Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by meee on November 8, 2012 at 9:43pm

I think an easily trainable dog is a good idea- beagles are definitely harder to train in general...what is scent imprinted? Does that mean they are partly trained already?

Permalink Reply by PaulaO on November 12, 2012 at 10:01am

Scent imprinted, I think, is a dog who already loves to sniff and can distinguish between smells. Like one who can tell which hand holds the treat.

Permalink Reply by meee on November 14, 2012 at 3:42pm

ok, thanks paula, our beagle was very much scent imprinted..

Permalink Reply by missrobbie on November 12, 2012 at 9:41am

1. Diabetic service dog

This is Clarice 2 1/2 yr old Chihuahua, a "puppy mill" rescued dog. She is a diabetic service dog. Clarice is detecting high blood sugar in this youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnh33W-8rbw

2. service dog

Quila (chihuahua) is a service dog for Teea who is in a wheel chair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5-V2ktnX4k&feature=related

3. Diabetic service dog

Sugar 5 year old diabetic service dog

http://www.dogheirs.com/tamara/posts/418-special-chihuahua-helps-di...

Permalink Reply by PaulaO on November 12, 2012 at 10:22am

I winced at the first one but really disliked the third.

One, these dogs are professionals. Seriousness is very important. When someone is out with their SD, they are representing all of us. So, dressing them up in costumes or cutesy crap? PLEASE please don't ever do that while the dog is in public where only a SD would be allowed. That person and the dog are never going to get respect. Smiles and "aw, how cute" yes. Respect, no. Same goes for carrying the dog in a bag or in a lap. Too many pets are carried this way (which is fine for them) and it will get the PWD stopped and harassed nearly every time.

Two, barking to alert is a huge mistake. Licking, pawing, tugging - these are much better. Barking should only be reserved for when they need to alert someone else that you have fallen or are unconscious. Barking is probably the main fear business owners and managers have of the presence of a service dog in their business. They can legally ask you to leave if the dog is disruptive. This was the saving grace of the third article. A non-yappy Chihuahua is a rare thing.

One thing to keep in mind when choosing a dog for a DAD is to consider your lifestyle. It seems like that would be the easy part but it often is overlooked. If you live or work in a hectic, crowded place (a warehouse, a department store), a small dog probably would not be a good idea. On the other hand, in an office situation, a small dog would be ideal. For a DAD, physical ability, other then scent discrimination, isn't as big a consideration. They only need to be big enough to alert you in whatever situation/location you happen to be in.

I knew a guy who was quadriplegic and his SD was a Chihuahua. His needs were so great that he never went anywhere alone but she was a great help to him at home. He was an artist and she was perfect to hand him dropped brushes or to pull the brush out of his hand and help him slip the next one in. It gave him independence where he wanted it the most.

I know a woman in my county who has a Hearing Alert dog, a Papillion. The dog does an excellent job but she and the dog are constantly harassed. Too many people and carrying their little dogs around like they are an accessory, not a pet. She doesn't carry hers, of course, but is still viewed the same. The only time she is not letting the dog walk beside her is in a crowded store. The dog rides on the bottom rack of the cart near her shins where it could reach out and paw her leg when needed.

Permalink Reply by meee on November 14, 2012 at 4:00pm

Thanks PaulaO,

I have thought about all of this- I wonder how you approach your job to see if they will allow a dog- to be honest I don't know if I could tend to a dog and teach all at the same time. I was wondering about the dog barking also- I think licking is the preferable way to alert for bg highs and lows unless you're asleep and yes- barking will get you kicked out of somewhere I'm sure.

Permalink Reply by PaulaO on November 14, 2012 at 4:12pm

Employment is covered under Title 1 of the ADA. As long as your employer is not a church or a federal agency, you have the right to have a Service Dog with you if you are a person with a disability as defined within the ADA. The ADA Amendment Act cleared up a lot of the mess the Supreme Court made in terms of definition.

Sec. 4 is the definition - http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/adaaa.cfm

employment discrimination on the basis of disability (includes a lot of links) - http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/disability.cfm

Title 1 of the ADA - http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/ada.cfm

Churches who do not rent space to a secular group are exempt from the ADA. Federal Agencies follow the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/statutes/rehab.cfm

Permalink Reply by PaulaO on November 14, 2012 at 4:14pm

Also, if you have to attend to the dog to the point you cannot do your job, then the dog is not trained enough and should not be there.

Permalink Reply by meee on November 17, 2012 at 2:31pm

Thank you Paula,

I don't know if I'm at the point where I need to have a dog at work with me- but I would like one for at home and for when I sleep to take that worry away. Even a well trained dog may be a distraction for me when teaching as my students can be super demanding. I would be training the dog myself, I have little experience in this so I'm not sure how well trained he or she would be.

Permalink Reply by meee on November 14, 2012 at 3:56pm

Thanks for posting these missrobbie,

they are so cute/precious- I was thinking of a chihuahua because they are small- I teach and I don't know if I would be allowed to have her at work or not though. I do know chihuahuas can bark a lot though and I don't know if I or my cats could tolerate that, but I have heard of chihuahua who are quieter.

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