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!

Happy Mother's Day

Once a year, on Mother's Day, we take time out of our daily lives to recognize the hard work and dedication put forth by our puppy raiser moms. In our eyes, they are moms in every way that counts.
As our puppy raiser mom, you see us through our toddler stage of fits, temper tantrums, and back talking as we learn to explore and gain independence. You count to three every time we are naughty even though neither of us knows what is supposed to happen after two. You carry a large bag filled with toys, clean-up supplies and treats despite the fact that it will never be fashionable to do so. You teach us all about proper nutrition: no vegetables (grass), no high fiber (sticks) and no hard candy (rocks) or we'll break our teeth. You laugh at our crazy antics and complete lack of coordination, but when it really counts you are there to fix bumps & scraps, aching ears, and sore gums.
As adolescents you introduce us to our first friends and keep us safe from bullies. You take us to school and complete our homework with us, as if it were your own. You teach us right from wrong and never lose your patience even when we forget which is which. You take us everywhere with you so that we can learn as much as possible about the world and even at the end of the night after we have run you completely ragged you still watch us sleep and find us to be so cute and irresistible you can't wait to do it all over again the next day.
You weather our teenage rebellion with as much grace as possible and when that fails you, we learn the true meaning of Crate Training. Even as our appetites grow bigger, our messes larger and we somehow manage to forget everything you've ever taught us, you never waiver from your conviction that we will someday change someone's life.
When we celebrate our first birthday you throw us a huge party knowing that this will be the only birthday we share. While we gobble our cake in one bite you boldly look to the future and the last milestone we will cross together: college.
On the days leading up to our departure, you cry and say your good-byes. We don't understand why you are so sad but you have made us strong so we support you and in that moment when we lend a paw and look up at you with our soft, sweet brown eyes we both realize that we're ready to be apart. Because of the sacrifices you've made and the selflessness you've displayed, we are prepared and confident enough to choose our own path in life.

Thank you, Mom!

Happy Mother's Day to ALL our Puppy Raiser Moms!

Love,
Merit & Praxis

Letter Home

Dear Mom and Praxis,

It has been three weeks since I left on rotation to my breeder. I am sorry it has taken me so long to write you, but to be fair you only taught me to read and forgot all about the writing part. I will bring you up to date on what has been happening in my life, but I think you’d better sit down first.

I’m doing pretty well now. The broken leg and concussion I sustained after jumping out the car window to chase a squirrel has pretty much healed. I only spent a weekend at the vet and now I can almost walk in a straight line again and I only see birds flying in circles a few times a day. Fortunately, my mad dash was witnessed by a cute blonde who is twice my age. She thinks I'm a stud and has been licking my wounds like a perfect nurse. She even invited me home to sleep in the crate next to her. She is a gorgeous girl, but so are all the women here. Is it weird that I love them and yet I’m related to most of them? Yesterday, I asked her to marry me but she said it was just puppy love. At least I tried to make an honest woman of her before she starts to show. Her last mate lives out on the porch and might be the real father or maybe it's this other stud I met out in the yard today. Anyway, it doesn't really matter since she plans to sell all the children, just like she did with her last 20. Sorry Prax, I know you would've loved being an Uncle.

Now that I've brought you up to speed, I want to tell you that there was no squirrel, I did not break my leg, I was not at the vet, and I’m not going to be a father (although fingers crossed there will be puppies here soon). However, there are several stunning temptresses here who are driving my teenage boy hormones crazy and rendering me a howling fool - literally. I just wanted you to see this indiscretion with the proper perspective and understand that a guy can only take so much rejection, so… SURPRISE I’ll be waiting on your doorstep come Monday.

Oh yeah and with all that other guide dog stuff that doesn't have to do with girls, I've been a very good boy.

Love,

Merit

Goodbye Big Bro

To my big brother, Merit:

We haven’t known each other very long but I want you to know that I will always remember you.

I've watched you a lot over this past month and the more I've gotten to know you, the more I aspire to become just like you some day.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

All of the good choices you make and how attentive you are makes me believe in the enormous impact one puppy can have on someone's life.

So many things go on around you every day, but you never get dragged in. Instead, you focus on your job and take pride in your achievements.

When put to the test, you rise to the occasion and never back down from a challenge.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

I know that you have an important role in life.

You were born with a destiny and every day you hold your head high and work your hardest to make sure everyone knows why you’re here.

You have a gift to change lives and I can only imagine the wonderful ways you will learn to use it.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

Some dogs discover their purpose early on while others wander aimlessly for years, but I know in my heart, soul and mind that you have found yours.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

Hold onto what you know, because losing it is not allowed.

As you leave me, I know you will be fine. This will never be my worry.

While people tell me that someday, I’m going to be somebody, I already know you are someone.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

We both have so much more to learn and I am sad that you must leave me in order to help you be better for your future partner.

Promise me that you will keep your eyes open and not let anything pass you by.

You are a great dog and will continue to grow greater, as long as you continue to try.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

I love you, Merit.

If I could be just like you, I wouldn't mind one bit.

I am so proud to be your little brother.

As you go off to a new home, you will do wonderful. This everyone knows.

Don’t look back, just remember – I am so proud to be your little brother.

Love,

Praxis

PS – Please don’t come back too soon. I think I’m really going to enjoy being the favorite around here. ;)