Rescued dog gets a new 'leash' on life

CELINA - A big yellow Lab recently rescued from an area pound has been given a second chance.

Abandoned by his owner for being "too big and rambunctious," Jackson is being taught by Celina dog trainer Jackie Jutte to be a service dog.

Jutte heard about Jackson through a local rescue group that picked him up from the pound. She went to see the dog, which has an even, friendly temperament, and knew immediately he was a good candidate, she said.

Since she got Jackson about a month ago, Jutte has been acquainting him with different sites, sounds and situations, and teaching him basic commands.

"I've taken him to the courthouse with a marble floor and a school playground to expose him to different types of surfaces, to Menards because they have an elevator and to Walmart and restaurants because they have food," she said. "Because he's so highly food-motivated, restaurants are extremely hard for him."

Service dogs wear a specially marked vest and typically are allowed access to most establishments when wearing one, Jutte said. While working, they should not be petted by anyone other than their owner and are trained not to approach anyone. A dog straying from its handler could pose a danger to the person who needs it for balance or support.

Jutte recently brought the dog to a coffee shop in Celina. Jackson walked under the table where she was sitting and lay down on her command. It took awhile to get the 1-year-old dog - still in its puppy stage - to get settled.

"The whole object is nobody should know he is there," Jutte said.

Several people approached the canine to pet him. Jutte politely shooed them away, explaining that he was working.

"Sometimes people are harder to train than the dogs," she quipped.

When he's out of the vest and not working, he is allowed to play.

"Then he's allowed to be petted. He can jump in the pond and play with the kids and a ball," she said. "He's allowed to be a dog."

Another challenge for Jackson has been his nose. He actively seeks out scents and wants to follow them. All dogs are scent-oriented, but some are more so than others, she said. Jackson's penchant for following his nose and locating items like dog toys and her dropped cell phone in a 5-acre area led Jutte to look into another potential path - search and rescue work.

Jutte recently contacted some search and rescue dog organizations to see if they were interested in Jackson. One is interested and plans are being made to have Jutte and the dog observed by a representative to see if Jackson is a good candidate. If accepted, the pair would train together under a mentor. If they pass certification, the two could remain together.

"We just don't know yet," Jutte said of the new development.

If Jackson's destiny is to become a service dog, she will train him for four or five more months before he is matched with a person. She would train him another five months to perform tasks tailored to his owner's specific needs such as turning on and off light switches, removing his owner's socks, retrieving objects, supporting a person with limited walking ability or walking alongside a wheelchair.

At that point, Jackson would take his certification test. If he passes, he would be released to his owner. Jutte would then perform house visits for a few weeks to train the owner in voice and hand commands for Jackson.

If he does not pass service dog certification, he will re-enter the local rescue group's program, which would try to match him with an owner, Jutte said.

If Jackson becomes a certified service dog, Jutte believes he would work best with a young child because of his playful, active nature.

"Part of me thinks he would do great with search and rescue, but my heart says a child would really love him as a service dog," she said.

If he does not gain acceptance to the search and rescue training program, Jutte will immediately start looking for a match for Jackson as a service dog.

"He is ready now to be matched," she said. "There is a waiting list of people wanting service dogs."

Jutte has worked with dogs for many years and operates a kennel and doggy day care at the large rural Celina area property where she lives with her husband and young daughter.

Jutte worked for an animal behaviorist before moving to the local area from England 13 years ago.