Service Dogs For Vets - Page 2

drizzellla · ‎03-14-2010

@RedTop wrote:
I see service dogs with several veterans at our local VA clinic. The last time my husband was in radiology for testing, a veteran came in with the largest, and most beautiful service dog I have ever seen. That dog was the size of a Shetland pony. Most of the service dogs I've seen with veterans in the past, are labs, German Shepherds, and retrievers, but I was pretty sure this dog was a Great Pyrenees. I wanted to pet that dog so bad! The dog was so focused on his owner and following commands, he/she acted like no one else was in that waiting area.

It is amazing to watch the service dogs. And yes the dogs are following the clues of their owner. No one else.

It is so sad about all the suicides. And sadder still that it still takes such a long time for Vets to get appointments and treatment. My brother goes to a wonderful VA Hospital but he still has to wait for over a month for an appointment. .

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

Thank you for the information and link @momtochloe

I know some service dogs are trained to pull a person in a wheelchair. Amazing strength!

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@Noel7 wrote:
Thank you for the information and link @momtochloe

I know some service dogs are trained to pull a person in a wheelchair. Amazing strength!

Thanks @Noel7 they are just a wonderful organization. Because of the size of Great Danes, they are great for helping larger people as you can use them as a "brace" should you lose your balance (they are trained to "brace" if their human has lost their balance and understand how to get them back on their feet).

But they also help those that are smaller that also need a helping hand:

http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEViuYedBXf.EAo65jmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNz...

I'm not sure if this is included in this clip but George was named Service Dog of the Year last year . . .

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

What a wonderful video @momtochloe I love it

I hope others watch it, too.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@Noel7 wrote:
What a wonderful video @momtochloe I love it

I hope others watch it, too.

Thanks so much @Noel7! Bella had been a volunteer at SDP for a while and most of their dogs didn't pay her much attention until George found her (please know at SDP the dog picks their human . . . ). They decided to see if George would be a good match for Bella and God bless and clearly he was! He has given this little, incredibly fabulous girl her mobility back and she more than deserves it as she has worked very hard for it.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@Kachina624 wrote:
It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

@Kachina624 I smell what you're cooking but I think a Service Dog can be found among dogs that may have not been necessarily bred for it.

As you can see, I am a big supporter of SDP but even they have dogs that are deemed not good matches for their main purpose which is physically supporting a human throughout their day. With those that may not be suited they are either adopted out to friends and volunteers but sometimes there are those that help vets with PTSD.

For me, I think it takes a keen eye and great trainers to find and then train those dogs to help with a specific, given purpose. Often shelter dogs are so thrilled to have a human they are more than willing to help wherever they can with proper training.

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:
It's strange...the organizations that raise guide dogs for the blind spend years selectively breeding their dogs to get just the right service dog temperament. Many are rejected. The training for both dog and it's user is rigorous and long term.

Yet these organizations claim they walk into a shelter, pick a dog and make it a "service dog". I'd say what the vets are getting is an obedience trained, well-behaved companion. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it fulfills their needs but calling them "service dogs" does a disservice to the exquisitely trained animals that serve those with severe physical handicaps like blindness.

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@Kachina624

They are not merely calling them a service dog, they are a service dog. They are trained day and night for ten months and must pass numerous tests and learned commands.

You might want to watch the documentary on PBS if you see it on your channel.