I have an assistant dog AMA

[MyBearIsCalledTeddy]

Due to disabilities I have an assistant dog who is my absolute rock and I wouldn't be able to manage without him.

AMA

He sounds great.

What breed is he?

Did he need a lot of training?

What kind of things does he do for you?

Is he your first assistant dog ?
Is there a strict routine or a way you need to be with them ? Such as not allowing strangers to pet him.

Was he trained, assigned and provided by a charity/external organisation (like Guide Dogs or Hearing Dogs are), or did you train him yourself?

He is a black Labrador. He was trained by Hearing Dogs as I'm deaf but I'm also physically disabled and he helps with so much. He can pull washing out of washing machine and into a basket, fetches things... He knows around 100 different objects such as tv remote, post (when the postman comes he brings it me) etc. He wakes me up in the mornings when my alarm goes off by pulling my quilt off me, he lets me know when the doorbell goes. He doesn't 'need to do as much now as my kids are all 7+ so help a lot more.

Yes he is my first assistant dog.

He wears a coat that says he's working when we are out and not too many people pat him but when they do I'm ok with that it doesn't affect him as he knows by his coat he's working.

Has he ever been in an emergency situation eg telling you when a smoke alarm is going off?

He has warned me twice when the smoke alarm sounded but that was food burning not an actual fire!

That’s good he still alerted you though! Does he have to have regular training so he doesn’t forget anything?

Nope no regular training as everything I need him for he does on a daily basis.

That’s great, thanks Teddy. Working animals always make me feel a bit weepy, tbh. Not for sinister reasons but just because they always look so focused. It really gets me. It’s a wonderful scheme that promotes independence and gives companionship too. Fantastic.

Do you consider him a ‘pet’ as well as a working animal?