Finding Your Perfect Partner: How to Choose a Service Dog Candidate
Service dogs are incredible companions, transforming lives by providing invaluable assistance to people with disabilities. But with such a vital role, choosing the right canine partner is crucial. This article explores the key considerations for selecting a service dog candidate, ensuring a successful and fulfilling partnership for both you and your furry friend. Identifying Your Needs: The journey begins with a deep understanding of the specific tasks you require assistance with. Do you need help with mobility, balance, or retrieving objects? Will your service dog need to perform medical alerts or deep pressure therapy? Perhaps you need a dog trained for seizure response or other medical interventions. Be as specific as possible – having a clear understanding of your needs will guide your search for a dog with the appropriate temperament, trainability, and physical attributes. Breed and Size: While there's no single "perfect" service dog breed, some breeds excel in specific tasks. Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are popular choices due to their intelligence, trainability, and gentle nature. They can be ideal for tasks like retrieving objects or providing emotional support. German Shepherds or Poodles may be better suited for mobility assistance due to their size and strength. Consider your lifestyle and physical limitations when choosing a size – a large dog might be difficult to manage in tight spaces, like crowded public transportation. Picking the Perfect Pup: A Multi-Faceted Evaluation Temperament: Look for puppies with a friendly and eager temperament. Curiosity and a lack of fear in new situations are positive signs. They should be playful but not overly boisterous, showing signs of focus and a willingness to please. Avoid puppies that are easily startled, shy, or exhibit aggressive behaviors. Trainability: Observe how quickly the puppy grasps new concepts. This can be done through simple games or commands. A good candidate will be eager to learn and easily redirect if distracted. Present a toy and ask the puppy to "leave it." See how quickly they disengage and refocus on you. Health: Inquire about the puppy's health history and any potential genetic concerns within the breed. A healthy dog will be better equipped to handle the demands of service dog training and have a longer working life. Request to see documentation of health screenings from the breeder or veterinarian. Stability: Look for a puppy with a calm and even temperament. They should be able to recover quickly from startling experiences and not exhibit excessive barking or whining. Take the
Tips to Keep Your Service Dog Cool and Comfortable This Summer
Being a Service Dog is a tough job, one that often encompasses odd hours, long work weeks, technical or specialized knowledge and few breaks. A Service Dog's job doesn't end, though, just because it's hot. Use these tips to keep your Service Dog cool this summer, and still able to work comfortably.
Is the Anti-Vaccination Movement Spreading to Pets?
There has been a lot of talk about vaccinations lately. People are arguing whether or not they are necessary, questioning if they harm children and adults and what happens after you are vaccinated. It’s difficult because the facts are often treated as if they're up for debate. They are not. Vaccinations are overwhelmingly positive and extremely beneficial for our society. But how important is it to vaccinate your pet? Statistics are showing that not only are people refraining vaccinating themselves and their kids, they are choosing to keep their pets from being vaccinated as well. While it may be up to an individual whether or not they want to be vaccinated themselves, it is irresponsible when people don’t vaccinate their children and pets who cannot choose to make that decision for themselves. The Decline of Pet Vaccinations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled the anti-vaccination movement the top threat to global health. This may seem like an over-exaggeration, but it it’s really not. Modern medicine and the health of our society has depended upon vaccinations to mitigate diseases like measles and polio, and this is at risk when people avoid vaccinations. The decline of vaccinations doesn’t just concern humans — now some pet owners are choosing not to vaccinate their animals either. Healthy Paws Pet Insurance has reported that the number of pet vaccinations have gone down, and they worry that this threat will continue to affect animals. Even the American Veterinary Medical Association has made a statement saying that vaccines prevent millions of animal diseases and deaths every year. The annual report from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals surveyed over 4,600 pet owners. The study found that about a quarter of dogs, or 2.2 million, were not vaccinated as puppies. The people said that the most common reason they did not vaccinate their dog was that it "isn’t necessary." This couldn’t be further from the truth. Vaccinations have already prevented the spread of disease and now that is being put at risk. It may be difficult to convince people to get vaccinations, but we can start by encouraging people to vaccinate their pets. Vaccines & Pet Insurance Many people avoid vaccinations because of the cost. If your pet is not insured, it can become very expensive according to MoneyPug, a site used to compare pet insurance. If you have pet insurance, you may be more inclined to visit the vet which
Six Reasons Why CBD Can Help Dogs
What is CBD? CBD is short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound from the cannabis plant. It's a naturally occurring substance that's used in products like oils and edibles to impart a feeling of relaxation and calm. Unlike its cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) it is not psychoactive. In other words, CBD can not get you high. Despite the initial skepticism of some people. beneficial evidence for CBD is growing. While you might have already heard about the benefits of CBD in humans, you may not realize that CBD can also be used for your dogs. Of course, please consult your veterinarian before administering any supplements or medications to your dog. Anxiety and stress relief Animals suffer from anxiety and stress, just like humans do. In fact, over the past 25 years, veterinary behaviorists have learned more about the biological basis of dog behavior and have prescribed drugs to help alleviate anxiousness, aggressiveness, clinginess or obsessive, accident-prone, traumatized, and anti-social behaviors in dogs. CBD represents a safer alternative, and it is more accessible as well. Anti-cancer properties Cancer is a major threat for both humans and animals. Most of the time treatment is only temporary. While evidence is emerging that CBD may have some anti-tumor properties, it can also help with the negative effects of the treatments used for cancer. Therefore, if your pet is diagnosed with cancer, CBD can be used for pain, nausea, and similar symptoms. Pain relief Many people know that CBD can be used for pain relief. The same thing applies to dogs. If your dog is in pain, CBD can help relieve it. It works even better for certain conditions such as joint pain, tumors and hip dysplasia. More than that, CBD does not come with the side effects of traditional medication. Skin conditions Dogs are also affected from various skin conditions. In fact, almost all dogs experience something like this during their life. There are various things that could affect your pet, from infections, bugs, eczema, and so on. CBD oil can impact the endocannabinoid system directly, helping to reduce the discomfort right at the source. You can purchase CBD oil and apply it topically. Can improve the well being of your dog Perhaps your dog suffers from discomfort related to injury or aging. As a result, your dog may naturally become less active and interested in activities. If you have a Service Dog, that pain could impact their ability to perform task or work related to your disability. If