I just got an offer...

[Saeleofu]

to open a service dog school with someone in as little as 3-5 years from now!



I was asked by a former trainer with The Seeing Eye if I would like to open a school with her. She trains guide dogs and service dogs, and after seeing that so many adult autistics have problems finding programs to work with to get service dogs, she has decided to begin training for them (since most of us need modified guide tasks). She asked when I would be ready, and under her mentorship I could theoretically begin as soon as I finish school at Bergin , about 2 to 3 years from now.

For those who don't know, my ultimate goal is to have a service dog school to train SDs for ADULT autistics.

She is looking to move to the same states I want to move to, so it's even better!

[Lizmo]

Wow, what an offer! Many good wishes for you in your new job Sounds like a very rewarding -and fun!- job to have.

[bubbatd]

Neat !! Fun and rewarding !!

[Fran101]

WOw thats awesome Sounds like an amazing opportunity!

I saw a show on autistic kids with dogs, they were like tethered to them. one kid who had NEVER spoken, for the first time spoke to his mom about his dog. had me in tears lol

[Renee750il]

Oh, I hope your dream comes true

[Saeleofu]

I saw a show on autistic kids with dogs, they were like tethered to them. one kid who had NEVER spoken, for the first time spoke to his mom about his dog. had me in tears lol

I am 100% against tether dogs. They're dangerous, plain and simple. It also fosters "Lassie Syndrome" because people make them out to be some miracle dogs. A kid that disabled cannot provide proper stewardship for a service animal. High school is the earliest I would place a service dog with anyone, and even then it's iffy.

Tether dogs are outrageously expensive anchors. The are usually the dogs that get washed out of other programs due to temperament issues (of all things!). We'll see how everyone feels when kids start getting bit by their "service dogs" *sigh*

The other sad thing is that kids are cute and are easy to rasie money for, so the whole tether dog thing is a cash cow for programs. Then autistic adults like myself get left out in the cold because most programs "don't deal with that" since it actually requires task training. Hence the need for real SD programs for autistic adults.


*steps off soapbox*

I'm SO FREAKING EXCITED! I made a guide handle today to practice training dogs how to guide. It's not anything that would be useful for an actual working dog, but I think for practice training it will work.

[Fran101]

err my bad lol I didnt know

I used to work at a gymboree type place I have met a few kids with tether dogs and the dogs were very well behaved. even one where the kid had the dog for a couple of years and never any temperament problems *shrug* I think a service dogs job is to help and improve the life of the kid and the parents and in my opinion,thats what those dogs are doing
the dogs even knew how to nudge the kid when he was feeling anxious to help sooth him, pick up things he dropped, help him up when he fell, and be a good support system when the kid was having trouble walking. as well as keep the kid away from dangerous situations . Which i think is pretty awesome and that does require training.. Im no expert, but thats just my opinion. the parents of course took a very active role in caring for the dog
As for adult autistics getting "left out in the cold" that sucks, but I certainly dont think these dogs for kids is a horrible idea because of it .

[Saeleofu]

Tether dogs are not mitigating a kid's disability. They are babysitters for the parents. Comfort is not a trained task. Being tied to a kid is not a trained task. A service dog must have trained tasks to mitigate a disability. Kids, as I already said, aren't capable of proper SD stewardship. I stand firm.

Also, accidents happen. Any dog can break training. There was someone who had a dog (not an SD). One of the owers was on the other side of a train track, and the other owner had the dog on a leash. A train was coming, but the dog pulled the owner to the other owner because she couldn't get her hand out of the leash. The dog and owner were both killed. That was a grown woman. What if a dog breaks training with a kid? They're much smaller.