MAP Service Dogs, A Path to a New Life...

Some of our Graduates:

Over the past years, MAP has worked with a variety of handlers and dogs.  Some of these handlers come to us with their dog already, and we agree that the dog would make a suitable service dog candidate and some of these handlers we helped to find the appropriate dog for their needs.  On this page we will just list the dog's name, to protect our clients.

James- James is our founder and head trainer's service dog.  He is the reason that MAP now exists.  James is a rescued Flat-Coated Retriever that came into his handler's life with a purpose.  From the time he was 5 months old he was her unofficial Emotional Support Dog, and at age 15 months completed his task and public access training to be called a Service Dog.  James' tasks have changed over the years to meet his handler's changing needs, and he is always willing to step up and meet the next challenge with a willing and happy attitude. 

Molly- Molly and her mom were one of the first teams that we trained here at MAP.  Molly is a border collie mix and her mom has MS.  Molly was trained to help her handler with balance work, retrieving, opening doors and many other daily tasks.  We recently got a nice e-mail from Molly's handler stating how well Molly has continued to work.

Ludwig-  Ludwig is a dog that MAP chose for his handler from a local rescue organization.  He is a Newfoundland mix and was trained to work with his handler's sight impairments.  His handler is legally blind, and Ludwig is her eyes.  He has been working as her guide for nearly 3 years and his handler tells us he is better behaved than the majority of 'big school' guides she meets!

Heilki-  Heilki is a German Shepherd Dog that we helped train for her handler with Lou Gehrig's Disease.  As his disease progressed, Heiki's skills changed to meet his needs.   

Roxy-  Roxy is a German Shepherd Dog generously donated by Vom Park GSDs.  Roxy came to us as an adult and was placed in our foster family program.  She did terrific there and was eventually trained through our Facility Program and placed with a woman in VT.  She has since moved to the West Coast and from what we here is doing well.

Indi-  Indi was another one of our Foster Home successes.  She was hand picked out of a accidental litter of golden retriever x Labrador retriever puppies when she was 8 weeks old.  She looks very much like a golden retriever.  After growing up in her wonderful foster home, Indi was trained through our Facility Program and placed with a young girl who has brittle bone disease.  With Indi at her side, she is able to successfully negotiate without the use of her wheel chair.  Indi does brace work, mobility stability, retrieving and many other tasks for her partner. 

Zoe-  Zoe was one of our Owner-Trainer dogs.  She was a retriever x pointer type mix, and her handler uses a wheel chair and crutches.  She was trained to help her handler pull her chair, to brace, to retrieve, to open doors and much more.  Sadly, Zoe passed away from cancer about a year ago.  She is sorely missed.  Her handler has a new young lab that she is training in hopes of him being her next working companion. 

Holly-  Holly is a very special little rescued Shetland Sheepdog.  Holly's handler has Rheumatoid Arthritis.  You would wonder what a 12lb sheltie could do to help?  Well, Holly is amazing.  She is a first class retriever!  We have photos of her with the TV remote, giving it to her handler, and the remote is bigger than her head!  Her handler is a grade school teacher, and Holly will collect the papers from the students and bring them to her 'mom.'  She picks up anything asked and has been taught to place her front feet on her handlers leg, while still holding the object, and hand it to her handler.  Holly also turns on and off light switches, opens doors and drawers and many other things.   

Dakota-  Dakota is a Companion Dog that we helped train for a young woman.  She is a Labrador retriever mix and a very sweet and gentle dog. 

Duncan-  Duncan is the first hearing dog that MAP has ever trained.  He is a cairn terrier and belongs to a hearing impaired client in NY.  Duncan and his mom would travel to our facility in MA for a weekend of training every month while he was still learning.  He learned to alert his mom to many sounds such as the microwave, the door bell, her name, emergency sirens and much more.  They recently flew to a conference for people with hearing impairments and he was an excellent ambassador for hearing dogs!  Way to go Duncan! 

With our successes there have been many failures as well.  We would like to thank each and every one of those dogs for giving his or her best effort.  Unfortunately there is about an 80% fail rate for a service dog simply because of the incredibly demanding physical and mental requirements for being a service animal. 

MAP has a number of dogs in-training to be service dogs at this time.  It is hoped that these dogs will meet the physical and mental requirements of being a working Service Dog and partner to their handlers.  Only time will tell. 

Maplewood Assistance Partners, Inc

katrin@maplewooddog.com