The process of learning to work with a dog is like learning to dance with a partner. The dog knows the steps but can’t lead the dance. The person is asked to lead but first has to learn all the steps. It takes work, practice, some chemistry, and more practice.
Disqualifying a dog is one of the hardest decisions we are forced to make. Often, it is not a black and white choice but a question of degree or interpretation. The most common causes of disqualification are health related or temperament. While it is hard for the organization as whole, since time and resources have [...]
For the past three years, Service Dogs of Virginia has partnered with student volunteers from Madison House at the University of Virginia to offer Reading with Service Dogs in our local schools. Our Reading with Service Dogs program was started by Becky Paska in 2007. Becky is a UVa alumna and a longtime SDV volunteer. [...]
Gail Ogle and Petunia (Tunie), her physical assistance dog, were matched together last year. Gail wants to make their partnership the best that it can be. She and Tunie have been working with Janet to improve on some basic skills like down-stays and leave its. Gail also enjoys teaching Tunie new behaviors. She’s taught her [...]
Mary Simonette has been volunteering at SDV since, well, it seems like forever. She comes every week to do whatever needs to be done–vacuum, mop, organize files, address thank you notes, package note cards, run errands. You name it and Mary is ready and willing to help get it done. Plus she’s always bringing us [...]
Thelonious (Theo) came to us from Ravenwood Farm and is Louie’s brother. He’s a busy boy who stays on the move with his puppy raiser, Elaine Johnson. Elaine has been volunteering with us for almost a year and finally made the leap to become a puppy raiser. She and Theo attend her weekly craft group, [...]
Woodbine (Woody) is a black male from Springwood Farm. He is named Woodbine, in memory of a Corgi owned by Luther and Joan Gore of Charlottesville, who have generously donated to support his training.
Woody is being raised by Nancy Koch. He is the first puppy that Nancy and her family has raised for SDV, and [...]
Remy has done a fantastic job as an autism dog. He accompanies Jacob in public and has facilitated his speech therapy. Although things are going well, Jacob’s mom had a concern. Jacob is prone to seizures and she’s worried that she may not always hear him in the middle of the night. The timing of administering his medication is crucial, and she was terrified that she might not hear him when a seizure starts. Would it be possible for Remy to wake her up when Jacob starts to seize?
To say it’s been hot here this week is an understatement. It’s 99 degrees outside right now and temperatures are expected to be over 100 this weekend. With the heat index, it’s downright miserable. Here’s some tips to help your dog stay cool and safe during the summer months:
Ten Hot Weather Tips for Dogs
1. Keep [...]
Louie is 15 weeks old and weighs 30 lbs. According to to Janet Trauger, Louie’s puppy raiser, “Louie reminds me of his uncle, Nelson. He is calm and unflappable, plays well with all the other dogs, and just goes along with what ever is happening. Ella spent a couple of weeks with Louie while [her [...]
