train doberman to be reading dog?
I'm going to be a school psychologist and will own a doberman pinscher when I graduate. I want to give my dobie a job and will train him/her to be a reading dog for elementary school children. Where can I find information on how to train my doberman to be a reading dog?
I think more important than training will be choosing the correct puppy. If the puppy has the temperamental aptitude for this, than all you really need is a "down" command. Not training, per se, but proper and extensive socialization with all ages and sizes of humans will be requisite. An early education which includes as many different social situations as possible is requisite. Go as many places and see as many things and meet as many people and animals as possible by 14 weeks (when the "easy" window of opportunity for socialization begins to close). All early experience should be trauma-free (help kids behave appropriately, don’t allow interaction with animals which are not puppy-safe, etc.). Encourage and support the puppy to help it face and overcome anything spooky… do NOT comfort a scared puppy!
I would choose a puppy whose mother was very calm and nurturing (if you poke around, you will find the science behind this), whose breeder was well-versed in puppy-rearing (early neurological stimulation, Rule of 7s, etc.).
My male would have chosen a job like this above any other, and would have been the absolute best. My girl (raised exactly the same) would be completely unsuitable. Pick the right puppy!
You need to be aware that often times school districts are not terribly receptive to certain breeds of dogs being in the school. I have owned Dobermans for many decades and they are a wonderfully intelligent, loving breed when bred for stability but the sad fact is, there are those people who don’t see it that way – that do not know the breed and because of the issues of a few idiots allowing their dogs to cause problems, of a number of breeds, along with the stupidity of people who stereotype different breeds, it might be hard for you to get approval of your school district for this activity. I know a number of people who utilize various breeds for detection work and therapy work and they are not allowed to use certain breeds of dogs, Dobermans being one, so just be aware of that.
Training is training – you need to figure out what task it is you are wanting the dog to accomplish and break down that task and train it. I am assuming you want a dog to help encourage children to read and not to actually read as dogs do not have verbal capabilities nor the cognitive capability to read written language and relay what is written.