Training > Puppy Raising (publicly viewable board)
What should I be looking for?
Artemis:
Today I began what will be a five month long task:
Picking a pup to bring with me to learn how to train service dogs (in hopes that the pup will be my next service dog). I'm going to a program starting may 21st, and bringing a dog and my grandfather who is going to keep the dog and continue its trainingwhile I'm at college my fall semester after a full summer of training with me. This works especially well becuase he has many of the same problems as me, including what the primary function of the dog will be- type one diabetes.
Almost all of my experience as an animal trainer has been with horses. My original plan for this summer was to be doing a program which would make me officially and certifiably a horse trainer. Dog training has become more important, and looking at what I want to do with my life, it will probably serve me better in the long run.
I will be looking at a lot of dogs. I'm looking mostly at shelter dogs. I know that 99% of them are not right, but over the next five months I'll be looking at thousands of them. I'm starting with website descriptions, and picking out promising looking candidates from those. From there I'll actually go and meet these dogs and do a very basic temperament test. After that there will be the dog's known history to consider, as well as health records or problems. I'll also look at some breeder dogs, and possibly some that washed out of SD programs for minor issues.
Oh, and I'd like to work with a dog a year old to two and a half. A dog with its personality and issues already pretty much set. It may last me longer if I pick out a younger one, but I think that trying to yeild the greatest chances of success are most important with my situation.
But while I'm starting my search and before I start narrowing things down too much, what key traits etc could those of you with lots of experience say that I should be looking for? And what makes a dog unfit for work without any chance of working it out of them?
I know that I can take a rescue horse that's been began and starved and with enough food and love and training make him something you could ride in a parade. But that's like being a dog you can take out in public as a pet. I know I could not take that same horse and make him into a police horse- and that's what I need to do to train a service dog. I know it requires the highest standard and that not just anything will do- most will not.
So what does a dog have to have to even be considered and what washes it out of the potentials list immediately? It will be a great help to have some advise from those of you with more knowledge and experience then me.
Also, if there are any books on the topic or on the topic of training dogs that anyone would highly recommend I'd love to be pointed in the right direction. I have a lot to learn, but I do have the basic groundwork with a horse training tequnique that has been crossed over to all kinds of animals- from bears to deer to dogs. I just dont know if it's ever been used on a service dog. And dogs aren't horses. They think differently and I need to learn more about that.
Kirsten:
Why isn't the program choosing the candidate for you? The odds of someone without experience picking out a suitable candidate are very slim. I mean, it's not the sort of thing you can make a check list for.
state_of_nowhere:
It's not going to happen. Not to be a "debbi-downer", but a voice of reason here. The experience is complex and involved and only (ONLY) an experienced trainer should be evaluating a potential candidate - not you. There is no way you are going to track down a suitable dog in 5 months' time. Just no way.
Why isn't the program doing this for you? What program is this anyway?
What exactly do you need this dog to do for you again? I feel like there is a mad rush on getting this process accomplished. It takes a looooong time to do this correctly. My first application was sent in 2008. It takes 18-24 months to train a service dog and proper socialization is really the most important part. You need to start with a solid dog and you have ZERO control over that if you obtain an older shelter dog.
So to answer your question "what should I be looking for?" - you should be looking for a reputable trainer/evaluator to find your candidate.
Kirsten:
--- Quote from: state_of_nowhere on December 31, 2011, 11:22:07 PM ---So to answer your question "what should I be looking for?" - you should be looking for a reputable trainer/evaluator to find your candidate.
--- End quote ---
Agreed. Your odds of success go up significantly just by having an expert choose the candidate you work with.
Artemis:
--- Quote from: Kirsten on December 31, 2011, 11:31:15 PM ---
--- Quote from: state_of_nowhere on December 31, 2011, 11:22:07 PM ---So to answer your question "what should I be looking for?" - you should be looking for a reputable trainer/evaluator to find your candidate.
--- End quote ---
Agreed. Your odds of success go up significantly just by having an expert choose the candidate you work with.
--- End quote ---
Becuase the program is for training humans to train service dogs, you have to select and bring your own.
I looking for a way to find a solid trainable dog, not to be told someone else should do it. I already have a lot I know I'm looking for, and I have help. My mother is a very experienced professional animal trainer, she is looking, and my grandmother knows another trainer who is planning to help us. I know I am no professional, which is why I'm seeking advise from people with more experience. There are really obvious things like aggression and whatnot- I'm asking what is less then obvious.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version