Waiting for the Woof

I just saw another article about a new service dog that got free and bolted within 48 hours of placement in the new partner’s home. Wow. That must be soooo scary and disappointing for the new partner!!

How can I prevent this when Woof comes? First, For the first several weeks, Woof won’t go anywhere off-leash, period. Until Woof is totally used to us and to our backyard and to our neighborhood and how to get home from around the neighborhood, he will not be permitted off-lead except inside the house. When he needs to “go out” to “do his duty,” he will go out on-lead, but without vest. When an outside door opens, either he will be in “sit” or “down,” or will be on lead until he is comfortable with me and feels that our home is his home.

The two weeks training period we will have on-site at the training facility will help tremendously with Woof’s bond to me. But that bond will not be complete at the end of that 2 weeks. It will take another month or two for Woof to get completely bonded to me.

This bond will be something we will have to work at every day. We will do that by working – by going through our tasks, by training, by practicing the tasks Woof needs to do for me. Woof will be rewarded appropriately and when no working I will play with him. My husband will NOT give Woof any attention or correction or rewards or even pats. All of that will come through me. If he thinks correction is necessary, he will tell me, and if I agree, I will correct. It may involve a bit of a delay, but that’s the way it will have to be. I will be Woof’s Alpha, Woof’s “pack leader,” if you will.

Each time we work together, our bond will get better and stronger. Each time we go for a walk, our bond will get stronger. Each time we play together, our bond will get stronger and better.

I will be the only one who feeds and waters her – at least at first. Even on “bad” days, at first I must be the one who feeds and waters her. The time may come that I will need more frequent or even total help with feeding and watering, but at first, I must be the one who actually does the feeding and watering. With an animal, this is an important part of the bonding part.

Treats are a bit of a conflict here at Haus Von Riggs about treats. I believe in giving treats. The Ol’ Curmudgeon does not. We have agreed, however, to abide by the advice of the trainers on that topic. I think the Ol’ Curmudgeon is worried I will try to use treats to bond with the Woof or to spoil the Woof. We’ll talk to the trainers about these concerns and get their advice. Then we will work on practicing it.

Any interaction with Woof will act as bonding, especially for the first several weeks. But during those first few days, Woof will be a bit “off balance,” and not sure of things. He will have left his home and his family to go be with me at my home. Of course, he will be weirded out! I will help him by letting him sleep near me, by feeding him, by spending a lot of time with him, working with him. While he will never forget his puppy raiser and his trainers, he will bond with me in a month or so, and we will become a team!

OK – it’s begging time! Please don’t forget to support the organization supplying my service dog: PAALS is working to find the puppy that will “match” me, and will grow up to become my “Woof.” This is time-consuming and expensive. We are working to get our share together, and need some help. Any help you can give us will be greatly appreciated! And PAALS will appreciate it tremendously. PAALS needs all the help they can get because they are a new and struggling organization. They have experienced people organizing, administering and working there, but the organization itself is new. New organizations need extra support, so I’m asking you, within your ability, of course, to give PAALS that extra support. Thanks!!