Choosing a service dog candidate: 5 common mistakes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 พ.ค. 2024
- I've worked with a lot of owner trainers, both online and in-person, and I've come to notice 5 mistakes people make when choosing a service dog candidate.
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Just want to speak from my experience regarding emotions when choosing a prospect. I temperament tested two litters. Out of all of the puppies, I had a connection with one and was chosen by a different puppy. At the end, a few of the puppies tested well but one tested significantly better then the others and almost seemed to be born for service work. It just so happened to be the puppy that “picked me” even though I didn’t initially feel like I connected with him. While the emotional connection has been great because he’s so in tune with me already (which will hopefully be helpful as he is going to be medical alert), I know that things wouldn’t be going as well as they are if it weren’t for his temperament. I definitely agree that an emotional connection can be a good thing to have, but it shouldn’t be the top priority because that connection is not what makes a service dog.
Absolutely. Most breeders will even pick the pup they think will best fit your household and what you need. Went to a protection based German shepherd breeder. Told him I wanted a service dog prospect and he picked the perfect pup for me. She had less of a bite drive than her siblings and more of a drive for tasks which was obviously what I was looking for. The capability to protect me by having that scary dog look, but also not constantly having that bite drive, looking to protect me at every turn
Also great tip, get a black dog or a German Shepard if you don’t want to be approached as much
Exactly for people with PTSD have a golden makes people come up to you more and even behind you to pet the dog. Makes it worse!!!
I have ptsd and my service dog is a doberman mix, and my potential prospect is a gsd, I highly recommend more "intimidating" breeds, of course with the suitable qualities! it helps a lot with feeling safe/hypervigilance, even when the dog is entirely not aggressive it helps keep people away!
I have a Belgian Malinois pup and I still get approached all the time 😂
I did not consider the public perception when I chose my French Bulldog, it was mainly because my son had extreme anxiety around larger breeds after a traumatic incident.... Now in hindsight I see the difficulties it presented, almost impossible to take her out without constantly being stopped by people who want to ask questions and more who think it is okay to touch her... never had this problem with my other dogs! She is well suited for her trained tasks and checks most of the other criteria but I def see where a more traditional breed choice would have made public access easier. Great info!
On Amazon, search for "service dog equipment" and you'll see vests, capes, etc. that tell people how to behave around his presence. Also, there are instructions cards which explain
Some amazing smaller breeds are papillons and shelties! They’re not big, but have great temperaments! Just to keep in mind for future prospects. I’d choose a dog that isn’t brachycardic (smushed nose) like Bulldogs are.
I would never get a dog that has no nose to properly breath through. That's supporting bad breeding.
Oh god I never intended for my cattle dog to be a service dog. I was going to wait until I could get a German Shepherd from a good breeder, but my conditions got worse and I ended up looping her into becoming a service dog. I was so lucky that she had the perfect temperament to be one and drive. She also exceeds at sports and I love her to death, but people stop me all the time and it gets annoying. “What breed?” “So cute!! Can I pet her?” Or they drag on about how they’ve owned cattle dogs for 10 years. It’s never ending. I don’t have social anxiety so it’s fine, but at the same time I get annoyed when I’m just trying to shop and I get stopped a million times.
After months of research, talking to breeders, and meeting dogs, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that my SDIT ended up being a Bernese Mountain Dog. She loves people, but consistently came back to me. She’s a Velcro puppy for sure, and the breeder agreed she was the one. Sometimes, God will surprise you like that.
Can confirm! My dog was the pup of the litter that was at my feet the whole time, we picked her, she lacks confidence and is fear reactive.
I picked a dog, yeah he doesn't have all the confidence in the world, but he ticks the other boxes. We can work on confidence, and we have been, and it's been going well. If he fails, he fails! I'm not overly concerned, he's still a fantastic companion!
I did not know about my diagnosis and realized that my Doberman was doing what exactly I needed. Like breaking me out of my hyperfocus, calming my anxiety, etc. He was doing that naturally without me even knowing what it was. Dobermans love being velcro to their owners and super smart guard dogs as well. so you won't be approached by people a lot. even may protect you from scary situations.
This was the information I needed to see, I've been considering a doberman but was 100% sure
This is a great video. Very insightful. I just got my SDIT a few months ago. One of the things I wanted was something less flashy than my current vision assist Saint Bernard. When you mentioned the extra attention you are 100% correct. I know the story of every human that has ever had a Saint Bernard within 30 miles of our place. Lol
My Saint Bernard is brilliant and was “easy” since she trains easy and quickly. I loved that but did not want her under study to draw so much attention or look as approachable.
I’ve learned a lot from your channel. Thanks.
100% agree about not making an emotional decision unless all your options are equal candidates. As you said, service dog training is difficult enough, having things like low confidence and low food motivation or too much independence make things really challenging and complicated. Going back I would have had my SDIT formally evaluated, and even would have waited another 6 months or a year for a puppy with all the necessary qualities
I had considered a SD before but it just didnt seem like it was in the cards. Well I found a puppy on craigslist that was from an oops litter that 3 homes fell through. I really wanted him and brought him home to be a pet. After 2 weeks with him Im thinking his temperment is good for service work. Zero food aggression/resource gaurding, very friendly to people and other animals, amazing food motivation and loves praise, he wasnt really scared by anything hes pretty curious,. On walks watched motorcycles, skateboards, and people he would stand there watching them go by and re focused on me, at the park he sat down and chilled when I did even though there was other people. Plus he will be the size Id need for dpt and light mobility/guidework
Hes a german shepherd/rough collie mix. 4 months old and 35lbs and Im 5'4 140lbs so I am in good hopes he will grow to be big enough
Although now I believe he is entering a fear period as hes starting to be scared of somethings. Im doing my best to take it slow. In the yard if hes scared of something the neighbor is doing Ive been walking closer to whatever it is showing him its ok and try engaging with a toy.
I tested my first dog's food motivation. It turned out he wasn't terribly impressed by treats, he just wanted to know me! It impressed me because i was worried he'd end up overweight like so many assistance Labrador dogs do...
It's like you read my mind! I was looking for videos about this topic before you posted. Thank you so much. I'll be getting ready to start looking for my next prospect within the next year or so. So I'm starting early learning all I can to find a dog or puppy that will work for me. I got so lucky with my current dog working out with his training, but with him being the gorgeous pit bull mix he is, I totally get the intrigue by the public compared to if you had say a lab. It is one of the reasons, aside from that bully breed stubbornness, that I am looking into breeders for lab puppies. If I don't go with a lab puppy from a reputable breeder, I imagine I will end up with a rescue or shelter dog. Though I know it will be more of a challenge, hopefully this video and the information I continue to learn will help me pick the right one.
I have always struggled with depression and anxiety so I wanted to look into possible solutions now that I have my own home. At a party I met a woman who had rescued a 5 week old puppy who appeared to be a shepherd mix, I wasnt looking for a puppy because of the responsibilities that would come with potty and crate training additionally I have cats and another dog. Throughout the day I saw this puppy exploring, jumping off high places to follow bigger dogs, wanted human contact, and she wasnt bother by children that picked her up in ways that looked uncomfortable, so when it came time to leave the woman offered her to me and knowing I may entirely fail and not be able to give the puppy everything she needs to succeed I asked for a one month grace period so that I knew she would have a place to go. She is now 13 weeks old and she's wonderful she knows her basic commands and is wonderful with her crate training although she is still working on being potty trained. I watch a ton of video on how best to help her and my other dog succeed the only thing is she seems addicted to training because she is a busy body. I feel very lucky that she is who she is but I will love her still service dog or not.
my dog rings a bell that i got on amazon that i can hear good better than the sleigh bells the bell sounds just like a door bell it was $27 that's how i taught her how to let me know when she needs to go potty got her for my seizers but i take meds for that soo idk if shes alerts me iv got major anxiety she alerts me every time i have all 40 types of seizers ive woken up with he nearly on top of me licking me a few times she sleeps with me every night i haven't told mom that i wont to be able to drive and im almost 30 i got no life
@@jamiehankins1058 I had never thought of that but that's really clever! I usually try to monitor her water intake to best predict when she may need to go potty which works but it doesn't really allow me to take care of other things. I'm getting towards my mid twenties and thought moving to a different state away from the abusive house hold I once lived in would cure my depression and anxiety but I didn't understand the extensive damage it had on me, although things have gotten a lot better after 4 years I still have panic attacks here and there. My family taught me to fear and hate therapists because we had been taken by dcf once before so as much as I want to speak to someone about it the thought of opening up to a therapist scares me and even that can trigger a panic attack. My animals already do so much to help me stay calm and focused but I think a service dog might just be the thing I need because I would like to take her to therapy sessions in hopes of addressing the traumas. I will definatly be looking on Amazon for that bell because I really believe that will do the trick. The amount of training your dog has to indentify all 40 types of seizures is absolutly amazing. It blows my mind how much service dogs can accomplish. I never knew till this year what a service dog could mean to their owner and through training my own I have gained a lot of respect for the dogs, owners, and their trainers.
@@furociouskitty8778 yeah i put it on the wall and then i got my clicker and trained Sadie with her meal if your dog knows the word touch and does it your dog will catch on fast first i taught Sadie to touch my hand every time then get closer to the bell till she rings it a few times then you teach what the bell means i put the leash on and step out side turn and go back in have her ring it then then you make it to the potty spot but always make her ring the bell every time before you take your dog out
what kind of breed is your puppy i got my dog when she was 11 weeks wish i had her sooner
@@jamiehankins1058 I'm not entirely sure to be honest since she was abandoned but she looks like she has at least german shepherd, I plan to do a dna test later in the year. She doesn't know target just yet but I started working on it today and she looks like she will pick it up easy so I look forward to testing the bell maybe in November.
I think I'm going to vomit. I just adopted a border collie yesterday and did see those mentioned characteristics: stubborn, not very food motivated, noise sensitive. She does seem to be cuddle motived. I was waiting 3 years for the "right dog" and when I finally take a leap, I see this video the very next day. I think I'm gonna cry. I'm also kind of angry or just very upset as to why nobody helped me get guidance when I was prescribed an ESA. I know this is for service, but I was thinking training the ESA dog into psychiatric service since my psychiatrist has seen a huge difference since I started working with dogs. I feel terrible! She's already been adopted twice and now a third!!!
picking out my great dane puppy next fall!!! im excited. been watching your videos for a while. very helpful
I got the perfect dump puppy. Golden/Aussie mix.
I just wanted a pet, but she's the most confident dog I've ever seen who isn't also a jerk.
Food motivated, ton of play drive, great situational awareness, easy to train, can take a joke, not stubborn but can take harsh corrections and likes to roughhouse. She's at the point where the trainer and I are deciding if she should continue public access training to go with her task training (light mobility assistance) or go into protection sports because she could do either.
I got so lucky with this dog. Would recommend the breed mix if you can find a breeder who produces consistent results. Only issue is she's a bit small for brace work and she has trouble reaching things higher up.
Omg I can’t even imagine how cute this mix would be. I adore golden. A tri-black pure bred aussie puppy kind of just fell on my lap two months ago. I’m in love with her and doing everything I can to give her an awesome life but I never intended to get her. I am not actually a huge fan of owning pure breds for some reason bc they always seemed too cookie cutter to me.
So much good information! I'm not looking for a service dog, but I want the kind of qualities that a service dog has. Especially the "don't decide solely on emotion" was a good advice. (I've never met a golden that isn't food motivated😂).
My biggest regret in life is not having these videos recommended to me BEFORE I picked my prospect… 4 days ago 😭😭
I wish these videos existed back in 2018 when I was starting to look into service dogs. Nova’s perfect, but my journey might’ve been a lot easier with the help
@@samiam9598 that’s so great to hear. I ended up picking & puppy anyways and she’s been perfect
@@Andy_-so9yk that’s awesome, happy for you!!
Breed choice is a tuffy- I am a 6ft tall person with balance issues, so a giant breed in just about my only option. So extra attention is going to happen regardless. Looking into a mastador right now.
I got an American bulldog mix puppy which checks out for everything thankfully but I never tested food motivation when choosing her ( I got lucky) definitely doing it next time though
How do you find a good breeder, obviously any breeder can claim that their dogs can be a service dog, but what makes the good service dog breeders stand out from other breeders that might have good reviews/ genetics? That being said, I know that any dog from any breeder might not be a good fit even if that breeder has breed other dogs that have gone on to be successful service dogs, and that when you explain that you are looking for a potential service dog candidate, some breeders will just pick any dog they feel like they want to give you without any knowledge of service dogs and what a good candidate needs to exhibit. I am quite lost as to how to start looking for breeders.
I was looking into breeders for about 6-8 months before i found the right one. She is a handler herself and has many dogs become service dogs. All her dogs are hunting dogs and the majority of them become some type of working dog. That's what helped me. Knowing that the dogs themselves have good titles, good temperament, training, etc. and that the puppies from those dogs have gone on to become some type of working dog. Another huge factor for me was health testing. What kind of testing do they do and can they show you the testing they have done and the results of the testing for the dam and sire of a litter you interested in. Another great thing to do is to just speak with the breeder on the phone. It's a great way to feel out the person and see what they're like, what their immediate response to questions are. I was searching on all sorts of places for a good breeder, the website i liked the most was GoodDog, I ended up finding my breeder by someone on a Facebook group for service dogs recommending them as they had a puppy from one of their litters
I know this is old but I recently looked into breeders (my previous service dog passed suddenly due to stroke) and everyone I had talked to just claimed they have had dogs in previous litters that became service dogs and I could pick anyone from the litter. They also asked me what color I was looking for which was a red flag to me.
I found a breeder who has the puppies temperament tested, she is a trainer herself and she is noting behavior in all the puppies she has. She picks the one that best suits your needs, whether that’s a companion, service dog, therapy dog or hunting dog. I feel like the breeder spends the most time with the puppies and they should know which puppies are better suited for working dogs versus companion dogs, so they should be the ones to say “this one has a great temperament for this”. You don’t have to take the one she pick, if you get there and meet the dog and decide it isn’t the one, she will refund your deposit or put you on the waitlist for the next litter.
@@fluttershypi I’m in Southern Texas, the breeder I found is called Legend Retrievers and Working Dogs.
@@fluttershypi a reputable breeder will do the necessary health testing before they breed dogs. If they cant show you the health testing they did on the puppies parents they arent reputable. They should be doing health testing for hips, elbows, eyes etc and also temperment testing as well. A reputable breeder will have no issue showing those documents. Many people claim to be reputable breeders but they arent.
Good service dog doesn't need to be food motivated at all ... it can also be ball or aport motivated ... it can also work for fun to be and do things together with owner like my ex German Sheherd solid black working line which was better than any "4" and wasn't also mentioned in this video as a very good breed to be service dog. A good service dog should be independent and keep his decision as the disable person sometimes can be wrong ... like blind person walking stright in to hole on the street ordering to dog to go stright ... In that case the dog must ignore the orders from owner ...
i've seen this be called intelligent disobedience, and I think that it's definitely something ppl should try to look for if they can!
My SDit just accidentally peed on my foot when he was trying to pee in the grass 🤦🏽, he definitely loves food but sometimes doesn’t take if what he’s seeing is more interesting so then I just re focus and reward and he decided to look at me and ignore. He’s a catahoula mix so a bit stubborn but still good, his base temperature for everything is good, just needs to be trained more. I think for my next prospect depending how it goes with him being a catahoula mix (he was a surprise and jist so happen to work out) I’d either get a smooth collie, a Doberman, or malamute (but I’d want a Doberman or malamute as a pet either way if it works out or not) but that’s just me for what I can do, I can take that hit of ooh I can afford for my dog to fail as an sd.
i cant get my dog to re focus on me we got other barking dogs and my sisters cat outside my oldest sister has 5 darn dogs that sounds like a pack of wolves
Thank you
Thank you for this video. I'm trying to get a poodle for my anxiety, and I think my choices are already severely limited as I asked the breeder _not to cut_ the dog's tail. The 3 day mark. Still, this information is very useful and I will be sure to consider the points made in this video, especially about the Food Motivation.
As many others are mentioning, the extra attention depending on breed is so true! My samoyed ESA (not a service animal) comes with me wherever I can bring him, and people LOVE interacting with him and asking me questions about him. Even though I love answering their questions and talking about him, if he were to be a service dog, and I needed him to be tasking, that extra attention would be too much of an inconvenience or worse. That being said, he's not well suited for service dog work, so won't need to worry about getting distracted on the job.
I know here in RI I’ve seen Dobermans, I at one time had a beagle. But there are a lot of fakes too.
I will be getting a labradoodle soon to train
I wish more breeders did that. Everyone I've said what I need tell me. First come first served Pick on your own while the puppies are running around.
When I got my puppy recently I definitely made the first mistake. However I wasn’t planning to make her a service dog and thought a more submissive dog would get along with my other dog that can be picky about dogs she interacts with. After the first week of her being with us she quickly gained confidence and a drive to work. She loves other animals and people and is very happy to go places to train. She has even shown persistence in disrupting panic attacks without any training. She has stopped playing before to interrupt them. She would be used as a medical alert dog and has shown some interest in scent work. I am currently trying to train her for service work but am soo nervous. I know I can easily get her ready for public access and have a course that takes me step by step through task training but am terrified by how official it feels to take her out in even pet friendly places with a “in training” vest on. Part of me knows I can do it while part of me feels inadequate.
I am going to start saving when I can for a larger breed dog to help with my day to days, balance issues, PTSD, panic attacks, seizures, etc, especially when I'm out. (my Pom only really does seizures and clight anxiety work, but is learning and has anxiety issues of her own since she was a coivid puppy, so at home work for her only!)
Could you advise on how to teach a pup not to be scared or downright terrified of cuff (Canadian) crutches?
I'm training my own bullyxlamftaffpit mix she's 5 months I've seen doggy do good puppies in training Diesel she is already 96% ready to pass with flying colors. In my area where I live there are two pitbull mix dogs who are service dogs . Any dog can be trained to be a service dog .
Doesn't matter what breed all depends on owner they must understand their own dog
I owner trained my last Great Dane SD with Professional trainers. He is retiring out in 2 yrs so we are starting the journey again with another Great Dane Fir Diamond. I will be having my SD trainer do Volhard temperament test and between the breeder and my trainer we will pick just the right special fir diamond to do the job for me and to know this puppy will be able to go on to pass the Govt of Alberta PAT test and work well for me for years to come.
How much did you spend with professional trainers? Was it relatively cheaper?
I have a miniature poodle
I agree with emotion thing. Get a dog basic emoton you end up being unhappy. Do your research, especially of your trainer gave you list of breeds that are good for your disability.
I just don't jell with the Fab 4 due to my ability to keep up with grooming demands on 3 of them. Being attacked by two of the breed. And having a trigger issue with coat texture. So I have an almost 5yo gsd mix. I rescued hes been a rockstar as an SD but i need something smaller than him so ive done the evaluation of breeds and research and I'm getting a Corgi as his successor. Because it fits my lifestyle its size matches and base temperament i can work with. I know the attention it will bring but id rather get what I can work with rather than constantly not trusting the dog i picked out of Fab 4.
I chose Raiden (in the picture) because she was the dog that made noise and moved towards me when I held her at 3 days old, the others were more placid, wouldn’t have worked for my house with 3 other dogs
The blog link doesn't work anymore for some reason. It says there is a critical error. Thought you should know.
Does anyone have any program suggestions for getting fully trained or mostly trained service dogs from? I don't mind doing a week or two of training eith them before getting the dog and working on the tasks but don't have the skill to train tasks fully myself. (In the US, south if possible btw)
Reddit story poster claimed their service dog was a Great Pyrenees/healer cross. I immediately thought the story was fake. The poster said they had cattle and that Great Pyrenees are a herding breed, not true. I own Great Pyrenees, who are livestock guardian dogs. I have goats. Though there are people who breed a Great Pyrenees to a Boarder Collie or other herding breed together, the combination can produce a messed up dog. Herding breeds tend to be more hyper, while livestock guardian breeds are more chill. Great Pyrenees, like all livestock guardian breeds are nocturnal. They are also extremely independent. They are out with the livestock 24/7 and have to make decisions on their own. Is that animal a threat to the dogs livestock and must be chased away or can be ignored. All the qualities that make Great Pyrenees fantastic livestock guardian dogs would make them horrible service dogs. Great Pyrenees are stubborn, have no interest in pleasing you, will not obey unless they have a reason to (lots of memes on this), bark constantly to warn predators and other dangers. Great Pyrenees pet owners joke about their dog barking to warn owner of those dangerous leaves falling in the yard. These dogs also shed, as in you will brush out and vacuum up enough fur to knit a blanket every year. My dogs rarely leave my property but when they need vet care, I'm stopped constantly. I live in ranch country so I'm usually asked if the dog is a Great Pyrenees. If you have ever seen a picture of sheep with a big white dog with them, chances are the dog is a Great Pyrenees (or other livestock guardian breed). They are beautiful dogs and have fans, but speaking to any breeder or owner of the breed would quickly make anyone looking for a service dog to know this breed would be a horrible decision. If your heart is on a breed that isn't commonly used for service dogs, do a ton of research and talk to breeders first. I'm glad you mentioned breeds, cause it would be horrible to fall in love with a dog and then realize you made a huge mistake and your dog will never succeed as a service dog and needs to be rehomed.
Love puppy's
How can I find the blog and ebook? I'm an old lady and not tech savvy
The link is located in the description. Finding the description depends on whether you’re watching the video on a tablet/phone or via a web browser. Here’s a video: th-cam.com/video/n4sS7DalmQg/w-d-xo.html
Short answer is: in web browser, find the Show More button right below the title. In mobile/tablet, tap the arrow next to the title. Hope that helps!
The breeder chose the puppy for me. He was sleeping when we went for bothof our interviews. I never met him.
I wish you could evaluate my current dog. She is a little hyper which my spouse thinks is not good but she has reacted positively when I have had anxiety attack. I would like her evaluated before I got a new dog.
I’m curious what your opinion would be on a mixed breed (still from a good breeder) like a goldendoodle or bernedoodle?
I’m going to be talking a lot more about breed selection in our Facebook group over the next month or so and I’ll be addressing this question more in depth. But, I do t have an issue with mixed breeds as long as we still have a quality breeder and both breeds in the mix have been considered (whether the eyre a good fit, are likely to produce good service dog candidates, etc)
The link does not work to get the ebook
I recently started getting seizures and need a dog but unsure where begin
I did not consider the extra attention when it came to picking a pit bull for my daughter. She doesn’t like the extra attention and her dog isn’t public ready but I hope it doesn’t become an issue for her later.
How and where do you find a good breeder?
How do you find a breeder?
Which breed would you recommend for an older retired couple who spend a lot of time at home?
I have Diabetes Type 2 for 20+ years, my husband has Diabetes Type 1 for 50+ years. My husband would need the Service dog the most due to the multiple times he has had low blood sugar episodes,
(And calling 911 to rush him to the Emergency Room) but maybe a dog could work for me as well? We are both on insulin. He has also had a triple bypass surgery on his heart. I am worried about how he would survive if something happened to me. Could a Service Dog be trained not only to alert for low blood sugars, but to also persistently wake him up if he was sleeping during his blood sugar dropping?
I had a pug that would alert to high and low blood sugars and seizures. So many people would say pugs and other short nosed dogs cant be service dogs but thats not true. They dont all have breathing problems.
Do your research and see what breeds need the least amount of exercise if you stay home a lot. Then pick one or two you like and find a reputable breeder (not a back yard breeder). If you dont go thru a reputable breeder who does health testing before breeding you could very well end up with a dog with severe allergies, behavioral issues, etc. I learned that the hard way. Yes the upfront cost of a puppy from a reputable breeder is higher but in the long runs it ends up costing about the same because a puppy from a back yard breeder you will likely spend thousands on at the vet.
Pomeranians are excellent at many types of Assistance work!
I highly suggest a male, as their temperament IS different than that of the girls. I have had both. A common saying in the Pom world is A female Pom will love you, a male will fall IN LOVE with you. Girls usually need more "me time".
Some Poms seem to be made for alerting to seizures and other issues.
Although the girl I have now is so tiny(3lbs) her hypoglycemia is worse thsn mine. Dry food down at all times, and maple syrup always in the 'fridge. (she hates the doggie suger replacements and you use what works)
A good quality, healthy pup will not be cheap, but these days, Well bred Poms who's parents have been geneticly tested dont cost much more than from a backyard breeder.
Make sure WHICHEVER breeds you consider, kennels you talk to (I prefer show kennels as their puppy's parents have been tested and the genetics are usually sound), let the breeder know what the prospect for your puppy is. A good breeder will be honest and tell you if they have pups that have become successful AD'S, or if they think their line is up to the task.
Good luck on your search!
At what age is the earliest to pick a puppy from a litter, or to evaluate them as a service dog.
You should start evaluating before you pick up the puppy, and never get a puppy before 8 weeks. 12-14 weeks is recommended
Would a Cavalier King Spaniel be a good service dog?
They are common small breed SDs. They are emotionally intelligent and trainable. The issue is they commonly have heart disease and may not live as long. You definitely want to go with a good breeder who runs health tests
I know this was done 3 years ago, but if at all possible, meet with the dog before you purchase?
Link is not working
Volhard puppy aptitude tests
How do you find a breeder who tests their puppies to let you know if they evaluate to be good for service work?
There’s some good breeders on AKC
Are Golden doodles in that category of dogs that people will question more?
YES. People have a lot of strong opinions about doodles
What do you mean by food do you mean pet treats and pet food or human food because I always thought it's not good to give your dogs human food it shortens their life?
I usually use their plain old dog food for training at home, but I do give human food for treats for public training or training around distractions.
Even dog food and dog treats are really just made out of "human food" ingredients, and some dog treats are really awful for them, while others are healthy.
Just like when we eat, it's about the kind of food and quantity, not "human food" vs "dog food"
I want both independent and confident
And I also love sweet and outgoing and I love dogs that are shy towards strangers
I want a border collie service dog candidate
Okay then how come some people say it's not good to let people pet your service dog and some people saying it it's good to let people pet your service dog?
It's really a matter of opinion and depends on some on the temperament of the puppy. My rule of thumb is that puppies should be learning to ignore more people than we allow to interact with them. We really are asking a lot for a service dog to be totally social and comfortable with people, but also to ignore them. So we have to strike balance early with good socialization :)
hi im jamie i have a 5month old standard poodle named Sadie Grace ive had to have knee surgrey cause of her how can i still work with her while i heal and then go threw therapy she is a good dog and will sit lay down on comand and so far has waited for 20 mins for a treat ive worked hard on that. leash training has gone bad she wants to go her was when walking and will eat anything off the grown last week she tried to eat a snake head how can i teach her not to eat off the ground for her safety i live in the country lots of snakes and other things
You can trh putting a treat she/he likes in your hand. Command leave it, everytime your dog goes to take the treat without your permission close your finger over the food and repeat the command. Let me know if this helps and if you have more questions ask.
If your dog is pulling a lot too on your leash you can have her wear a head lead to correct the pulling and make her walk where you want her to stay, and use treats to encourage and praise her
When a dog insists on choosing direction or pace, you need to respond by standing still until dog looks to you and comes to you. EVERYTIME. ALTERNATELY, JUST PIVOT AND CHANGE DIRECTION UNTIL HE DECIDES HE HAS TO FOLLOW YOU.
I trained my dog to stay on my RIGHT side as I use a cane on my left. You may find a walker or rollator safer than crutches while walking the dog. Go to MyDog and Me LLC online and on TH-cam and ask for tips.
Also, your dog will need intense physical exercise. FETCH is ideal. Be sure to get small, lightweight toys to throw indoors.
You may need to hire a neighbor kid to help you with the dog for about a month. I broke 2 bones last spring falling in my ramp, trying to pick up my dogg's mess.
@@theservicekalipso9260 she knows leave it kinda well its like my preambles now are outside my little sister has an old cat outside and my youngest sister has sweet dog outside Sadie loves to run and grab grass while running and wont stop when i tell her to she needs the extra exercise so i do let her off leash to run she dont always mind me off leash she has to mind me cause im afraid she will get on the road and get hit that's a fear
you talk to much
Interestingly enough, I have a Chiweenie. Her work doesn't require her to be big to help. She checks all the boxes and has enough weight on her to do the therapeutic tasks. I really thought I was going to have to get a bigger dog, but as I dug deeper into what a great candidate looks like, I thought I try it out with her. It's been 4 years and has helped me in some of the darkest moments 🥹❤️ it wasn't easy but possible.