Breed: Golden Retriever
Birthday: December 2nd, 2022
Service Dog for Sale
Our next profile feature is on the friendly Frost. He was suggested as a service dog prospect by his breeder Henne Goldens, and selected from his litter by Compass Key. As a puppy he stood out as very people oriented, loving to play and receive affection from people. He also had a little spunk, but overall a lower energy level with the natural ability to settle calmly. Frost came to live with his trainer Melanie at 8 weeks old, and now at 10 months old, these traits have stayed consistent.
Each Compass Key trainer gets to choose the name of the puppy they're training, and when asked how Frost's name was chosen, Melanie said she loves poetry, and Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" stood out to her as fitting for a service dog:
"Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound's the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
Let's learn more about Frost.
Personality
Frost is a gentle soul. At over 70 pounds now, he will mature into a substantial dog, but his personality is more akin to a gentle giant. When greeting people he takes treats tenderly and melts when receiving pets.
When Melanie was asked to pick a few words to describe Frost, she said he's a "leaner and foot layer." He loves to be as close to people as possible. People are the center of Frost's world, and all he wants is to be the center of someone's life. He is a born helper, who loves to learn.
Frost can often be found quietly observing. Melanie often finds him lying calmly in the yard, watching over everything and taking in all the sights and smells. One of his favorite activities is bird watching.
When it comes to likes and dislikes, Frost, like most golden retrievers, loves food. Liver treats are his favorite! Of course he also loves water, but that seems to translate in a lot of interesting ways. Frost loves the rain, and will also jump into bathtubs, disappointed to find them empty! He is a true water loving retriever.
Frost also loves his toys, his favorite being a little green stuffed dog. He can also be found carrying around his favorite blanket he's had since a puppy.
Frost gets along great with other dogs too. He plays well with all sizes and ages of dogs. In fact, one of Hotah's first playmates was Frost! Frost loved showing Hotah the ropes of how to have fun and get dirty at the same time, in the sand box!
(Video description: A cream colored golden retriever puppy (Hotah) plays outside in a sandbox with a young adolescent cream colored golden retriever (Frost).)
Frost is hoping for a special person who will appreciate his easy going nature and love of bird watching. If you're looking for a service dog who's calm, an observer, and wants to stick by you, he's the gentle giant who would love to accompany you through life.
Completed Training
Frost has received the utmost care and consideration in his socialization and training from his trainer Melanie. From house and manners trainings, to extensive socialization, Frost has been supported through the very crucial early stages of puppy development, giving him a solid foundation for more advanced training. So far, Frost has completed Phase 1 training, which includes 23 skills such as sit, down, stay, wait, heel, touch, and many more. He is almost ready to pass Phase 2 as well, which includes a detailed behavior assessment, and 25 skills such as heel with distractions, back, drop it, down and sit at a distance, and more. Frost is also well prepared to start public access training as he's had many outings with his trainer Melanie and does fantastic on elevators, and in restaurants and grocery stores.
Training in Progress
Frost is currently working with his trainer Melanie on Phase 2. Right now they're focusing on tuning everything up before passing Phase 2 and moving on to Phase 3. Frost is doing very well with his training, especially around distractions, and should pass Phase 2 very soon!
Disability Skills
Once Frost has completed Phase 2 training, he will move on to disability skills training. He has already been introduced to a variety of disability skills, and would do well in psychiatric work, but could also do retrieval and mobility work. Once Frost has a home lined up, his disability skills can be tailored to his new owner's disability, and could include tasks such as: Deep pressure therapy, opening doors, carrying a medicine bag, turning on and off lights, and front and back blocks. Additional disability skill sets are also a possibility depending on his future handler's needs.
Availability
(Edited December 7th, 2023) Frost is unavailable for purchase at this time as he has been sold. After completing all 4 phases of the Compass Key service dog training program, Frost's sale price is $48,500. Please visit our website if you're interested in learning more about our Available Dogs. You can also find more details about the Compass Key service dogs for sale program in this previous blog post.
If you are interested in purchasing Frost, please contact us.
Frost wishes you the best day!
