Julie and Blue

Julie adopted Blue from a Denver shelter and took the small female mix breed through an obedience class there.  When Julie sustained a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down, she moved to Michigan with Blue to live with her parents.  She eventually found employment and she looks forward to someday moving into her own apartment.  In preparation for that, she contacted Sterling Service Dogs for assistance in training Blue to perform service dog tasks.  Although a large dog might have been able to assist in some ways that her small brown, tan and white mix breed couldn't, Julie felt Blue had loyally been with her through thick and thin and she did not want to contemplate another dog at this time.

It is rare for a disabled person to have a suitable dog, previous training experience and someone in their household willing to assist with the mobility issues involved in teaching certain tasks and commands, but in such cases, we are willing to help the person to accomplish their training goals.  After Blue passed our Evaluation on health, temperament and aptitude, we enrolled Julie in our Service Dog Team Education Course.  We coached Julie and her mother on how to teach wheelchair heeling, so Julie's hands could be free to propel the chair forward while Blue trots alongside on a loose leash.  We also taught Julie our special techniques for persuading a dog to pick up dropped objects and perform a variety of other useful tasks.  After a year of schooling, Julie and Blue graduated, becoming a certified team.

On the day of the certification test, Julie not only put on the required demonstration of three tasks, but she also provided us with a video keepsake of how Blue has become an important component in her independent living plan.  Blue will pick up anything her partner drops or points to, which is of great value for Julie can't bend down herself due to the brace she must wear since having back surgery in 2002.  Blue goes under the bed to drag out Julie's boots each morning and helps her get dressed by bringing her other articles of clothing.  Blue can tug open interior doors for Julie.  The energetic dog will make several trips to the front room to retrieve all the mail, bringing it to Julie on command when the postman shoves it through the brass slot in the front door.  Barking for help is another task in Blue's repertoire.  She can bring bottled water to Julie from the kitchen.  In addition, with the help of a strap, Blue will bring a portable phone to Julie in her bedroom, so she will always be able to call for help in a crisis.  

This team certainly shows that small dogs can become capable service dogs too.  We are proud of their success.