We open with a quick bird-nerd update (hi, northern flicker 👋), then dive into a viral NYC foster moment that shook the rescue world: a severely underweight, sweet-as-pie pup who suddenly redirected on a passing dog during a city walk. No villains here—just real life with real animals.

In this episode we unpack: • Why an emaciated dog can seem angelic…until health returns and true preferences show up • Dog-to-dog communication you never see (scent, posture, micro-signals) • The 3-3-3 Rule for rescue transitions—and why “the dog you bring home” isn’t the dog you’ll know in 3 months • Leash proximity and handling that reduce surprise moments in busy environments • Balancing heart and head in rescue work, with human safety as priority #1 • Shout-outs to ethical rescues with trainers on staff (like our local partners) and why thoughtful matchmaking matters

Not anti-rescue, not anti-breeder—just pro-education and pro-grace. Listen in for practical takeaways you can use on your very next walk.

Picking up where Episode 14 left off, we get real about what service dogs can do—and what they shouldn’t be asked to do. We talk through the big sticking point for families: who’s the handler (and why your second-grader probably can’t bring a service dog to school). Then we open the curtain on our hybrid approach: the first month of foundations and task starts with us, followed by lots of real-world lessons—workplaces, airports, classrooms—so the human feels as trained as the dog.

You’ll hear how we design tasks around actual lives: pairing early “tells” like foot-tapping with scent changes, teaching intentional “disobedience” when safety demands it, and even shaping a persistent wake-up for a client with narcolepsy. We share a guide-style assist case for a blind adult, why not every dog (or breed) fits every task, what happens when life/meds change, and how advocacy with schools and housing often comes with the territory.

It’s honest, hopeful, and practical—light on myths, heavy on outcomes. Also: a quick yacht-rock detour, because of course.

Follow our podcast IG for extras and clips: @lovethemleadempodcast.

Service dogs change lives—but the path to one isn’t simple, quick, or cheap. In this episode, we break down what the ADA actually says (and doesn’t say), what task training really means, why public access skills matter, and how to tell if a dog–human team is a good fit. We share stories from our own case files—mobility tasks, psychiatric alerts, scent work, even siren alerts—plus the hard conversations we have when a well-meaning doctor says “get a service dog” and a family is left on their own to figure it out.

You’ll hear:

• The ADA definition of a service animal and why tasks must mitigate a disability

• The difference between agency-trained, self-trained, and our hybrid model

• Realistic timelines, costs (why $50–60k isn’t a scam), and waitlists

• Kid handlers, school realities, breed myths, and when we say no (for the dog’s sake and yours)

• How to start smart: evaluating the dog you already have vs. sourcing the right puppy

If you’re considering a service dog—or you work with clients who might—this is your friendly, no-nonsense guide before you make big decisions.