire to work for their partner. They must be able to transition for sleeping to assisting and back to sleeping at a moment’s notice. There’s no vacation days, no half-a**ing and no “I’ll do that later”. Every task requires their full effort and attention both for the safety of their partner and themselves.

·        Health – Everything from allergies to dysplasia can prevent a dog from being physically sound enough to become a service dog. Supporting your human partner 24/7 places rigorous demands on the health of a dog. Something as simple as eating, sleeping and pottying can be done at different times and lengths on any given day. Retrieving, bracing and traversing a multitude of terrains requires a true canine athlete.

·        Leash Manners – No matter what temptations and distractions arise a service dog must maintain a loose leash at all times. No prong collars, chain collars or other walking aids allowed. Impulse control is an absolute necessity.

·        Loud Noises – Clapping, Screaming, Sirens, Horns: If it makes noise, regardless of how loud or annoying, a service dog has to tolerate it.

·        Memory – Depending upon their partner’s individual needs, service dogs are expected to learn anywhere from 50-300 commands. With so many things to learn and not enough time to practice everything, every day, these dogs must rely on their superb memories. Sometimes months go by between performing a particular command, but when their partner asks them to assist with something, they’re expected to remember how.

·        Petting – A service dog must sit quietly to be petted. Being surrounded by a large crowd of people touching them anywhere on their body cannot scare or excite a service dog. Backing away and jumping up are not permitted behaviors.

·        Quick Recovery – Our goal as puppy raisers is to raise a “bomb-proof” dog i.e. a dog that can go-anywhere without being phased, stressed or startled. The reality is that every dog will startle at something. So the measure of a service dog is not IF they startle but rather their ability to quickly recover and resume working as if nothing ever happened.

·        Strange Surfaces – Carpet, Wood, Metal, Wet, Sticky, Pokey, Unstable: Regardless of the surface type or texture a service dog must cross it in order to get their partner to their destination.

·        Stranger Danger (NOT) – No matter who you are, what you look like, or under what circumstances you met, a service dog does not know a stranger. They are comfortable and friendly around anyone.

It’s true that your pet dog probably possesses some of the qualities listed above. Why not? They’re a great dog. However, to be a service dog, they need to possess them ALL!

What about the dogs who possess everything on this list and are still dropped from the program? A service dog is both born and trained. With every positive experience and exposure our hope that these dogs learn to love their job not just tolerate the day-to-day grind. But, the reality is that some dogs would just be happier doing something else. It’s disappointing, but no one wants to see a dog live an unhappy and unfulfilling life.

For those dogs who excel in all these areas and love their work, there is nothing that will stand in their way from a perfect partnership!