The Possibility Dogs By Susannah Charleson

The book cover with a white dog, head tilted, left ear folded down, right ear standing with the very tip dipping and turned slightly to the right, along with his tongue hanging out in a gentle pant caught my attention. The dog's eyes and body language spoke of intelligence as well as gentleness. All of this drew me to read this book.

This was Susannah's second book dealing with dogs who help humans, but the first one of her books that I read. In this book, Susannah tells how shelter dogs, many who are mixed breeds, can be saved and trained as service dogs. Service dogs aren't just for physical disabilities, some are trained for mental/emotional assistance, like a solider who has PTSD - the dog would be trained to intervene if a PTSD event would start. For example, the dog would be trained to wake the person when a flashback dream occurs, or lick or nudge them to calm them, if they are showing signs the dog has been trained to watch for in their person.

Susannah goes in depth about a neglected, starved puppy that was brought to her. She named him Jake Pipper. (He is the beautiful dog on the cover of this book.) After getting him on the road to good health, she starts working with him in a service related way.

Charleson also interweaves stories about her small pomeranian pack. Size doesn't matter when it comes to a dog helping humans. Even little pomeranians can be trained as therapy dogs, to serve humans by visiting them in hospitals and nursing homes, bringing comfort with their small presence.

If you are an animal lover, this is a great book to read. If you are interested in service dogs and how they are trained; or if you're interested in knowing if your own dog could be trained for a disability you have, then read this book.

I loved this book. Susannah is able to pull the reader right in, making you feel like you are right there watching what is happen with the dogs. I give it Five Paws Up! (I use "Paws Up" instead of stars or thumbs up for my rating scale. Five Paws Up is the best rating.)

It is partially because of Susannah's pomeranian stories, that I decided to add a second Chihuahua to my little clan. She also comes up with some great names, and this gave me the incentive to be more creative with my two Chi's names. Thanks Susannah!

For more information about the organization Susannah started to train homeless dogs for service or your own, check out the following sites:
Possibility Dogs Organization Home Site
FB page for Susannah's Possibility Dogs Organization