May have a service dog!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Aw! She's so pretty!! Good luck with her

[LewisLegion]

Draggar, I watch Westminster religiously. I didn't realize that was your Zorro!! How cool!!

My job is a desk job. I was planning on just putting a bed under my desk, but those pop crates are a neat idea, I'll have to look into them.

I was planning on getting her Canine Good Citizen certificate. I will have to see about obedience trials and such, that might be fun to do Also, she is registered, and from what I remember Xolos have been accepted into the AKC as of this year (Happy New Year, 2011!!) so I may even try showing her, esp if I do decide to enroll her in the breeding program.

I'm looking up flight information now. It looks like the earliest she will be here would be the 10th, and the latest would be the 31st. The service dog rep is escorting her here so she doesn't have to be shipped and travel in the cargo hold...not to mention, it's actually a lot cheaper to just buy a ticket than pay the shipping costs.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Wow, Draggar, I just watched your video. That's pretty awesome all he can do for her...even pick up tiny things like coins and paper clips? Love how he helps her get off the bed.

[XCashier]

Wow, Draggar, I just watched your video. That's pretty awesome all he can do for her...even pick up tiny things like coins and paper clips? Love how he helps her get off the bed.

That was really neat; that is one smart dog. Did they do a bit about Zorro's assistance training on the Westminster show? I agree there needs to be more education about service animals, and I'd think Westminster would be a good platform for that.

[Teysa]

I just saw that video too. It's really neat how much service dogs can do. This makes me wonder if a service dog would help my mom with her Parkinson's. Maybe I'll toss the idea her way next time I talk to her.

[draggar]

My job is a desk job. I was planning on just putting a bed under my desk, but those pop crates are a neat idea, I'll have to look into them.

A pop-crate with a bed in it would be perfect. Maybe a couple of toys and a water bowl. Management may give you some flack about how often you need to walk her, just walk her on your breaks.

I was planning on getting her Canine Good Citizen certificate. I will have to see about obedience trials and such, that might be fun to do Also, she is registered, and from what I remember Xolos have been accepted into the AKC as of this year (Happy New Year, 2011!!) so I may even try showing her, esp if I do decide to enroll her in the breeding program.

I'm assuming you mean Xoloitzcuintli? They're fully recognized so that's pretty cool, if she gets her CH then you can enter her for Westminster (it's a lottery).

I'm looking up flight information now. It looks like the earliest she will be here would be the 10th, and the latest would be the 31st. The service dog rep is escorting her here so she doesn't have to be shipped and travel in the cargo hold...not to mention, it's actually a lot cheaper to just buy a ticket than pay the shipping costs.

Delta is one of the best for flying with service dogs and yes, round trip tickets are many times cheaper than cargo. We're looking to fly Kiri to Europe to be trained, a round trip ticket is cheaper than flying her cargo (plus she'll be with my wife (she is a service dog, too). Yes, we'll miss her but it's part of our "big" plan.

That was really neat; that is one smart dog. Did they do a bit about Zorro's assistance training on the Westminster show? I agree there needs to be more education about service animals, and I'd think Westminster would be a good platform for that.

She was invited to a press conference for the Westminster show (they usually have some of the previous years' winners, etc.. but it was cancelled due to the weather.

[LewisLegion]

Yes, Xoloitzcuintli

Trying to nail down a flight right now

[LewisLegion]

It's looking like she'll be here on Monday the 24th Solid plans will be made tonight, and tickets purchased

[draggar]

Congratz and good luck!

[LewisLegion]

She'll be here on Monday!! I'm so excited...also exhausted and stressed with all this lay-off crap hitting the fan right now.

We've decided to call her Tuli...it means 'Peace' in Swahili. Everyone seemed to like it and it kept sticking in my head.

She's also in heat, so that's going to be interesting. All my dogs have been religiously fixed but they want to use her in the breeding program so...well, we'll see what we see on that end. I do have a set of heat pants for her and she will not be allowed outside, not even to potty in the yard, unescorted (our fence is stupid low...you could almost step over it). We've got too many stray dogs around that would love to make her acquaintance.

I'd get her a metal chastity belt if I could!

[teh_blumchenkinder]

Right into the fire, huh girl? Tuli is a pretty name! Are you going to get to see the puppies, at least? Yeah, yeah that's a while off...
I love the sadie2 picture-- it needs to be framed! >.>

[draggar]

She'll be here on Monday!! I'm so excited...also exhausted and stressed with all this lay-off crap hitting the fan right now.

We've decided to call her Tuli...it means 'Peace' in Swahili. Everyone seemed to like it and it kept sticking in my head.

Just make sure her name, Tuli, isn't close to any commands you'll need to give her.

Right into the fire, huh girl? Tuli is a pretty name! Are you going to get to see the puppies, at least? Yeah, yeah that's a while off...
I love the sadie2 picture-- it needs to be framed! >.>

That's the best way. As soon as our puppies could be separated form the mom for extended periods of time, we had them doing basic / training service work. As soon as we had Luna, she was doing basic service work.

It's important to get it going ASAP.

[LewisLegion]

If we decided to go forward with the breeding program, we would have the pups all the way until they were ready to be placed for service dog needs. They would be evaluated by a trainer approved by the program to see which seem to have the personality and temperment for service training, and those pups chosen would be matched with partners and go directly from my house to theirs. Any pups that are felt do not have the drive or personality for service dog work would be spayed/neutered and it would be up to me to locate suitable, forever homes for them.

On the one hand, I would love to do this...help others out like me that need this. On the other hand, it's a LOT of work and responsibility and I am more than aware of everything that's involved with breeding, pregnancy, whelping, puppies, etc. and everything that can go wrong (miscarriage, mastitis, caesarian, water puppies, bottle feedings, house training, socialization, parvo, distemper, infections, dew claws or no dew claws, etc. etc. etc. etc.)

Hence my current indecision

I do want to do confirmation with her if at all possible...my issue being I've (obviously) never handled a dog in any kind of ring before, and I know that in some shows at least, (like Westminster) the handler has to run or move very quickly...I'm lucky if I amble on my fastest days. So someone else would have to handle her, which opens a whole other set of doors to consider (hiring one, what's the cost, the qualifications, the details, etc. etc.).

Draggar, I don't think any of her current commands or planned ones sound like Tuli...'Pull' is the closest one I can think of.

When she's done training she'll know:

How to pee and poop on command ('potty' and 'caca')
How to alert in case of fall (hopefully automatic if I'm lying unconscious, otherwise 'speak')
How to tug on pants, socks, sleeves and coats for dressing/undressing (pull)
How to retrieve items (fetch <item>)
How to jump up (paws up)
How to get up and lay on my shoulders (a visual command, usually a pat or a point)

As well as the normal obedience standby's...down, sit, stay, heel, shake, leave it, etc.

[draggar]

On the other hand, it's a LOT of work and responsibility and I am more than aware of everything that's involved with breeding, pregnancy, whelping, puppies, etc. and everything that can go wrong (miscarriage, mastitis, caesarian, water puppies, bottle feedings, house training, socialization, parvo, distemper, infections, dew claws or no dew claws, etc. etc. etc. etc.)

You have no idea - when you think it is a lot of work when you actually have the litter it's a lot more work than you actually thought and you are dealt with situations you'd never think of.

Whenever I get someone who is thinking about breeding dogs I ask a certain question that I won't repeat here because it is WAY too controversial.

[Seshat]

How to pee and poop on command ('potty' and 'caca')
How to alert in case of fall (hopefully automatic if I'm lying unconscious, otherwise 'speak')
How to tug on pants, socks, sleeves and coats for dressing/undressing (pull)
How to retrieve items (fetch <item>)
How to jump up (paws up)
How to get up and lay on my shoulders (a visual command, usually a pat or a point)

Thank you.

You've just clarified what a service dog might be able to do for me - and I'm going to train my current dog with some of those.