APAW Update

Author: Jillian Gartner
http://www.americanpoodlesatwork.org

Many of you have read our previous articles regarding the training of Service Dogs. Here is an update on the training progression and happenings here at American Poodles At Work (APAW). This is not a “professional press release,” but rather an overview of the interesting little tidbits that come with training dogs for a specific working role.

Harmony

Harmony, our first dog, is now about nine months and is the sweetest little helper – quite literally, as she is about 19” and 33 lbs! She entered APAW early this year and has been a fabulous dog to work with. Our intention from the start was to keep her for our breeding program and, pending health testing, we will certainly do so . . . she is already fantastic. Her parents are both of a more average size so her puppies should be a bit larger, yet will hopefully inherit her perfect personality.

She is continuing her training and exposure so she will be ready for placement should testing discover a reason to have her spayed, yet not impede her ability to work. Much of her training is now accomplished from a wheelchair, and she is learning to interact with the public on a working basis – paying the cashier, taking a receipt, etc.

Harmony loves to play, which caused a bit of a set-back with retrieving training. She realized that tossing an item into the air was really fun, especially if it rolled or made a loud sound. Over the summer she has gotten much better and now usually prefers to place the item in my hand if I’m nearby – otherwise she still wants to toss-and-retrieve her way across the room to me.

Her size does have its limits . . . Harmony can't reach a light switch! Once she has matured she may be able to pull a wheelchair for short distances, but that remains to be seen. Balance assistance is pretty much out of the question for anyone over about four feet tall.

Assuming she stays at APAW, she will be a fabulous therapy dog. She loves everyone and is very sweet and gentle – incredibly “tuned-in” to the type of attention an individual needs.

Trixie

Pixie is a Mini who was rescued from neglect, yet is the friendliest, most happy-go-lucky little girl. She entered training as a Lap-Top Service Dog (for wheelchair users who prefer a small sized dog) but really didn't want to put any item in her mouth. She loves to learn and please everyone and has no fear. Pixie has decided that she is most suited to be a therapy dog . . . she wants the whole world to adore her and watch her perform cute tricks! She will be getting placed with a local (Central/Western Massachusetts) handler this fall.

Charlie

Charlie is APAW's main Demo Dog and has been especially active lately reaching out to our community as well being on national TV. Charlie gives presentations to clubs and societies, local libraries, and schools. He will be appearing on Animal Planet October 11th at 8:00 p.m. during the new show Dogs 101. Recently, we were interviewed for an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show and may be invited at a future date.

Charlie continues to learn how to read (see What? Dogs Can Read?!? in this issue), and he will soon be participating in a reading program at our library where children can read stories to him without worrying about corrections or criticism from humans.

Puppies related to Harmony

Due to how wonderfully Harmony is turning out, we have decided to bring in a couple of pups from a related litter. These puppies will be trained and have an estimated graduation date of early 2010. As always, puppy petters are more than welcome to come socialize and see demonstrations of our dogs at work.

 

For those who have questions: jillian.gartner@charter.net