Today's Breeder - Issue 107 - 9

took her on outings and to group obedience classes.
Around 16 months of age, Opal began advanced training
at the Duo Dog facility, working on tasks and skills that
matched her natural abilities, interests and temperament.
After six months, she began working and bonding with
Houston in preparation for facility dog assistance work.
RFI and Duo Dogs seek similar characteristics in service
and assistance dogs. Both nonprofit organizations are
accredited by Assistance Dogs International, a worldwide-recognized
industry authority. About $50,000 is
invested training individual dogs for their roles.
Breeding programs at RFI and Duo Dogs have been
developed over the years. About half of RFI's service
dogs are from its in-house breeding program, and half
are sourced from reputable breeders they work with
across the country.
" We primarily train Labrador Retrievers and Golden
Retrievers due to the biddability of these breeds to work
with multiple handlers, " says RFI's John Drach, Director
of Training. " A dog that has retriever drive with middleof-the-road
energy makes a good service dog. "
Prince, for example, was whelped by " Faith, " who is part
of RFI's in-house breeding program. Faith came from the
Kerrybrook Labrador Retriever kennel owned by Chris
Wincek of Chardon, Ohio. Originating in 1980 from English
field trial lines, Kerrybrook has produced Master Hunters,
a Field Champion, Qualified All-Age dogs, two Champion
Master Hunters, and show Champions. Wincek has donated
to service dog programs since 1990.
" Service dogs must have a temperament that is highly
intuitive, confident, introspective, empathetic, and resilient
with a bit of stubbornness. The stubbornness comes in
handy when a dog perceives something as a risk and refuses
a command for all the right reasons, " Wincek says. " I look
These RFI service dogs in training are practicing " place, " in which
they are taught to stay on the raised dog beds amid distractions
until released.
for puppies for RFI that have unflappable temperaments
and that are extraordinarily willing to please. "
Duo Dogs are bred, whelped and raised at the facility,
where volunteers provide 24-hour care of newborn puppies.
Dams are chosen from their own breeding program, and
Duo partners with reputable breeders to match stud dogs.
Crissy Smith, Duo Dogs' Director of Canine Services and
Assistance Dog Trainer, says, " Labrador Retrievers are our
standard choice dog breed due to their high trainability and
ease of transfer to clients. We breed for specific temperaments
that include good behavior, discipline, training,
and acceptance of strangers. "
Duo Dogs and RFI adhere to a strict review of potential
breeding dogs' pedigrees, health clearances and genetic
testing. " Purposefully bred dogs from breeders across the
country with proven traits that make for a successful
service or assistance dog have been instrumental in the
past and future success of our programs, " Cory-Yaeggi says.
The dynamics of the human-animal bond make dogs
ideal partners for people with disabilities. Their intuitive
nature combined with training of specific tasks allows
them to help people struggling with physical and emotional
challenges in unique ways. A bonus is their companionship
and unconditional love.
Typically, a two-year wait on both ends - for the
Duo Dog Opal gets lots of petting in her job as a facility dog at St.
Louis Children's Hospital. Opal, who offers emotional assurance
to children in the Child Protection Program, is part of the Purina
Paws for Hope partnership with Duo Dogs.
recipient and the service dog in training - allows time
to prepare for the life-changing partnership. A visit to
James and Prince's house these days might find them
playing games of hide-and-seek or fetch. At night, James
nestles in with Prince lying at the foot of his bed. By
morning, the sweet Labrador Retriever has carefully
worked his way to the top of the bed close to James. n
*The family's first names have been changed and last name omitted to
protect their privacy.
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Today's Breeder - Issue 107

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