Congratulations to RJ, Sydney and Churro for their outstanding achievement to have successfully been recorded and awarded Churro’s service dog status in accordance with SoCal K-9 Search & Rescue and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). RJ and Sydney came together as a unit and started training Churro only one day after receiving him at 8 weeks old, proving it’s never too early to start training. Like all dogs, Churro had strengths and challenges and RJ and Sydney, as his parents and handlers, were patient and consistent, helping him to overcome any behaviors that wouldn’t be acceptable in public with loving leadership and replacing these behaviors with good manners.
With over 200 logged hours of training over the course of almost two years, successfully passing all three required evaluations in addition to training Churro’s service tasks, all while Sydney is finishing her medical degree, to be officially recorded and rewarded with their service dog status is an excellent example of their dedication to making Churro not only a part of their lives, but also as a service to others. RJ and Sydney take Churro everyplace they possibly can with them including on planes, trains and automobiles.
Coming from a family with other service/therapy dogs, Churro has now joined the ranks with his bernadoodle cousin, Utah, visiting patients in local hospitals and helping people heal through cheer doing therapy work. From service dog tasks to therapy dog work, we are excited for the bright future ahead of RJ, Sydney and Churro. As fantastic dog handers who are dedicated, loving and caring for not just Churro but all living beings, we want to congratulate you all on your hard work and accomplishment of completing your very own, owner trained service dog.