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

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.

Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and William Muñoz have worked together on a number of photo-essays, including Homesteading and the acclaimed West by Covered Wagon, which School Library Journal starred as "a handsomely designed and well-conceived piece of non-fiction."

Dorothy lives in Montana with her husband, and William lives in British Columbia with his family.