The Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog [Hardcover]

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Author), Dorothy Hinshaw Patent (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up

Follow an adorable Golden Retriever as he trains to become a helper for the disabled.

Ira was not born to be an ordinary dog. A few weeks after his birth, a foster puppy trainer with PawsAbilities, Canine Partners for People with Disabilities, took him home to begin his training as a Service Dog. Service dogs help people who have a lot of difficulty moving around on their own. To become one, Ira must learn how to retrieve dropped keys; press a wheelchair sign to open doors; ride a bus; sit quietly in loud, distracting places; and do many other difficult tasks. Not many dogs can do all that!

Fortunately, Ira is smart and confident, and he is able to pass his Service Dog test. Unfortunately, the new facility that Ira needs to attend for more detailed training isn’t ready. What will happen to Ira? Will he be able to learn a new career as a Guide Dog for the Blind?

•This true story shows the immense impact service and guide dogs have on the lives of the disabled, and what it takes for them to have that impact.

• Adorable, full-color photographs bring children into Ira’s life and let them connect with him in a very personal way.

• See how sixth graders helped train Ira, and hear how they felt about the experience.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5–This delightful photo-essay follows a puppy from his training to become a service dog to becoming a guide dog. In conversational tones, Patent describes Ira's training with his raiser, who happens to be a teacher, and the sixth-grade class lucky enough to participate in the process. The golden retriever then moves on to more preparation with Guide Dogs for the Blind in California, and is eventually paired with a blind man. The author keeps the focus tightly on this animal and the people around him, but manages to slip in an extraordinary amount of information about the raising and training of guide dogs. She brings life to the narrative through details–Ira learning to ride the bus, for example, and practicing the proper way to enter an elevator so that it won't close on his leash. The book comes to a satisfying conclusion when Ira and his new owner arrive at the eighth-grade graduation of the students who helped raise him. Myriad full-color photographs that will capture kids' interest accompany the text. Though the difference between service dog and guide dog is never quite made clear, this portrait of Ira is sure to hook animal lovers. Caroline Arnold's more in-depth A Guide Dog Puppy Grows Up (Harcourt, 1991) is another high-quality book on the topic. However, with appeal for a wide age range, Patent's is the right book for the job.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. The dependable team of Patent and Munoz offers an inside look at the training of a service dog. Puppy Ira goes to live with a "puppy raiser," sixth-grade teacher Sandy Welch," when he is eight weeks old. She trains him to perform tasks such as picking up dropped keys and opening doors by pressing wheelchair-access signs, and she helps him become accustomed to crowds, buses, and new situations. After additional instruction at a specialized training center, Ira becomes a guide dog for a blind piano tuner. The informative text tells the dog's story in a straightforward way, while using Ira's impact on the children in Welch's class as an effective, emotional touch point. Most of the space in the layout is devoted to the clear, color photographs, which record the dog's physical growth, developing skills, and relationships with people during his first years. The last page lists organizations providing service and guide dogs as well as a number of titles recommended for further reading. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802789153
• ISBN-13: 978-0802789150
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,194,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars neat photo essay on guide dogs, December 8, 2004

By 

Melissa Sack (georgia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog (Hardcover)

This is a photo essay of a puppy who born into a family of service dogs. He is raised and trained well but the story has a twist. As the time nears for Ira to go into more detailed service dog training the facility isn't ready to take him. Instead he goes to work for Guide Dogs for the Blind. All ends well for the dog and the new owner. A list is featured in the back of the book of many organizations that provide service and guide dogs for people. Also listed are selection for further reading.


The story created good dialog and helps children learn about how dogs can help those with disabilities.


I would recommend this book to all kids who want to learn more about guide dogs and how they are trained. This would make a great addition to the library as there are only 3 other books in the collection on guide dogs.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, April 5, 2007

By 

Mel Odom (Moore, OK USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog (Hardcover)

This book is a great, short nonfiction study of how guide dogs and service dogs are trained. From the moment they're born, through growing up and being loved, through training, and their final assignment to a partner, this book backs up the storytelling with a lot of warm, family-friendly photographs.

This is a good book to read aloud to young readers. Especially curious ones. In addition to telling kids how important it is not to bother service animals and guide dogs while they're working, the author takes time to point out that everyone can help train these wonderful animals.

The photographs really set the book off and make it a book that young readers will probably go through on their own after having it read to them. The story is simple enough that they'll probably remember it enough to "read" it to others.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning Tool and Entertaining, July 30, 2007

By 

C. Larson "Grammy" (Eau Claire, WI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Right Dog for the Job: Ira's Path from Service Dog to Guide Dog (Hardcover)

This is a great book to share with my 5-year-old granddaughter. It is educational (at her level) but yet entertaining!