Due to a failed back, and some other issues, my balance is poor at times. So I now have a balance and mobility service dog. Being a rather well nourished fella at 5’10” and 220lbs, I need a large breed. This, is Chloe. A 14-month-old female Great Dane. She is a Piebald Harlequin Dane, a fairly rare color. Weighing in at nearly 200lbs, she is from European stock. A little on the skinny side at the moment.
She was donated to me after Christmas by a former customer. Having worked training Police K-9 and rescue animals, I should have her performing nicely in 2-3 months.
Great Danes have a natural instinct of leaning against their owner. This characteristic, when taught to lean on command provides a steadying object to a person feeling dizzy, or unbalanced. They also can slow your fall if you collapse. Being large, they can brace themselves and slow your descent as you hold onto them to lower yourself to the floor.
Michelle’s Service Dog “Annabelle”
Michelle and I finished the training of Michelle’s smaller Dane, Annabelle. Annabelle came from a service dog facility in Texas, Annabelle is loved everywhere we go. Her dog is for balance and mobility. “Annabelle” is trained to stop at curbs, stand and brace, and allow Michelle to steady herself, by placing her hands on Annabelle’s back or harness attachment and step up on curbs. She also can assist Michelle up stairs stopping on each step if Michelle needs assistance steadying herself to step up to the next step. Getting up and down from awkward lower couches. People are amazed when she refuses a treat by them in a restaurant. We walk her outside, and she will accept the treat, but not in the environment where she is working. Of course people aren’t supposed to offer treats and interact with Annabelle, but you know how that goes.
Sometimes, it’s a hard job for them
Imagine going to a restaurant, all the wonderful smells, your handler sitting close by eating. You’re working and not allowed to accept food. So you dutifully wait, and perhaps get a small training treat once you’re away.
A trip to the Emergency Room with Michelle’s friend one evening was not fun for Annabelle. In the treatment area next to Michelle, separated by just a curtain, was a Meth-Head who was overdosing. The two officers trying to control the crazy man, came through the dividing curtain. They deployed a Taser to subdue the suspect. In the close quarter fight, the taser fired, and struck Annabelle, who was on the floor next to Michelle’s exam bed trying to remain calm. That was a bad time for a service dog.
A trip to Walmart one evening, resulted in two idiot teenage boys running with a shopping cart, came out of an aisle broadsiding Annabelle, actually knocking her off her feet.
Then you have humans
Then you have strange humans. Even though you put patches on service animals that say Do Not Touch, Please don’t distract me I’m working, Service Animal Don’t touch, you get people that do. Actually I find adults are worse than kids. Unless you don’t count the 12-year-old girl in Walmart, that thought it would be funny to put one of the huge shark heads on, and make like she was eating Annabelle’s head! That’s a real heart stopper there. Annabelle did great, backed up pulling her head out of the shark mouth and looked at the girl like she was crazy.
Comments/Questions welcome,