(no subject)
So, as you all know, Dusty washed out of training as a service dog.
He's a great dog, but not great for me. For the past few months he's been living with one of my best friends. He loves her and her dogs, and she loves him so much that she's decided to keep him, with a name change. Dusty is now known as Shady and he lives with his best friend, a golden retriever named Lex, a papillon service dog in training named Louie and one of the best service dogs I know, a golden retriever named Bradley.
His new mom is teaching him all about Frisbees at the moment and hopes that he will enjoy disc dog competition, agility and maybe even some herding dog trials.
I cast my net far and wide searching for a suitable dog for service work and I found a dog named Cooper who was already in training with a service dog school. Cooper and I were a great match. Cooper was big, strong, and goofy. He loved to cuddle and snuggle and he was way ahead of the curve in his training. Best of all he got along well with Gypsy. I traveled out to work with him three times, but after my third team training with him, Cooper did the unthinkable and tried to kill another dog.
Cooper was immediately removed from the program and he is being placed in a pet home with full disclosure. I am heartbroken and devastated all over again.
Once again I must embark on a search for a good service dog candidate. This time I'm doing what I wanted to do in the first place. I am canvasing shelters looking for a dog that's between 18 months and 4 years old, male and over 75 lbs. I truly want to find a pit bull or other bully breed or mix. I don't have the time it takes to raise a puppy (about two years from purchase to full service dog) because Gypsy simply can't work a full day right now. It is clear to me that she loves her job, and loves to work for me, but she is struggling on my long days.
Most important for me as I move forward is that this 'new dog' whoever he may be gets along with Gypsy. She has a strong preference for other service dogs. It seems like the friends she has that she doesn't snark with are all service dogs. Her best friend, Bradley (yes the same Bradley that Dusty now lives with) doesn't really care to play with other dogs. He could take or leave that type of play. Bradley really likes to play fetch. Gypsy and Bradley can play fetch side by side for hours, or just hang out together, exploring, sharing space or sleeping on each other.
I want that type of relationship for Gypsy with 'new dog.' Maybe it's asking for too much.
I've been on this journey to a 'new dog' for two years now. I've evaluated more than thirty dogs. Several of which have come into my home for a brief time. I like to think that I've helped all the dogs my life has touched, if only to provide them some much needed training or medical care.
I'm beginning to feel that maybe this won't happen. Maybe I won't find the right dog and I'll be stuck where I was pre-Gypsy, locked in my room, in my house, unable to go to school or work. I keep having to remind myself that the right dog is out there, and that this journey to 'new dog' has taught me so much.
I plan to try to keep this journal updated about my search and training of 'new dog.' Is that something y'all are interested in hearing about? Do you think I should change the name of the journal as Dusty is no longer my dog?
He's a great dog, but not great for me. For the past few months he's been living with one of my best friends. He loves her and her dogs, and she loves him so much that she's decided to keep him, with a name change. Dusty is now known as Shady and he lives with his best friend, a golden retriever named Lex, a papillon service dog in training named Louie and one of the best service dogs I know, a golden retriever named Bradley.
His new mom is teaching him all about Frisbees at the moment and hopes that he will enjoy disc dog competition, agility and maybe even some herding dog trials.
I cast my net far and wide searching for a suitable dog for service work and I found a dog named Cooper who was already in training with a service dog school. Cooper and I were a great match. Cooper was big, strong, and goofy. He loved to cuddle and snuggle and he was way ahead of the curve in his training. Best of all he got along well with Gypsy. I traveled out to work with him three times, but after my third team training with him, Cooper did the unthinkable and tried to kill another dog.
Cooper was immediately removed from the program and he is being placed in a pet home with full disclosure. I am heartbroken and devastated all over again.
Once again I must embark on a search for a good service dog candidate. This time I'm doing what I wanted to do in the first place. I am canvasing shelters looking for a dog that's between 18 months and 4 years old, male and over 75 lbs. I truly want to find a pit bull or other bully breed or mix. I don't have the time it takes to raise a puppy (about two years from purchase to full service dog) because Gypsy simply can't work a full day right now. It is clear to me that she loves her job, and loves to work for me, but she is struggling on my long days.
Most important for me as I move forward is that this 'new dog' whoever he may be gets along with Gypsy. She has a strong preference for other service dogs. It seems like the friends she has that she doesn't snark with are all service dogs. Her best friend, Bradley (yes the same Bradley that Dusty now lives with) doesn't really care to play with other dogs. He could take or leave that type of play. Bradley really likes to play fetch. Gypsy and Bradley can play fetch side by side for hours, or just hang out together, exploring, sharing space or sleeping on each other.
I want that type of relationship for Gypsy with 'new dog.' Maybe it's asking for too much.
I've been on this journey to a 'new dog' for two years now. I've evaluated more than thirty dogs. Several of which have come into my home for a brief time. I like to think that I've helped all the dogs my life has touched, if only to provide them some much needed training or medical care.
I'm beginning to feel that maybe this won't happen. Maybe I won't find the right dog and I'll be stuck where I was pre-Gypsy, locked in my room, in my house, unable to go to school or work. I keep having to remind myself that the right dog is out there, and that this journey to 'new dog' has taught me so much.
I plan to try to keep this journal updated about my search and training of 'new dog.' Is that something y'all are interested in hearing about? Do you think I should change the name of the journal as Dusty is no longer my dog?