When puppies have other plans - Spot Magazine

Sometimes despite the best breeding, all the testing it the world, all the resources, and a loving dedicate raiser some puppies just aren't cut out to be service dogs. Spot Magazine featured the story of Lowell, a Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy who didn't make the cut in "When Puppies Have other Plans"

Whole Dog Journal discusses Canine Allergies

5 minutes to improve your understanding of allergies in dogs. Allergies are another common reason dogs are career changes from service dog work.

Free Audio Excerpt Exploring Shaping Available

 Recently, I stumbled across this audio excerpt from one of my favorite books on clicker training, Don't Shoot the Dog, by Karen Pryor. Since finding dog training books in any format other than print is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, I had to share! Never stop learning!
http://www.clickertraining.com/node/3596?source=mnl_01_1208

Meet Brandeis Sesame Street's SDIT

Change is good, but exhausting!

First, let me apologized for being away so long. Life in the brick and mortar world has been running on all cylinders with or without me! These last few months have brought my little pack change after change. Cammy, my roommate's guide dog, retired to Texas to live with her parents. By all accounts she is very happy in her retirement and has everyone wrapped around her paws. We, then, welcomed Blaise who was then a seven month old Golden retriever in to the house. He is now a year old and picking up his training like a fish to water! My roommate is working through Oregon Assistance Dogs to train Blaise to be her next guide, and right now he shows every sign of becoming a great partner for her. Next we welcomed Cash, a then 13 month old black Labrador who was already tipping the scales at 70lbs as a foster from Oregon Assistance Dogs. Cash came along in training very quickly, but he is a bit anxious and public work of a service dog proved to be too much for him, so he is being career changed. He is a very sweet, smart dog who was to go, go, go... Maybe he would do better with higher activity work. S&R, drug dog who knows. Next, we, my roommate and I, were asked to serve on Oregon Assistance Dog's Board.
Lastly, I decided to start grad school in Portland. I drive up and back one night a week for a three hour class. Tired yet? I sure am, but change is good... Gotta go to class now!