Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Di and anyone thinking of training a dog to help you, If you printed out Spring 2005 Synapse, you'd have this article I wrote: " I'd thought for a long time that our Black Lab, Euro, might be trainable to become a service dog. Often when I need to pick something up, or do a down on the floor task, or when I fall I need help getting up. Euro is almost three, so when we contacted Janet an excellent dog trainer, she was doubtful that he could be taught to " stand " while I'd tug and push. Another complicating factor is that I can't talk, so he must respond to hand commands only. The one private lesson was a smashing success, as the pictures below attest. The key to success is that he wears a harness for " work " . Harness means he's on duty. We take it off for play time. Initially Jim did the daily training, but now I manage fine. " The back page has pictures of him helping me. I can't insert the pictures here, but if anyone e-mails me directly, I'll send them to you. Di, you are so fortunate to have someone nearby who trains assist dogs. Around here, agencies only want to give you a trained dog, not help you train your pet. Since I wrote the piece above, he comes automatically when I am on my knees doing something. I also use him to pull to standing when seated on something without arms. I'm so happy for you. Thurza Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Thanks Thurza! I cannot believe how this is turning out! It is 'weird'. i have had this guy 2 days and he seems to just 'know' how to help. He knows there is something wrong with me, somehow....he follows beside my chair or walker and he has already learned to bring me my clothes in the bathroom. This is Bizarre! Ha ha. Lets hear it for Labs...and dogs in general! Di.............Canada > > " I'd thought for a long time that our Black Lab, Euro, might be > trainable to become a service dog. Often when I need to pick something > up, or do a down on the floor task, or when I fall I need help getting > up. Euro is almost three, so when we contacted Janet an > excellent dog trainer, she was doubtful that he could be taught > to " stand " while I'd tug and push. Another complicating factor is that > I can't talk, so he must respond to hand commands only. The one private > lesson was a smashing success, as the pictures below attest. The key to > success is that he wears a harness for " work " . Harness means he's on > duty. We take it off for play time. Initially Jim did the daily > training, but now I manage fine. " > > The back page has pictures of him helping me. I can't insert the > pictures here, but if anyone e-mails me directly, I'll send them to you. > > Di, you are so fortunate to have someone nearby who trains assist dogs. > Around here, agencies only want to give you a trained dog, not help you > train your pet. > > Since I wrote the piece above, he comes automatically when I am on my > knees doing something. I also use him to pull to standing when seated > on something without arms. > > I'm so happy for you. > > Thurza > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 28, 2006 Report Share Posted January 28, 2006 Thanks Thurza! I cannot believe how this is turning out! It is 'weird'. i have had this guy 2 days and he seems to just 'know' how to help. He knows there is something wrong with me, somehow....he follows beside my chair or walker and he has already learned to bring me my clothes in the bathroom. This is Bizarre! Ha ha. Lets hear it for Labs...and dogs in general! Di.............Canada > > " I'd thought for a long time that our Black Lab, Euro, might be > trainable to become a service dog. Often when I need to pick something > up, or do a down on the floor task, or when I fall I need help getting > up. Euro is almost three, so when we contacted Janet an > excellent dog trainer, she was doubtful that he could be taught > to " stand " while I'd tug and push. Another complicating factor is that > I can't talk, so he must respond to hand commands only. The one private > lesson was a smashing success, as the pictures below attest. The key to > success is that he wears a harness for " work " . Harness means he's on > duty. We take it off for play time. Initially Jim did the daily > training, but now I manage fine. " > > The back page has pictures of him helping me. I can't insert the > pictures here, but if anyone e-mails me directly, I'll send them to you. > > Di, you are so fortunate to have someone nearby who trains assist dogs. > Around here, agencies only want to give you a trained dog, not help you > train your pet. > > Since I wrote the piece above, he comes automatically when I am on my > knees doing something. I also use him to pull to standing when seated > on something without arms. > > I'm so happy for you. > > Thurza > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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