Dog teaches Mich. teens new trick: responsibility
GENOA TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Although they're teenagers, Tucker and Tori Price received a dose of what it's like to be a parent and to have responsibility 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In September 2007, they received a 13-pound yellow Labrador puppy named Austin and raised and trained him into a gentle, somewhat well-behaved 80-pound dog.
Tori Price, a Brighton High School sophomore, placed a dog treat on her leg with Austin lying down only inches from her. He stared at the treat but did not move an inch toward it until she said OK at which pointed he gobbled it up.
Of course, the family had a few behavior problems with the dog. Austin chewed off some of the drywall in the laundry room, but what dog hasn't?
Working dogs must be completely at ease around people, so the two teenagers and their parents, Bonnie and Glenn, took him everywhere. When they went to a sports team practice or a game, Austin came along. He even attended a volleyball tournament in Wisconsin.
If the Prices went out to eat, Austin was right there. They had no problems, and in fact, most people embraced Austin.
"People know him all over town," said Tori Price, 16.
She suggested the family take in a working dog after learning about them while attending Maltby Middle School. For several years, Maltby students have raised more than $15,000 each school year and donated it to help train Paws dogs.
The school hosts several program to educate students about these dogs and how they help people live normal lives. The dogs do amazing things for their owners, including picking things off the floor, bringing them a telephone and even helping them get dressed.
The dogs assist people with hearing disabilities, people who use wheelchairs, and people who have mobility impairments and other ailments. This particular program hits a personal note because Maltby school counselor Dian Kolis, who has Parkinson's disease, uses a Paws working dog named Ivan at the school.
Kolis, who has been with the district since 1986, had to quit working for several years when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's and had trouble keeping her balance. She returned to the school in 2006 after several Oakland County schools raised enough money to get her a service dog.
The teenagers trained the dog through repetition and took him to training classes.
"I didn't expect that it was going to be this tough," Tori Price said.
Both of them said the time commitment was the most challenging part, and sometimes they took shifts caring for Austin.
Sometimes they had to sacrifice activities they might do with their friends because they couldn't leave Austin alone. Tucker used to come home at lunch to play with Austin. He also liked taking Austin to a friend's home where there was a football field room to run.
"We met a lot of good people," Tori Price said. She said people would stop them and tell inspiring stories about how these dogs had changed their lives.
The sad part came Aug. 19, when the family had to turn Austin over to the Paws organization for final training.
Tori Price said it helps to know that Austin will be doing something good for someone. She hopes to meet Austin's owner someday.
Bonnie Price said she's proud of her children.
"It's a big commitment, and they really embraced it," she said.
The family's dog days aren't over. They are planning to purchase a black Lab puppy as a family pet, and put their dog-training skills to use.
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Information from: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, http://www.dailypressandargus.com
The brother and sister are from Livingston County's Genoa Township, about 40 miles west-northwest of Detroit. They helped raise a working dog for Paws With a Cause, a nonprofit group that trains and supplies assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
Tori Price, a Brighton High School sophomore, placed a dog treat on her leg with Austin lying down only inches from her. He stared at the treat but did not move an inch toward it until she said OK at which pointed he gobbled it up.
Working dogs must be completely at ease around people, so the two teenagers and their parents, Bonnie and Glenn, took him everywhere. When they went to a sports team practice or a game, Austin came along. He even attended a volleyball tournament in Wisconsin.
If the Prices went out to eat, Austin was right there. They had no problems, and in fact, most people embraced Austin.
"People know him all over town," said Tori Price, 16.
She suggested the family take in a working dog after learning about them while attending Maltby Middle School. For several years, Maltby students have raised more than $15,000 each school year and donated it to help train Paws dogs.
The school hosts several program to educate students about these dogs and how they help people live normal lives. The dogs do amazing things for their owners, including picking things off the floor, bringing them a telephone and even helping them get dressed.
The dogs assist people with hearing disabilities, people who use wheelchairs, and people who have mobility impairments and other ailments. This particular program hits a personal note because Maltby school counselor Dian Kolis, who has Parkinson's disease, uses a Paws working dog named Ivan at the school.
Kolis, who has been with the district since 1986, had to quit working for several years when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's and had trouble keeping her balance. She returned to the school in 2006 after several Oakland County schools raised enough money to get her a service dog.
The teenagers trained the dog through repetition and took him to training classes.
"I didn't expect that it was going to be this tough," Tori Price said.
Both of them said the time commitment was the most challenging part, and sometimes they took shifts caring for Austin.
Sometimes they had to sacrifice activities they might do with their friends because they couldn't leave Austin alone. Tucker used to come home at lunch to play with Austin. He also liked taking Austin to a friend's home where there was a football field room to run.
"We met a lot of good people," Tori Price said. She said people would stop them and tell inspiring stories about how these dogs had changed their lives.
The sad part came Aug. 19, when the family had to turn Austin over to the Paws organization for final training.
Tori Price said it helps to know that Austin will be doing something good for someone. She hopes to meet Austin's owner someday.
Bonnie Price said she's proud of her children.
"It's a big commitment, and they really embraced it," she said.
The family's dog days aren't over. They are planning to purchase a black Lab puppy as a family pet, and put their dog-training skills to use.
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Information from: Livingston County Daily Press & Argus, http://www.dailypressandargus.com
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