Questions about service dogs

[sterlingsmama]

Hi there -- I'm just curious if anyone out there has had their Great Dane certified as a service dog of any sort. The subject just interests me quite a bit, and I might be interested in going through the training with my merle female (currently 6 months old) when she gets old enough. I don't know much about it at all, so any examples/resources/advice would be really helpful. I love to see how many smiles Sterling can bring to the faces of the elderly and/or mentally impaired people we run into in our town -- and am just curious if this is the kind of thing she could be trained to "specialize" in.

[Gunners Mom]

RE: Questions about service dogs

Two of Sixstar's puppies are certified as assistance dogs.

Check out Rachel's website for more info www.6stardanes.com

Janet - Gunner & Coal's Mom

To see my boys ...
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4290114239 & http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2130511512

[trainer]

RE: Questions about service dogs

Are you talking about service dogs or therapy dogs?

Bill Carnes
www.skylarzack.com
www.k9goodbehavior.com

"Unnatural diets predispose animals to unnatural outcomes"
Dr. Tom Lonsdale

Causing pain, either physical, mental, or emotional to an animal to force him to act as you think he should is wrong. It was wrong yesterday, it's wrong today, and it will be wrong tomorrow. Doing so only reflects the ignorance of the trainer. There IS a better way.

[kahluadanes]

RE: Questions about service dogs

If you are talking about therapy dogs....My Dane, Hailey, is a certified therapy dog with TDI. She does weekly visits at a home for handicapped people. They love her and she brings lots of smiles to their faces.They look forward to her visits.


Dale

[Mira]

RE: Questions about service dogs

I have been thinking about making my next Dane puppy a therapy dog and my personal service dog. I have been researching it and it seems like it would so rewarding! My friend's Dane is a therapy dog and they really enjoy going to the homes and bringing smiles to people's faces. I know there is alot of training required for a therapy dog so if you are serious, your pup should start now. Just basic obediance then work your way up.

[sterlingsmama]

RE: Questions about service dogs

I suppose I mean therapy dog, but, as I said, I really don't know anything about it so I didn't realize there was a difference between the two. Any suggestions about training programs, associations to contact, etc?

[andipanda]

RE: Questions about service dogs

I adopted Ari as an adult rescue, and with in 6 months he had his CGC (canine good citizen) and three months later he got his TDI. I am a social worker, and I just knew that Ari was the perfect therapy dog.

He doesn't care for hospitals, He gets a bit anxious / skittish there, so we visit schools, and participate in a "read to a dog" program for autistic/disabled kids. Ari loves it. andi

[kahluadanes]

RE: Questions about service dogs

Therapy Dog International (TDI) and Delta Society are probably the best known. Personally I prefer TDI over Delta and there are also more TDI evaluators.

Dale

[dina]

RE: Questions about service dogs

Go to the TDI website (www.tdi-dog.org), and look on the evaluator list for someone in your area. They will be able to point you in the right direction. Also on the TDI website are the requirements for testing, and the test exercises are listed.
Dina
Rosie, Picabo & Gui
Picabo & Joe's page
http://www.chromadane.com/picabo.htm
Gui's page
http://www.chromadane.com/Guidon.htm
Great Dane Rescue of the Southwest
http://www.angelfire.com/anime/gdrsw/index.html