Sam Smith, "A Service Dog for Vann"
"Vann.s very proud of Sam. He.ll tell anyone Sam.s his service dog and we got her when she was two months," said Leslie Smith. Sam is a yellow Labrador that Leslie is training as a service dog for her son, Vann, 10, who has Down syndrome.
According to Leslie.s training materials, "A service dog is a professionally trained canine specifically taught to mitigate at least one limiting daily function of a person who is challenged by a disability."
Leslie is six months into a two year training commitment with Clay.s Canine Sidekicks located in Poway. The program meets three Saturdays a month. The classes focus on training based on the "click and treat" method along with field trips to get the dogs used to working in public.
The dogs are also taught basic things like the proper way to enter and exit a car, open a door, pick up an item along with other ways to assist their owners. When asked about Vann.s interactions with Sam, Leslie said, "He definitely works with her in training and giving simple commands. He always helps me get her in the car when we get ready to go. He makes her .wait,. then gives the command .car., she jumps in her cage, and then he gives her a treat. "
Leslie.s husband, Tim and her other two boys, Corbin, 20, and Zac, 17, are very supportive of Leslie.s efforts. "It was a little hard at first," said Leslie. "The boys wanted to participate in typical puppy behaviors with Sam, but you can.t engage in any aggressive type games. Now the boys are on board with the training. They use the proper commands. They see the value."
Sam.s a great ambassador for the service dog program. People approach Leslie and Sam all the time. "People are open and interested in Sam," said Leslie. When Sam.s out in public with her vest on, she.s working. When she.s at home, she.s just another dog.
The training is a lot of work. Leslie works with Sam every day for at least an hour to reinforce her training. "It takes your constant attention. You must work at it every day," said Leslie.
There are seventeen skill sets that Sam will learn in her training, but the most important one to Leslie is "Find a Lost Person." Every parent.s worst nightmare is a missing child. This is Leslie.s main motivation behind training Sam as a service dog. Another added benefit is that Sam is a natural ice breaker.
"As Vann gets older, it.s harder for him to connect with typical kids. Sam is a nice bridge for Vann to connect with them," said Leslie. "Like so many of our kids, Vann is very trusting. I see Sam being a nice protection for Vann as he gets older and more independent."
Contact Clay¡'s Canine Sidekicks at 760-788-4778
