tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post6110754409279929904..comments2024-03-20T04:02:02.560-04:00Comments on Susquehanna Service Dogs: What Makes a Good Service DogSSDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08615811701599976060noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-62386338021279883642012-04-18T07:04:34.378-04:002012-04-18T07:04:34.378-04:00I am training my own hearing dog. He is also a PS...I am training my own hearing dog. He is also a PSTD dog, as he made that special bond with me. He distracts people to him, so I can do my shopping or relax from panic attacks. Which I had every time I would food shop, etc. However, everytime I am in a store-or practicing-people distract him or I get harrassed because he is not a Lab or Golden Retriever. He has alerted me to door bells, etc. And I am perfecting the phone, music alarm clock etc. I was not aware that if a bell went off in a store-that it was ok for him to bark and point, at the time. I thought he should always be quiet. This was only because it took me awhile to find a book on hearing dog training. The book was usually expensive-I got it at a bargain. My dog has found my Mom collapsed-and went to her. I did not know at the time why he was going so crazy for me to let him go in her room. She is alive today because of him. He had two behavioral classes with a CGC teacher. He is invaluable to me. But store employees constantly approach and some are very harrassing, as I have a meeting with an owner whose employee demanded I leave the store-even after being told he is a SD. The hearing part, is still in training-but I do know the signs he conveys if there is a strange noise. A loudspeaker making an annoucement etc.<br />He will sit up, or his ears go crazy. And I know to try and listen carefully. Especially, since my Mom, who is on oxygen often will wander in a store. She has paged me-but I didn't hear. His body movements helped. He tells me if a stranger approaches, and cars/people in parking lots. I am perfecting the down-stay. I make a game of it, with lots of praise and treats for leave it and stay. It is hard to train your own dog. But Boo learns fairly easily. But it is a major setback for both of us, if he gets distracted. He knows that if someone approaches,because he is so cute and they make him excited. So I have been working on that point. Training him "friend" has helped with that. Only because I get so nervous, he feels that through the leash. I thought it would be easier if he was used to these people approaching. He is a small dog, so he will compensate with woofs. He is stopped immediately. So he doesn't upset shoppers. And I have used a corrector-because all it does, is make a predatory sound. It is very humane. It would help if people understood that when they see a SD-even in training, not to approach with loud voices, and <br />hyper movements. Although, he has been doing great with that now. Only gets out of work mode, if they try and pet him. He knows if they come to close to me to distract them to him. I tell them he is a service dog, and tell him calm. Which he usually is-but they make him stay in carts at supermarkets. Stating his size, etc. So I have kept him calm both down and up. I hope this is helpful. Any suggestions are welcome. GinaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-43657443470184559342009-05-14T09:40:00.000-04:002009-05-14T09:40:00.000-04:00Hi Mary H. The color of service dogs really doesn'...Hi Mary H. The color of service dogs really doesn't matter to us. We make our breeding decisions based on health and temperament, so it's usually a surprise to see what color the puppies are. Actually, though we only breed labs, we will train other breeds as service dogs. SSD Bella, who was donated to us, is a poodle!SSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615811701599976060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-11079401208432896592009-05-12T15:16:00.000-04:002009-05-12T15:16:00.000-04:00Most of the service dogs that I have seen have bee...Most of the service dogs that I have seen have been yellow labs. (I notice now, though, that the dog at the top of your blog is a black lab.)<br /><br />Is there any reason why yellow labs seem to be used more often that black or chocolate? <br /><br />cheers,<br /><br />Mary H.<br />http://stalecheerios.com/blogMary H.http://stalecheerios.com/blognoreply@blogger.com