Considering Service Dog Training

I haven't really discussed it with my fiance yet, but it's been at the back of my mind for a while now since we first started looking for a Corgi and it kept coming back to me after we decided we'd get Dodger. I'm considering having Dodger (once he's older of course) go into training to be a service dog. With myself having a lot of cardiac problems, I thought it might be a possibility to consider. Of course I'd have to talk to my fiance about it and of course take into consideration what Dodger wants and what's best for him. So, nothing has been decided but it's just one of those thoughts that keep popping back up in my mind.

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Comment by Autumn and Jonathan on July 30, 2013 at 12:57pm: I've had a few doctors tell me exactly up front to consider getting a service dog for my cardiac condition, but since they can't pin-point exactly what cardiac condition I have it makes qualifying for a service dog very hard. I've asked a few people about it and one of my friends and depending on the type of medical condition you have, the training, the programs, etc... You're looking at paying from twenty to over thirty grand. I wasn't until last month that my fiance's sister and cousin mentioned on looking into training one myself and getting private training lessons from someone. I had just talked with my fiance last night and he seemed extremely relieved that I had been looking into it and finally discussed it all with him. I would just have to run it by my doctor before I would start the training with Dodger.

Comment by Brienna on July 30, 2013 at 12:11pm: We had a Corgi puppy who went on to detect seizures, without any formal training. He knew it was coming, and would alert the owner. He later became certified and could travel with his owner in public places. Sometimes with such a close bond they will pick up on things before you can even realize it. In this case, I would say discuss it with as many resources as possible. Corgis are a very smart dog, and aim to please. Service dogs, such as Labs or Goldens, generally come from breeding stock that are picked specifically to be a service dog. Some dogs may be more predisposed to serve than others, of course, but I certainly wouldn't think that as a bad idea. If you want to do it, speak to veterinarians, doctors, animal behaviorists, etc who have experience in the field. Plus, learning obedience is never a bad idea for any dog, regardless of if they are a service dog, or a pet.