Weekends with Daisy

Weekends with Daisy chronicles journalist Sharon Kahn Luttrell's experience as a weekend puppy raiser for NEADS, an organization that trains assistance dogs. The memoir follows her work with Daisy, a yellow Lab puppy who spends weekdays at a prison where an inmate teaches her service dog skills. During their time together, Luttrell must navigate the challenges of basic puppy care while adhering to NEADS' training protocols and standards. Her relationship with Keith, Daisy's weekday trainer at the prison, adds complexity to the experience as they coordinate their efforts despite their different backgrounds. The memoir traces the 18-month journey from Daisy's arrival as a puppy to her final evaluation, revealing both successes and setbacks along the way. Through this process, Luttrell gains insights into service dog training, prison rehabilitation programs, and her own capabilities. The book explores themes of transformation and purpose, demonstrating how relationships between humans and dogs can create positive change in unexpected ways. It offers perspective on the intersection of criminal justice, disability services, and the bonds formed through animal training.

Readers describe this memoir as a heartwarming account of raising a service dog puppy that avoids becoming overly sentimental. Many highlight the detailed look at service dog training and appreciate learning about prison dog training programs. What readers liked: - Educational aspects about service dog training methods - Balance of emotional moments with practical information - Honest portrayal of both successes and challenges - Clear writing style and pacing What readers disliked: - Some found the author's personal struggles less engaging than the dog training portions - A few noted redundant passages about the author's feelings - Several wanted more focus on the prison program aspects Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (115+ ratings) Representative review: "Perfect mix of heart and substance. The training details fascinated me, while Daisy's journey kept me invested. Could have used more about the prison program." - Goodreads reviewer

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🐾 Author Sharon Kahn Luttrell took on the role of weekend puppy raiser for NEADS (National Education for Assistance Dog Services), despite having no prior experience training service dogs. 🐾 The book details the unique arrangement where prison inmates serve as primary trainers for service dogs during the week, while volunteer families provide socialization on weekends. 🐾 Daisy, the yellow Labrador retriever featured in the book, was ultimately paired with a young boy with autism, showcasing one of the many ways service dogs can transform lives. 🐾 NEADS, the organization featured in the book, has placed over 1,900 service dogs since its founding in 1976, and their dogs assist people with a wide range of disabilities, including hearing loss, autism, and PTSD. 🐾 The author's experience with Daisy helped her overcome her own social anxiety and led to unexpected personal growth, demonstrating how service dog training can benefit both the trainers and recipients.