Though I did not see the threads that were recently on here about service dogs, this is something I am extremely passionate about giving speeches when asked, etc. I also realize that the particular forum also had to do with breeding but choose to express my opinion from my own experience.
My service dog "Bobby Shafto Gone to Sea" has been beyond a blessing to me. For those of you who do not know my situation, I will try to condense it. On my way to teach at the university I was rear-ended by a semi on a major interstate. He had an immense visual field but did not even brake before hitting me. I was stopped because traffic long before he arrived had come to a standstill, a common occurrence at that time of day. I praise God every day because when I saw the word Mack flying at my back window, I never thought I would be here to tell the story. Even my doctor said he didn't know how I lived and I "walked away from the wreck." Though, it took a long time to discover that I had severe post concussive stress syndrome and both of my lungs were filled with showers of huge blood clots, leaving me struggling to have enough energy and breath with so much damage to my lungs to get through each day.
Bobby warns me that I am going to have a convulsion 10 minutes before one hits when I feel nothing, giving me time to get safe and out of public view. He has even gotten me out of the bathtub. When I lie in bed after the warning, he places his front legs across mine so that I will not fall since the convulsions become much like a grand mal seizure. I can walk but have balance issues which he helps me with, if I fall, he knows how to come to me, place himself, and I drape over him so that he can lift me up. Because of my lungs, I can walk, but very short distances. When I know I am going someplace that requires a lot of walking or any length of standing, I use my wheelchair which he is trained to pull. One time he stopped directly in front of the wheelchair and would not move so he could alert me about a soon to arrive convulsion. He does not leave my side, knows when I am having bad days, and is on constant alert to my condition.
The day my doctor told me I should probably resign from the university because I was no longer going to be able to teach was devastating to say the least. Teaching for me was a passion, not a job. Bobby also has helped teach me about the cycles of life and new beginnings, how exciting they can be. I thank God every day for all that Bobby does and for giving me more time on this earth. I would not have near the independence that I currently have were it not for Bobby. The things I had to give up were difficult but God placed this beautiful dog in my life and showed me a way to keep a lot of my independence.
Trainers are currently using newfs much more than they used to because of their intelligence, power, and disposition. My trainer has trained many newfs.
I realize the thread had more to do with wanting to have a dog you could breed to continue to have "one in the wings" when your older one needed to just be allowed to relax and rest. I am close to that stage with Bobby. He is seven. I am using him to teach one of our younger newfs many of the obedience and service "jobs." I can't get fully immersed with the younger one because we are still showing him to get his championship, which I find is excellent obedience training to start them with. I personally think that having a younger newf in the house to learn from the experienced one helps them to learn much faster. As proof, this young newf has already picked up on my convulsions and also warns me. The rest of the training will be easy.
I hope this thread creates more awareness of how valuable these dogs are as service dogs. You want a well-bred dog because of health issues,etc. You can be very thankful if you never have the need for a companion like this, but thankfully they are as they are.
My service dog "Bobby Shafto Gone to Sea" has been beyond a blessing to me. For those of you who do not know my situation, I will try to condense it. On my way to teach at the university I was rear-ended by a semi on a major interstate. He had an immense visual field but did not even brake before hitting me. I was stopped because traffic long before he arrived had come to a standstill, a common occurrence at that time of day. I praise God every day because when I saw the word Mack flying at my back window, I never thought I would be here to tell the story. Even my doctor said he didn't know how I lived and I "walked away from the wreck." Though, it took a long time to discover that I had severe post concussive stress syndrome and both of my lungs were filled with showers of huge blood clots, leaving me struggling to have enough energy and breath with so much damage to my lungs to get through each day.
Bobby warns me that I am going to have a convulsion 10 minutes before one hits when I feel nothing, giving me time to get safe and out of public view. He has even gotten me out of the bathtub. When I lie in bed after the warning, he places his front legs across mine so that I will not fall since the convulsions become much like a grand mal seizure. I can walk but have balance issues which he helps me with, if I fall, he knows how to come to me, place himself, and I drape over him so that he can lift me up. Because of my lungs, I can walk, but very short distances. When I know I am going someplace that requires a lot of walking or any length of standing, I use my wheelchair which he is trained to pull. One time he stopped directly in front of the wheelchair and would not move so he could alert me about a soon to arrive convulsion. He does not leave my side, knows when I am having bad days, and is on constant alert to my condition.
The day my doctor told me I should probably resign from the university because I was no longer going to be able to teach was devastating to say the least. Teaching for me was a passion, not a job. Bobby also has helped teach me about the cycles of life and new beginnings, how exciting they can be. I thank God every day for all that Bobby does and for giving me more time on this earth. I would not have near the independence that I currently have were it not for Bobby. The things I had to give up were difficult but God placed this beautiful dog in my life and showed me a way to keep a lot of my independence.
Trainers are currently using newfs much more than they used to because of their intelligence, power, and disposition. My trainer has trained many newfs.
I realize the thread had more to do with wanting to have a dog you could breed to continue to have "one in the wings" when your older one needed to just be allowed to relax and rest. I am close to that stage with Bobby. He is seven. I am using him to teach one of our younger newfs many of the obedience and service "jobs." I can't get fully immersed with the younger one because we are still showing him to get his championship, which I find is excellent obedience training to start them with. I personally think that having a younger newf in the house to learn from the experienced one helps them to learn much faster. As proof, this young newf has already picked up on my convulsions and also warns me. The rest of the training will be easy.
I hope this thread creates more awareness of how valuable these dogs are as service dogs. You want a well-bred dog because of health issues,etc. You can be very thankful if you never have the need for a companion like this, but thankfully they are as they are.
Your story is an inspiration.
