Will a Dog Change My Life?

Oliver wanted a service dog so badly. He knew having one could change his life.

Oliver could do a lot of things. But if he dropped a pencil, it was hard for him to get out of his chair to pick it up. A service dog would be able to pick it up for him.  

If Oliver needed things from the other side of the house, it could take him a few trips to get them all. A service dog might be able to get them in one trip.

“I love dogs, and I thought it would be cool to have a dog that could help me,” says Oliver.

Oliver’s name was on a list to get a service dog. He had been waiting for four years. 

Then his family got a call. They were invited to a camp. At this camp, people meet service dogs. They see if one of the dogs is right for them.

Oliver was excited. But would he find the right dog? Or would he go home with no dog at all?

Oliver wanted a service dog. He knew it could change his life.

Oliver could do a lot of things. But it was hard to pick up a pencil if he dropped it. A service dog could help.

It could take Oliver a few trips to get things from the other side of the house. A service dog could help do it in one trip. 

“I love dogs. I thought it would be cool to have a dog that could help me,” says Oliver.

Oliver had been waiting for four years to get a service dog.

Then his family got a call. They were invited to a camp. It was a camp where people meet service dogs. 

Oliver was excited. But would he find the right dog? Or would he go home without one? 

Oliver desperately wanted a service dog because he knew having one could change his life.

Oliver was capable of doing many things. But if he dropped a pencil, it was difficult for him to get out of his chair to pick it up. A service dog would be able to pick it up for him.

If Oliver needed things from the other side of the house, it could take him a few trips to get them all. A service dog might be able to retrieve them in one trip.

“I love dogs, and I thought it would be cool to have a dog that could help me,” says Oliver.

Oliver’s name was on a list to get a service dog for four years.

Then his family received a call inviting them to a camp where people meet service dogs. The people at the camp  would determine if one of the dogs was right for Oliver. 

Oliver was excited, but would he find the right dog—or would he go home with no dog at all?

Oliver and his family went to the camp. They stayed for a week.

First, they met some dogs. A dog trainer named Aubree brought in a dog. Woof! This was Ziti. Ziti had a lot of energy! Did he have too much energy for Oliver?

Aubree wanted to find out. She told Oliver to give Ziti a command. That means to tell the dog to do something. 

“Ziti, sit,” Oliver said. 

Ziti sat. He wagged his tail.

“Good dog!” said Oliver. 

Maybe they would make a good team. Oliver hoped so. 

The next morning, it was time to see if Aubree had picked Ziti for Oliver.

Ziti ran into the room. He sat by Oliver. Yes! They would get to work together.

But Ziti could not go home with Oliver yet. They still had four more days of camp to go. 

Oliver and his family went to the camp. They stayed for a week.

First, they met some dogs. Then they met a dog trainer named Aubree. She brought in a dog named Ziti. Woof! He had a lot of energy! Did he have too much energy?

Aubree wanted to find out. She told Oliver to tell the dog to do something. She told him to give Ziti a command. 

“Ziti, sit,” Oliver said.

Ziti sat. He wagged his tail.

“Good dog!” said Oliver.

Maybe they would make a good team. Oliver hoped so.

The next morning, it was time to see what dog was picked for Oliver.

Ziti ran into the room. He sat by Oliver. Yes! They would get to work together.

Ziti could not go home with Oliver yet. They still had four more days to learn to work together.

Oliver and his family went to the camp, where they stayed for a week.

First, they met some dogs and a dog trainer named Aubree. Aubree introduced a dog named Ziti to Oliver. Woof! Ziti was energetic! Did he have too much energy for Oliver?

Aubree wanted to determine if they were a match. She told Oliver to give Ziti a command to do something.

“Ziti, sit,” Oliver said.

Ziti sat and wagged his tail.

“Good dog!” said Oliver.

Oliver hoped that they would make a good team.

The next morning, it was time to see if Aubree had picked Ziti for Oliver.

Ziti ran into the room and sat by Oliver. Yes—they would get to work together.

But Ziti could not go home with Oliver yet. They still had four more days of camp to train. 

Aubree would be watching Oliver and Ziti. “I needed to make sure they were the perfect match,” says Aubree.

Now Oliver had to learn how to care for Ziti. He learned how to brush Ziti’s teeth. And Ziti had to learn to focus on Oliver, or pay attention only to him. 

The family brought Ziti to a store. Ziti kept sniffing the floor.  But he was supposed to focus on Oliver. Uh-oh. Would Oliver get to keep his puppy pal?

Aubree would be watching Oliver and Ziti. “I needed to make sure they were the perfect match,” says Aubree.

Oliver had to learn how to take care of Ziti. He learned how to brush his teeth. Ziti had to learn to focus on Oliver. He had to pay attention only to him.

They brought Ziti to a store. He kept sniffing the floor. He was supposed to focus on Oliver. Would Oliver get to keep Ziti?

Aubree would be observing Oliver and Ziti. “I needed to make sure they were the perfect match,” says Aubree.

Now Oliver had to learn how to care for Ziti, including learning how to brush Ziti’s teeth. Ziti had to learn to focus on Oliver, paying attention only to him.

The family brought Ziti to a store. Ziti kept sniffing the floor when he was supposed to focus on Oliver. Uh-oh. Would Oliver get to keep his puppy pal?

Oliver and Ziti worked together for four days. Then there was a big test. Aubree would decide whether Ziti could stay with Oliver forever. 

The test was back at the store. There, a trainer put dog food on the floor. Ziti walked by. He didn’t sniff. He passed the first part of the test!

Then the trainer dropped a pencil. Oliver said, “Get.” Ziti picked it up. He passed that part of the test too! 

People walked by. But Ziti focused only on Oliver. He passed the whole test! 

Oliver and Ziti kept working together. After four days, it was time for a big test. Aubree would decide whether Ziti could stay with Oliver.

The test was back at the store. A trainer put dog food on the floor. Ziti walked by. He didn’t sniff. He passed the first part!

The trainer dropped a pencil. Oliver said, “Get.” Ziti picked it up. He passed the next part!

People walked by. Ziti focused only on Oliver. He passed the whole test!

Oliver and Ziti trained together for four days. It was time for the big test that would help Aubree determine whether Ziti could stay with Oliver forever.

They returned to the store for the test. There, a trainer put dog food on the floor, but Ziti walked by—he didn’t even stop to sniff! He passed the first part of the test!

Then the trainer dropped a pencil. Oliver said, “Get.” Ziti picked it up. He passed the second part of the test!

People walked by, but Ziti focused only on Oliver. He passed the whole test! 

Ziti was now Oliver’s service dog. Everyone had a celebration at the camp.

But the best part was the next day. Ziti went home with Oliver and his family. In the car, Ziti fell asleep next to Oliver. 

Oliver smiled. Ziti had already changed his life for the better. That’s because Oliver had a new best friend. 

Ziti was now Oliver’s service dog. Everyone had a celebration at the camp.

The best part was the next day. Ziti went home with Oliver and his family. In the car, Ziti fell asleep next to Oliver.

Oliver smiled. Ziti had already changed his life for the better. Oliver had a new best friend. 

Ziti was now Oliver’s service dog. Everyone had a celebration at the camp.

But the best part was the next day—Ziti went home with Oliver and his family. During the car ride, Ziti fell asleep next to Oliver.

Oliver smiled. Ziti had already changed his life for the better because now Oliver had a new best friend.