Sierra's Service Dog Journey has Ended...

[Ron AKA]

We were informed last week that Sierra the puppy we were raising to be a service dog (blind, assistance, or autism) was being dropped from the program. They apparantly are quite unhappy with the breeding and had a bad experience with a couple of the older dogs, neither of which are from the same breeding, but from the same breeder.

Sierra does have a bit of an attitude, and just loves other dogs, to the point where she can be hard to control and is an annoyance. With a lot of work with other dogs, she now (10 months) is much improved, but still gets into rough play with her littermates and other like minded puppies in the service dog program, if you allow it to escalate without intervention. We thought she would mature out of it, and we would be given more time, but they were not willing to take a chance on her.

So now we will be the owners of a very well trained puppy. Unfortunately some of that training, such as being able to walk on escalators, and up and down open grating stairs, etc.. will never be put to use. Too bad, as she was really good at it.

So a big dissapointment, but we do now have a very sweet puppy to enjoy...

[bett]

and she does look very sweet.

[Indiana's Mom]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It's always tough when they don't go on to the career you would like, but great to welcome them back as a permanent family member. Enjoy her!

[GussyandHudson]

Sorry to hear that, but it is wonderful that she is yours forever

[Elphaba]

whilst it is disappointing on a level, as you say you do have a wonderful life to share with a great dog now.

she looks and sounds just precious - enjoy her

[PopTop]

This just wasn't her calling. Nothing wrong with that. So glad she is going to stay with you even if its without escalators and open grated stairs. You both know it can be done and its your secret.

[Molly41]

I'm sorry she won't make it through the service dog program. I know it's early but....have you considered a future in therapy dog service? Her training thus far would serve her well in that regard. And - best part - you get to do it with her!

[Moniker]

I'm sorry no one else will be able to appreciate the training you have accomplished, but it will make a great foundation for anything you choose to do with her.

[Ron AKA]

Originally Posted by Molly41

I'm sorry she won't make it through the service dog program. I know it's early but....have you considered a future in therapy dog service? Her training thus far would serve her well in that regard. And - best part - you get to do it with her!

Yes we have discussed that. My daughter and I have done the training and raising to date, but this may be something my wife would want to do. She is scheduled for two hip replacements in the next six months, so it will be some time before she would be able to do it. I think Sierra would be good with it. I've had her to dentists offices, and a large hospital, and she is fine with wheelchairs, IV trolleys, and the like.

The ownership transfer paper is not done yet, and I'm thinking there may be some limitations imposed as to what we can do with her, due to potential liability to the organization. We will see... There now certainly is a vacuum to fill for activities, and a sudden drop in drive to keep up the training.

[sho6md]

I understand your disappointment. I raised 5 dogs for Guiding Eyes for the Blind and not one of my dogs because a guide. 2 pups had medical releases, 3 just didn't have what it takes. 2 of the pups almost graduated but at the end it was determined that they should not continue. My 2nd dog was picked up by ATF and was trained to be an arson detection dog so at least be become a working dog and he is great at his job. He was a big sniffer and guide dogs are not allowed to sniff but as a arson dog, its required. He is good at his job and loves his work.

Anyway, the percentage of dogs that acutally graduate is very small. It takes such a exceptional, special dog to become a guide. There are no guarantees when you raise a potential guide dog that the dog will make it. Good breeding, good temperment and very confident dogs are what makes a good guide. Most of this is something that we can't change. We can help it but it has to be there.

Good luck with your pup. We adopted the last one, Ida. It was very disappointing when she was released . I'm glad that she is back with me. She's a great dog.

[Ron AKA]

Originally Posted by sho6md

I understand your disappointment. I raised 5 dogs for Guiding Eyes for the Blind and not one of my dogs because a guide. 2 pups had medical releases, 3 just didn't have what it takes. 2 of the pups almost graduated but at the end it was determined that they should not continue....Anyway, the percentage of dogs that acutally graduate is very small. It takes such a exceptional, special dog to become a guide. There are no guarantees when you raise a potential guide dog that the dog will make it. Good breeding, good temperment and very confident dogs are what makes a good guide. Most of this is something that we can't change. We can help it but it has to be there.

We were offered another puppy from an upcoming litter, but we have taken a rain check on that offer for now, out of fear of raising another one that does not make it -- and being burned out from this one. We knew pretty much from the get go that Sierra would not be a guide dog. She is fairly short, 50 lb, from English breeding, and the trainer in our organization likes taller/bigger dogs for guiding. Their standard is a Lab and Golden retriever cross. However, we had held out hope that she would have made it as an assistance dog, or autism dog.

I sure admire your perseverance/dedication in trying it 5 times. Not sure we will get the nerve up to try it again.

[NoMonstersHere]

I get teary just reading other people's stories! Of graduations or career changes! I am so sorry about Sierra's release. Its heart breaking every time. We just went through it early in July, when Accord was released for stress reactions. He is with my sister in law and niece now. Even harder this time is that Poppy (my 17th guide dog puppy)is a difficult girl and I don't know how well she will do.

Know that 99% of these dogs either have what it takes or they don't. Our job is to do the training and socialize the puppies so that they a great foundation for the school trainers to build upon, making life easier for trainers, the dogs and future partners.

And don't be discourages from taking on another puppy to train. If I quit after one career change, I would have done so 20 years ago when my first was medically released. After her, numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 16 were also released (5 medically, the others for behavior/lack of drive to do the work). I don't believe that I am the perfect raiser by any means, but I don't think anyone else could have gotten most of those to graduate. My female GSD perhaps. But the others just didn't have it in them. I can only work with the material I was given.

Give Sierra a big hug and enjoy having her home for good!

[Hailey's Mom]

Sorry to hear of Sierra's journey coming to an end, I know it must be difficult when you had such great expectations for her but at least she will be able to remain in your home as part of your family. I wish you all the best with your future endeavors with Sierra.

Originally Posted by NoMonstersHere

I get teary just reading other people's stories! Of graduations or career changes! I am so sorry about Sierra's release. Its heart breaking every time. We just went through it early in July, when Accord was released for stress reactions. He is with my sister in law and niece now. Even harder this time is that Poppy (my 17th guide dog puppy)is a difficult girl and I don't know how well she will do.

Know that 99% of these dogs either have what it takes or they don't. Our job is to do the training and socialize the puppies so that they a great foundation for the school trainers to build upon, making life easier for trainers, the dogs and future partners.

And don't be discourages from taking on another puppy to train. If I quit after one career change, I would have done so 20 years ago when my first was medically released. After her, numbers 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13 and 16 were also released (5 medically, the others for behavior/lack of drive to do the work). I don't believe that I am the perfect raiser by any means, but I don't think anyone else could have gotten most of those to graduate. My female GSD perhaps. But the others just didn't have it in them. I can only work with the material I was given.

Give Sierra a big hug and enjoy having her home for good!

That is such a good way of looking at it. We have not personally done any puppy raising but a good family friend raised two dogs for an organization (not sure which-it was for the blind though) and the second one, a yellow lab, was released for reaction issues. They were offered first priority to adopt him, which they did and he made a wonderful family pet and ranch dog.
I've always thought he just wasn't cut out for it, but I've been learning both on this board and from other puppy raisers I have since met that actually the majority of dogs do not pass and become service dogs. It truly takes such a special dog.
I always tell adopters (of my fosters and rescues) that passing the CGC and becoming Therapy Dogs are two totally different things (well behaved dogs vs. very adaptable, well mannered dogs who crave people attention) but Service dogs take it to a whole diffierent level. It's incredible to watch them work and I think what puppy raisers do is wonderful and surely immeasurable.

[Ron AKA]

Thanks again for the thoughtful posts. We are recovering from the shock of her being released to be a "civilian". Have investigated the therapy dog option, and there is a local organization that supports/regulates the activity. They require the dog to pass a test for suitability and obedience, and it must be at least 1 year old. I'm sure the obedience would be no problem, even now at 10 months, and she would have no trouble with a hospital or seniors home environment. We've done it before. However, I'm not sure she could do the therapy thing. When she was a young pup, and people would ask me if she was a purebred (the english breeding is a little different), I would always say, "well yes, but there is a possibility she could be 1/10th vampire". She had sharp teeth, and though we were good chew toys!! That ended with age, but she is not real fond of people, especially males and those she does not know. She can be very affectionate with myself and my daughter, but really only on her terms -- not unlike a cat! Most evenings end with me on the floor and her sleeping between my legs and her head in my lap.

So in a therapy situation, yes she would be nice, lick a person's hand, and take a few pets on the head, but I'm afraid after that, she would be thinking "Where is the real action here", and pull away, or tune out and fall asleep on the floor, if she could not generate some.

So, while I think we could qualify her as a therapy dog, I doubt this is her calling. Her energy and ability to learn tasks would have done her well as service dog, but now that is just not in the cards.

[Pam and Brandy]

Please don't be disappointed. It sounds like you've done a great job on Sierra and she wasn't even disqualified for anything she did. Both of mine were my dog guide foster puppies. Brandy was dq'd for health reasons, and Grizz was placed in the breeding program and later released because the new director didn't like the breed. I also fostered a yellow lab for a summer and he was later dq'd because "he didn't want to do it" - personally, I think Grizz and Brandy filled him in on how great life as a house pet can be.

Sometimes, no matter how great the dog is, it just isn't meant to be.