From showing pigs to playing football, Teagan Imler was a very active little boy up until he was fitted for a wheelchair at the age of 10.
In 2013 a family from Everett, Pennsylvania found out that it was very likely that their little boy had a lethal disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This is a disorder that is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration, and it is often found in males during childhood.
Teagan was diagnosed with DMD at the age of 6. They started noticing differences in things that their younger son, Josten, was able to do that Teagan never did, so they asked the pediatrician at Teagan’s 6 year check up. The pediatrician had Teagan do a series of exercises and concluded that Teagan had some sort of Muscular …show more content…
The main thing I am going to try to teach Warrior is the word ‘Help,’ when Teagan says it that will be Warriors cue to go find someone to help Teagan,” Explained Warrior’s trainer Tracy Clapper.
Tracy is the owner and operator of Wes-Trac Shepherds in Snake Spring, Pennsylvania where they breed and train purebred German Shepherds. For this purpose, however she chose to raise a purebred Golden Retriever.
“Everyone knows my main breed is the German Shepherd, however they aren't the best breed for a service dog for a child due to their extreme protectiveness. I chose a Golden Retriever because they are a working breed, plus they are very social. I decided on a male because of their size. If Teagan needs to lean on him for physical support, Warrior will be big enough for that,” reasoned Clapper. Once Warrior is a full time service dog, he will have a harness with his Service Dog ID and Do Not Pet patch on it. He will then be permitted to go anywhere with Teagan and cannot be denied access. By law, there are only two questions that people can ask about the dog, (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or tasks has the dog been trained to
In 2013 a family from Everett, Pennsylvania found out that it was very likely that their little boy had a lethal disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This is a disorder that is characterized by progressive muscle degeneration, and it is often found in males during childhood.
Teagan was diagnosed with DMD at the age of 6. They started noticing differences in things that their younger son, Josten, was able to do that Teagan never did, so they asked the pediatrician at Teagan’s 6 year check up. The pediatrician had Teagan do a series of exercises and concluded that Teagan had some sort of Muscular …show more content…
The main thing I am going to try to teach Warrior is the word ‘Help,’ when Teagan says it that will be Warriors cue to go find someone to help Teagan,” Explained Warrior’s trainer Tracy Clapper.
Tracy is the owner and operator of Wes-Trac Shepherds in Snake Spring, Pennsylvania where they breed and train purebred German Shepherds. For this purpose, however she chose to raise a purebred Golden Retriever.
“Everyone knows my main breed is the German Shepherd, however they aren't the best breed for a service dog for a child due to their extreme protectiveness. I chose a Golden Retriever because they are a working breed, plus they are very social. I decided on a male because of their size. If Teagan needs to lean on him for physical support, Warrior will be big enough for that,” reasoned Clapper. Once Warrior is a full time service dog, he will have a harness with his Service Dog ID and Do Not Pet patch on it. He will then be permitted to go anywhere with Teagan and cannot be denied access. By law, there are only two questions that people can ask about the dog, (1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or tasks has the dog been trained to