A particular policy by some Rescue groups concerning dogs for Service Work.

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I am anxious to hear opinions and explainations concern why some rescue groups will not allow a Service dog organization or a private trainer adopt a rescued dog to be trained for service work or to be trained for a Pre-Trained pets program. Let's say the Organization or Trainer has a high reputation. Needless to say, no rescue group should allow a dog to go to just anyone without being checked out first.
For example, we all know that labradoodles were developed by Wally Conran of Guide Dogs Victoria of Australia specifically for the purpose of service work. We know these dogs are very intelligent and people-oriented which makes them excellant for service work. If the organization or the private trainer examines a dog and finds it to be suitable for service work or to be trained privately to be sold to a family or person who doesn't want to go through the puppy stage and wants a mature dog with training, then doesn't it seem like a win-win situation all around? Isn't one of the purposes of rescue organizations is to find good homes for dogs? I understand some of the dogs are just not up to doing service work because of abuse or health issues, or have special needs that require an understanding adoptive "parent". But, if the dog is healthy in both mind and body, then why not have that option available?
In the Pre-Trained pets programs, dogs get the benefit of socialization and obedience training along with vet care and food. If "profit" is one of the concerns of rescue groups not allowing trainers to adopt for re-sale, then that's something I don't understand. If the trainer is paying the adoption fee, feeding the dog quality food, and providing vet care, plus compensation for the time it takes to get the dog socialized and trained, and travel expensive, someone fill me in on where the "profit" comes into play. You can compare that with reputable breeders selling puppies. Ask the breeders exactly how much "profit" they make per puppy after all the food, vitamins, pre-natal care, testing, vet care, and the misc. expenses that can occur. What they are getting compensated for is their time in making sure their customers are getting (for lack of a better term) quality product.

I thought this might be a good topic for discussion to hear both the Pros and Cons.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Leigh, in all honesty, the life of a service dog is extremely demanding. Only dogs with a very specific type of personality are considered for service work. It's no life for a typical dog. Service dogs are constantly on alert and "working" and do not have the normal opportunities to "just be dogs"......I have to tell you the criteria for consideration for service work is extensive...and as you know very few dogs fit that criteria. To in a sense, "condemn" an already 'compromised" dog, especially one with a history of neglect, to a life of service, is unsettling to many of us in rescue.....

[Adina P]

Aren't most dogs more or less suited to SOME kind of work? Not sure what 'just being dogs' is that is advantageous? I totally see where Rescues would object because of Karen's reasons below...but assuming it is not a 'compromised' dog with years of neglect/poor care/abuse... why would the work be too much? To me it seems then that the life of a rescue dog is automatically very limited if demanding work is an automatic no-no. This means that anyone who wants a working dog SHOULD get it from a breeder, no?

But at the same time I know one trainer who believes any dog for service really should come from breeding toward that goal because even with the best goal oriented breeding...only a small percent are cut out for the work.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Adina, I would tend to agree with the trainer........as for the reasons why I would agree, see my post below Karen's......

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Very good point Leigh about how many people are not aware of the differences between "Service" Dogs, "Assistance" Dogs and "Therapy" Dogs.......Can you break the various roles and requirements down for everyone so that they understand?.....I think there are many people in rescue who are also not clear on what's involved with each and many actually think that "Therapy" and "Service" are one in the same which couldn't be further from the truth..... A Therapy Dog's role and life is very different from a dog who has been trained for service and the criteria for earning a CGC-(Canine Good Citizenship) certificate is nowhere near as extensive and demanding as the years of training involved for service dogs ....

"It takes about two years to train a working dog. They begin the process at eight weeks old, when they are sent to live with foster families that socialize them and instil some basic training. At around 18 months, the dogs go into an intense, daily training regimen that lasts about six months.A dog can be eliminated at any point for behavioural or physical reasons. Something as simple as excessively itchy skin or a dog that's easily distracted will disqualify it from a working placement. All in all, it costs between $12,000 and $30,000, depending on the level of training, to produce an assistance dog."
http://www.accessible-devices.com/dogslife.html

I really like what Assistance Dogs International has to say regarding their "Standards and Ethics Regarding Dogs"

http://www.assistancedogsinternational.org/Standards/DogStandards.php
"ADI also believes that any dog the member organizations trains to become an Assistance Dog has a right to a quality life. Therefore, the ethical use of an Assistance Dog must incorporate the following criteria".

*An Assistance Dog must be trained using humane training methods providing for the physical and emotional safety of the dog.

*An Assistance Dog must be permitted to learn at his/her own individual pace and not be placed in service before reaching adequate physical and emotional maturity.

*An Assistance Dog must be placed with a client able to interact with him/her.

*An Assistance Dog must be placed with a client able to provide for the dog's emotional, physical and financial needs.

*An Assistance Dog must be placed with a client able to provide a stable and secure living environment.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I haven't had any experience with a trainer or service organization wanting to adopt a rescue dog, so I can't speak with any knowledge of a particular rescue's reasoning, but I'd guess they object because they want to know what specific home the dog is going to, with all the details usually requested on adoption applications, and they want to check the references of that home. Good rescues do very thorough checks on such issues as if the family has had a dog before, if the family has given up a dog and why, children, fencing, other pets, vet references, what will happen to the dog if the family moves or can't keep him, etc. When a rescue has possession of a dog, they have the responsibility for his entire future. (If the family had to give the dog up, what would happen to him?) What kind of safeguards would be in place so that the dog didn't end up in a shelter? By adopting to a trainer or service organization, they are essentially turning the dog over to that person or org. to place the dog themselves in whatever home they may choose, without knowing what kind of criteria or screening is used. I'm guessing that's the reason.

[Adina P]

I wonder if one option is for the trainer to train the dog as a foster home and work with the rescue...or to take the dog out for training daily while in a foster home and then if it passes the criteria needed to pass...THEN perhaps it would be considered for adoption. Would that work at all for both parties? Just tossing out an idea, not sure if it is useful or not...

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Kar, from my experience and from what I have heard from others involved in rescue (BTW-ask Shannon @ IDOG how she feels about it....) the general feelings are that the life of a service dog is not ideal and can in fact be isolating, lonely, unrewarding and stressful for the dog because it puts the dog in the position of always having to be on alert and in a state of heightened awareness. Therefore, the dog is unable to fully engage in typical healthy dog activities and behaviors that are a critical part of a regular dogs existence and overall quality of life..(such as play for example) without simultaneously having the burden of responsibility and the stress of being "on call" at all times.

We rescue to save lives and ultimately to provide those dogs with an opportunity to know love, kindness, stability and have a better quality of life than they have known previously. No matter their history whether from puppy mills, neglectful homes, abuse and cruelty situations or just abandoned by their previous owners, all rescue and re-home dogs have experienced some kind of trauma associated with their situations that has created emotional and/or physical stress for the dog.......To turn around and put those dogs in extensive demanding training programs that last years and then into service situations where they may never have an opportunity to experience a stress free "dogs life" is extremely unsettling to the rescuers......Let's face it...Truth be known an impaired, handicapped or incompacitated person is prevented from fully interacting with that dog because of the sheer nature of the very disability that requires their use of a service dog......On the other side of the coin, there are many situations where service dogs have a stronger bond with their charges and receive more love, appreciation and rewards than non service dogs from "normal" homes....I understand this...you understand this......Many rescuers do not or are not willing to take the chance with a life that has been placed in their hands....We are responsible for the welfare of the dog..and it's the dog's quality of life that matters ....I'm all for "quality of life" for humans too of course...lol.... especially those suffering with illness, disabilities and impairments..... but that's not my chosen cause.....I hope this clarifies things for you Leigh.