Mr Kleb
09-19-2007, 05:54 PM
I haven’t visited this area of the board in a while.
Achilles is a 6y.o. ACDx I adopted from a shelter in May of last year. He likes people and is open to strangers. He’s also very approachable-appearing. This is a nice close up (thank you Faye!).
http://usera.imagecave.com/apuntch/Achilles/Achilles_November_01.jpg
He sometimes has an issue with another dog, though that has occurred with less than 10% of other dogs. When there is a conflict he defers to that dog.
I think before the shelter picked him up he was a street survivor because he does lunge and pull after squirrels but otherwise he's a dream to walk on leash. I use a greyhound collar more for my sense of security than because I need it to control him. He sits nicely and has an endearing paw ‘shake.’ We have been in crowded farmers markets, Home Depot, elevators, and other situations that tested his resilience and he did well. I took him to my mom’s apartment home where people use canes, walkers and scooters, and he did well there.
Anyway, long story short. We have a tryout next month with a non profit organization that sends therapy dog teams to various types of facilities. This organization does not require any formal certification. They instead rely on their own testing, the test done by an uninterested evaluator, to determine how a dog/human team interacts (Does the human have control? Does the dog listen and how does it respond?), and how resilient the dog is.
If we pass the tryout we go on several visits accompanied by an established team and if the visits go well, we can go on our own. I suspect that, at least in the beginning, he would do best visiting retirement centres. Another option is a centre for youths in trouble.
My only two concerns are 1) He is a furry dog and I will have to be more diligent about brushing him; and 2) He marks a lot, which is the greater concern. Marking is an instant disqualification. Your suggestions on dealing with this are appreciated. Maybe let him mark and empty his bladder before going to work then keep him away from corners and other stand-alone upright objects?
It’s ironic that untrained Achilles is more ready for this than CGC Stella.
I’ll let everyone know how it goes.
Achilles is a 6y.o. ACDx I adopted from a shelter in May of last year. He likes people and is open to strangers. He’s also very approachable-appearing. This is a nice close up (thank you Faye!).
http://usera.imagecave.com/apuntch/Achilles/Achilles_November_01.jpg
He sometimes has an issue with another dog, though that has occurred with less than 10% of other dogs. When there is a conflict he defers to that dog.
I think before the shelter picked him up he was a street survivor because he does lunge and pull after squirrels but otherwise he's a dream to walk on leash. I use a greyhound collar more for my sense of security than because I need it to control him. He sits nicely and has an endearing paw ‘shake.’ We have been in crowded farmers markets, Home Depot, elevators, and other situations that tested his resilience and he did well. I took him to my mom’s apartment home where people use canes, walkers and scooters, and he did well there.
Anyway, long story short. We have a tryout next month with a non profit organization that sends therapy dog teams to various types of facilities. This organization does not require any formal certification. They instead rely on their own testing, the test done by an uninterested evaluator, to determine how a dog/human team interacts (Does the human have control? Does the dog listen and how does it respond?), and how resilient the dog is.
If we pass the tryout we go on several visits accompanied by an established team and if the visits go well, we can go on our own. I suspect that, at least in the beginning, he would do best visiting retirement centres. Another option is a centre for youths in trouble.
My only two concerns are 1) He is a furry dog and I will have to be more diligent about brushing him; and 2) He marks a lot, which is the greater concern. Marking is an instant disqualification. Your suggestions on dealing with this are appreciated. Maybe let him mark and empty his bladder before going to work then keep him away from corners and other stand-alone upright objects?
It’s ironic that untrained Achilles is more ready for this than CGC Stella.
I’ll let everyone know how it goes.