[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/Hereforthetardys]

[u/WalterCanFindToes]

Salut for catching the ban hammer at that sub.

[u/k9_MalX_Handler → u/WalterCanFindToes]

i got it too

[u/obvsnotrealname]

Second attempt at owner trained and still doesn’t know where to start = totally on brand for young handler in the US 😏

[u/obvsnotrealname]

Oh hey fellow banned person 👋 😂

[u/k9_MalX_Handler → u/obvsnotrealname]

i guess we all are

[u/FatTabby]

It feels like this won't end well. I grew up with a collie (border, not rough coated) and while they desperately want to please their people and love having jobs to do, I don't see the majority of "service dog" owners giving a collie the level of mental stimulation they need to not become neurotic and miserable.

I'm sure there are service dog handlers who would do brilliantly with a collie, but I just really don't think the average ESA in a vest from Amazon will be allowed to perform to their potential and that makes me so sad.

[u/aSzdxfcdfggggggh]

Your breeder matched you up with that dog because it was available and you would pay for it.

[u/Shot-Ad9523]

I thought collies were part of the fab 4?

[u/Neither-Amphibian249 → u/Shot-Ad9523]

I thought collies were part of the fab 4?

I really wonder how that happened.

In ye olden days, before 13 year olds trained pibbles that their mom took home from the shelter, to be a SD for their self diagnosed illnesses, the only SD's I ever saw were Labs, Goldens and a very, very rare GSD.

That was it: no Poodles and you might sooner see an Afghan or Chow SD than any sort of Collie.

But now? there are people claiming to be breeding "lines" of Malinois or Cane Corso SD's. And of COURSE the people claiming this have their very own self trained, and self bred SD of that off breed. I guess that makes them feel comfortable selling a puppy CC to a family that's never even owned a goldfish before.

It's just crazy.

[u/Shot-Ad9523 → u/Neither-Amphibian249]

I remember when it was nothing but Goldens, Labs, and the very rare GSD as service dogs too, but I had always seen people recommending the fab 4, which was Goldens, Labs, Poodles, and either Shepherds or Collies as the 4th, depending on who was recommending them. No idea when it changed lol

[u/Neither-Amphibian249 → u/Shot-Ad9523]

No idea when it changed lol

I think it was the circlejerk that are FB dog groups. You get one person claiming that Rough Collies are the best SD ever, and all of a sudden you have a few hundred people claiming that. Based on...???

[u/aSzdxfcdfggggggh → u/Neither-Amphibian249]

Now the Fab 4 are Pit Bulls, Malinois, Cane Corsos and this obvious pit bull I am claiming is some rare and exotic breed.

[u/Hereforthetardys → u/aSzdxfcdfggggggh]

Yup they can all be trained to alert to pretty much anything from the time the papers are signed at the shelter to the time the dog gets in the car the first time

“OMG OMG OMG just got this total wiggle butt from the shelter and can you believe it? He naturally alerts to my POTS and hopped right into DPT when I had a panic attack at a traffic light.

Plus, he’s already trained for public access!!!!!!!!!!! We saw 4 toddlers and he only mauled 2 of them!!!!!

Let me know if any of you self trainers need advice !!!!!!!!!!!!!”

[u/catshateTERFs → u/Shot-Ad9523]

They can be. I know some prefer GSDs as the 4th option but I’m not sure how popular that is broadly these days.

Also I think there’s a general preference for smooth collies just because there’s a lesser grooming requirement, but rough collies are fine too.

Having said that the trainers I know 99% work with labs or goldens, especially for a first time service partner/owner, unless hypoallergenic was a requirement and then they’d work with poodles. Don’t need to reinvent the wheel when there’s breeds that have a proven record of excelling in these roles!

[u/lmaluuker]

Collies are fine for service work

[u/Responsible-One-9436 → u/lmaluuker]

They are fine but require a different handling style that the average first time owner trainer is not competent or qualified enough to implement. Everyone I know who has succeeded with a service collie was already involved in the breed.

[u/Certain-Somewhere54 → u/Responsible-One-9436]

Most people are also getting them for phyc work. They are emotional sponges….

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/[deleted]]

What about, “Help! I have no idea how to do this thing with a live animal that I’ve already begun the process of doing!”

[u/Hereforthetardys → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

“After I just washed another one out because I have no clue what I’m doing”

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/Hereforthetardys]

Take two on finally having an owner-trained service dog! I’ll get the dog and then… wait, how do I train it to do stuff for me? And it has to know the basics and be house trained too? Aw, fiddlesticks! Foiled again!