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Have a Question for Our Team? |
Send us an email with the subject: Advice Question or a message to My CRPS Service Dog's Facebook page and we'll answer it! |
February 23, 2019 Q: If I was to train my own service dog, what do I look for in a dog? A: This is an excellent question, and a good introduction to some of the research you need to be doing if you are thinking about working with a service dog, because it makes you stop and think about what makes up a service dog (outside of training) and what your relationship with the dog will involve. I'm going to break this down into universal characteristics, physical attributes that affect you, definite Do Not Do's, sources to consider, and information to gather. I'm greatly abbreviating this information because there is a lot that goes into picking the best dog. For more information check out these resources: Universal Characteristics: These are 10 things any ideal SD candidate should possess.
Physical Attributes: Age, Size, Coat, Build, Breed, Energy Level Age: Can you handle the energy of puppy? A dog older than 2 yr will likely be too set in their ways to learn the rigorous standards of a service dog, and it shortens their career span. Ideal is 6 mo to 18 mo old.
Coat: Do you have the energy to brush a long coat every day? Do you have a lot of hand pain? Do you trust a groomer to handle your dog the right way? Do you live someplace really hot or cold? Side note, there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog, only breeds who produce less dander. Build: Will your dog be asked to pull a cart or basket? Will they be asked to brace or stabilize? Any of that needs a dog with a solid, muscular build. Other tasks like tugging open a door, retrievals, or lights could be done with leaner build dog. Breed: Breed reputation isn't a hard and fast rule, but certain breeds were bred for certain purposes and with certain qualities to be favored over others. That's how breeding works. If you are considering a breed that is historically strong-willed, like a husky, and you have ZERO experience with that breed, DON'T PICK THAT ONE. A strong-willed dog will challenge you and test you, and that is exhausting, and can be devastating if you don't know how to handle it correctly. If you have experience training the breed, that's a different matter. A better breed to gravitate towards is one that likes to be with people, was bred to work, and learns quickly. Energy Level: If you have CRPS, a high energy dog is more likely to accidentally hurt you, wear you down faster, and take longer to learn to be gentle. High energy dogs may also struggle with duration work or being able to focus in public. But a low energy dog might have zero interest in helping you or being active for long periods of time. A mix of low-medium or medium-high or a solid medium would be better. A trainer will be able to help you evaluate a dog's energy level. Additionally, the reputable breeders spend enough time working with their growing pups that they should know each one's temperament. Definitely Do Not:
Information Gathering: Ask every question about the dog, including but certainly not limited to...
Good Luck!
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Advice PostsEvery week, or so I try, I answer one question on Robbie's Facebook page. I will share each question & answer here, as well as on his page. All questions are kept anonymous. How Can I Ask a Question?1. Send me a message on Robbie's Facebook page Types of Questions- A specific problem a team may be experiencing ArchivesCategories
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