What to ExpectTaking your service dog to the zoo for the first time can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. There's so many things that you want to be prepared for, and you need to understand that it will be a training exercise for you and your service dog, as well as a fun adventure for the two of you.
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For people other than service dog handlers, teaching the right side heel seems a little strange. Teaching a dog to heel has always been one of the primary commands to teach any dog, and traditionally, it is taught on the left side. If you are interested in teaching your dog how to walk in a heeling position on the right side, I recommend that you first teach Heel to near perfection, so as to not confuse your dog while he/she is still learning. In this post, I will talk about the reasons why someone might want to teach their dog how to heel on the right side, possible names for the command, how to teach it, suggestions for problem-solving if things are going rough, and I will include a video of me working with Robbie on his right side heeling. Every owner should be able to do a general health check on their dog, on a daily or at least, weekly basis. In this post, I'll discuss the key areas an owner should check, how to go through a health check with your dog, and how to handle problems if they arise. Doing a daily health-check on your dog will teach your dog to be comfortable with being handled in numerous different ways, which can make it easier to take them to the vet. Plus, if they are training to be a service dog, this counts as extra socialization. In addition, I'll talk about the importance of keeping a healthcare journal for your dog. Keeping a Healthcare JouranlAs important as the training journal, it is important for both pet and service dog owners to keep track of their dog's overall health. Especially if your dog has chronic problems that require frequent trips to the vet. Reasons to keep a health journal are:
I have been wanting to do a post about dog parks for awhile now, but wanted to get some further input about taking one's service dog to a dog park from other handlers. This post will include reasons why I choose to avoid dog parks, why some handlers don't mind taking theirs to parks & how they handle it, and suggestions for you on how to navigate the dog parks.
Dogs, just like kids, need a back up plan already in place in the event that something tragic happens to their owners/parents. It's terrible to think about, but even worse if you never think about it, just hope nothing bad ever happens, then something bad does happen, and your faithful service dog of 6 years get sent to the pound rather than a good home who knows how much that dog meant to his family. Temporary or Permanent Guardianship of Your DogI will attach a form below that you can use to fill out information about you, your dog, and his/her future guardian should you die before your time. This is an extremely important decision to make because you never know when tragedy may strike. To make it legal, both parties need to sign the form and have it notarized. Then you need to make sure the guardianship papers are filed with your will and other legal documents to ensure that your service dog is properly taken care of. You will also want to make sure that all of your dog's records are organized and all located in the same place, so that they are easily accessible. Maybe make a short manual for how to care for your dog, with pages that discuss commands, exercises, fears, things that you are working on, things your dog likes to eat, etc.
How to Choose the Right Person & the Back-Up Person
This may be a family member, a close friend, or even your dog trainer. We chose a family member, my boyfriend's sister, because she loves animals, hit it off with Robbie as soon as she met him, and understands how important he is. At this time, we don't have a back up plan, but we will come up with one soon. We hope to live together with Robbie for a very long time and have other service dogs in the future, but we also want to be prepared for the unexpected. |
My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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