Fiona 9wks- Service Dog in Training

Fiona is a service dog in training we are puppy raising. This is her first week in her new home.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• puppy
• training
• clicker
• tricks
• obedience
• service
• dog
• assistance
• cute
• lab
• labrador
• retriever

[nithyamadhu]

I loved seeing Fiona. i want to train my 4 yr old Corgi mix to be a service dog. Is it possible? i was told small breeds do not make such good assistance dogs, as they are basically bred to shepherd, and tend to run. But my dog has calmed down a lot over the past yr, b/w age 3 and 4.

[fickla01]

@nithyamadhu I have a corgi and there is no reason that either a small dog or a herding breed can't make a good service dog! Corgis are smart! But I think you are referring to making your corgi a THERAPY dog (unless you have a disability). Therapy dogs are invited in to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc to help other people; they do not have public access rights unless invited. A service dog is a dog trained to do tasks to help people with a disability (hearing, diabetic, mobility, etc).

[Rickyagility]

fiona is adorable and very smart! are you specifically told what skills she needs to learn while she lives with you?

[fickla01]

@Rickyagility The main job of the puppy raiser is basic obedience and socialization like crazy since you can't make up for it later in life. But puppy raisers are encouraged to go above and beyond that and there are level tests that one can take and pass. The level 5 tests are all the skills the typical mobility dog needs to know before moving in with the client. Most people don't have the time and confidence for that though and the average dog hovers around level 3 at turn in time.

[GreekForTruth1]

@Donegaldan

Thank you!!

[Donegaldan]

@GreekForTruth1 Any dog that is trained and tasked to support a person with a disability or limited motility. Initially labradors were used solely as "seeing eye dogs". Now they are helping wheel chair bound people, deaf people and people with psychciatric disorders. Many guide dog schools breed their own dogs because temprement is so important. My dog is bred from sucessful airport sniffer dog, He is unsuitable for guidedog work because he will follow his nose and chase cats.

[rodarbal1]

another lab :)

[Rickyagility]

@fickla01 thanks for the info - very interesting!

[nameofthepen]

@GreekForTruth1 - From "Service Dog" on Wiki: "A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities..."

[ancestralblue]

@nameofthepen That's neat Nom! Thanks for the share! There are a lot of good dedicated young folks out there...