Training a Service Dog ? Cell Dog?

Does anyone here have any contacts, experience, advice, etc relating to training a service dog?

I am a fairly experienced obedience trainer, even though it's been nearly 20 years since I have been in the show ring, I have still been doing some training, but not showing. I used to teach training classes and also individual training. I don't know anyone, though, who did service dog work. I have done basic training for Hearing Ear, but not Service dog.

I have a nerve disease that is extreamly painful and may stay like it is forever or may progress to include more of my body. It does limit what I can do.

My Mother is 83, and lives with me. She gets around well, but sometimes has trouble picking things up, or getting to the phone before someone hangs up.

I am considering adopting a "cell dog" that has been through a program where she's lived with a prisoner, who has taught her basic obedience, to be handled, crate trained, etc. The dog has been through two levels - meaning she has also been taught some agility. So, she should have a foundation to being leash trained. I know I could not start with a totally untrained dog, as I could not tolerate a dog pulling on the leash. So the Cell Dog program seems a good place to start.

Most sites that talk about training your own service dog use Clicker Training. I played around with Clicker Training a bit with my current dog (an 11 year old Aussie that will soon be 12! How did she get to be so old so fast? Just yesterday she was a puppy!), but don't really know a lot about it. I always had really good timing - which seems essential with Clicker work. There are a few books and DVD's on training that I found online, and a couple Yahoo groups. But, I could not find much info.

I am looking to train a dog to help me take off a coat by pulling on the coat sleeves, pick up items, get the phone, get a person. Maybe help carry things, not sure what else.

The particular dog I am looking at is half Aussie, and probably half Dobie. I grew up with Dobies and have had either a Border Collie or Aussie for the last 35 years. A mix of the two seems pretty good to me. I have not met the dog yet - that is the final test - but if not this dog, perhaps another Cell Dog.

I don't need a dog that is certified and would go everywhere - just a dog to help out here at home.

Anyone have any experience to share? With Service dogs, Cell dogs, or Clicker training?

It's such a HUGE decision to get another dog or not. I've been wrestling with it for months now. Pebbles is a Senior dog and won't be around much longer, and I have always thought it best to bring a new dog in while the resident dog is still active, so the new dog can learn "the ropes" from the resident dog. But, I've always brought in a puppy. I have never adopted, bought or otherwise aquired an adult dog. I know a lot of you have done it successfully. Pebbles has never had any issue with any other dog she has met, thankfully... but I have never brought one home to live on her turf!

Thanks so much!!!

Jules