Even though I love the lab breed I am very happy to say that on friday the 15th of November I was able to save up enough money to send in a deposit for my female white shepard pup. She is not even born yet. She is due December 15. And if I can save up the money I will be getting her in the middle of Febuary. One of the reasons I am so excited is she will be my first medical alert dog. I never leave the house anymore and now thanks to this pup, whom I will be training myself, I will be able to be "normal". And go to resteraunts and movies and malls and such. Jump for joy. So keep your fingers crossed that we will be able to save up the money. She is an expensive pup, 1000 american which is about 1500 canadian. And then I have to figure on another 500 american for all her service dog gear like suport harness, backpack, vests, and patches. SO this is a really expensive endever. Plus my husband got some really bad news. He only makes $9/hr and his boss told all the workers that there will be no more over time. We live on the overtime, it pays the bills. So now my service dog/angel looks even farther away. One person online told us to ask all our family and friends that instead of gifts this year to send the money they would spend on a gift in a card to go to the dog fund. We don't have many famliy and friends but we asked and they will but we are wondering if anyone else would have any suggestions? This dog will make it so that I can be in the world agian. Any suggest would be happily recieved and tried.

Why do you need to have an expensive pedigree to be a medical alert dog-many service dogs over here are unwanted x breed puppies.
My concern is that if you cannot afford the dog can you afford its upkeep? I don't mean to be hard but dogs are expensive to keep and the initial outlay is but a drop in the ocean compared to the expense of keeping a dog healthy and happy for the rest of its life
Good luck..hope things work out for you
Archer

First answer to your question is the reason for the pedigree is that it is hard enough to train a dog to be an assistance dog when you know the back ground and the type of training it's breed requires. I have worked with rescue dogs all my life and they are not always as reliable as a dog that is raised as a puppy and has all teh health garentees. Yes we can afford the vet care and upkeep, like I said I have a rescued dog among others I have saved. It is the initial cost of the pup with all it's equipment that I can't handle. I don't want a rescue or mix breed because I wouldn't know it's past and I would have to worry about the health and such. With the breeder I have she has a garentee agianst any hip problems and such that if anything should arise then we get a new pup or our money back. plus alot of her dogs have gone on to be assistance dogs. For this kind of work I want a dog and breed I can rely on, not a rescue or cross breed where you have the past or the breeding defects to worry about. But thank you for your reply.

Just wanted to say im glad you will be able to do all the things you will want to :) pup will give you some freedom just wanted to say goodluck and let us know how puppy is helping you get on:)

Thank you for saying that. I can't wait to get her and begin a new life. Things will be so much better.

Even though you are raising this puppy yourself there is no guarantee (regardless of breeding background, healthchecks etc...) that this dog will have what it takes to train to be a reliable medical alert dog. You are taking a HUGE gamble if your finances are stretched.
Working dogs can fail at many different levels for a variety of reasons - despite being shaped as a youngster. Puppy walkers for guide dogs etc... can tell you that not every puppy brought on goes on to become operational.
You would be better off starting with a puppy a few months old who already shows the temperament and potential to fulfill your needs.
Lara x

I am not taking as much of a risk as you may think. First I choose a top breeder who is known for having her puppies go on to be assistance dogs, therapy dogs, police dogs among other things. The breeder knows her pup is going to be used as an assistance dog so when she does her personality test at 6 weeks of age, she will be making sure she puts aside the pup that shows the best marks on the temperment test for this work. Which is something she has proven to be really good at. I checked her references to make sure. Plus before she sends me the pup, at 8 weeks of age, she will already be house trained and crate trained, used to the feel of a collar and leash, been around loads of people and animals, been to many different places, micro chipped, tatooed, 2 sets of shots and has great health garentees for the life of the dog. The cost I am paying actually is cheap compared to most pure breed dogs in the states because white sheperds are not seen as a qualifying breed for shows. Plus I have a back ground in dog training. So I am well prepared for what I have to do. On top of that I have several qualified trainers who will be helping me for free along with other disabled people who have trained their own dogs. So I am well prepared and ready.

On a great note I just got an email from the breeder telling me the bitch is definately pregnant and is due for December 15th. She also said that she has gotten my deposit. So I am definately getting my assistance dog. I just need to get the money together. Christmas time is the time for love and charity. The time to help your fellow man. I have very limitted funds but I am helping an elderly lady with several pets who is disable. She does not have enough money coming in to feed her pets and herself. So even though it means some bills get put off or we do with less for christmases and b-days we pay every month for her pets food and we buy her groceries along with making and freezing healthy meals for her. She was worried at first when I told her I was trying to save up the money to get my assistance dog/pup that we would stop helping her but I will never stop helping her. I instead am looking for other charitable people to help me as I help others. To me this is the meaning of Christmas. Helping your fellow man.

Hmmm.

I wonder .......

Ever heard the saying "Charity Begins At Home".

To me this means giving to something close to our hearts (home) rather than responding to a begging letter from someone we don't know who is supposedly buying an expensive "object" rather than looking for something that may fit the bill more suitably and economically.

Christine
PS, Shadowboxer - I nearly posted this to start with but thought I had misread as no one else responded to it as a begging letter, with this second mail there is little doubt.

The email address is hidden so I dont know how anyone would be able to contact the poster to give money ..thats why I didn't think of it as a begging letter ;)

Thats because it is not a begging letter. I am asking for advice on how to get donations but all I am getting here is insults. In another forum they are setting up a way for people to send me donations. The forum owner has contacted me per his request on the forum and I sent him my information along with pictures of myself and family. But that forum only has 15 people so he and I have agreed that there may not be much he can do. I was just so happy that he was willing to try and help me. At this time of year even just the thought of helping someone even if you can't is just as wonderful as actually helping someone. Even when people on the other forums just say they send me their well wishes and hope I get my pup and training gear it puts a smile on my face and I send my thanks. Just knowing that for a few minutes I was in their hearts was enough. So I am trying large forums with the hopes that I can either get more ideas or donations. I didn't give out my email just like I won't give out my address and phone # to just anyone. When someone requests my email then I will give it. But I am not going to give it to a whole board of people. I have tried every suggestion people have given me and will keep trying the suggestions. This is the season of hope and I am going to keep hope alive in my heart till the money is due for the pup and I need the gear. As for an expensive pedigree dog check out the americanand canadian standards. The white sheperd is not recognized. So compared to most working breed dogs this one is extremely cheep. Anyway Happy Holidays Everyone

My sentiments exactly.

What do we think???? JMO i really dont think people should beg, i am sorry if this offends any one, if thie breeder knows it is going for the reason given why is she/he charging so much?

I wish you well with your new pup, but I do think it unlikely that your pup will be house trained at 8 weeks, so don't be too disappointed, as such a young pup will not have complete control over their bowels and bladder. :)

I'm sure if you need any help in the advice area, you will find it here.

liberty :)

Thank you so much Liberty. I really apprecaite your comments and yes I know she won't be completely house trained the lady will have started her on a schedule for feedings and potty training schedule. She will be on this schedule for bout 2 weeks before I get her so when she comes here she will be on the exact same schedule so she should be able to adjust faster and have less accidents. But I agree with you. Anyway Happy Holidays

Good luck in getting more to your life!! It sounds as though you have really thought things through and I agree that unless you have some knowledge of characterists about the breed it can be even more difficult to train. Best Wishes - Jacky