[nagdu] Identifying dogs reaching a common ground

[Cindy Ray]

Dear Bridget,

There are a number of people, as you know, who train or have trained their own dogs on this list. I used to feel as you do about it, but I've seen some dogs who appeared to be well trained come out of the programs; I've seem some who did not. I've seen some who appeared to be well trained by trainers; I have seen a few who are not.

The people on this list don't take a random dog and train that dog. They carefully select a dog, or the parent of one at a breeder's. Probably the pups were mostly already born. Maybe some take older, but as I see it, the most take pups. Then they socialize them much as the puppy raisers do from the programs, and begin training them. If the dog's temperament appears to not be what they are looking for, they start over. I think some of these people train their dogs for a couple of years. I, like you, would not do this even though the thought intrigues me. 

I think the furror over dogs is related more to the fact there are so many services now covered. At one time only guides were covered. I believe there were problems then; I also believe they have escalated. The problems have escalated, in my opinion, because so many services claim to be covered. Some of them, upon further exploration, seem to be warranted. Others may not, and especially the so-called emotional support thing. Just about anyone could pick up a chihuahua and take it with them, claiming that they de-stress by petting the dog; therefore, the dog is providing a service. They aren't to do it now, but then there gets to be confusion about that and the PTSD Dogs. Those provide a service though because they help a person having an episode to ground again and sometimes to get out of the place causing stress. But a lot of the problem is there are so many service covered now that people slip under the wire, so to speak. I do believe, like you, that the time will come when we will all have to show documentation because of the continuing abuse, unless most of it is imagined rather than real.

Some of what I said my not be completely accurate, so if it is not, I apologize in advance to those who no more about training than do I.

CL

On Sep 4, 2013, at 11:17 PM, Bridget Walker <bridgetawalker13 at aol.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
> 
> I have some thoughts after following the threads. in my opinion A service dog should be trained by an actual program. Yes that's right I said it. It's not the harness or the vest that makes the dog it is the training. I do not know how anyone can pick a random dog, train it on their own without being a trainer and call it a service animal. Until someone informs me of how a dog that is not trained by an actual trainer gets identified as a service dog I'm sorry I personally can find a reason why there can be conflicts. 
> I fully believe the dogs the guide dog schools breed and train  are what make the dog. The early socialization and introductions the puppies get is crucial and it should all be done a specific way. With that I think this war over fake verses  legit service dogs is beating a dead horse.  I think there most definitely needs to be some kind of certification process for the dogs that are not trained from an actual program. If I could just train my pet as a guide dog is that really ok? I asked a while back who evaluates these dogs and I never got an answer. I don't think it can be just anyone who should make the call over what makes a good service dog  that is what  a trainer. Training school is for. 
> Ok a bit off topic there but really I think there is a reason we have training programs and ID cards. Do we need them by law? No, but maybe we just might at the rate everything is going. 
> There are people that take for granted a lot of opportunities including this. I would still like to maintain the ability to travel   with a service dog as a right not a privilege. 
> This is not designed. to say this goes to the fault of anyone specific because if we knew why there was such a conflict I am sure we would be acting on it.
> I leave it at that.
> 
> Bridget 
> 
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPad
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