Selecting a Program

[Kirsten]

I think Nora may have posted some tips on checking out programs over in the "Service Dog Life" area.  There are a bunch of questions to ask a potential provider that can help you evaluate how good they are.

Ask to see their facilities.  Are they clean and well-maintained?  Do the dogs look healthy and happy?

Does the program offer or require you to come to their facility to train with their dog before doing the final placement?  A good program won't just hand you the dog and let you sink or swim on your own--they'll want to help you to succeed.

Watch some training sessions.  Do the dogs look like they've just won the World Series when they're praised?  Do they look fearful when corrected?  Good training means good motivation and measured correction.  A dog should never fear his trainer and he should be very happy in his work.

Watch some of their graduate teams in action.  Do the handlers appear to know what they are doing?  Do the dog and handler work together as a team?  Do they seem to be well-matched?

What will the program do if the first dog they give you doesn't work out?

What will happen to the dog at retirement?

Will they let you see the dog's complete medical history?  If not, be suspicious.  You need to know about any past health problems and that routine health care has been done on schedule.

Does the program representative sit down and discuss in depth with you your disability, your lifestyle, and specific needs so that they can choose a good match for you and add any additional training needed for your specific needs?

That's a start.  I'm sure others can add more.

[responsiblek9]

Training > *Selecting a Service Dog Candidate* is where i posted that little article on the picking a service dog program. maybe i should move it to service dog life?
 Hmmh
 Nora & crew

I think Nora may have posted some tips on checking out programs over in the "Service Dog Life" area.  There are a bunch of questions to ask a potential provider that can help you evaluate how good they are.

[Kirsten]

Hmmmm.  Maybe we need to put together something specifically aimed at folks wanting to select a good program as opposed to a candidate.  The *Selecting a Service Dog Candidate* board is a restricted board, by invitation only. 

Rather than moving it, I think we ought to wack something together in "service dog life."  I'll go poke around over there and see where it should go.  I'll move my post (with the tips in it) from this thread to one over there and we can just build on it there.

[hopesclan]

I'd be interested in hearing more about selecting a program.  My current SD is 3.5 years, and I'm paranoid and want to make sure that I have everything under control for when she retires.  I have my list of what I want, just having a hard time figuring out how to find the program that best fits my needs.  Also trying to figure out when I'm going to need to apply so that I have a ready dog at Miss Hopes retirement.

Thanks for any info you have.

Cera and Hope

[Kirsten]

April is hard at work combining several old articles (from various sources) on selecting a program or trainer into one.  When it is completed, it will be posted in a public area of the forum.  I don't envy her the job sorting out and organizing all those articles, but I certainly look forward to having such a handy document with all those good tips in one place.

Thanks, April!

[OneOfManySouls]

I'm still working on this. I keep getting distracted by life. My son has been sick the past several days and we're not sure why. The doctor can't even find what the problem is. He's fine in the morning and goes to school as usual. But by the time he comes home from school, he's sick to his stomache and throwing up.

Anyway, I'm still working on getting this document put together and stuff.

[Stefani]

I have/had an anxiety disorder related to school, "school refusal".  I would have horrible attacks before school, at school, and after school (most times not all in the same day).  Starting in 6th grade, I missed the 3rd nine weeks of school for several years, because being in school for the first part of the year drained me so badly, that I couldn't cope and missed school.  Mom called is "Febuitius" because that is when it started each year.  I suffered chest and stomach pains, throwing up, being tired ALL the time when I didn't even have mono.  Eventually I dropped out, because I couldn't cope anymore.  If I hadn't of dropped out, I probably would have had a break down (no, I'm not kidding).  If he is having these problems, when he is in school, maybe something is happening at school to cause anxiety?  I didn't get my diagnoses until years after I dropped out (my old therpist didn't tell my parents, nor myself...) but if I had, it could have been treated.  I guess I'm saying, if you can't find a physical reason behind this, maybe it isn't physical?

[Kirsten]

Could be environmental, an allergy maybe....

[OneOfManySouls]

If he is having these problems, when he is in school, maybe something is happening at school to cause anxiety?

He's fine while he's at school. It's on he way home after school that he starts complaining of an upset stomache and stuff. Then he gets home and pukes. He's even been taking 2 hour naps lately. The doctor isn't finding anything wrong with him. Not even allergies. I just don't get it. He's 6 years old and in Kindergarten. He absolutely loves school and cries when he has to miss a day of school.