would your cocker make a good assistance dog?

[allylou]

Not quite sure if this is the right place to put this thread....

In March we will be getting our first lab puppy  from the Dogs for the Disabled - the idea is we socialise it for a year before she moves on to her proper training with the society .

Anyway, yesterday i went to a training/info session with them and was really interested to hear that they have 2 working cockers going through their program at the moment. The plan is for these dogs to be placed in partnerships with children who are disabled. They've chosen cockers both for their size, fun. loyalty etc  whilst also looking carefully at their lines. It got me thinking whether i could imagine my own two in this role and i think the answer is probably no; one has to high a hunt drive, whilst the other can be too timid. However, i can completely see why a cocker (worker or show) could be really successful in this role. Interested to hear what others have too say. 

[Top Barks]

two of mine would be fab

[Annette]

Mine would need a very robust owner!!! Probably a fail then!

[Jenna]

Sounds like the perfect job for Bailey. He is so gentle, and his energy levels don't overpower his common sense. 

[supergirl]

Roly would do well in this and can be very helpful already - can fetch the remote   He's very good a getting things that you point to, even little black dogs that do a runner with a dead rabbit

[Rats and Dogs]

Duggie and Tia would willingly help anyone eat their dinner!

Mine would be hopeless, Duggie would want to play tug with everything, and would gnash their ankles, and Tia wouldn't be bothered to get out her bed to assist anyone. They might make good PAT dogs though, once Duggie has grown up a bit and calmed down.

[*jean*]

Rolos brother already is! 

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Well done you for fostering the lab for a year, it sounds really interesting

I can categorically say, without doubt, that there is no way Dave would ever make a good assistance dog... ever. Unless anyone needs a dog to trip them up and eat all their dinner My last cocker was far too emotional, big and bouncy too so that's zero suitable cockers here

Tasha's Weim is an assistance dog, but I don't think it would be Normy's cuppa, putting so much effort into being misunderstood and huffy would probably distract her from the task in hand

[Emma xx]

Meg would be a rubbish one all she wants to do is sleep when in the house (unless you're eating ), and is a boring so and so when out walking . She is very sweet but just dont think she would suit a child looking for a playmate or an adult who would want a more 'alert' dog . I love her more than anything though xxxx

[Joules]

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf use a lot of cockers 

The only situation when Coco would make a good assistance dog is if they needed someone to steal food for them - so no, she would be rubbish, far too easily distracted and unruly

[allylou]

Lovely to read all your replies[

quote author=*jean* link=topic=69276.msg1018848#msg1018848 date=1264699777]
Rolos brother already is! 
[/quote]

is it through a particular organisation? The more i learn and see what dogs are capable of doing the more i fall in love with them - yesterday they showed a video of some working partnerships and i nearly cried  because the dogs were just so clever and gentle

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf use a lot of cockers 

i didn't know that - Marley's very good at barking when the doorbell and phone rings 

[JaspersMum]

Jasper may not formally be recognised as an assistance dog but that's what he is to my son.  He got DS to go out, taking part in fun shows without me being in the ring with him, I can leave them at home (for short periods) as son feels safe at home if the dog(s) are there with him.

My understanding of assistance dogs, certainly those trained for help with autistic children, is not just to be able to get things or draw attention, but to enable a child to be able to live a little bit more independently. 

Heidi is now also drawn to son (although it took a while as he can be a bit vocal which Heidi didn't like) and Charlie also seems to like to seek him out (and enjoys going into the special needs school).

Louie is less of a person dog so I'd be less likely to cast him in the role.

[Nicola]

I think Rodaidh could be, he's pretty high energy but he's very obedient, patient and biddable and will do pretty much anything for me

I don't think Caoimhe would be suitable, she's very clever and trainable but she's very high drive and 'worky', I picked her as a candidate for trialling and most of the traits that make her good for that mean that she wouldn't be an ideal assistance dog. Tilly would be a nightmare, she only does something if she can see the point in it and she can be a stubborn, huffy moo, she'd probably decide she had better ways to use her time and leave the poor person stranded

I think it's a fab thing to do though, any programme or feature that has these dogs in it always makes me go a bit teary

[Joules]

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf use a lot of cockers   

i didn't know that - Marley's very good at barking when the doorbell and phone rings 

I don't think making a noise is a lot of help for a deaf person 

I have seen the Hearing Dogs demo at various shows and they often have a gorgeous working cocker doing it.  They will wake their owner up when the alarm goes off, take them to the phone or the door when they need to but if the smoke alarm goes off, they are trained to alert the person without taking them to the source of the sound so they would not lead them into danger   Obviously a very lively, active breed is not necessarily a problem for a deaf person in the same way it would be for a blind or physically disabled person so working cockers are popular.  In fact one of my neighbours fostered a bitch for Hearing Dogs when she had cockerpoo pups for them - they often cross them with a poodle because they are both intelligent breeds and also the allergy thing. 

[SkyeSue]

Chloe would be hopeless.....she could only assist in causing mayhem 

If a person was in need of mega cocker cuddles and kisses, she would be perfect, other than that....forget it