K9 Navigators and Mike Sergeant References - Page 1

Does anyone have experience with K9 Navigators or their trainer Mike Sergeant??  I have been contacted and I am considering donating some of my dogs to this organization and I just want to make sure they are for real and will take good care of my dogs??  Any positive comments please post here and any negatives please PM or email to hardkandeek9@yahoo.com .. a link to the organizations web site is below.

http://k9navigators.com/

bubba, I am sorry to hear of your health problems and the need to place your dogs under such exigent circumstances. Hurried placements can be very problematic. Hoping your health at least lets you keep 1 or 2 of the dogs.

Re your request for in on K9 Navigators - I have sent you a pm. Folks not necessarily bad - just info from a private source of mine thus the PM rather than a board post.

Also I notice that you ave had a similiar post or two up with no response. Tells me it's either  we don't know anything or it's all bad or that you are talking to the wrong audience. I suspect the latter. His working experience is all within the guide dog world ( wh/ by the way is substantially different in some aspects from the service dog/ assistance dog world and training). You need to be talking to his former employers and co-workers. You need to talk to the blind community - check out nagdu nfb lists and boards.

I do not know Mike but looked at his website and did a quick google search. For me some questions and red flags were raised. First of all about his new venture K9 Navigators, there is nothing to indicate that this is other than a one man operation. Is this true? If it is how many dogs can one man house, feed and train at a time and how many does he already have. What is the source of his funding. Does he have 501 3c status? If he has grant support he should be willing to tell you what who and how much - in the non profit world that is typically public info. If not how is he supporting the program and paying for the upkeep of the dogs. The pictures on his site give me pause for several reasons especially given his extensive experience in the guide dog world. First one dog ( flop eared cross) is shown with a guiding harness and then a couple photos later with a very ill fitting service dog harness on it. Anyone can slap a harness on and take a picture - speaks nothing of the training or capability of the dog - he should know better and certainly should have better photos from all the guide dogs he trained over the years. Secondly he includes photos of bully breeds. A personal prejudice of mine and of the assistance dog industry - most bully dogs are not favored or felt suitable for assistance dog work for a variety of reasons including lacking the ability for intelligent disobedience so necessary in guide dogs. Thirdly the picture of the mutt with the guiding harness suggests that a rescue can be used for guide work - not a good idea AT ALL for a variety of reasons wh/ would requrie a whole different thread so makes me wonder where his head is.

Which also brings up the suitability of your dogs for the work he trains for and makes me wonder if he is asking sufficient questions of you. If you read my posts you will know I worked with a very hi drive Dutch bred sport dog who was also my service dog so I know of what I speak. Remy was very unusual in how clearheaded she was and how good at distinguishing between work, sport and off duty. Plus I brought decades of gsd experience to the table. Most people seeking a service dog do not do that in fact for many it is the first or 2nd dog they have had and any previous ones were pet of the week. As a generalization, most working line gsds today will NOT be suitable for assitance work having  much to much prey drive and lacking biddibility, willingness. The ones that are suitable for the most part need experienced handlers - not the norm in the service dog world. So the team can have problems on both ends.

Finally like I said did a quick google search I suggest you do the same.

Bubba, the dogs you are trying to place (the ones you had ads up for) are high-drive working dogs from mainly Czech and DDR bloodlines. High drive is NOT something the service dog world is looking for. Most medical assistance service dogs spend a lot of time lying at their owner's feet in offices, restaurants or at home.

I own a Hearing Ear service dog, so i am more familiar than most with the reqirements.

I know a lady who trains dogs for the blind here in Ontario. She breeds goldens, and those are her dogs of choice. I can put you in touch with her, if you wish.

Bubba, I am a certified Guide Dog for the Blind puppy sitter.  If you have any questions about guide dogs I am here to share my knowledge with you!

Vonrivera

Excellent post Tig!

I would rather put my dog down than to see it wind up in some places, some so called "training" kennels!!!  I had to do that once years and years ago.  I am sorry I had to do it, but I have never regretted it.  Someone wanted her, but I was able to save her from a pure living hell for the rest of her life.  

Can anything be more heartbreaking than having to try to find the right homes for dogs? Anyone who has been there, done that can feel for Bubba. I salute him for doing all he can to verify the prospective buyers. Good luck to you, sir.