Service Dogs - Page 3

Yes GSD Newbie;  that all sounds great.  Sounds like  you have trained him well and exactly to your needs.  However, if you have read about peoples dogs protecting them if needed or when asked to;  many have failed.  My past GSD boy made some of his own rules, some good and some were  not good.  I cannot let this happen again as he COULD have made a dangerous mistake that could have cost him and gotten both of us into trouble.  So my next boy will be trained for my needs and living in a pretty busy area of So. CA. I do feel the need for personal protection, however, trained to perfection, without any room for error or question.

I too have had people run up to me while with him (120 lbs) and want to grab or pet or just come up and do it without asking.  Bad idea.  As long as I introduced him formally to people he was a good boy, without that he was a stinker and god forbid anyone come even remotely close to my van.  BUT, that part of his natural protection (the part he taught himself) I liked.  Always felt safe while out with him.  So I am saying I always felt the need to be on guard also for his protection and I am sure he felt that. 

So my next boy will be trained to perfection; no room for any question or error.  I think your idea of taking to fire dept/police station a couple of visits is the right thing to do also, as well as schools, shopping and the normal Wal Mart trips, Home Depot, Lowe's etc.  Not that I go to these with him all the time but I find good places for noise, people and just plain socialization.   All shapes and sizes of people along with nationalities; fork lifts and slick floors.  I don't want the dog to have any room to make a mistake.  Want him to love kids, cats and other dogs.  Seems like tall orders for me right now but cannot afford another dog that does not like kids or most people.  Want a real social boy.


Happy New Year to you all.  Thank you for all the valuable insight and information.  Nan 

PS:  I am not a Golder or Lab person;  my next dog will be my 5th service dog;  2 Rottweilers; 1 GSD;  One serious  Samoyed bitch that would lay her life down for me and had natural protection instincts that were excellent for a non protection breed.  Loved her. 

I am a service dog owner. My dog is a Belgian Malinois. As per the ADA(American's with Dis. Act)  fed. guidelines, there is NO breed restriction on the dog used. Also, a place of business can't ask what the disability is OR as the person to make the dog perform any of the needed exercises. All the business can ask is "Do you need a service dog"? I take my Mal with me in a variety of places. I sometimes have an issue because I don't physically look like I have a disability. I have a Nero issue which is why I have the dog. Sometimes I will disclose things to people who ask why I have the dog. However, on the whole it's very annoying to constantly be asked why I have the dog with me. My dog always wears a service dog harness along with "Working Do Not Pet". You'd be amazed how many people still try to pet him! Anyway, if anyone has any questions I might be able to answer, please feel free. I think the public will start to see more service dogs especially now that they are being widely used for PTSD.

Should your service dog be involved in a bite incident, you best be sure the dog and you can prove legit service dog status as per ADA guidelines and that the dog acted acordingly or your dog will get crucified. I guess I would rather protect my dog than have him trained to protect me and have an example be made of him when society already gives people without visual medical conditions out in public with a service dog a hard time. I need my dog to really help me medically to live a full life and I would never put him in jepordy. I believe in tougher laws to protect my right to using a service dog so that anyone breaking it does not cause problems for those of us that really depend on having them with us. Some places have started it as a felony to fake a service dog and I hope it catches on as well as a certification process. For protection it is also not a worry because I practice defensive shooting and do have a carry permit. I will protect myself, my dog, and also defend my right to do so.