Fido is a sweet-faced purebred West German Show Line German Shepherd with rich red-colored markings and an irresistible wag that involves tail and torso.
Fido’s handler is totally smitten with his dog.
He accompanies them everywhere, sporting a color-coordinated collar, leash and back pack. Fido sleeps next to his handler's bed on his own blanket. The end of the family room , on the floor, nearest the door is his special spot to park, observe and await a seizure.
With his round, piercing eyes and soulful demeanor, in his handlers’ mind, Fido has deep, inner thoughts. His handler swear that he worries about his well-being, ponders the meaning of life, and is saddened by tragic events.
Hence, when they attempted to persuade Fido that a cushy dog bed might be a reasonable alternative to the floor, his moist sorrow-filled eyes convinced them that he was sorely mistaken. After all, he as much as said “Ah, sure, that’s okay. You go ahead and sit on the furniture. I don’t mind being on the floor. The sofa is for family members and I’m the service dog,“ followed by a heavy sigh.
After every seizure training routine, Fido heads to the jar in the kitchen where he knows the treats are kept. He stares at it, willing it to open. If eye contact with the cabinet doesn’t produce the desired result, a few short woofs usually compel his owners to cough up his rightful cookie. Once, his handler tried to ignore his entreaties but Fido was so adamant, refusing to move from the spot, that he gave in. After all, Fido might be traumatized if he was denied this ritual.
On walks, Fido prefers a certain route that takes him the long way around the neighborhood, past his favorite vertical objects that would obviously not be there if Fido didn’t water them daily. If his Handler tried to take him in a different direction, he sits in the road with his back to them. Sit-down strikes are not very effective with Fido’s handler, who is not embarrassed and will make the service dog obey every command.
Are YOU a well-trained handler?
Rachael Baum contributed to this article.
