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The Possibility Dogs: What a Handful of "Unadoptables" Taught Me About Service, Hope, and Healing
An inspiring story that shows how dogs can be rescued, and can rescue in return.
With her critically acclaimed, bestselling first book, Scent of the Missing , Susannah Charleson was widely praised for her unique insight into the kinship between humans and dogs, as revealed through her work in canine search and rescue alongside her partner, golden retriever Puzzle.
Now, in The Possibility Dogs , Charleson journeys into the world of psychiatric service, where dogs aid humans with disabilities that may be unseen but are no less felt. This work had a profound effect on Charleson, perhaps because, for her, this journey began as a personal Charleson herself struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for months after a particularly grisly search. Collaboration with her search dog partner made the surprising difference to her own healing. Inspired by that experience, Charleson learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, often plucking them from shelters at the last minute, and to train them for work beside hurting partners, to whom these second-chance dogs bring intelligence, comfort, and hope.
Along the way she comes to see canine potential everywhere, often where she least expects it – from Merlin the chocolate lab puppy with the broken tail once cast away in a garbage bag, who now stabilizes his partner’s panic attacks; to Ollie, the blind and deaf terrier, rescued moments before it was too late, who now soothes anxious children; to Jake Piper, the starving pit bull terrier mix with the wayward ears who is transformed into a working service dog and, who, for Charleson, goes from abandoned to irreplaceable.
With her critically acclaimed, bestselling first book, Scent of the Missing , Susannah Charleson was widely praised for her unique insight into the kinship between humans and dogs, as revealed through her work in canine search and rescue alongside her partner, golden retriever Puzzle.
Now, in The Possibility Dogs , Charleson journeys into the world of psychiatric service, where dogs aid humans with disabilities that may be unseen but are no less felt. This work had a profound effect on Charleson, perhaps because, for her, this journey began as a personal Charleson herself struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder for months after a particularly grisly search. Collaboration with her search dog partner made the surprising difference to her own healing. Inspired by that experience, Charleson learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, often plucking them from shelters at the last minute, and to train them for work beside hurting partners, to whom these second-chance dogs bring intelligence, comfort, and hope.
Along the way she comes to see canine potential everywhere, often where she least expects it – from Merlin the chocolate lab puppy with the broken tail once cast away in a garbage bag, who now stabilizes his partner’s panic attacks; to Ollie, the blind and deaf terrier, rescued moments before it was too late, who now soothes anxious children; to Jake Piper, the starving pit bull terrier mix with the wayward ears who is transformed into a working service dog and, who, for Charleson, goes from abandoned to irreplaceable.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
111 people are currently reading
2542 people want to read
About the author
Susannah Charleson
4 books109 followersSusannah Charleson is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Scent of the Missing, as well as two other books involving her work training talented dogs for partnership beside humans. She lives with her search partner, Gambit, a golden retriever certified for the detection and recovery of missing persons, as well as a handful of other dogs trained in wildlife or missing pet search.
Coming from a background in broadcast journalism and with a passion for historic home preservation, Charleson recently collaborated with with Jamie Arty (whose story this is) to research and write 'The Chancellor's Mansion: A Renovation Story of Family, Home, History, and Mystery' -- about a couple who took the risk on a battered mansion slated for demolition and turned it into their family home, discovering a surprising, moving history along the way.
Coming from a background in broadcast journalism and with a passion for historic home preservation, Charleson recently collaborated with with Jamie Arty (whose story this is) to research and write 'The Chancellor's Mansion: A Renovation Story of Family, Home, History, and Mystery' -- about a couple who took the risk on a battered mansion slated for demolition and turned it into their family home, discovering a surprising, moving history along the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 256 reviews
June 20, 2013
MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Charleson has trained search and rescue dogs for years and when the stress of doing her job builds up that she begins experience panic attacks, she finds herself in need of some rescue. Her love of dogs and the fact that she notices how her search and rescue companions create calm in a horrible situations, leads her to discover their healing power. She embarks on training her own service dog to support her own invisible disability. To be honest, when I first saw the title of this book, I had misread it as The Possibility OF Dogs, but in some sense, this really is just as true a title since all dogs have a lot of possibility. I adored Charleson's first book, Scent of the Missing, and she does an amazing job with describing the work that goes into training a service dog and the fact that it doesn't matter whether the dog is young or old, pure-bred or mutt, almost any dog can be a helpful companion with a little work.
My heart dropped when I read about the two missing dachshunds and she relates that a recent rise in neighborhood crime is also feeding the need for bait dogs in fighting. I had no idea that pets could be stolen for such a use. As Charleson finds her perfect match in Jake Piper - you have to check out his facebook page - you can see how this one small bundle of love conquers and becomes the partner she needs to help her cope. There are short stories as well about other dogs that are helpful to seniors, autistic children and those first responders so devastated by the work they do.
She even mentions the frantic social media postings about rescue dogs that have reached the end of the line at shelters. One really caught my heart since it is in my hometown of Huntington Beach, CA, as she discusses Compassion fatigue. There are only so many rescue people to go around, not to mention the expense involved. I am glad Charleson was able to rescue the little dog from here but it makes me sad that there are not enough local people to help. This is such a wonderful read for any dog lover.
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT
Charleson has trained search and rescue dogs for years and when the stress of doing her job builds up that she begins experience panic attacks, she finds herself in need of some rescue. Her love of dogs and the fact that she notices how her search and rescue companions create calm in a horrible situations, leads her to discover their healing power. She embarks on training her own service dog to support her own invisible disability. To be honest, when I first saw the title of this book, I had misread it as The Possibility OF Dogs, but in some sense, this really is just as true a title since all dogs have a lot of possibility. I adored Charleson's first book, Scent of the Missing, and she does an amazing job with describing the work that goes into training a service dog and the fact that it doesn't matter whether the dog is young or old, pure-bred or mutt, almost any dog can be a helpful companion with a little work.
My heart dropped when I read about the two missing dachshunds and she relates that a recent rise in neighborhood crime is also feeding the need for bait dogs in fighting. I had no idea that pets could be stolen for such a use. As Charleson finds her perfect match in Jake Piper - you have to check out his facebook page - you can see how this one small bundle of love conquers and becomes the partner she needs to help her cope. There are short stories as well about other dogs that are helpful to seniors, autistic children and those first responders so devastated by the work they do.
She even mentions the frantic social media postings about rescue dogs that have reached the end of the line at shelters. One really caught my heart since it is in my hometown of Huntington Beach, CA, as she discusses Compassion fatigue. There are only so many rescue people to go around, not to mention the expense involved. I am glad Charleson was able to rescue the little dog from here but it makes me sad that there are not enough local people to help. This is such a wonderful read for any dog lover.
May 1, 2013
The Possibility Dogs: What a Handful of "Unadoptables " Taught Me About Service, Hope, and Healing by Susannah Charleston is a keeper. I will always keep it on my bookshelf so I can go back again and again.
The author saw the need for training dogs as psychiatric and therapy dogs. I have read about therapy dogs before but this is something broader and much better. She had PTSD and a critical incident experience herself. She had been a search and rescue worker before but now she discovered a need that was not being taken care of. She wanted to take animals from death row at the pounds and train them to help people with these problems. Unfortunately only one dog in thirty has the personality, intelligence and aptitude to become this type of dog. She relates how the dogs were picked out and how heartbreaking it was to leave the others at the pound. Also, she tested her own dogs to see if they could learn to be psychiatric or therapy dogs. There are photos of the dogs in the middle of the book. For each dog that was adopted from the pound the difference of before and after is so dramatic. She also details the training. Some times the dogs improve upon the training with their own ideas.
All of the stories in this book are very moving and inspiring. But there is one that stands out. A white shepherd pit bull mix was adopted. He had been found in a rat infested shed behind an abandoned house. He was left by a family with no food or water. It is an amazing that he was still alive when he was found. All skinny and starved for food, he quickly adapted to her home and pets. He is on the cover. Jake did take to the training and gave back so many times in so many ways. You won't believe how perceptive and friendly this dog is.
You will be quickly immersed into this book and be amazed at how these dogs add to people's lives in so many ways.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and people who are interested in training therapy dogs.
Although I received this book from the Amazon Vine program, that in no way influenced my review.
The author saw the need for training dogs as psychiatric and therapy dogs. I have read about therapy dogs before but this is something broader and much better. She had PTSD and a critical incident experience herself. She had been a search and rescue worker before but now she discovered a need that was not being taken care of. She wanted to take animals from death row at the pounds and train them to help people with these problems. Unfortunately only one dog in thirty has the personality, intelligence and aptitude to become this type of dog. She relates how the dogs were picked out and how heartbreaking it was to leave the others at the pound. Also, she tested her own dogs to see if they could learn to be psychiatric or therapy dogs. There are photos of the dogs in the middle of the book. For each dog that was adopted from the pound the difference of before and after is so dramatic. She also details the training. Some times the dogs improve upon the training with their own ideas.
All of the stories in this book are very moving and inspiring. But there is one that stands out. A white shepherd pit bull mix was adopted. He had been found in a rat infested shed behind an abandoned house. He was left by a family with no food or water. It is an amazing that he was still alive when he was found. All skinny and starved for food, he quickly adapted to her home and pets. He is on the cover. Jake did take to the training and gave back so many times in so many ways. You won't believe how perceptive and friendly this dog is.
You will be quickly immersed into this book and be amazed at how these dogs add to people's lives in so many ways.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and people who are interested in training therapy dogs.
Although I received this book from the Amazon Vine program, that in no way influenced my review.
December 9, 2013
I love a good story of redemption, and The Possibility Dogs serves up a great tale of how certain "unadoptable" dogs were trained to be of service to people with varying conditions. Susannah Charleson introduces us to Jake Piper, a pitbull-German shepherd-poodle mix discovered in deplorable conditions in the author's neighborhood. And while stories of other rescues and their partners intermix with Jake's main story, I was very entertained by how Charleson set up trials to determine service dog worthiness. Most of her Pomeranians for one reason or another aren't suitable, but abandoned Jake shows promise.
What shines through in this story is a sense of belonging and purpose. Charleson's search-and-rescue partner Puzzle (featured in the previous book Scent of the Missing, which I hope to read) basically accepts Jake Piper as one of her own. Later on, when Puzzle is ill for a few days, Jake has concern both for Puzzle's welfare as well as Charleson's anxiety over the situation.
So whether you're an dog lover or not, I recommend The Possibility Dogs. The story of the human-animal bond is really one of love, hope, and healing. In this crazy world, we could certainly use some of that.
What shines through in this story is a sense of belonging and purpose. Charleson's search-and-rescue partner Puzzle (featured in the previous book Scent of the Missing, which I hope to read) basically accepts Jake Piper as one of her own. Later on, when Puzzle is ill for a few days, Jake has concern both for Puzzle's welfare as well as Charleson's anxiety over the situation.
So whether you're an dog lover or not, I recommend The Possibility Dogs. The story of the human-animal bond is really one of love, hope, and healing. In this crazy world, we could certainly use some of that.
May 4, 2014
I am so glad my book group chose this book to read this month as I might have never seen it. I had no idea you could have service dogs for people with mental disabilities. I have panic disorder, agoraphobia, and ocd. I am very interested in finding out more about these dogs and possibly finding one. It is amazing what these dogs were doing to help people when they started to have a panic attack or other attacks! Thank you to the author for writing this book and bringing this to my attention and I'm sure many others with similiar disabilities! Highly recommend this book to anyone with these types of problems, or just dog lovers in general.
March 22, 2019
This is nonfiction about dog adoption and service dogs. I liked the personal stories in this. They were sweet and had purpose as these dogs were saved from death through adoption and trained to be service animals. The author is definitely passionate about her job. She has accomplished much good by following this path and I loved how it all evolved. She also used humor that had me smiling maniacally.
I listened to the audio and it dragged a bit. It was a bit of a "one tone". But again, the stories were sweet and heartfelt....so 3 stars.
I listened to the audio and it dragged a bit. It was a bit of a "one tone". But again, the stories were sweet and heartfelt....so 3 stars.
September 8, 2017
I'm continually amazed at the things dogs can do, and how perceptive they are!
May 8, 2014
This was an extremely interesting book for me. The book begins by talking about attitudes towards psychiatric service dogs and service dogs for those with "invisible" disabilities. Since I work in the field of civil rights, including those with disabilities, I see this in my work and I absolutely get the difficulties these individuals face on a daily basis.
The author has developed her own foundation called Possibility Dogs, Inc., which I didn't realize until the end of the book. It is mentioned in the afterward and is not the focus of the book. What a great idea; this foundation helps to support those with service dogs in any way they can. The author tells her story in between stories about others who have the need of service dogs and the dogs themselves. I loved each and every story and there was never a time in this book when I was bored or felt my attention wander.
I could particularly relate to the story of Ollie T., an elderly blind dog who was left in a shelter. I have a 17 yr old blind and partially deaf shih-Tzu and this hit such an emotional chord with me. She is doing well in every other way, but I see her struggle with her lack of sight in familiar surroundings. I cannot even imagine having her face life in a shelter or other unfamiliar environment as a blind senior. My heart definitely went out to Ollie and I am so happy that he ended up with Susannah.
I listened to this on audio, and I am normally not a fan of author's reading their own books. There are exceptions, and I am happy to say that this is one of them. I enjoyed the narration, particularly as her empathy towards both the humans and the animals that she discusses came through loud and clear. I also have to say that one of the Goodreads groups that I belong to is reading this book this month, and the author has been participating in our discussions; this further humanizes the reading/listening experience. I definitely plan on reading her first book, Scent of the Missing, and hope to read future books by her!
The author has developed her own foundation called Possibility Dogs, Inc., which I didn't realize until the end of the book. It is mentioned in the afterward and is not the focus of the book. What a great idea; this foundation helps to support those with service dogs in any way they can. The author tells her story in between stories about others who have the need of service dogs and the dogs themselves. I loved each and every story and there was never a time in this book when I was bored or felt my attention wander.
I could particularly relate to the story of Ollie T., an elderly blind dog who was left in a shelter. I have a 17 yr old blind and partially deaf shih-Tzu and this hit such an emotional chord with me. She is doing well in every other way, but I see her struggle with her lack of sight in familiar surroundings. I cannot even imagine having her face life in a shelter or other unfamiliar environment as a blind senior. My heart definitely went out to Ollie and I am so happy that he ended up with Susannah.
I listened to this on audio, and I am normally not a fan of author's reading their own books. There are exceptions, and I am happy to say that this is one of them. I enjoyed the narration, particularly as her empathy towards both the humans and the animals that she discusses came through loud and clear. I also have to say that one of the Goodreads groups that I belong to is reading this book this month, and the author has been participating in our discussions; this further humanizes the reading/listening experience. I definitely plan on reading her first book, Scent of the Missing, and hope to read future books by her!
February 22, 2021
If you don't want a dog or twelve after reading this book, I don't know what to say.
There is something almost magical about service dogs, and all that they can learn to do. Susannah Charleson writes about them with so much heart, and she explains the rigorous training they go through, even as she shows their "dogness."
I laughed, I cried, I cried a lot.
This book had me feeling some kind of way, - for the dogs, and for the people who struggle to do simple tasks that we all take for granted.
God bless you, Susannah, for the work you do, and the love you give to animals.
And to each and every dog in that book, you have my heart.
There is something almost magical about service dogs, and all that they can learn to do. Susannah Charleson writes about them with so much heart, and she explains the rigorous training they go through, even as she shows their "dogness."
I laughed, I cried, I cried a lot.
This book had me feeling some kind of way, - for the dogs, and for the people who struggle to do simple tasks that we all take for granted.
God bless you, Susannah, for the work you do, and the love you give to animals.
And to each and every dog in that book, you have my heart.
September 19, 2018
I like dogs as much, if not more, than the next guy which begs the question: Why was this book so.incredibly.boring? It's got me thinking that maybe my love for dogs comes from their simplicity. There is nothing complicated or particularly interesting about their love and loyalty. Their love is peaceful, comforting, encouraging, and so satisfying on an emotional level, but it's not intricate enough to fill a 260 page book and keep this reader entertained or engaged.
July 1, 2013
super book. i have a service dog and know how it can go sometimes since my disability is not seen. also my service dog is a yorkie so i am often questioned. for a long time i have been upset that it seems service dog trainers were missing a great opportunity by not getting dogs out of pounds, rescues, etc. this book not only explains the procedure it takes to actually do that, but gives me hope hearing that it is being done. what a wonderful read. loved reading how others have dealt with some of the same issues i deal with and hearing how they have overcome that and other problems with their service dog beside them. loved reading about Susannah's other rescues too. definitely would recommend this book
March 13, 2014
I have struggled with this book for days due to the incredible ratings it has gotten from others. First, I am sorry I don't like sad dog stories. Let's face it, there are far too many and generally I just skip the last chapter in dog books, but in this case the sad parts are at the beginning and in the middle as well. (I know my dogs are going to die far too young.) Secondly, the book seems disorganized and choppy. I guess I just didn't like the writing style. There are good parts interspersed, like the stories about people helped by their service dog however these parts are far too short and leave you wanting more. I think I will just go find another book that I will enjoy more.
August 5, 2016
I raise guide dogs, so this seemed right up my alley. Then two friends highly recommended the book in the same week. So I rushed to the library for a copy.
Eeh. The first section, on selecting/evaluating puppies for possible service dog work was interesting. And the dogs themselves were interesting, as was the discussion of how dogs can offer emotional/psychological assistance. But in the end the book was just okay; obviously heartwarming and of great interest to a lot of people, but not what I look for in a book. Too dry. Too much oohing about quirky dogs. Only the second book I failed to finish in recent years.
Eeh. The first section, on selecting/evaluating puppies for possible service dog work was interesting. And the dogs themselves were interesting, as was the discussion of how dogs can offer emotional/psychological assistance. But in the end the book was just okay; obviously heartwarming and of great interest to a lot of people, but not what I look for in a book. Too dry. Too much oohing about quirky dogs. Only the second book I failed to finish in recent years.
June 24, 2016
Not only did I find this to be a heartwarming read, I also learnt from it as I had no idea how many different types of Service Dogs there are.
July 31, 2021
An informative and emotional read. I was expecting a book about training a service dog and I got that, and so much more. This book is told in stories. There are stories of people who are currently being served by a psychology service dog, those trained to specific tasks to support someone suffering from a psychological disability and stories of emotional support animals, including information about what is similar in their service and what distinguishes it from trained service dogs.
It is in many ways an eye opening, mind changing book, but I hesitate to unequivocally recommend it because there are also several devastating stories of neglected and abused animals and deaths both of beloved dogs and their beloved owners. I spent at least half the book in tears.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book in a different format than what you normally read (ebook)
It is in many ways an eye opening, mind changing book, but I hesitate to unequivocally recommend it because there are also several devastating stories of neglected and abused animals and deaths both of beloved dogs and their beloved owners. I spent at least half the book in tears.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book in a different format than what you normally read (ebook)
March 18, 2017
Susannah Charleson is best known for a previous book, Scent of the Missing, about her experiences in search & rescue, and working with a search dog, the Golden Retriever, Puzzle. Over the years of her search & rescue work, though, she began to experience health problems, both physical, and reactions to the stress and trauma often involved in such searches. She also began to meet a new kind of working dog: psychiatric service dogs.
Charleston recounts a little of that stress, but focuses mainly on her discovery of "psych dogs" and their work, and her own growing interest in training rescue dogs as service dogs. She had a plan to search for a dog in need of rescue whom she could train for service dog work, though she knew that could be a heartbreaking task.
Along the way, she also had a friend dying of cancer, who asked her to take in her two Pomeranians. One of those dogs had crippled hind legs, but a sweet and sunny disposition. The other was so focused on his owner, and devoted to her, he had real difficulty being separated from his owner when the time came.
Both of these dogs proved to have untapped potential.
Another unexpected addition was a puppy found, in rough shape, by her neighbors. They were allergic to dogs, so they brought it to her...
The puppy needed extensive vet care, but survived, and became the first dog she seriously tried to train as a service dog. Training Jack became a key part of how she worked on her own difficulties with OCD.
We meet some fascinating people in her story, people who regained independence and confidence through working with the right service dog. We also meet some amazing dogs.
It's a moving story and a great listen.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
Charleston recounts a little of that stress, but focuses mainly on her discovery of "psych dogs" and their work, and her own growing interest in training rescue dogs as service dogs. She had a plan to search for a dog in need of rescue whom she could train for service dog work, though she knew that could be a heartbreaking task.
Along the way, she also had a friend dying of cancer, who asked her to take in her two Pomeranians. One of those dogs had crippled hind legs, but a sweet and sunny disposition. The other was so focused on his owner, and devoted to her, he had real difficulty being separated from his owner when the time came.
Both of these dogs proved to have untapped potential.
Another unexpected addition was a puppy found, in rough shape, by her neighbors. They were allergic to dogs, so they brought it to her...
The puppy needed extensive vet care, but survived, and became the first dog she seriously tried to train as a service dog. Training Jack became a key part of how she worked on her own difficulties with OCD.
We meet some fascinating people in her story, people who regained independence and confidence through working with the right service dog. We also meet some amazing dogs.
It's a moving story and a great listen.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
November 2, 2013
What an awesome book to listen to during my commute to\from work...I had a few moments when I wondered if I would have to get off the hiway, but all was good!
I love the stories of the learning journey including Susannah's personally rescued & fostered dogs as well as how S&R dog Puzzle was a mentor dog for Jake Piper.
I would love to have a chance to work in this field to be further mentored in this work. It is one of the most challenging parts of my like when I actually have a SD in training.
I am a volunteer puppy raiser for a group that provides mobility, PTSD & psych support and hearing alert dogs and I have a much better grasp of the differences & similarities in the missions of these kinds of organizations.
Divergent from the topic of Scent of the Missing, yet just as wonder-filled to experience.
I love the stories of the learning journey including Susannah's personally rescued & fostered dogs as well as how S&R dog Puzzle was a mentor dog for Jake Piper.
I would love to have a chance to work in this field to be further mentored in this work. It is one of the most challenging parts of my like when I actually have a SD in training.
I am a volunteer puppy raiser for a group that provides mobility, PTSD & psych support and hearing alert dogs and I have a much better grasp of the differences & similarities in the missions of these kinds of organizations.
Divergent from the topic of Scent of the Missing, yet just as wonder-filled to experience.
May 29, 2022
I liked the book as the author delves into psychiatric dogs including training one for her. There is enough details to get a good feel how she accomplished the training. She does this with a dog she is rescued.
The book is also interspaced with chapters on people with some kind of issue, like continually checking to see if the stove is turned off, or turning lights on and off or other issues, and then how much better they became with a dog to be there to nudge them away from the behavior. Not amazing exciting stuff, but interesting enough to be worth reading.
This book would be particularly good if you or someone you know has a psychological problem that a specially trained dog could help. A good dog can help with a lot of stresses and strains in life, but for more debilitating behavior problems, a trained dog is needed. Getting one trained by someone else is very expensive, but this book gives hope that a person with help could training their own dog.
What I really enjoyed about the book though was her descriptions of the interactions between Puzzle, her Search and Rescue dog, Jake, her rescue that she is training to be a psychiatric dog, and her 4 Pomeranian rescue dogs. The following passage was one of my favorites from the book. (You will have to imagine the places she writes what she imagines the dogs are thinking or saying in italics as it was written.)
"After a week or so, Puzzle and Jake have clearly got it. Door now means 'the-closest-exit-outside-no-matter-where-we-are." Door also means "and-make-sure-the-human-gets-there-too." I feel a little bad about the Poms, the tragic little overlooked, underestimated Poms, and now that Jake and Puz seem assured about the command, I decide to invite any Pomeranian that wants in on the action to have a go.
We'll have a little fun. "Door," I say in my bedroom, armed with a pocketful of treats. Jake and Puzzle race to the back door and sit, and I follow them readily, but the Poms at first follow me, because I have the treats. I start with them the way I started with Jake and Puzzle. Door means a treat when you get there, not before. A couple of them (Jack and Smokey) figure it out quickly and are happy to run to the door and sit for a treat. On of them (Mr. Sprits'l) would rather scold me from ankle level all the way there. One of them (Mizzen) is a natural. She races to the door and back to me again, there and back to me again, there and back. Hoor! she says, tap-dancing across the wood. She can get to the door and seems to know what the word means, but it's all so exciting she can hardly contain herself. Hoor! Here's the door! Aren't you here yet? Hoor! Let me come back to you! Hey! Look! Over here! Hoor! Here's the door! She is thrilled with Door. She is thrilled with the knowing. She is thrilled with the treats. Mizzen-monkey makes me a little dizzy."
The book is also interspaced with chapters on people with some kind of issue, like continually checking to see if the stove is turned off, or turning lights on and off or other issues, and then how much better they became with a dog to be there to nudge them away from the behavior. Not amazing exciting stuff, but interesting enough to be worth reading.
This book would be particularly good if you or someone you know has a psychological problem that a specially trained dog could help. A good dog can help with a lot of stresses and strains in life, but for more debilitating behavior problems, a trained dog is needed. Getting one trained by someone else is very expensive, but this book gives hope that a person with help could training their own dog.
What I really enjoyed about the book though was her descriptions of the interactions between Puzzle, her Search and Rescue dog, Jake, her rescue that she is training to be a psychiatric dog, and her 4 Pomeranian rescue dogs. The following passage was one of my favorites from the book. (You will have to imagine the places she writes what she imagines the dogs are thinking or saying in italics as it was written.)
"After a week or so, Puzzle and Jake have clearly got it. Door now means 'the-closest-exit-outside-no-matter-where-we-are." Door also means "and-make-sure-the-human-gets-there-too." I feel a little bad about the Poms, the tragic little overlooked, underestimated Poms, and now that Jake and Puz seem assured about the command, I decide to invite any Pomeranian that wants in on the action to have a go.
We'll have a little fun. "Door," I say in my bedroom, armed with a pocketful of treats. Jake and Puzzle race to the back door and sit, and I follow them readily, but the Poms at first follow me, because I have the treats. I start with them the way I started with Jake and Puzzle. Door means a treat when you get there, not before. A couple of them (Jack and Smokey) figure it out quickly and are happy to run to the door and sit for a treat. On of them (Mr. Sprits'l) would rather scold me from ankle level all the way there. One of them (Mizzen) is a natural. She races to the door and back to me again, there and back to me again, there and back. Hoor! she says, tap-dancing across the wood. She can get to the door and seems to know what the word means, but it's all so exciting she can hardly contain herself. Hoor! Here's the door! Aren't you here yet? Hoor! Let me come back to you! Hey! Look! Over here! Hoor! Here's the door! She is thrilled with Door. She is thrilled with the knowing. She is thrilled with the treats. Mizzen-monkey makes me a little dizzy."
August 11, 2024
This book is not what I thought it was going to be and maybe that’s my fault for not knowing more about what I was getting into. Imagine reading someone’s journal, and that someone is in the middle of taking a creative writing course. The writing style just threw me off.
I thought this was going to be more about dogs and services they provide in various stories, but instead cuts back and forth between the author’s personal life and perhaps someone else’s life.
And while the title may make it sound uplifting, it sets a very sad tone from the start. Plus, it’s very boring in some spots.
I thought this was going to be more about dogs and services they provide in various stories, but instead cuts back and forth between the author’s personal life and perhaps someone else’s life.
And while the title may make it sound uplifting, it sets a very sad tone from the start. Plus, it’s very boring in some spots.
March 24, 2021
I think anyone who loves dogs would enjoy this book. The author describes how she rescues and trains abandoned dogs to be service dogs.
July 25, 2025
This was a wonderful book, for all dog lovers and especially for anyone who has loved a possibility dog of their own.
June 1, 2019
This book is about looking at shelter dogs for the potential of becoming service, psych or emotional support dogs. What to look for and what the training involves plus stories of successful dog rescues. Ms. Charleson knows her business. Enjoyed her first book, Scent of the Missing, and this one. Will look forward to her third book, Where The Lost Dogs Go, available June 2019.
March 15, 2021
3.5 stars. Audiobook. Read by the author.
This book highlights some rescue dogs. Some who wind up being therapy or support animals of some sort and explains the stories behind the people who wind up owning the dogs too. At first I found those parts the most uninteresting but I feel like you need to know about the person and the dog for the story to feel tied together.
The author works in search and rescue with her golden retriever and she works on training a dog in her home for therapy purposes. She borderline needs a therapy dog for herself as her story unfolds, so that adds an interesting touch to the experiences.
Only recommend for people interested in nonfiction about dogs and how they are important to people.
This book highlights some rescue dogs. Some who wind up being therapy or support animals of some sort and explains the stories behind the people who wind up owning the dogs too. At first I found those parts the most uninteresting but I feel like you need to know about the person and the dog for the story to feel tied together.
The author works in search and rescue with her golden retriever and she works on training a dog in her home for therapy purposes. She borderline needs a therapy dog for herself as her story unfolds, so that adds an interesting touch to the experiences.
Only recommend for people interested in nonfiction about dogs and how they are important to people.
October 12, 2016
Fascinating, moving, compelling
September 15, 2014
Invisible and stigmatized psychiatric illness.
In the hospital for a hip replacement? Flowers, notes, visitors.
In the hospital for "losing it?" You're on your own.
Actually you're not on your own. Unless you are at the Menginger or Betty Ford Clinic, you are surrounded by cellmates with issues ranging from heroin addiction (not yet functioning enough to keep their faces out of their plates) to help-me-and-I'd-be-functioning people with depression, bipolar disorder, others. Diversity is good. Except when designing healthcare solutions to help people with myriad problems. People detoxing do not benefit from the same treatment as those with major depression.
People in for hip replacements generally aren't rewarded with radiation or chemotherapy. They don't have to go to lunch in groups. If they don't want to play reindeer games, no nasty notes are written in their medical records about "serious noncompliance; could benefit from an extension of stay."
You admit it to an employer (or anyone else with power over your destiny), you're stepping onto a ledge. Hip replacement? Temporary parking tags.
ANYWAY.This is the subtext, added to by my ranting.
The book. Susannah Charleson on training psychiatric help dogs. Earlier books involve training such "possibility dogs" (dogs cast away to die) for physical illnesses. One person's junk is another person's treasure.
The detail and commentary on the requirements for training and the value of otherwise neglected (or worse) lives make it even harder to look at the adopt-me-now posts proliferating the internet close to euthanasia time.
Hug your dog. Go get another one.
In the hospital for a hip replacement? Flowers, notes, visitors.
In the hospital for "losing it?" You're on your own.
Actually you're not on your own. Unless you are at the Menginger or Betty Ford Clinic, you are surrounded by cellmates with issues ranging from heroin addiction (not yet functioning enough to keep their faces out of their plates) to help-me-and-I'd-be-functioning people with depression, bipolar disorder, others. Diversity is good. Except when designing healthcare solutions to help people with myriad problems. People detoxing do not benefit from the same treatment as those with major depression.
People in for hip replacements generally aren't rewarded with radiation or chemotherapy. They don't have to go to lunch in groups. If they don't want to play reindeer games, no nasty notes are written in their medical records about "serious noncompliance; could benefit from an extension of stay."
You admit it to an employer (or anyone else with power over your destiny), you're stepping onto a ledge. Hip replacement? Temporary parking tags.
ANYWAY.This is the subtext, added to by my ranting.
The book. Susannah Charleson on training psychiatric help dogs. Earlier books involve training such "possibility dogs" (dogs cast away to die) for physical illnesses. One person's junk is another person's treasure.
The detail and commentary on the requirements for training and the value of otherwise neglected (or worse) lives make it even harder to look at the adopt-me-now posts proliferating the internet close to euthanasia time.
Hug your dog. Go get another one.
June 14, 2013
Susannah Charleson has a gift for storytelling that appeals to both the head and heart of the reader. As a partner of a canine tracker myself, I read Scent of the Missing with keen interest. Every weekend, I see how my extremely reactive dog forgets all about his fears as he works the scent and finds his "victim". I really believed that together we could qualify as a SAR team and help in our community. Unfortunately, in the last few years, my chronic pain issues began to increase, and one half of the tea, me, would not qualify for SAR work.
And then comes along Susannah's second book, The Possibility Dogs. A book that documents the author's struggles with PTSD and her passion for rescuing some of the most overlooked dogs in the adoption system. Can she find the perfect assistance dog from the "unadoptable" dogs to help with her own physical and psychological challenges?
As I contemplate my own future mobility issues, this book couldn't have come along at a better time. After losing my first dog to congenital heart defect at age 2 and my second dog having a reactive and fearful genetic disposition, I know I want to rescue my next dog. Will I be able to find the perfect canine partner to help me down the road? Susannah has convinced me I just might.
And then comes along Susannah's second book, The Possibility Dogs. A book that documents the author's struggles with PTSD and her passion for rescuing some of the most overlooked dogs in the adoption system. Can she find the perfect assistance dog from the "unadoptable" dogs to help with her own physical and psychological challenges?
As I contemplate my own future mobility issues, this book couldn't have come along at a better time. After losing my first dog to congenital heart defect at age 2 and my second dog having a reactive and fearful genetic disposition, I know I want to rescue my next dog. Will I be able to find the perfect canine partner to help me down the road? Susannah has convinced me I just might.
May 13, 2013
When search-and-rescue volunteer Susannah Charleson meets Robert and his psychiatric service dog, Haska, she is curious. While she's heard of assistance dogs for many conditions, this is a new one to her. Having trained search-and-rescue dogs, she wonders whether she might be able to evaluate and train a different type of service dog.
And so begins Charleson's memoir, "The Possibility Dogs." She takes the readers on her journey of learning to evaluate dogs for psychiatric service (practicing on her own bunch of rescued Pomeranians) and through the process of training the unlikely-but-willing rescue dog she calls Jake Piper.
Throughout the book, we also meet other assistance dog partners and learn their stories. We laugh and cry with Charleson as she tells those stories, and shares Jake's progress -- and challenges.
Overall, the tale is one of both tears and triumphs. Charleson brings us into her home and shares her own story through the process.
As a life-long dog lover and a former dog trainer, I can heartily recommend this book to animal lovers.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
And so begins Charleson's memoir, "The Possibility Dogs." She takes the readers on her journey of learning to evaluate dogs for psychiatric service (practicing on her own bunch of rescued Pomeranians) and through the process of training the unlikely-but-willing rescue dog she calls Jake Piper.
Throughout the book, we also meet other assistance dog partners and learn their stories. We laugh and cry with Charleson as she tells those stories, and shares Jake's progress -- and challenges.
Overall, the tale is one of both tears and triumphs. Charleson brings us into her home and shares her own story through the process.
As a life-long dog lover and a former dog trainer, I can heartily recommend this book to animal lovers.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
April 10, 2014
I got this book from the library, and it's one of those books that I'm going to buy so I can keep it on my shelf. I love this book, if only because it publicizes the important work that service dogs do. Everyone knows about seeing-eye dogs, and people sort of get therapy dogs (dogs that do jobs like visiting hospitals), but psychiatric service dogs are relatively unheard of. Hence the importance of spreading the word.
It's really amazing how much dogs can help us when we're sick. People have panic attacks, dogs sit with them and allow themselves to be clutched until it passes. Someone in the throes of a compulsive movement from OCD, the dog interrupts them with their leash and redirects them to a more healthy alternative. People get lost in their head and lost in the world, dogs can help them find their way home. It's unreal and utterly amazing.
Pet therapy is not some flighty treatment option designed by crazy dog people. It's a viable option that people can use to take their life back and no longer be debilitated by a mental illness. It's a shame that it's not more mainstream; it should be.
It's really amazing how much dogs can help us when we're sick. People have panic attacks, dogs sit with them and allow themselves to be clutched until it passes. Someone in the throes of a compulsive movement from OCD, the dog interrupts them with their leash and redirects them to a more healthy alternative. People get lost in their head and lost in the world, dogs can help them find their way home. It's unreal and utterly amazing.
Pet therapy is not some flighty treatment option designed by crazy dog people. It's a viable option that people can use to take their life back and no longer be debilitated by a mental illness. It's a shame that it's not more mainstream; it should be.
May 2, 2014
I enjoyed this book for the most part and gained new information about the many uses of dogs in service and therapy, especially for "invisible" disabilities. The variety of ways dogs can assist is told through the stories of people the author has interviewed: for PTSD, depression, OCD, frequent disorientation and memory loss, to name a few. Their stories were very poignant. Someone very close to me has a service dog for a medical condition and I'm familiar with the stares as people try to figure out "If he's not blind or deaf, what's wrong with that guy?" But this book may go a long way in raising awareness of the value of therapy/service dogs for many different conditions.
That being said, the book started to drag for me about 3/4 of the way through when the author spent a lot more time on the health issues of her pet dogs. While she did bring their personalities to life throughout the book, I preferred the stories of how dogs have helped people. I almost gave up on the book, but dragged myself through and felt rewarded by the ending. I also recommend the audiobook version, narrated by the author herself!
That being said, the book started to drag for me about 3/4 of the way through when the author spent a lot more time on the health issues of her pet dogs. While she did bring their personalities to life throughout the book, I preferred the stories of how dogs have helped people. I almost gave up on the book, but dragged myself through and felt rewarded by the ending. I also recommend the audiobook version, narrated by the author herself!
August 1, 2017
I hope Charleson writes more books. I ended up with this and Scent of the Missing because I needed something to keep me occupied at work, and in both cases I found myself far more engaged and invested than I would have expected. Charleson does a wonderful job of detailing both the uses and benefits of emotional support dogs and the work that goes into training them. I was particularly interested in the tests Charleson puts all her dogs through to see how many of them, if any, would be good at this sort of the work. It's pretty fascinating, since the dogs respond so differently, and there are so many different things to test for: if someone drops a book in the next room, how will the dog react (e.g., calmly, hysterically, not at all)? What if somebody collapses? Or, on the simplest end: will the dog come if called?
I'm (still) not a dog person and can't imagine doing this kind of work, but it's great to read about.
I'm (still) not a dog person and can't imagine doing this kind of work, but it's great to read about.
April 28, 2015
I really enjoyed this well-written memoir-- primarily about Susannah Charleson and her dog Jack Piper, but she seamlessly branches out in several chapters to tell the stories of other service dogs she's met over the years that were equally enjoyable. I loved reading about her training regimens, which she managed to make interesting (something a lot of dog writers can't seem to do). A great dog book-- recommended for anyone who loves them.
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