Assistance dogs - Page 2

Oh, I believe you that it's possible, and I think it's fantastic.

It's just that how many times on this board do people say over & over again that people shouldn't have a GSD if they don't accept that they are Working dogs that need lots of exercise and activity to be at their best? Your dog doing both assistance AND sport is getting that exercise and activity.  But c'mon, generally speaking, how many people who want assistance dogs will be doing SchH with them? 

Myself - I'm firmly in the camp of those who believe, no, KNOW that GSDs can do it all, and if my in-training-for-SchH young dog passes his TDI tonight that will be one more example of walking the walk.

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Okay, I asked this question on the owner trained SD forum, and here's some more characteristics to look for:

Intuitive smarts: puppy avoided running in front of or under moving wheelchair. Another pup that turned out to be a very good SD figured out how to open the x-pen at the age of 7 weeks, and let herself and littermates out to explore! 

curiosity: comes over to check out new things, new people, even when they're not doing anything particulariy interesting.

neither shy nor aggressive with its littermates

agile: necessary to avoid people and obstacles when in tight spaces.

good recovery time from loud noises.

hey guys :) thanks for the info.

hi TIG, sorry i should have put more details in my original post the lady had arthritis so needs help with daily tasks. 

the husband has owned and trained GSDs and is very supportive and the main carer has been with her for 5 years and is privately employed also owns large a breed. and is willing to help with the day to day care

she is unable to walk and needs help dressing and undressing bathing etc hence the need for the other carers

im meeting her on Friday so i will have a better idea wether or not she has the physical capability

i haven't made my mind up and have a lot of reservations but i am willing to consider the possibility provided that there is a puppy that is suitable.

size wise the dam is 25 kg and petite so not  too heavy

had a long chat with the trainer at dogs for the dissabled and he gave me the rundown on how they choose pups and the questions to ask the lady, interesting stuff. 

I have a girlfriend that trains service dogs...I had one, trained GSD service dog, come into the rescue that I needed to rehome...she said that her insurance company would not let her train GSD's anymore because of the liability with them being "an aggressive breed" GO FIGURE!!!

So she can't even have a GSD on her grounds...this one was awesome, turned on and off lights, opened doors, fridge, cupboards, there wasn't much this huge beast couldn't do...he was awesome...

Good luck, and yes the lower working drive would be better, from what she told me and there are links to assistance evaluation. I am just not sure where I put them right now...

Steph

That insurance thing really infuriates me.
Then I calmed down and thought, welllll, the standard does say:   "...courage, fighting drive and hardness, are the outstanding characteristics of a purebred German Shepherd Dog."

So if they'd be going by that they do have a leg to stand on, I guess.  They could always quote that as a reason, although in the States I think they should go by the AKC standard, which says: "the ideal dog is a working animal with an incorruptible character."

What  a great succinct description!

My first Service Dog is a  czech female that was imported as a pup. 2 of her owners prior to me did Schutzhund training with her, and I have done some bite work with her as well. She has H.D. so is retired, but she is the absolute most wonderful dog! Where ever we go people would just fall in love with her. Every thing is fun and games with her. I never worried once about taking her anywhere with me. She has been in Wal-mart, Dr's offices, elevators, grocery stores, court rooms, and just about every where else. She loves everyone she meets! Bite work has not changed her personality or temperament at a;;/ She is always ready to go, ready to work at the drop of a hat. She tries to go with me every time I leave.

Yes, she is working bred and has drive, and she is still the best Service Dog in the world :-)!!!

Beth

Golfi - Retired SD Extrordinaire

my concern is that my pups will be too drivey   ...   is thre any other reason a GSD isn't suitable as an assistance dog other than the common misconception they are aggressive?

sorry i haven't taken the time to read all the posts but i did want to reply since we just got a wl pup we'll be training to be an assistance dog.  so far our pup - 3 mo tomorrow -  is showing great promise; he comes from a long line of sch dogs - over 70% of the dogs in his 7 gen ped gained sch 3 titles (including both his sire & dam) and only 3 or 4% have no sch titles - but we have no illusions that this means he'll fulfill all our needs - buying a pup for a specific purpose is always done "on a hope and a prayer"  

but in case you are interested here's our pup's linebreeding

* 5 - 4............................................. in 1989 WUSV SIEGER Fado von Karthago
* 5 - 4,5........................................... in V Gildo vom Körbelbach
* 5 - 4............................................. in V Fanta vom Haus Westfalen-Stolz
* 4 - 3............................................. in SG Berry vom neuen Lande

and a link to his ped http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/599899.html

most of the litter our pup came from were - imo - too drivey for our needs, but the pup the breeder chose for us has all the qualities we desire including a "AB-type" temperament rather than a straight up "A-type" temperament required for sch prospects. imo in all likelihood some or all your pups will be potentially too drivey, proving to be rather challenging to train as assistance dogs but that doesn't mean they can't be successful given the right environment, imprinting and training; but this would be the buyers gamble.  

there are a number of factors that can help 'tip the scales" or 'hedge the buyers bet' so to speak, so learning to discern innate qualities of individual pups and then picking the pup with the best potential - if there is such a pup - can make all the difference.

from what i've read the qualities to look for in a pup for a potential assistance dog are somewhat different for those of a sch, though there is some overlap. the pup you choose must clearly prefer people over other dogs i.e. must be people oriented (shows a willingness to bond & serve); must show the ability/willngness to retrieve (the ability to cooperate as well as an indicator of intelligence); and must not be easily scared & when startled must have a quick recovery time (stability & ability to think).  the rest is pretty much in the hands of the owner/trained, but these qualities provide an excellent foundation to build from.  

i don't believe there is any reason a gsd can't serve as an excellent assistance dog but that certainly doesn't mean every gsd will excel, or that one of the pups in your present litter will successfully grow up to be a great assistance dog.  like when buying any pup - this person is buy a potential assistance dog not an assistance dog - and that is plain and simple a gamble even if you were breeding strictly for the qualities she is needing.  truth is only time will tell.  this pup will not be fully able to work until at least 15 months old (training requires the first years of basic training - obedience & manners - followed by 3 month or so of specialized training); and ...

... she'll probably not know for sure if her pup has any real potential until the pup's around a year. 

anyway we see our pup as first and foremost a companion anything beyond that is "gravy" and if he/we are successful he will be an assistance dog but we will love him just the same no matter what happens and we fully recognize the gamble we took when we chose to buy a pup instead of buying a fully trained assistance dog - just be sure your buyer is clear on this point - jmo.     hth, susan