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dyerra's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a great read! I would recommend it to anyone who likes dogs, reading about dog training/rescue, or wants to learn more about what service dogs can do for humans. If you are considering reading this book, you will probably like it. The story of the author training her dog for service (and eventually finding dogs for others) is interspersed with stories of other service dogs and their handlers. These are very interesting and I'm glad they are included, because it gives the reader an idea of the variety of dogs, handlers, and tasks that can be appropriate for service dogs. However, the author's connection with these stories is unclear, and they are a bit jolting at first. They each have their own chapter, but don't segue nicely into/out of the author's story, and the author's involvement with these cases is confusing. I'm stingy with my 5 star ratings, and this confusion is what kept this book from receiving 5 stars.
I also think that the subtitle of this book is largely misleading. It was not what I was expecting given the title. From the title, I was expecting that the book would involve the author collecting dogs who failed adoption/handling/behavior screenings and teaching them how to be with humans to the extent that they would become service dogs. That is not what this book is, but this book is still fantastic.
If you are going to read this book, you may also want to know that yes, there is some dog death in this book. I think it is handled well, but maybe have a box of tissues nearby. Just in case you need them.
I also think that the subtitle of this book is largely misleading. It was not what I was expecting given the title. From the title, I was expecting that the book would involve the author collecting dogs who failed adoption/handling/behavior screenings and teaching them how to be with humans to the extent that they would become service dogs. That is not what this book is, but this book is still fantastic.
If you are going to read this book, you may also want to know that yes, there is some dog death in this book. I think it is handled well, but maybe have a box of tissues nearby. Just in case you need them.
curiousnoel's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone interested in dogs and mental health, particularly PTSD, should read this book. Charleson describes the fascinating processes of training dogs for different psychiatric needs, relaying people's personal stories with the utmost compassion. Nonfiction though it is, Charleson writes like a creative novelist, with creativity and humor. A warning though: this book has upsetting sections that remind you there are bad people out there who do bad things to dogs. :( BUT, it also reminds you there are very good people out there too. Have tissues handy.
namsmommy09's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This is such an interesting book. Susannah spends most of her life working with dogs in search and rescue for years. In this book she speaks of the possibility of using dogs, specifically those rescued, to be trained to help as psychiatric service and therapy dogs. Susannah shares not only her work with many of her personal dogs but also a very special puppy she has. In this book are also the stories of several other psychiatric-service dogs who do an invaluable service to their owner-trainers and help them live a richer and fulfilled life. This book shines a light on a service that dogs can do that isn't very often talked about. Too often the "working dog" is questioned, when what we should really be doing is helping to make sure that these dogs are given the respect they deserve. It is unbelievable what some of these once abandoned dogs learn to do in their new lives. As the back of the book says, "dogs can be rescued and can rescue in return." I can say from personal experience, even dogs not trained to be in service, are emotional support animals. <3
hoperu's review against another edition
4.0
A follow-up, of a sorts, to The Scent of the Missing, The Possibility Dogs is an exploration of a different kind of working dog, the psych assistance dog, and the therapy dog. Chapters about the author and her own experiences with OCD/PTSD behaviors and training a possible assistance dog alternate with chapters about other dog-handler partnerships. Some of the stories might make you a little weepy, and there are some difficult moments, but overall this is a hopeful and informative look at assistance dogs of all kinds.
liralen's review against another edition
4.0
I hope Charleson writes more books. I ended up with this and [b:Scent of the Missing|6927061|Scent of the Missing Love and Partnership with a Search-and-Rescue Dog|Susannah Charleson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347731114s/6927061.jpg|7157024] 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.
elendilpickle's review against another edition
5.0
Susannah's account of learning about and working with service dogs, triggered by a personal crisis, is touching, moving, and funny. If you've read her first book, Scent of the Missing, you know she has a deep understanding of how dogs think, and she puts it to good use in this memoir.
chiquita203's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book months ago, but I have not been able to stop thinking of it. True books about dog rescue tend to go one of two ways - style vs substance. Either the writing is bad or the story is. The Possibility Dogs is well-written, informative, and interesting. There were parts that were very touching and sad and others that had me actually laugh out loud. I highly recommend this book.
appletonkelli's review against another edition
5.0
I had already read and enjoyed Susannah Charleson's book The Scent of the Missing, and this book was a not a letdown. Susannah manages to provide hope and encouragement for training rescued dogs for jobs, but does not flinch from being honest about how few are really cut out for it.