Pet of the Month: Hunter the Service Dog in Training
Meet Hunter, a 5-month-old English Labrador Retriever named in honor of his sponsor’s dad. This pup is the son of champion show dogs and is being raised and trained by Mary & Andy Lange as a mobility service dog under the expert guidance of Pawsitive Teams, a local nonprofit organization designed “... to enhance the lives of individuals with special needs in San Diego County by using the skills of highly trained service, facility, and therapy dogs.”
“I’ve always wanted to raise a service dog,” Mary said, “but I was afraid it would be too tough to let it go once fully trained.” After recently saying goodbye to their 14-year-old German Shepherd, their sixth dog to pass away, Mary’s perspective changed. “As difficult as it will be to give Hunter up once the training is complete, it will be easier when I know the dog is going to help someone in need and live a rewarding and purposeful life.”
Hunter will be training for two to three years to learn advanced commands, like picking up dropped keys, retrieving a cane or wheelchair that’s out of reach, opening and closing doors or cupboards, activating adaptive switches to aid in daily life, and other specialized tasks as required. Mary added, “It’s been quite a while since we raised a puppy this young, and while it will be challenging, the results will be well worth our effort.”