You may have seen the video of Diesel, a perfectly-trained service dog from Saint Francis who helps his owner in so many ways. No nonsense. Open the fridge: “Diesel, tug” – the door opens. “Shut the door“ – done. Perfect. We tried that with our Dane Walter. We obviously missed some important part.
In the case of Danes and refrigerators, you would have a large problem teaching them not to do it on their own. For that matter, teaching the Dane to open any door is not a good idea. To start with, Danes learn differently than Labs. Their biggest instinct is to find a comfortable place to rest near you. This works out perfectly for someone with a disability who has a job, goes to work (or the movies, or school, or out to eat). A service Dane will help you get there perfectly: up stairs, down curbs. Then rest up for the next trip.
They have zero instinct to retrieve anything. To a Dane puppy, a bouncing yellow tennis ball is something to watch and wonder why the person then goes and picks it up and throws it again. Retrieving can be taught at great expense of time and effort. Danes must be carefully matched to their partners; if you want a dog who will retrieve your credit card which has fallen to the floor so you can pay for a trip to climb Mount Everest, a Dane is not the dog for you. There are perfect uses for dogs Walter’s size: walking, balance, and stability.
– Carlene White, founder of Service Dog Project in Ipswich, MA. The organization trains and places Great Danes with people who live with Multiple Sclerosis, Friedreich’s ataxia, and veterans with disabilities.
EXPLORE The Complete – Service Dog Project Live Camera Experience
Stick around and watch, this is a little piece of Heaven (12 acres) where God has sent a team of Angels that help breed, raise and train Great Danes to help the returning military that has balance problems and PTSD .plus others (children and adults) that have other medical problems that this type of service dog can help ! There is a new litter of future service dogs, this is the web cam to the nursery http://explore.org/live-cams/player/service-dog-project-nursery-cam please enjoy !
Question: I have two conditions: peripheral neuropathy and meralgia paresthesia, which causes me to lose my balance and fall more frequently than I would like. I have a terrible time with curbs and stairs without rails Combined with osteoporosis, this is really not a good idea. Would this be something that you would consider pairing me up with a Great Dane service dog? I am fairly tall (5’10”) and I had a wolfhound and my husband had a series of Great Danes growing up, so I think we know what we would be getting ourselves into.
Hi Canyonmom :-)) Any questions about being paired with an SDP Dane should be directed at Carlene White directly, on paper, preferably.
The address is: Carlene White, Service Dog Project, 37 Boxford Rd, Ipswich, MA 01938.
If you decide to use email, then send it to animalep@aol.com and use capital letters. Subject: DOGS. You may be able to get some relevant information already on the SDP website: http://www.servicedogproject.org/
Hope this info is helpful :-))
yes, thank you
I have a couple conditions also. A little neuropathy from chemo I take for lung cancer. I am doing well so far. My balance is a little problem also. But, still alive, thanks to God. Happy Easter.
Angels found on 12 acres 🙂 everywhere you look you see the love that these Amazing Dogs Inspire. They Truly are SUPER HEROES!!!
How is everyone at that wonderful place with all the special Great Danes?
fantastic points altogether, you just gained a emblem new reader.
What could you suggest in regards to your submit that you made a
few days in the past? Any positive?