Teaching man’s best friend
A dog is said to be man’s best friend but one local student is training dogs to go above and beyond best friend level.
Memorial High School sophomore Brandon Gross has spent the past six months training Goose, a goldendoodle puppy, for a future career as a therapy dog. When he has completed his training, Goose will likely be serving as a therapy dog for special needs students at Jackson Center Schools.
To prepare his canine partner for this job, Gross has been doing everything he can to acclimate Goose to a number of environments that can be distracting for many dogs.
“I got Goose eight weeks after he was born so we’ve been together pretty much his whole life. My first goals were to get him associated with the world that we live in such as taking him to stores, restaurants, zoos, parks and anywhere else that you would normally go,” he said. “Now that I am training him to be around special needs kids, that (training) consists of building up his tolerance to loud noises, being tugged at, playing ball
and staying calm when voices are being raised.”
Gross added that this job seems to be a good fit for the Goldendoodle as Goose adapted to new environments quickly. He said that within the first month, Goose was used to going to these sorts of places.
“It really helps when they grow up going to stores,” said Gross. “To the dogs it seems normal because they have been doing it their whole lives.”
The teen also said he has been having good experiences from people understanding that Goose is working and not just a pet.
“When most people see a dog, their first reaction is to run up and pet it but the majority of people see that he has his red service vest on and realize he is working and either continue with their business or ask if they can pet (him),” he said. “I have heard a fair share of ‘awws’ when we go in public, especially from kids. Many parents tell their kids to ask first then pet or they will tell them that the dog is working.”
Keeping working dogs from constantly being petted helps keep them focused on their jobs so they don’t seek out attention from everyone they see.
While different than service dogs such as guide dogs or dogs that alert to medical conditions, therapy dogs still have many benefits for the people they interact with. The American Kennel Club states that therapy dogs help lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduce patient anxiety and increase levels of endorphins.
These animals can provide this service just through their presence — animals are known to have a calming effect on people — but can also be trained to perform tasks. For example, a therapy dog can be trained to lie down for pets, perform trick to provide a welcome distraction for patients or provide comforting paw pressure to someone struggling with anxiety.
Gross said that the finer aspects of Goose’s training will be finished by Jeremy Dulebohn, owner of Dulebohn Dog Training in Wapakoneta, as the new year rolls around. Gross said he will have about a monthlong break in training before a new litter of puppies are ready to start their training.
“I definitely want to train another dog,” he said. “I have always wanted to find work in the animal field and since the Dulebohns also trained my two dogs at home, they asked if I was willing to volunteer to help them train service dogs. Goose was the first dog I have trained.”
Pleased with his experience in training Goose and looking for a career working with animals, Gross is planning on enrolling in Tri Star’s animal health program and said he has a few careers in mind after graduation.
“I would love to train service dogs as I am doing now or possibly become a veterinarian or park ranger,” he said.
For now, his focus is finishing up work with his current fourlegged student and preparing to start all over again in 2021.