tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post7438736550591378744..comments2024-03-20T04:02:02.560-04:00Comments on Susquehanna Service Dogs: Why do we breed service dogs?SSDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08615811701599976060noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-86399198759687175342011-01-03T16:39:04.036-05:002011-01-03T16:39:04.036-05:00We looked at the Harrisburg Humane Society, as wel...We looked at the Harrisburg Humane Society, as well as local rescue groups. Unfortunately, the humane society had very few labs that would be appropriate for service dog work. <br /><br />We also have an age requirement for adopted or donated dogs - we will only accept them into our program if they're two years old or younger. It's not that we think that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. It's just that it takes a while to specially train each dog for their partner's unique needs, and younger dogs will be able to spend more time as working service dogs. Our dogs usually serve as working service dogs for 8-10 years and sometimes even longer.<br /><br />We recently contacted the local rescue groups looking for taller dogs to train as balance dogs. As their name suggests, balance dogs assist people with mobility issues to balance when they walk. There was one beautiful dog who would have been tall enough to be considered as a balance dog. However, although the dog may have been very sweet, we couldn't accept him into our program because he was too excitable to go out in public to places such as the mall. <br /><br />We wish we could have accepted him into our program, but service dogs truly do need to have the right temperament in order to be successful and happy in their job.SSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615811701599976060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-91825909913219243402011-01-03T14:02:01.764-05:002011-01-03T14:02:01.764-05:00"However, labs tend to be quickly adopted fro..."However, labs tend to be quickly adopted from humane societies and shelters."<br /><br />What humane societies and shelters are you looking at? It's an honest question. Our rescue and local shelters are filled with labs. Big black dogs are statistically the least likely to be adopted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-36045813286672306532011-01-03T13:34:50.755-05:002011-01-03T13:34:50.755-05:00Thank you, Celeste! People sometimes think that if...Thank you, Celeste! People sometimes think that if a dog likes people and follows cues, it will make a good service dog. However, it really does take the right combination of health, temperament and training. We're happy to see that your website mentions Assistance Dogs International!SSDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615811701599976060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8499260985247022926.post-6749554043908906772011-01-03T11:17:54.651-05:002011-01-03T11:17:54.651-05:00Thank you so much for posting this! We get the que...Thank you so much for posting this! We get the question constantly from people about why shelter dogs cannot be used as courthouse dogs.<br />Celeste Walsen<br />www.courthousedogs.comCeleste Walsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12858473137469203214noreply@blogger.com