Gemma was a washout from a service dogs program where she was being trained to assist people with disabilities. Her biggest problem was that she was uncomfortable in public social situations. That's not an uncommon problem with shepherds, particularly females I think. They feel the need to be in control, which I think is really a manifestation of the herding instinct. A shepherd guarding a flock or herd keeps an eye on everything, wants everyone in their place, and is ready to react to any intrusion. Those are great qualities in a herding/guard dog, but they don't always serve a dog well in a modern, urban environment.
If the dog is unable to control the situation, anxiety results and sometimes even worse behavior as they try to alleviate their anxiety by coping with the situation around them in the way that their instincts dictate, e.g. barking to ward off perceived intruders. That's not a good quality in a service dog, they need to be bombproof--cool, calm, and collected in all situations. Shepherds can be great working dogs if the nature of the work matches their instincts. Some can become great service dogs, but not all.
I've taken in foster dogs who didn't work out in various types of working dog programs, but I don't think I've ever placed a foster with such a program. VGSR does occasionally try to place a dog with police or security training programs, but personally I consider it as a placement of last resort and have never resorted to it. The single trait they look for in assessing dogs is an over-the-top ball drive because they use a ball as a reward in training. A dog with an over-the-top drive of any sort is generally a neurotic mess and a working dog placement is one of a very limited range of options for such a dog.
Happily, however, Gemma was not such a dog. Although she didn't have the bombproof demeanor necessary to make it as a service dog, she also didn't have the neurotic behavior that would make her unsuitable as an ordinary companion animal. The training she had received made her more adoptable than probably 99% of our other fosters. Plus, she's simply beautiful, a drop dead gorgeous German Shepherd Dog. She was adopted by one of our volunteers back in June and is doing great. She occasionally goes to work with her mom and she has a pack of other shepherds to be with when she's home. Who could ask for anything more?
Gemma was a washout from a service dogs program where she was being trained to assist people with disabilities. Her biggest problem was that she was uncomfortable in public social situations. That's not an uncommon problem with shepherds, particularly females I think. They feel the need to be in control, which I think is really a manifestation of the herding instinct. A shepherd guarding a flock or herd keeps an eye on everything, wants everyone in their place, and is ready to react to any intrusion. Those are great qualities in a herding/guard dog, but they don't always serve a dog well in a modern, urban environment.
If the dog is unable to control the situation, anxiety results and sometimes even worse behavior as they try to alleviate their anxiety by coping with the situation around them in the way that their instincts dictate, e.g. barking to ward off perceived intruders. That's not a good quality in a service dog, they need to be bombproof--cool, calm, and collected in all situations. Shepherds can be great working dogs if the nature of the work matches their instincts. Some can become great service dogs, but not all.
I've taken in foster dogs who didn't work out in various types of working dog programs, but I don't think I've ever placed a foster with such a program. VGSR does occasionally try to place a dog with police or security training programs, but personally I consider it as a placement of last resort and have never resorted to it. The single trait they look for in assessing dogs is an over-the-top ball drive because they use a ball as a reward in training. A dog with an over-the-top drive of any sort is generally a neurotic mess and a working dog placement is one of a very limited range of options for such a dog.
Happily, however, Gemma was not such a dog. Although she didn't have the bombproof demeanor necessary to make it as a service dog, she also didn't have the neurotic behavior that would make her unsuitable as an ordinary companion animal. The training she had received made her more adoptable than probably 99% of our other fosters. Plus, she's simply beautiful, a drop dead gorgeous German Shepherd Dog. She was adopted by one of our volunteers back in June and is doing great. She occasionally goes to work with her mom and she has a pack of other shepherds to be with when she's home. Who could ask for anything more?
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment