Canine Assistance for Achieving Independence

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Canine Assistance for Achieving Independence

Canine Assistance for Achieving Independence

I’ve just finished watching a video that I’d recommend for every dog lover on the planet. In fact, I’d recommend it for any caring, compassionate individuals who want to either see people being helped by service dogs, or to participate in canine assistance for achieving independence.

If you’ve ever had a dog, you know that they have natural intuitions that are special and even inexplicable. Our furry friends have an amazing ability to sense our feelings of joy and sadness, sickness and health, natural calamities, and an uncanny instinct to perceive instances long before they happen.

I recently met an elderly woman who told me about how her neighbors dog helped save her life by waking up his owner and to alert them of this woman having fallen badly on the bathroom floor at 2am in the morning. She had apparently gotten up for “nature’s call” and decided not to use her walker and consequently fell backwards, striking her head on the bathroom floor. She managed to pull herself to the bedside and reach for her phone, but the batteries had died and the emergency buzzer to call for medical help was out of reach on the kitchen table.

Canine Assistance for Achieving Independence. A Dog Could Be the Answer for You or Your Loved One.

This video below is well worth watching and if you love dogs and love people, it’s a must see. Victoria Stilwell interviews director of Canine Assistants, Jennifer Arnold, director and author of “In a Dog’s Heart” and takes you into the lives of service dogs and their owners.

In a great deal of pain, Sally decided the only thing she could do was to use the phone to tap on the wall of the apartment as she lie there on the floor with broken ribs and bleeding head. She had little strength to make much noise by tapping on the wall, but her hope was that someone would hear it.

However, no one but the neighbors dog could hear the light tapping on the other side of the wall, but he sensed that something was wrong and that Sally needed help.

Incessant barking finally woke the neighbors who noted their dog barking at the wall. They went next door to find Sally in a serious condition and called for medical help.

It’s moments like these that one has to acknowledge the special powers of sensitivity that dogs possess, and to harness this ability is exactly what the people at Canine Assistants do. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this non-profit organization has developed techniques to provide canine assistance for achieving independence for all sorts of needs. People with physical disabilities, problems with seizures, and many other special needs are provided with dogs, (primarily Golden Retrievers and Labradors), to help them in their everyday lives.

Purchase your copy of “In a Dog’s Heart” or, “Through a Dog’s Eyes” to help support this worthy cause.

Please hit the LIKE button below, and share with your Facebook friends. Thanks!

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s Smallest Therapy Dog

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s Smallest Therapy Dog

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s Smallest Therapy Dog

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s smallest therapy dog has been acknowledged in New Jersey. The amazing thing about this little pooch is that she’s a working dog! Lucy is a 2.5lb working dog visiting needy people, sick and elderly, this little puppy is now in the Guinness World Records as the tiniest assistance dog in the world.

Affectionately known as a Yorkie, this breed was first brought into the USA around the 1870s. The first account goes back to that era where new Americans were following the trends from England, and, as their name implies, these little pooches originally came from Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s Smallest Therapy Dog

A Yorkshire Terrier weighing just 2.5lbs is officially the smallest working dog in the world.

A Yorkshire Terrier from New Jersey in the US has been named the world’s smallest working dog.

Three-year-old Lucy is 5.7 inches high and weighs just 2.5lbs, which is less than 12 sausages. However, despite her tiny size, she still works hard and is a therapy dog with volunteer group Leashes of Love.

She travels around hospitals, special schools and nursing homes in her local area visiting elderly and disabled residents, which earned her the Guinness World Record for being the smallest working dog on the planet.

Lucy’s owner Sally Leone Montufar, 56, stated: “I said I bet she’s not the tiniest, but I’m sure she’s the tiniest therapy dog.”

She also described the moment she found her pet, explaining a woman came into the boutique where she works to see if anyone wanted a dog before they were taken to a shelter.

Lucy was hiding away in a handbag and Ms Montufar claimed it was love at first sight.

“She was so pitiful and lethargic I couldn’t leave her,” she added.

Even if they are not as tiny as Lucy, small dogs still need special care and attention, especially when it comes to their diet.

High-quality food is essential for breeds like Yorkshire Terriers. Because their stomachs are smaller, they eat less and therefore need the right nutrients to stay fit and healthy. Click here to visit the original source of this post

Best Puppy Yorkshire Terrier: World’s smallest therapy dog, and a pint sized pooch needs the right feeding regimen to keep her healthy and to keep those little bones strong. A smaller kibble nutrient rich dog food will provide the goodies the miniature dogs needs for good health and well-being. Extra care needs to be taken with such a small dog, and keeping an eye out to be sure not to step on its little feet, or get too close to aggressive dogs who may not be trustworthy around your Yorkie.

Best Puppy Service Dogs Training for Active Pets

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Best Puppy Service Dogs Training for Active Pets

Best Puppy Service Dogs Training for Active Pets

If your dog has the potential to be a helper, you may want to look at the best puppy service dogs training for active pets options. Some dogs will have a natural inclination to be useful not just as a pet, but for a service to the community, rescue, therapy, or maybe even some form of entertainment such as TV commercials or movies. All sorts of possibilities could be available to you if you think your dog is eligible.

Take a look at the general requirements below, and if this suits you and your dog, then there are organizations that you can connect with to take it to the next level.

Best Puppy Service Dogs Training for Active Pets

If you find yourself coming home to a restless pup, you might want to consider finding Fido a job. Dogs were born to work and they thrive on the mental stimulation it provides. Just like us, our-four legged counterparts love the feeling of accomplishment and a job well done. While basic training may be enough work for some dogs, over-“pawchievers” should search the classifieds for job openings in these canine-approved fields.

Therapy dog

For dogs, bringing joy to others is in their genes. Most dogs, due to their gentle and loving disposition, are naturally fit to be therapy dogs. With therapy training, your pet could help create joy for the elderly or help heal psychic wounds for trauma victims. If your pup brings a smile to your face, let them spread the love by making a difference to those who need it most. Some training and certification courses may be required, so make sure you research organizations near you for specific requirements. Organizations like the Delta Society provide extensive information about therapy dogs and where to find a pet partner near you.

Job requirements:

At least one year old

Gets along with other canines

Calm and gentle characteristics

Obey their masters

Current on all vaccinations

Actor/model dog

Is your pet really, really, ridiculously adorable? If posing for the camera makes his tail wag, you might consider taking him for a walk – on the red carpet that is. A dog with the right charisma has the potential for a career in showbiz. While competition in Tinseltown is just as stiff for pets as it is for humans, making your pets’ dreams come true is priceless. Start by making a puppy portfolio, complete with headshots and action shots of your pup. Contact pet talent agencies like Hollywood Paws and Le Paws to help you get a leg up on the competition and sniff out potential gigs.

Job requirements:

Food- or toy-motivated

Calm temperament

Comfortable in crowds

Flexible schedule

Proper grooming and hygiene

Search-and-rescue dog

If your dog has a nose for action, a career in search and rescue may be a good fit. Committing to train your pet as a search-and-rescue dog requires ample time and patience but the rewards are endless. Not only will you and your furry friend help out your community, but extensive training means lots of quality bonding hours. Job duties include utilizing scent training to find people who are lost or missing, wilderness tracking and trailing, and responding in disaster situations.

Job requirements:

Excellent physical health

High levels of energy and endurance

Agreeable temperament

Exceptional listening skills

Confidence

Works well with two- and four-legged counterparts Click here to visit the original source of this post

No matter what level of ability your dog may be useful for, the best puppy service dogs training for active pets may bring a new lease on life to your canine friend. If you are to consider such an option, then take the time to approach the appropriate agency for more specific information and set up interviews to see where your pooch could fit in. It’s a great way to expand your pet’s horizons, and opens new door for socializing your dog and improving his senses and stimulating that natural instinct to be a helper of some kind.

Share your comments and feedback and please hit the “Like” button below.

Assistance Dogs in Schools for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Written by Senior Editor Peter Gehr

Assistance Dogs in Schools for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Assistance Dogs in Schools for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

There are guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired, but should there be an issue with assistance dogs in schools for children with cerebral palsy? The amazing bond that’s created between specialized dogs and their owners is more than just an emotional one. This connection between dog and owner in such a situation often results into a level of communication that goes beyond the norm, and it’s a beautiful thing and is often an inseparable relationship

Assistance Dogs in Schools for Children with Cerebral Palsy?

Eimear Ni Bhraonain of the Irish Independent writes:

The parents of a young boy with cerebral palsy are distraught after been told his assistance dog is not allowed to accompany him in school.

While thousands of children returned to their classrooms after the Christmas holidays yesterday, Luke Kelly-Melia, who is in sixth class at Knocktemple National School in Virginia, Co Cavan, stayed at home.

His parents, Pauline and Brendan, have decided to home-school him after they were told his golden retriever, Aidan, is not allowed on the school grounds until further notice.

Mum Pauline said Luke’s life has been “transformed” since last November, when he got the assistance dog, which helps his mobility. “He was bringing the dog to school and it gives him a lot more independence,” she said.

“We used to worry all the time about him falling backwards and hitting his head — but now when he wobbles, the dog stops and they steady themselves before continuing on again.”

However, the parents were informed in a letter just before the holidays the dog was not allowed on the premises while the board of management gave “consideration to the matter”.

The letter suggested the parents only made a verbal request for the dog to accompany Luke to school, and that they had only asked for this to happen from March this year.

It asked them for a written request to be considered by the board. The letter also asked that Luke’s family “cease the current practice of bringing the dog on to the school premises” until a final decision was made.

But Luke’s mother said she was “very surprised” that there was any issue about the dog attending the school.

“His teachers were very positive about it all when we were told he was getting the dog from Dogs for the Disabled in Cork in November,” she added.

“Luke has a classroom assistant but as he said himself, she doesn’t wear a harness, and can’t stop him from falling over.”

His mother added: “He misses his friends and we don’t want to keep him out of school. Everyone in the community has reacted so well to the dog. We bring him to the shops, to the butcher’s, we even practice steps with him in the library — people are fantastic.”

The principal of Knocktemple NS, Declan Cooney, said he had received a letter from the parents on the matter yesterday.

He added that their application would be “considered by the board of management”. Mr Cooney declined to comment further on the matter.

The Department of Education said it provided the “care needs of children with special educational needs who require support in the classroom through the special needs assistant scheme”.

A spokesperson said it was a “matter for the board of management of each school to develop a policy on whether guide dogs or assistance dogs were allowed in the school, taking account of the needs of all the children in the school”. Click here to visit the original source of this post

Would you allow assistance dogs in schools for children with cerebral palsy? I would vote an absolute yes. Of course, I realize that there may be issues in regards to the distraction a dog may have in a classroom full of children, but it would also be a tremendous learning experience for all the kids to learn to accept such needs for others. This could be a great experience for Luke’s classmates, and a valued exposure for the entire school.

I’d be interested in your feedback and comments.