Dog Owner Chat v2

[Dakonic]

Cardinal: Now that's an adorbs dog. I think I just automatically squee at dogs with eyebrows. Weirdest thing.

Hey guys, changing the topic here... Does anyone know anything about Service dogs, more specifically, Diabetic Alert Dogs (DADs?)

I've been needing one for a while but i can't find any organizations that provide for free, especially in or near my state (Wisconsin if you need to know for helping me to find organizations)

I have mailed 9 different organizations asking for help and have received no responses yet. i have also emailed three and not recieved responses yet.

Ones that i have looked at that do free dogs are Custom Canine Service Dogs which doesn't train any medical alert dogs (seizure not diabetic), Capable Canines of Wisconsin , which charges 8 - 25 thousand dollars! they will help you to fundraise, but still, i am from a low-income family. The one that I want to Apply for is 4 Paws for Ability, but my mom has issues with going to ohio for two weeks while she's pregnant. We're still talking about that one. You also have to fundraise 14,000 dollars with them to get the dog.

What I am asking is for help in researching organiations that will provide dogs for no cost to the applicant, or for grants that would help to pay for the dog. Even organiations that will provide for a minimal cost that would help.

Please pm me, i really need help in learning how to do this.

Have you considered looking to local trainers to see if there's one in your area who trains DADs? They might be cheaper then a larger organization and though you'd have to pay for the dog itself maybe they could give you a discount on training as a tax write off or for helping to promote them as a trainer.

DADs are a small portion of dogs with uncanny sensing abilities, then they have to have the right temperament to be a service dog and trained to hone their high scenting abilities. It's a fraction of a fraction which is why these dogs are so expensive and hard to find. Unfortunately while training helps, not just any trainer or any dog is gonna cut it. It's a specialized field that's in demand and promising to promote doesn't pay the trainer's bills.

The bad news is the chance you'll get a DAD for free or less than a few grand is very small. The training and vetting process takes time and time is money. Service dogs that are properly vetted out for good temperaments, trained by specialized trainers, and sometimes bred specifically for that special nose are going to be expensive. I hate to be a negative Nancy but there is some good news.

The good news is that some organizations do offer layaways and financial scale sliding. You just have to ask how their payment system works. I'm not sure about insurance coverage or if service dogs are partially covered by insurance, that you may have to look up. I may just be bitter about my insurance, but seeing how healthy insurance's job is to avoid paying for things I wouldn't count too much on health insurance. If you do decide to find a trainer and you have a dog with the scenting ability needed, do not just go out and find any old trainer. Call up a local or state service dog association and ask for recommendations for service dog trainers in your area with diabetic alert specialties.

(Take above with grain of salt. Most of my knowledge is on public program therapy dogs.)

Their ability is not uncanny by any means Pretty much any dog that can be motivated can be trained for the alert portion. Usually only Brachycephalic dogs are not recommended, it's the public access training that's the hard part. And to be pretty frank, I think it's silly that they ask for so much for these dogs sometimes. I understand a couple thousand, but lord, it only takes a few weeks to train them to alert. Public access training can take a few months though, but that's something ANY type of service dog needs. Took Dakota 6 months total, but he's not your typical dog that would be placed as a SD. Since he needs a very "on" and savvy handler due to previous fear issues. Though they have been easy to prevent and keep him at ease for me, even in crazy environments.


I struggled when trying to find an organization to get a "DAD" from as well. Ultimately I ended up not being able to, but I already had experience training my personal dog in nosework, so I did a bit of research and just trained him myself. Including all the public access stuff.

Here's a book I got (after the fact) that has some good info in it and might give you a place to start. I'd try contacting local positive trainers (this book is more clicker based) and seeing if any might be willing to help. As I know there are two local trainers here who are gaining interest in that field. (i'm in Northern California) I'm bad about reading dog chat sometimes, so you're always welcome to PM me too
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dog-a-d ... 922539&r=1

[Firefly_Dreamer]

Have you considered looking to local trainers to see if there's one in your area who trains DADs? They might be cheaper then a larger organization and though you'd have to pay for the dog itself maybe they could give you a discount on training as a tax write off or for helping to promote them as a trainer.

DADs are a small portion of dogs with uncanny sensing abilities, then they have to have the right temperament to be a service dog and trained to hone their high scenting abilities. It's a fraction of a fraction which is why these dogs are so expensive and hard to find. Unfortunately while training helps, not just any trainer or any dog is gonna cut it. It's a specialized field that's in demand and promising to promote doesn't pay the trainer's bills.

The bad news is the chance you'll get a DAD for free or less than a few grand is very small. The training and vetting process takes time and time is money. Service dogs that are properly vetted out for good temperaments, trained by specialized trainers, and sometimes bred specifically for that special nose are going to be expensive. I hate to be a negative Nancy but there is some good news.

The good news is that some organizations do offer layaways and financial scale sliding. You just have to ask how their payment system works. I'm not sure about insurance coverage or if service dogs are partially covered by insurance, that you may have to look up. I may just be bitter about my insurance, but seeing how healthy insurance's job is to avoid paying for things I wouldn't count too much on health insurance. If you do decide to find a trainer and you have a dog with the scenting ability needed, do not just go out and find any old trainer. Call up a local or state service dog association and ask for recommendations for service dog trainers in your area with diabetic alert specialties.

(Take above with grain of salt. Most of my knowledge is on public program therapy dogs.)[/quote]

Their ability is not uncanny by any means Pretty much any dog that can be motivated can be trained for the alert portion. Usually only Brachycephalic dogs are not recommended, it's the public access training that's the hard part. And to be pretty frank, I think it's silly that they ask for so much for these dogs sometimes. I understand a couple thousand, but lord, it only takes a few weeks to train them to alert. Public access training can take a few months though, but that's something ANY type of service dog needs. Took Dakota 6 months total, but he's not your typical dog that would be placed as a SD. Since he needs a very "on" and savvy handler due to previous fear issues. Though they have been easy to prevent and keep him at ease for me, even in crazy environments.


I struggled when trying to find an organization to get a "DAD" from as well. Ultimately I ended up not being able to, but I already had experience training my personal dog in nosework, so I did a bit of research and just trained him myself. Including all the public access stuff.

Here's a book I got (after the fact) that has some good info in it and might give you a place to start. I'd try contacting local positive trainers (this book is more clicker based) and seeing if any might be willing to help. As I know there are two local trainers here who are gaining interest in that field. (i'm in Northern California) I'm bad about reading dog chat sometimes, so you're always welcome to PM me too
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dog-a-d ... 922539&r=1[/quote]

Yes i have considered local trainers, and there are none relatively close to me, plus several local companies want me to provide my own dog and then wont certify them.

I would feel the most comfortable getting a dog from a company that is willing. I found a couple more free ones now, 5 to be exact, but their location ranges from california to virginia. I have found three companies in my state and the cost varies with them. I'm just getting a headache from all this, My parents are having me research and come up with the funds and all that, and its hard.

I called Associations such as te ASPCA for referrals but they werent in. Any other advice or pms would be appreciated.

[Joe Kerr]

Had a conversation with my friend
who owns Nix today.

Her - "I wouldn't own a Staffy. I
just couldn't handle the dog aggression."
Me - "But Nix has major dog aggression?"
Her - "Not really. She barks at other dogs,
but I wouldn't say she's aggressive. She's
just an alpha female."
Me - :|

Nix has, on multiple occasions, gone after
dogs. She has made contact with two, both
my dogs. She bit Lola's cheek and wouldn't
let go, and chomped down on Barnabas' neck,
again, not letting go. My friend had to pry
Nix's mouth open and I had to pull Barnabas'
neck out of her mouth.
After I got control of my dogs, she continued to
pursue them in an aggressive manner. That
was the last time I ever let her bring Nix
over to my house, and she still is in denial
about her dog. >.>

[BayloneRose]

Had a conversation with my friend
who owns Nix today.

Her - "I wouldn't own a Staffy. I
just couldn't handle the dog aggression."
Me - "But Nix has major dog aggression?"
Her - "Not really. She barks at other dogs,
but I wouldn't say she's aggressive. She's
just an alpha female."
Me -

Nix has, on multiple occasions, gone after
dogs. She has made contact with two, both
my dogs. She bit Lola's cheek and wouldn't
let go, and chomped down on Barnabas' neck,
again, not letting go. My friend had to pry
Nix's mouth open and I had to pull Barnabas'
neck out of her mouth.
After I got control of my dogs, she continued to
pursue them in an aggressive manner. That
was the last time I ever let her bring Nix
over to my house, and she still is in denial
about her dog. >.>

I hate it when people don't realize that their dogs are out of control. And then they say that staffys and pits are aggressive >n< any dog will be aggressive if you fail to socialize and train it properly.
My boyfriend's boarder collie is extremely protective and it comes out as aggression. She has bitten a few people, including me. I did do some training with her, against my bf's wishes because he said that I "hurt" his dog because she whined when she tried to bite me and I grabbed her ruff to prevent it. Then there are my dogs, one of which is a 150 lbs one year old male komondor, which is a naturally protective breed(they are bred as livestock guards to protect sheep from large predators). My komondor is an excellently behaved dog and although he growls and barks at strangers, he stops when I tell him it's ok and he has never done anything more than warning "displays" which is why we got him. And my BF thinks that he wants a shiba inu he can't even control his boarder collie there is no way he'd be able to handle such a stubbornly independent breed on his own. And I'll say it: He's lucky he's dating a dog person!

[Cardinal]

I'd probably be pretty angry if my bf grabbed my dog by the ruff so hard she whinned or yelped. Granted, if he deserved to be bitten for doing something to the dog he shouldn't.. then he deserves to be bitten If he doesn't deserve it then I failed as a dog owner for not protecting my dog.

Anyways, being 'protective' to the point a bite happens IS AGGRESSION. Period. A protective dog is one that is confidant in themselves and has the ability to perceive a TRUE threat, not a dog that goes straight to a bite.

Aggression isn't anyways the product of a failure to socialize or train, not all dogs are wired properly.

[MacGyver]

I might have to try that with Stitch! Poor guy is miserable right now. How often do you give fish oil? Do you give something made especially for dogs?

MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCC!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3

Ahem...on to business! I give Okami fish oil every day too, I switch between the two different oils cause if you use one oil for too long then their bodies can become accustomed to it and then it isn't as effective. I use Grizzly's fish oils, they're super concentrated and it's an awesome brand that I love, plus it's SUPER smells which Okami loves xD

Salmon oil
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002A ... PDKIKX0DER

Pollock oil
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5Y ... PDKIKX0DER

LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

Thanks SO much for the info and links to the products!! I'll definitely be looking into this for Stitch!

What are your all's opinions on working dog breeders? As long as their dogs prove themselves in the fields/have working titles and are tested for everything required by the breed club? What if they have no conformation titles?

Show-type and field-type Goldens seem to vary in coat type and a few other factors, and it seems like not many working Golden breeders do much, if any, conformation showing?

It depends on the breed and breeder! I didn't even look for confo titles with Creed's parents (but both do have confo titles), but for something like a Vizsla or borzoi I would look for both confo and hunt tests. I think it really depends on what breed, because some breeds have a HUGE divide between working and show, and others not so much.

Thanks, Jaz! =D
To me anyway, it seems like there's a considerate amount of differences between field and show Goldens. I personally prefer the working field type. Not only for their working ability, but (especially) their looks and their energy level too.
I've seen some show Goldens do very well in the field, but I guess it might be mostly me admiring the working Golden's looks. :P

- -

Dixie spam.

"Princess" Dixie rolling her eyes :roll:


Dixie Laughing-Eyes


Since Dix was a pup she's always gotten this crooked "smile" when she itches. She still does it but she's added screwed up eyebrows. XD


A friend sent me her horse's old horseshoe along with some other mementos for my birthday this past September. XD
Hmmm I don't think it fits you Dixie.


- -

someone REAAALLLLY likes the window

[Joe Kerr]

Had a conversation with my friend
who owns Nix today.

Her - "I wouldn't own a Staffy. I
just couldn't handle the dog aggression."
Me - "But Nix has major dog aggression?"
Her - "Not really. She barks at other dogs,
but I wouldn't say she's aggressive. She's
just an alpha female."
Me - :|

Nix has, on multiple occasions, gone after
dogs. She has made contact with two, both
my dogs. She bit Lola's cheek and wouldn't
let go, and chomped down on Barnabas' neck,
again, not letting go. My friend had to pry
Nix's mouth open and I had to pull Barnabas'
neck out of her mouth.
After I got control of my dogs, she continued to
pursue them in an aggressive manner. That
was the last time I ever let her bring Nix
over to my house, and she still is in denial
about her dog. >.>

I hate it when people don't realize that their dogs are out of control. And then they say that staffys and pits are aggressive >n< any dog will be aggressive if you fail to socialize and train it properly.

I won't deny that my staffy boy
has dog aggression tendencies.
APBTs, ASTs, and other bully
breeds are more prone to dog
aggression than other breeds,
and I'm well aware of that, and
constantly work with Barnabas
to teach him tolerance. He
has gone after a few dogs that
were significantly smaller than
him. I have always been able to
call him off, but it is part of
his breed. People can't go around
saying 'it's all in how you raise them'
when it's in their genetics as well
as how and where they are raised.

[MacGyver]

I wish you could tag people on CS...
MAC!
I took this picture of Goldy for you!


Goldy is doing spectacular. Her
fur still hasn't grown back, but
she is happy as a clam because
she gets boiled organic chicken,
hard-boiled free-ranged eggs,
and rice for breakfast and dinner.
Happiest.Dog.Ever.

GOLDY!
PRETTY GIRL!!!! I'm so glad to hear she's doing better!!

[Joe Kerr]

Yaay! You saw it!

See how her bottom lip is
all pouty? I just love that <3

[MacGyver]

She's so dang cute just omg!