He鈥檚 an unlikely lobbyist, but this Rottweiler is doing more than advocating for the rights of disabled veterans鈥攈e鈥檚 also serving as an ambassador for his breed.
Dieter is a service dog for Neal Williams, a disabled Vietnam veteran who serves on the board of directors of the New England chapter of . In March, the pair will visit Washington, D.C., to meet with the House of Representatives and the Senate about legislation supporting all disabled individuals, including war veterans.
At just under three years old, Dieter is trained to help Williams, who suffered a spinal injury in Vietnam, with mobility, like holding doors open and helping him out of his wheelchair. In February, when Dieter turns three, he鈥檒l be physically developed enough to begin learning how to pull Williams鈥� wheelchair.
But the most valuable service he provides is something that can鈥檛 be taught.
鈥淭his past Veteran鈥檚 Day there was a series of events that upset me,鈥� Williams recalls. 鈥淔rom the other room, my wife heard me talking and crying in my sleep because I was having flashback nightmares. Dieter, who knows he鈥檚 not normally allowed on the bed, climbed on top of me. The next thing I knew, his head was on my shoulder and his paw was around my waist. I never taught him that.鈥�
It was that calm and intuitive temperament that made breeder confident Dieter would be a perfect match for Williams. He had contacted Gentlesk after being referred to her through another breeder.
鈥淚 like to breed dogs who are calm and clear-minded enough that they would be good fits for both first-time Rottweiler owners and first-time dog owners,鈥� she says. She knew based on Dieter鈥檚 confidence, intelligence, and patience, even as a small puppy, that he鈥檇 succeed as a service dog. Seeing how well he and Williams have bonded in the several years since she paired them is what she calls a breeder鈥檚 dream. 鈥淭his is better than any blue ribbon I鈥檝e ever won,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 was really blessed to have put them together.鈥�
Williams agrees that it鈥檚 a match made in heaven. He has had three Rottweilers in the past as service dogs, but Dieter is the first with whom he鈥檚 gone through a formal training program together. The training was arranged by a nonprofit organization called (TADSAW), which set him up with Diane Cunningham of
The organization鈥檚 training method follows what it calls a 鈥渂attle buddy鈥� program, meaning that the handler and dog are fully trained together. This process is different from that used by other service-dog organizations for which the dog is trained first and then paired with the handler. Following TADSAW鈥檚 recommended method, Cunningham led Williams and Dieter through a program that included Canine Good Citizen certification. Williams believes the joint training is how he and Dieter formed such a strong bond. 鈥淲e developed absolute trust with each other,鈥� he says.
Williams also believes he is partial to Dieter's breed because of their trainability, will to work, and temperament.
鈥淩ottweilers bond very strongly to their owners,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e loving, nonjudgmental, and they can just sense things that people can鈥檛.鈥�
Gentlesk agrees. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so determined, and they just want to please, 鈥� she says, adding that although the nature of their relationship is more than a typical pet鈥搊wner one, their bond is so much more than utilitarian. 鈥淒ieter really is Neal鈥檚 furry best friend鈥攈e just does more than fetch a ball.鈥�
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Rottweilers are confident, powerful, and loving companions. Learn more about the breed here. If you think this breed is right for you, .
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