Re: Dog Questions
Pam Hartley
You're doing fine, except that if you are trying to place them as eventual
service dogs they should have *very* little interaction with other dogs (1/2
hour per day for socialization so they aren't afraid of other dogs is good,
much more and they'll get too "doggy" and not people-oriented enough) and
MUCH interaction with the people, not to mention a LOT of time "around town"
getting used to sites and smells, and also time in a formal obedience class
so that a trainer can point out any deficiencies in the training (and so
that you can learn how to go beyond "sit" :).
If you have not talked to the service dog organization of your choice and
been given their guidelines, I'd do that ASAP. Most service dog
organizations breed their own dogs, and those that don't are understandably
very picky about the temperament and intelligence and willingness of the
dogs they take in, and they reject a lot more than they take. If you don't
get a positive response from the organization you're thinking of, you can
place them as pets now while they're still cute enough to appeal to a
family.
Pam
----------
service dogs they should have *very* little interaction with other dogs (1/2
hour per day for socialization so they aren't afraid of other dogs is good,
much more and they'll get too "doggy" and not people-oriented enough) and
MUCH interaction with the people, not to mention a LOT of time "around town"
getting used to sites and smells, and also time in a formal obedience class
so that a trainer can point out any deficiencies in the training (and so
that you can learn how to go beyond "sit" :).
If you have not talked to the service dog organization of your choice and
been given their guidelines, I'd do that ASAP. Most service dog
organizations breed their own dogs, and those that don't are understandably
very picky about the temperament and intelligence and willingness of the
dogs they take in, and they reject a lot more than they take. If you don't
get a positive response from the organization you're thinking of, you can
place them as pets now while they're still cute enough to appeal to a
family.
Pam
----------
>From: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Digest Number 2524
>Date: Tue, Oct 22, 2002, 12:28 PM
>
> Subject: Dog questions
>
> I have 2 puppies, courtesy of Dar's dog (kiss and hug to Nana) that are 13
> weeks old. They are half border collie. I am attempting to teach them
> manners, etc., hoping a service dog organization will take them in a few
> months. Here is the dilemma. The farthest I have ever gotten in dog
> training is "sit". I have read lots of books but they all deal with a
> single dog.
>
> I have crate trained the pups in their own crates. They have time to spend
> playing just with each other and times they are in our half-acre pen with
> our adult dogs. I have been trying to use a "lead" system, where the dog is
> attached to me on a 4-foot lead in the house or attached to a short lead in
> their "settle down" area. We have lots of toys, bones, etc..
>
> I have been working with them one at a time. Does this sound on track at
> all or could someone recommend a good book? Just wanting to do what I can
> to try to help these pups find a more suitable home than our very pet-heavy
> one.
>
> Julie--with 4 dogs, 6 goats, 30 chickens, 10 rabbits, 1 cat and 1 newborn
> rat
[email protected]
In a message dated 10/22/2002 5:19:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
pamhartley@... writes:
to all kinds of situations, including other animals. When they enter the
school they need to be able to associate with other dogs. I have raised
leader puppies for several years and the school we are affiliated with does
not discourage interaction with the family pets and in fact encourages off
leash play with the family dogs. They do request to attempt to limit in
house rough play such as running around but not daily contact.
I do agree with contacting the agency soon though and will tell you that the
paws for a cause (local name for helping dogs for the deaf or disabled) are
less stringent on the acceptance standards. Here they do not have a large
breeding program established yet.
Dorothy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
pamhartley@... writes:
> You're doing fine, except that if you are trying to place them as eventualHmm I have to disagree with this. Part of socialization is to get them used
> service dogs they should have *very* little interaction with other dogs
> (1/2
> hour per day for socialization so they aren't afraid of other dogs is good,
> much more and they'll get too "doggy" and not people-oriented enough)
to all kinds of situations, including other animals. When they enter the
school they need to be able to associate with other dogs. I have raised
leader puppies for several years and the school we are affiliated with does
not discourage interaction with the family pets and in fact encourages off
leash play with the family dogs. They do request to attempt to limit in
house rough play such as running around but not daily contact.
I do agree with contacting the agency soon though and will tell you that the
paws for a cause (local name for helping dogs for the deaf or disabled) are
less stringent on the acceptance standards. Here they do not have a large
breeding program established yet.
Dorothy
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]