"It takes a Special Dog to work with a Special Child"

Our Autistic Service Dog was trained for a thirteen year old girl. She had the occasion to wander off. Devices were installed to alarm the family in the event that she were to ever go out the door. But, as we all know, some devices, no matter how fail safe we may think they may be are not always reliable.

The week before the family was to pick up their dog from our training facility their child was able to get past the alarm system on the door and left the house. The brother thought that his sister was fast asleep in her bed. He was fooled by the lump of pillows under the bedding. The family was wrought with hysterics. After three hours their daughter was located by the police in a local store.

When we were told of the daughters latest episode I immediately set out to add an additional training technique. Teach their new dog to not go out the door first and to not do so without being commanded by its new K-9 handlers.

All of the service dog's specialized training was put to the test when the daughter and her family came to pick up their new dog. This was their second meeting.

Regardless of training and special attention a dog will always choose its own master or companion. Almost immediately, dog and child were bonded.

Unlike some of the other dogs that I had trained over the years I noticed a certain amount of uneasiness by the dog while observing his new charge as she and her brother stood by a high jump (A-Frame), used for training working dogs. I questioned the mother, "What is the dog trying to tell you"? Naturally she did not know. The mother began to understand as her daughter started to climb the high jump. The dog had anticipated the thirteen years olds intentions.

Since receiving their new Autistic Service Dog , the family has been alerted to two seizures before they happened as well as a variety of other anticipated acts by the child.

Over the years I have learned to never under estimate the capabilities of our working dogs. Their intelligence combined with their unique sixth sense has allowed me to become a better trainer and Durham Haus Working Dogs to become a successful training kennel.

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