How To Choose A Puppy For Service Dog

Wheather it's fourth dimension to expect for your first or next Service Canis familiaris, knowing how to choose a Service Domestic dog candidate is extremely important. What traits should you expect for? What'southward important? What doesn't matter? There is a sea of misinformation that a Service Dog handler must sort through when deciding to cull a Service Dog candidate. Cut through the chaos and acquire what what to look for while selecting a potential partner.

Imagine… every bit yous wade into the wriggling pile of puppies and kneel in the center, it occurs to you that one of these tiny balls of fur is going to exist your friend, your partner, your focus, your pride, your companion, your joy and your worker. Not only will this puppy be all of the higher up, it's going to be the 1, the one meant for you, the one your soul already knows.

Musing over these thoughts as y'all let the puppies to swarm over you, you lot idly option 1 up and ask it, "Are y'all the i?"

Laughing as the puppy bites your finger, y'all get together the soft, fatty critter into your arms, breathe in the intoxicating aroma of sweet puppy breath and day dream near all of the possibilities. The puppy wriggles for a bit in protest at being restrained simply quickly quiets downward, snugs its head against your abdomen and falls asleep. While you know that the Service Dog selection procedure is far from over, something in your heart says that this puppy is the right one.

The Problem

The scenario laid out above is one that nearly every "dog person" is familiar with. Almost every unmarried one of u.s. has had a dog that "picked u.s.a.." Sometimes, the domestic dog's option was a good i and sometimes, it wasn't. Therein is the inherent problem, though. When the dog is allowed to choose his handler, the results are left in chance's hands.

When y'all cull a Service Canis familiaris candidate exit every bit lilliputian to chance as possible. Fifty-fifty dogs who have been selected from an all-encompassing line of well-bred Service Dogs, been trained and socialized to the max and accept undergone extensive medical testing to ensure soundness for work don't e'er brand it to the completion of Service Dog training.

Being a Service Canis familiaris is super hard work and very, very, very few dogs are suitable. Maximize your chances of Picking a Service Dog Puppy success by carefully considering your needs and desires, then working to find the perfect Service Dog candidate. Don't let a puppy choice y'all until you've narrowed it downwards to "almost no take chances of failure."

The simple fact of the matter is that nosotros, as the 2 legged-members of a Service Domestic dog team, are much more intelligent than our four-legged partners. The puppy that chooses yous and tugs at your heartstrings may or may not be the proper puppy for your goals, needs, wants and disability. You, equally the human half of the team, must carefully consider several factors in order to choose a potential partner that has the most likely risk of not merely succeeding as your canine lifeline and Service Dog, but of also enjoying every single step along the way. Retrieve, the destination is meaningless without the journeying.

The Solution

The solution, unfortunately, is not an easy or quick ane. Picking a Service Dog candidate involves careful research, a lot of fourth dimension and in-depth (and, at times, brutally honest) consideration of your goals, wants, needs and desires. Settle in, though, and hang on tight. Nosotros're in for a whirl-wind trip through the confusing world of Service Dog pick. The following ten points (and a bonus) will allow you to carefully weigh your options and choose a candidate that'southward perfectly suited for you.

Prequel: Picking a Service Canis familiaris Breed

Picking the breed or mix of your Service Dog is a highly personal conclusion. The very beginning identify to brainstorm is with your partner's size. Do you need a large, sturdy dog suitable for brace and mobility support, or will a mid-sized dog be suitable? Do you need a modest breed that's easy to transport and care for due to frequent hospitalizations or travel? Do you need an agile breed that's compact?

Once you've selected a size, consider the parts of your potential partner that you tin can NEVER change, like training needs and activity level. If you do not like long hair, and then yous will not enjoy having to groom a long haired dog or having to pay to accept him groomed. Do not select a breed known for traits you merely can't see yourself ever learning to honey.

Finally, consider the necessary traits mutual to all successful Service Dogs – calm demeanor, solid handler focus, friendly and without suspicion, aggression or timidity, highly trainable yet capable of doing the same job 24-hour interval in and day out without getting bored and inherently driven to seek out and perform work.

Mentally (or really write down) a Venn diagram of sorts with the three realms of breed selection – size, unchangeable attributes, and temperament, and utilize a breed profile site to start slotting potential breeds into place in the diagram. When you finally go far at a brood (or two or three) that fits perfectly in the centre of the diagram, you lot're set to motility on.

Feel free to review our breed profiles of some common Service Dog breeds. We're adding more all the time, and then if the breed y'all're interested in isn't showcased all the same, don't automatically skip over it!

1) Where are you getting your puppy from?

First and foremost, you lot must consider the ultimate source of your puppy. Volition your partner be a rescue or come from a breeder? There are huge pros and cons to each, but that'southward a topic for some other day. Due to the sheer number of breeders and rescues bachelor, this kickoff item of contemplation can seem overwhelming. Have a deep breath and inquire yourself the following questions:

How long has this breeder been producing this brood or how long as this rescue been in service?

A breeder who has been working with Labradors for 35 years has much more than feel than one who has only been breeding for 2 years. While a new breeder or rescue shouldn't automatically be excluded, just ensure you're actress discriminating. Cognition comes from a variety of sources and can be amassed quickly merely experience comes only with fourth dimension and practice. [/toggle]

Does this source take render clients?

It'due south unremarkably said that word of oral fissure references are the best form of advertizing. The best indicator of success, though, lies with return customers. Anyone can have a positive experience once. Information technology'due south those who come up back fourth dimension and time over again, though, that offering the all-time indication of adept service. If a breeder's or rescue's proper noun keeps popping upward among your friends or contacts in the Service Canis familiaris world, it's a skilful rule of pollex to at to the lowest degree add them to your list so that you can do some more research on the side.

Many people say that you don't have to like a person in order to do business with them. In many cases, that's correct. When it comes to choosing your puppy's source, though, cipher could be farther from the truth. You lot are, in essence, picking your puppy'south godparent — choose a Service Dog candidate carefully! This is the person who has the most experience with your puppy's line, genetics and potential. You need and want them to be an invaluable resources, much similar a mentor, and non a person that y'all dread communicating with, like your in-laws.

Practice you concur with the source'southward philosophy

The best potential Service Dog puppies come from sources who socialize extensively and expose the puppies to a wide range of experiences long before they ever go home. Does your source utilise early learning or bio-conditioning with their puppies? Practice you lot concord with the source's beliefs on training, raising and loving dogs?

2) Who are the puppy's parents?

We've all heard the quote, "The apple doesn't autumn far from the tree." When it comes to puppies, this quote rings even truer. Quite simply, you cannot create what you do non have to begin with. You cannot create something from zilch. If there's something about the parents that yous just don't like, don't assume that your puppy won't inherit that characteristic. While the style you raise your puppy has much to do with how she or he turns out, your puppy's parents take fifty-fifty more than influence. Insist on meeting at least the puppy'southward mother. If you wouldn't want to own her yourself, don't put a deposit on one of her puppies.

3) What are the puppy'due south genetics?

Make certain that your puppy's parents have been tested for all genetic diseases common in your brood of choice. You have too much at stake with your new team member to pour thousands of hours of training, beloved and socialization into him or her just to loose your friend to a genetic mismatch.

4) Know the medical history of the puppy parent'south joints

There'south been a lot of debate apropos hip and elbow dysplasia and whether the diseases are genetic or not. Regardless, if your puppy's parents have good hips and elbows, it's likely that your puppy will, as well. Developed dogs tin't have their hips or elbows certified until they are two years of age. Common hip and elbow certification and registry agencies include the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and PennHip. If a puppy'southward parents take their hips certified, that data will be visible on the puppy's pedigree and registration certificate. Additionally, the breeder will accept certificates to show you for each parent.

If you're picking a Service Dog candidate from a rescue, it'southward all but impossible to be certain of the puppy'south genetics or joint health. It'south a huge risk, only if yous wait for basic structural soundness in mom and babies and have preliminary 10-rays done early to check joint health, you'll take a better gamble of success.

five.) Evaluate the functioning of the parents

The phrase "history repeats itself" rings true in the functioning canis familiaris, working canis familiaris and Service Dog world. If you desire a peak-notch Service Dog, you need to select a puppy from parents who are known for producing summit-notch Service Dogs. While many excellent Service Dogs have come from parents who have never produced Service Dogs and from unproven lines, yous exponentially increment your squad's chances of success by carefully examining your potential puppy'southward performance history.

Await for repeat Service Dog status, multiple therapy dogs and a wide range of operation indicators, like basic obedience certifications (CGC or C.L.A.S.S.), temperament testing (ATTS), sports titles (like obedience, rally or agility) and other signs that the line produces dogs with stable temperaments and that are able to succeed in a wide range of piece of work, particularly the type of piece of work that requires handler focus, loftier degrees of specialized skill or training and a calm, stable demeanor.

6) Evaluate the puppy's temperament

Temperament is, quite simply, your puppy'southward nature. It'southward the demeanor your puppy was born with and the tendencies your puppy will take the residual of his or her life. The all-time tip to retrieve as it relates to temperament testing is "What y'all see is what y'all get." Your puppy will not "grow out of" anything you see at an early age, including, but not limited to, assailment, timidity, apathy, over-stimulation or dominance.

Familiarize yourself with some basic puppy temperament tests and and so select ane or two to utilise with candidates. The test should mensurate temperament, drives and potential and give yous a base thought of what you're looking at. They're not ever right, but they provide a starting point. Yous desire to choose a Service Dog candidate who is firmly in the centre of the route — not dominant, but not submissive. Not cocky to the indicate of stupidity but not cautious and wary almost everything. Non clingy but not ignoring y'all.

7.) Evaluate the puppy's attitude

The puppy'south mental attitude tin be most closely equated with his/her personality. Some puppies are extremely happy and others stoic. Some puppies are goofy and others poised. A puppy'due south temperament may be perfect for your needs only his/her attitude and approach to life may non mesh with yours. Brand sure that you spend some time with your puppy earlier you take him/her abode then that you can ensure you like your puppy'due south personality.

8) What kind of a drive does this puppy take?

A puppy'due south drives motivate a puppy to work. Some puppies have an extremely strong play drive; others have a strong prey or food drive. Earlier testing a puppy's drive, you must starting time determine what type of training you use most oftentimes. Many Service Dog handlers favor clicker grooming and positive reinforcement (if you don't know why positive reinforcement is the best route to go when training a Service Dog, then read this article past the American Veterinary Order of Animal Beliefs), and then high food drive and/or play drive is important.

When you choose a Service Domestic dog candidate, you want to look for a puppy who's not insanely driven to chase the toys or who seems positively desperate to get the food no affair what. Those puppies can have a difficult time focusing while learning and working if rewards are present. They're also a nightmare to distraction proof! To the contrary, though, you don't want an aloof puppy without interest. Never assume that you can "build" a puppy'south drive — s/he either has information technology or they don't.

Select the puppy who happily chases a brawl and and follows a nutrient lure without a frantic, agitated air. Yous want the puppy who doesn't quit, only not the puppy who volition push past the point of exhaustion to win.

9) What is the health of the puppy?

A healthy dog starts out as a healthy puppy. E'er remember that a sound structure is built on a sound foundation. If your puppy starts out unhealthy, you can oftentimes fix it. You cannot, yet, fix the foundational damage that might have been washed. A healthy puppy is active, has bright eyes costless of discharge and has a soft, shiny glaze free from bald patches, scabs, scales, dandruff or sores. Make sure that the entire litter looks salubrious and then spend extra time examining the puppies y'all are considering bringing home.

10) What does your gut say?

Last just not least, don't forget to consider your gut feeling. If something is right, information technology'll experience right. Fifty-fifty if there's not an instant spark or connection, you'll feel to your core if you're making a good selection. If something in you says that your pick isn't quite right, listen to it!

When you've washed all the inquiry, carefully weighed all of your options, checked the health and personality of the parents and other puppies and you lot're not quite sure what to do next, mind to your centre. Cull a Service Domestic dog candidate that resonates with you the deepest and commencement the long, arduous journey to that of success with the best potential Service Dog y'all could have picked by your side.