The Birth of Classic Dog Training, and the Stories of Jenn,

Finn, and of Laddie

When Jerri Carter started into the work of rescuing Border Collies, she primarily looked for homes that would be active for the BCs and homes where they would make the rescued dog a member of the family.  Then, a personal bout with osteo-arthritis and psoriatic arthritis caused her to change direction with the rescue work.  Jerri suddenly needed the help of a dog, and her own dog, Jenn, filled that purpose.

When Jerri needed a larger dog, her BC, Finn, came to her rescue.  Finn became a Service Dog extraordinaire providing stability when she walked and setting off the "doggie alarm" if she fell.

Thus was the beginning of Classic Service Dog Network… Recycled dogs with a purpose!

Laddie was a stray BC and his people never tried to find him.  Laddie had no retrieve drive at all (which is a requirement for the service dogs) but he wanted to be with humans continuously.  It was this quality which made me bend the rules and I accepted him into the program.  He was taught to retrieve using positive rewards and he was placed with a woman who was a kidney transplant recipient.  She also was diabetic and she had compromised eye site because of it.  She would drop things on the floor, and Laddie was taught to retrieve anything that was on the floor without a command since his person could not see where anything that she dropped landed.  He was magnificent at this and he took his job seriously.  When his services were no longer needed, he went to an older person who had severe rheumatoid arthritis.  When she passed away, Laddie became the lone sentry at her funeral and at the conclusion of the service he gave a 21 bark salute to bid his farewell to his mistress.  Laddie is now with me as my service dog and he is one of the most favored dogs and stories that I have ever had the pleasure to rescue and train.  Thanks to Nancy Fitts who taught him to retrieve and to Sandra Rawlings who helped get him out of the shelter.

Post script: After 8 years, Laddie got to see his original rescuer, Sandra, this past month.  It was delightful to see the joy on her face to see how wonderfully he had turned out and how incredibly loved he is.