Some people idolize dogs such as Old Yeller, Lassie or Benji, but these dogs are fictional and most real dogs can't measure up. But that's not true of the canine team at Alaska Assistance Dogs.
Alaska Assistance Dogs trains dogs to assist people with disabilities. Trained dogs can flip light switches on and off, carry books and bags, as well as anticipate the needs of their human partners. But it's not just the dogs who are special. Their trainers are, too. Alaska Assistance Dogs are trained by a volunteer staff of youth ranging in age from 8 to 18. These kids put their heart and soul into training dogs. They do it for many reasons--the love of dogs, the love of helping people or just because they say it's the right thing to do.
"I love to be around dogs. I like to train them and I like to teach them new things," 9-year-old Chayanne Burgess said. "I like working with them at the stores because you get to go out. And when people come and say it's really cool that you're doing that, I like that."
Fifteen-year-old Jessica Ladd is the most veteran AAD youth volunteer.
"I love training animals, and it's really fun to see how they help people when they're actually placed," Ladd said. "That's why I do it. I'll probably decide I'm going to be a vet, because I love working with animals so much."
Adult Carol Shay is a certified assistance dog trainer. She started the Wasilla program several years ago. She said the program starts by measuring the potential and capability of a dog based on its behavior. Contrary to popular belief, just because a dog is trained doesn't mean it's a dog suited to the life of assisting. Shay said you can teach a dog to sit, but you can't teach it how to serve. That skill comes from within.
"You can have a beautifully obedience-trained dog, but that's not a service dog," Shay said. "A service dog is a special animal that wants to serve that person and actually anticipates the needs of their person. That is the essence of being a service dog."
The teens train the dogs two times a week. One session is spent at a kennel while the other is spent out in the community. Since assistance dogs go everywhere with their masters, they need to learn how to deal with everyday human environments.
On a recent weekday afternoon, AAD teen trainers took the dogs to a busy grocery store.
The kids got down to business while shoppers looked on in delight. Imagine the temptations. The dogs are guided by 20-pound bags of dog food, household cleaners, as well as meat and seafood aisles. They're not allowed to follow their noses and get into trouble. Shay explained this is an important part of training.
"We let them smell the unusual smells--the meat counter, the deli, chemicals. We go through the garden section and the auto section," she said. "If the dog veers away or is distracted, it could possibly cause a problem with their person with a disability."
All of the Alaska Assistance Dogs are given free of cost to the people in need of them.
Doggie do gooders to the rescue
