Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I picked a name for my next assistance dog some time ago: Worthy. Through some problems that arose, I decided to get a different breed, and I contacted A New Leash on Life here in my area and told the director of my decision. We talked a little, and realized she had a dog I needed to meet.

We met, and it was love at first sight. Not just love, but practical answers to my concerns, too. The result is that now I have a 10 1/2 month old male Standard Poodle! He's black, he was neutered at 6 months of age, and he was puppy-raised for this work. He is a dream dog.

I will be training with him, but he has already achieved the hard parts. I will be learning the details of grooming care, too! He is clipped short now, and will be kept in a short, working-type clip. I have combed my dogs daily for years, and done toenails weekly. There will be less combing to him, but there will be ear care and trips to the clipper-person!

You guys want to talk about this journey here on the message board as I go on it?
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Definately keep us updated on the progress of Worthy's career and new life! A STD poodle huh? I actually have to say I'd never pictured you with such a breed, but it's a good fit. I actually love almost every aspect of the STDs- I just prefer my rascals right now.

Congrats to you and Worthy for finding each other. It will be an incredible and wonderful adventure you two are on. Certainly share th experience with the rest of us. I've only dealt with a few service dogs and I find the process fascinating and wonderful.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Kathy congrats on your new assistance dog. You have to be absolutely thrilled! Growing up as a kid I had an aunt that bred and showed Miniature Poodles. We always had one and I really loved the breed. Knowing and remembering them as I do, I have no doubt that Worthy will live up to the name you have chosen. Be sure to keep us updated. Yes!! We want to hear all about the progress being made!
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Bob

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

Okay, let's see what I can tell you about our experience so far. I wanted to take Worthy to my own veterinarian and have him a checkup. Not surprisingly, Dr. Nida found some infection in the ears. I asked him about ear care, and will learn from the groomer on Monday, too. The hairs need to be pulled out of the ears. And right now my darling boy needs some drops and a recheck in a couple of weeks.

He behaved well at the veterinarian's office--and in the car on the way to and from--including for a blood draw. He gets heartworm medication the 18th, but Dr. Nida said we can wait awhile on starting the K-9 Advantix, because they're just not seeing any of those bugs yet. If I take him to any dog classes or such, of course I will use it.

I may not take him to dog classes, though, because he has had plenty of experience with other dogs already and is just fine. In fact, at the vet's office a dog was gr-rrring at him in the lobby on the way out, and Worthy was completely unconcerned. Good to see that!

I did the second day of "Hold It"--very short, very positive, done daily--and it went fine. He's not showing much retrieving yet, but I see it peeking out! I also did Sit-Stay, and Down-Stay today. And he was good walking next to my walker to the veterinarian's office--hooray!

I am so glad for all the years of Belgian Tervuren, because they helped me in so many ways prepare for Worthy. Interestingly, the body structure is similar. I didn't realize that until I read the Poodle standard. And of course with a short clip, he looks totally different from a Terv! He weighs 48 pounds, which is right in range for a Terv. And the structure is square, about as tall as long. The head is elegant.

I want to learn more about Poodles, especially about working ones. So, that will keep me happy, too!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Thanks for the progress report! Yes, Poodles can be prone to ear infections and I can remember my mother having to learn from aunt about pulling hair from the ears. I've been trying to get a crash course in ear care myself for one of my Shiba Inu's.

I think it's great that he gets along so well with other dogs but I can remember our own Poodles getting along well with the neighbor dogs. You're going to love working with a Poodle and also learning all about them. They are not quite the foofoo dogs that people make them out to be... rather they are a quite sturdy breed. We always kept our Poodles in a short clip or even a puppy clip.
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Bob

If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

>>Thanks for the progress report! Yes, Poodles can be prone to ear infections and I can remember my mother having to learn from aunt about pulling hair from the ears. I've been trying to get a crash course in ear care myself for one of my Shiba Inu's.
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>>I think it's great that he gets along so well with other dogs but I can remember our own Poodles getting along well with the neighbor dogs. You're going to love working with a Poodle and also learning all about them. They are not quite the foofoo dogs that people make them out to be... rather they are a quite sturdy breed. We always kept our Poodles in a short clip or even a puppy clip.
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>>Bob
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>>If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.

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I don't think I would ever have learned as much about dogs if I had not had all those years of other breeds. Poodles are so sensible! They seem so very suitable for human companionship. I wouldn't have had to learn so much. And that would have made me miss out. So, it's all good!

I sprayed him again this morning with Alpha Keri bath oil, 1/2 cup to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Then I rubbed it in. At first he was fussy when I sprayed, but then he got the idea and liked it. That should handle the dry skin that has been itching him. It rained for about 48 hours, too, so everytime he went out to potty we dried him off with a towel when he came back in. That can add to drying, so that's why I sprayed him with the oil again just a day later.

We have given him access to the sofa, which he loves. We have also given him access to the bed. It's high because of my disability, so he needs to use the dog ramp--he doesn't necessarily think so! So I watch carefully and if he makes the jump without the ramp, I drop everything and go in there and show him with a few more repetitions. He's doing great.

Hubby is home today but will be gone tomorrow, and I'm not at all sure how I'll get the drops into his ears. Wonder if there's anyone I could ask to hold him?! What would be best is if I can hold him and persuade him. I am going to have to pull hair out of his ears once I learn how, so that is important. My goal is to work through this so that his ears stay healthy and I keep the hairs removed regularly--not having it all done at once by the groomer.

His retrieving showed itself a bit more this morning--hooray! Training methods are basically positive, but I did spray Bitter Apple on some cardboard and plastic around the bottom of my filing cabinet that he started to chew. That's not totally positive, but I consider it a GREAT method. And I put chew toys right next to it to give him a good choice. It seems to have worked fine.

I'm going to let him rest a bit from all the morning stuff (including a meal) before I do the short little Hold It/Give session. He's on the sofa, snoozing. I'm sore these days, so I'm motivated to train him!

A Poodle! I can't get over it!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Definately a different breed than you are used to, but as you said oh so sensible and good for what you are asking of Worthy.

It's too bad he has an ear infection already, but you'll clear that up fast enough and try to prevent them in the future. If you do get the hang of him at least tolerating the ear cleaning/ hair pulling I think you have another article to write because it's not an easy task. Granted when I dealt with it I was much younger and less experienced so it jsut was a struggle no matter what.

Have fun working and keep up th progress reports. They are great to read.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

He is now accepting me putting in the ear drops by my lonesome--hooray! The groomer was sick yesterday and couldn't make it, but they're going to try again on Thursday. Meanwhile the director/trainer did come, and we got the paperwork done. It's a wonderful program. A New Least on Life. Worthy ADORES her! That is sure a good sign!

I put a leash on Worthy yesterday afternoon for an hour or two in the house, and that was great training. I also had it on and took him out with me to move the garbage bin to the street. That was a real trick with a walker! So you know he was a good dog on leash!

I also took him out on the porch with me on leash this morning when I went to get the paper and put a letter out to mail. He didn't pick up the paper for me, but that will come. He did practice waiting INSIDE with the front door open, and did well. Remember--he was on leash!

I found out that Poodles are very high on the list of dogs that get gastric torsion. So, that does it, I'm changing him to Bil Jac frozen dog food right now. I was very pleased to see his stools reduce way down and get firmer immediately!

The Bil Jac frozen has moisture in it, so the dog doesn't eat dry food and then drink water and have that puff up inside. It makes it, I feel, safer as a precaution against torsion. Dogs love it, too. I didn't feed it to the dog who stayed with me for 5-6 weeks on loan, but otherwise I have fed it to all my dogs since 1984.

I will also continue to feed him three times a day. That is one of the most dangerous factors for gastric torsion: feeding just one large meal per day. Most veterinarians now recommend feeding dogs twice a day. But assistance dogs sometimes are fed only once a day. Happily, that isn't necessary with my lifestyle for Worthy.

Today may be exciting--we'll see!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

Congratulations on your new therapy dog. I'm sure Worthy will be a wonderful addition to your pack. . . Looking forward to hearing stories about him. (Pictures too!)

>>Congratulations on your new therapy dog. I'm sure Worthy will be a wonderful addition to your pack. . . Looking forward to hearing stories about him. (Pictures too!)

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Thank you! He's not a therapy dog, though. Worthy is an assistance dog in training, to aid me with disability needs. Very special job, very special dog!

Yesterday and today he showed progress on the Take It/Hold It/Give training, and I was absolutely thrilled. He has instinct to retrieve, but it needs to be solid, and this is the way to achieve that. It's gentle and short, and done every day. I'm really thrilled!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47