By Lesley Liddle
Lesley Liddle is a certified service and pet dog trainer. First Mate Lulu is a Corgi/Red Heeler with spots like a baby harbor seal; Crewman Leonard is a Chihuahua/Doxie with tall ears like a rabbit. Both dogs have very short legs and were originally found in California shelters. Lesley has average legs and can be found on Orcas Island.
I must confess that I have two “rescue” dogs and in neither case did I take the time to do what I tell other people they must do. Because I now train service dogs and look for candidates in shelters, I have an extensive personality and behavioral test I give any dogs that look like they have potential. And my six year old Lulu, who was five months old when I found her, would have easily passed the test although at the time I found her I was operating on pure impulse, instinct, and emotion.
Lulu was picked up by the city pound on the streets of Bakersfield, California and wound up in a shelter in Sacramento. I found her listed on Petfinder.com. I immediately committed to adopt her over the phone and bought a full fare ticket to fly down and get her. I was afraid she might be snatched away by someone else. I could have made a terribly expensive mistake. But nevertheless, and all good reason aside, that’s what I did.
And it was a good thing. The instant we met we were both just overcome with joy. I burst into tears. Meeting Lulu was an amazingly uplifting experience. Lulu has since been to school with me and been certified as a Canine Good Citizen, Therapy Dog, Sound Hearing Dog; she loves Agility and Nosework, and she helps me train other dogs. In short she will enthusiastically try anything and is eager to learn.
Her pal Leonard came to me recently via a summer neighbor who also used petfinder.com.. I was hosting a large family reunion when he crashed the party. Over the course of a week he bit the ankle of every one of my cousins. And he wouldn’t go home. Each time I sent him home, he just turned around and came back. He, like me, was infatuated with Lulu and wanted to be with her forever. Lulu has a certain esprit de coeur, an inner radiance that cannot be denied. Leonard and I quite simply adore her.
And so Leonard lives with us. But Leonard, Chihuahua mix that he is, is not perfect except as himself. He has some independent attitudes that go with surviving on the streets of Fresno in his youth and although he is now mellow and oh so loving, he will not make it as a service dog.
