Feed your dog

Text Box: SKANSEN’S YOUTHFUL “SOJIE”
A STANDARD SCHNAUZER’S STORY

As you may already know, the standard schnauzer is by far the oldest variety of the schnauzer, about 500 years of recorded history. In Europe, this size is very popular as it makes a great apartment dog and still is a great guard dog despite its medium size (35-55lbs). Here in the USA it is still rare which is ok, but we hope dogs like Sojie will be recognized and families who think this size schnauzer may be right for them, please let us know. I’ve bred this variety for 50+ years. Please read Sojie’s story.

Text Box:                 Sojie was just past a failed pregnancy (14 puppies) and needed a new career. She was 18 mo. old when I adopted her. Since then she has become my service dog. I have MS and have trouble with walking and balance. Sojie wears a harness and pulls me along when I need it. She helps me balance when standing (by keeping the leash taut), and is very helpful in keeping my balance on curbs. She pulls what ever I have to transport, grocery carts, luggage, etc. I have occasionally asked her to pull me in a wheelchair. She does beautifully on tile, but pulling hefty me and my wheelchair over carpet is a little tough. She got lots of smiles as she towed me around the Smithsonian museum earlier this year. (Though I clearly need to work with her some more on going around corners without running me into the wall…) She travels beautifully and has charmed the flight crews when we fly. It seems like every toddler in the cabin must stop for a visit. After the Skansen nursery, human youngsters are nothing new and she handles that beautifully as well.
        I was recently at a bay area MS meeting and got several questions about my “MS dog.” Folks there were very interested and I’ve had more than one person take Sojie for a “test drive.” They were all excited by the possibilities. I’m writing to tell you this because I’ve been telling folks about your kennel, website, and the Schnauzer’s history as a working dog. There has been a lot of interest. Your website will definitely be a resource.
Text Box:         Service dogs for MS are new thanks to the Americans with Disabilities act. I have not seen and not heard of another schnauzer service dog. (Other than the one schnauzer cancer sniffer, I have not heard of schnauzers in this area at all.) The ADA says anyone with a disability can use a dog. The technical name for what Sojie does is “mobility work;” that is, she helps me balance and walk. There is no school training dogs for MS patients (yet) and there really isn’t a history of dogs doing this work. I trained Sojie myself. I wanted you to know that you can add this to Skansen’s resume. Sojie is a pioneer!

                She is ideal for an MS patient because she is very strong and yet, compact. The bigger breeds used for the blind are “too big” for some folk. Sojie can pull me, but I can pick her up, if needed. I have noticed strong interest among my MS colleagues, because of the “features” of a standard schnauzer – smarts, wisdom, strength, size, personality, etc. I think I get more comments on Sojie’s conduct than anything else.

                If you are interested, I can get a picture of Sojie in her “uniform.” I’m writing mostly to let you know about her accomplishments, but if I have any influence, you may get some inquiries about schnauzer suitability as service dogs. If you are at all interested in gathering or disseminating information in this area, I offer myself as a resource.

Regards,
Beth Scarloss Ph.D.
American Institutes for Research, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304

# 650-843-8235 or bscarloss@air.org

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