By Val Fralick<\/p>\n
Like many retirees, Craigie GinLite (aka, Reggie) was looking for something to do.\u00a0 Like an increasing number of people afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis, Keleigh Miller was looking for a service dog for balance support.\u00a0 Indeed, it sometimes \u201ctakes a village\u201d to complete the puzzle.<\/p>\n
Keleigh\u2019s MS had been slowly progressing over the past 15 years.\u00a0 Around two years ago, a friend introduced Keleigh to professional dog trainer Betsy Howell of Red Fern Canines. Betsy is a former training coordinator for Susquehanna Service Dogs, and she agreed to begin the search for a tall, trainable dog with a gentle temperament.\u00a0 Of course, retired-racer adopters immediately think, Greyhound<\/em>!\u00a0 That never crossed Keleigh\u2019s mind. However, while most Greyhound adopters are aware of just how clever our dogs can be, we do not expect them to aim-to-please as would, say, a Labrador Retriever.\u00a0 Thankfully, that never crossed Betsy Howell\u2019s mind.\u00a0 As the wheels-were-turning for the proper dog, Keystone president Dianne Shadle added the \u201coil\u201d of possibility for a Greyhound to be a suitable choice.\u00a0 Four months into the Greyhound hunt, four-year-old Reggie was hand-picked in April of 2010. Betsy fostered Reggie for one month to teach him basic commands. On May 14, 2010, Reggie moved in with Keleigh on a trial basis towards his second career.<\/p>\n The average service dog arrives at its placement fully trained at a cost of $5000 to $15000. In this case, Keystone Greyhounds donated Reggie\u2019s adoption, and Betsy offered discounted services for Keleigh, herself, to take on the training and certification process.\u00a0 Keleigh was extremely pleased, and pleasantly surprised, by how quickly Reggie learned commands and bonded to her.\u00a0 Along the way, dog behavior consultant Lee Livingood stepped in to help with specific lifestyle issues.\u00a0 One of these issues involved Keleigh patiently sitting on the back seat of the car with treats until Reggie felt secure enough to join her there and, eventually, travel in the car.\u00a0 Several of Keleigh\u2019s friends with Labradors bemoan things that they can\u2019t convince their dogs to do.\u00a0 Keleigh firmly believes that all training is possible with patience and repetition \u2013 although every dog may not be as talented as Reggie.<\/p>\n Aiming for official service dog certification, Keleigh and Reggie incorporated training into everyday life.\u00a0 They focused on ten-minute intervals, and would extend the training time if Reggie continued to be enthusiastic.\u00a0 Frankly, no one expected Reggie to excel at retrieving things.\u00a0 After all, Greyhounds are notorious hoarders.\u00a0 However, now when Reggie hears Keleigh command, \u201cFind it,\u201d he returns wiggling, wagging his tail, and obviously pleased with his success at retrieving the dropped keys, pens, etc.\u00a0 Sometimes he gets a treat but, mostly, he relishes her happy tones of praise.\u00a0 The word, \u201cBrace\u201d, alerts Reggie to position his body and legs for sturdy support when Keleigh needs help to rise from a chair or to regain her balance.\u00a0 Reggie also learned to lean into Keleigh when he senses balance issues as they walk.\u00a0 While most adopters have learned to stop on a stairway to allow the manic scramble as Greyhounds make their way, Reggie proved to have the sensitivity to match Keleigh step-for-step beside her for support. By September 15th<\/sup>, 2010, Reggie had proven his mettle at being the right dog for Keleigh\u2019s needs, and the adoption was solidified.<\/p>\n After taking a training hiatus for the holiday season, Keleigh and Reggie started trial-tests in early 2011. On April 18, 2011, Reggie passed the service dog public access test, and was certified as an official balance dog.\u00a0 While wearing his \u201cRed Fern Canines\u201d service dog harness, Reggie can now go everywhere that Keleigh goes.\u00a0 Neither Keleigh nor Reggie imagined that the next steps in life would be together, but thanks to a coterie of confident matchmakers Reggie has found work that is even more significant than his former career, and Keleigh has gained balance by leaning on a friend.<\/p>\n (Editor\u2019s note: \u00a0<\/strong>WW Key Kap Rico (aka Lucky) is the second Keystone dog who will be certified as a service\/support dog.\u00a0 He is presently in training with Rosanne Foy and will graduate in a few months.\u00a0 He will be adopted by an elderly woman who uses a walker and needs him for support.)<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Val Fralick Like many retirees, Craigie GinLite (aka, Reggie) was looking for something to do.\u00a0 Like an increasing number of people afflicted with Multiple Sclerosis, Keleigh Miller was looking for a service dog for balance support.\u00a0 Indeed, it sometimes … Continue reading