After checking Petfinder for a year, and doing a lot of research into training a dog for assistance, I am finally going to look at a dog on Monday.
She is in Prison. She is in a "cell dog" program. A prisoner is training her in basic obedience, crate training etc. I will actually go to the prison to meet her. I don't think I will have any interaction with the prisoner though. I meet with the officer in charge of the dog training program.
This is her story. She was taken, along with her littermates and many other dogs, from a woman who thought she was a breeder. He said it was a backyard breeder almost hoarder but got way out of hand. In this puppy's case, the mother dog, who he says was a very nice, very sweet Border Collie, accidentally mated with her huge chocolate Lab. There were 4 puppies. They are more red than a regular chocolate lab... and had various amounts of white on them. He said they have been a joy to work with -- more laid back than a Border Collie, but smart as can be. Very out going. The mother was not in good shape, and they were taken from her at 5 weeks. I am not thrilled with this - as I am one who believes they do better left with Mom longer than that. (My current dog, Pebbles was with her mom till 11 weeks)
The dogs from the breeder/hoarder were divided among shelters, and the pups were taken to a shelter that has almost all cats. They have a handful of dogs, but most are in the prison program, but they have about 25 cats. This should work well, because the pups were well socialized with cats when young, and I have the three legged cat, Lucky.... anyway, at 3-1/2 months they went to Prison.
They are 4-1/2 months now. They are ready to go, but still have 2 weeks to go in their training. He said I could take her Monday. But, I really want to wait until my vacation, which starts May 22 (Friday before Memorial Day) and I have that entire next week off. He said they can keep her in training and work on additional things with her.
I want to train this dog to be an assistance dog. Many people train their own dogs. I have some pretty severe pain, and limited use of my left arm. I have trained and shown dogs in obedience before, was pretty good at it, so am looking forward to trying to train this dog to pick things up that I have dropped, helping me off with my long sleeved coats and sweaters, wearing a small backpack, etc. Most people use Clicker training for this.
It's been a long time since I evaluated a puppy. Pebbles, my current dog, was one of a litter of two that a friend of mine bred. She was a nationally known breeder, and I knew both parent dogs very well. She was keeping the male, and I wanted a female. Only two pups, only one female -- no choice. The dog before that was over 25 years ago and she was sent to me, matched by the breeder. So it has been a long time since I have picked one out.
I have never picked one from a shelter -- this will be my first "rescue" dog. I always bought dogs before, because I was competitively showing, and needed a dog that I could register.
I should note that I have always owned Border Collies or Australian Shepherds as an adult, but as a child, grew up with Dobermans. My elderly Mom lives with me, and when she moved in, she brought her dog, which was Doberman - Coonhound cross. Her dog has passed away now. The dog I have now is an Aussie, but a laid back one. So I am pretty familiar with the more active breeds..... but I have not been around any Labs, other than way back when I was showing in obedience, I remember quite a few were being shown, but I didn't know any of them personally.
So -- anyone have any tips for me?
I already know from the trainer that this pup is supposed to be very alert, yet very calm and laid back. Easy going, yet smart and fun to train. Said this group of pups, especially this one and one of her sisters, have been among the best dogs they have had in their program. So I just can't pass up going to look at her.
Her name is Zoey, but I don't think that rolls off the tongue very well, so I may change that. I am thinking maybe Ruby.... She is 4-1/2 months old now.
Thanks for any suggestions on things to look for!
Hope the photo works, I clipped it from the shelter site.
Jules
