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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    Changing lives 1 dog at a time

    Just a small update on my Service dog training. I went from none to four. We have to start over with one client and find him a new dog.So on Monday we are going to the shelters in search of a new dog to be his. I am also trying to help a service Dog that is currently inactive due to the storm. He has become neurotic. We have been working with another trainer and Molly to get him to settle down for 4 weeks and we are starting to see progress. The other two dogs are well on their way to becoming active service dogs possibly in the next 2 to 3 months.

    More than anything we have found the clients respond to me well because I can get them. Its as though I become a mentor to what can be. It has become even more rewarding than it used to be.

  2. The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Jollymolly For This Useful Post:

    Blackboy98 (10-18-2017), kimbersmom (10-18-2017), luvleeloo (10-18-2017), Mollysmomma (10-18-2017), ronmcq (10-18-2017)

  3. #2
    Senior Dog TuMicks's Avatar
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    Good work... for the dogs and their people.

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    Jollymolly (10-17-2017)

  5. #3
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    Wonderful! Keep up the good work. I know it's helping others but sounds like it is a blessing for you too.
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    Jollymolly (10-17-2017)

  7. #4
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    That's great!

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    Jollymolly (10-18-2017)

  9. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    I look forward to these updates. You are the only person I know actively working with service dogs for others, I learn a lot from your posts. Thanks for doing this and educating us.

    What's with the neurotic dog, do you think? Scared? Lost? Missing his owner? Not active enough in his job right now?
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    Jollymolly (10-18-2017)

  11. #6
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    Snowshoe he has become scared of everything. He is barking at any movement. This is very slow going some weeks Molly and I are over 100 feet away making one step at a time trying to build his level of comfort and tolerance again. His handler is in a wheelchair and she is with him every week. I am not sure of what created the issue but the issue needs to be positively reinforced away. So last week we made it to about 40 feet with him not being reactive. the goal is to get to about 5 feet so that if she is ever in a store and another service dog is there he will not start barking from anxiety. Slow going but we are starting to see the progress. We have been working with him for 6 week so I guess we make about a 10ft progress weekly. It might even get slower now.

  12. #7
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Poor dog. It sounds like some kind of doggy PTSD post hurricane. I have no doubt such a thing exists, happens, IS, for animals just as for us.
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    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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    Jollymolly (10-18-2017)

  14. #8
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    What a great job you do!

    Quote Originally Posted by Jollymolly View Post
    Snowshoe he has become scared of everything. He is barking at any movement. This is very slow going some weeks Molly and I are over 100 feet away making one step at a time trying to build his level of comfort and tolerance again. His handler is in a wheelchair and she is with him every week. I am not sure of what created the issue but the issue needs to be positively reinforced away. So last week we made it to about 40 feet with him not being reactive. the goal is to get to about 5 feet so that if she is ever in a store and another service dog is there he will not start barking from anxiety. Slow going but we are starting to see the progress. We have been working with him for 6 week so I guess we make about a 10ft progress weekly. It might even get slower now.

    Poor pup

    My dad's friend has had a few service dogs (he is blind). His last one was young but my dad said one of the smartest he met (he met the 3-4 previous ones). But something would randomly spook him on walks and he'd refused to move. It became quite dangerous. The trainer flew down from California (more than once?) and they tried to figure out what the issue was and fix it but in the end the dog was returned to the group (and rehomed I think). This reminds me, I haven't asked how the new pup has adjusted!

    It's been a great learning opportunity with my dad who has helped train the dog (for route training) and been there with the head trainer for a few sessions. It's all positive.

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  16. #9
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    Tanya this can be very dangerous for the handler. He starts to pull her barking. If we can not resolve it we will have to retire this 5 year old dog just as you stated above.

    Very glad your father has had the opportunity to help train.

  17. #10
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jollymolly View Post
    Tanya this can be very dangerous for the handler. He starts to pull her barking. If we can not resolve it we will have to retire this 5 year old dog just as you stated above.

    Very glad your father has had the opportunity to help train.
    it is so very tragic when a good working dog gets spooked and cannot recover. so much work to get there (and a relationship established with hander ) Hopefully you guys can get the dog back on track.

    I talked to my dad, his friend's new pup that he'd had since May is doing quite well, phew! All yellow labs he has had in the past 4 dogs too!

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to Tanya For This Useful Post:

    Jollymolly (10-18-2017)

 



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