BEACHWOOD – With a word and a gesture, Kim Bratnik called Apollo to her, and the dog was eager to help and give affection.
“He picks things up and carries them,” Kim said. If there’s an automatic door that can be opened with a large button, she can ask him to push it.
“Apollo seems to respond, and will do that,” she said.
The family said that people watching want to be polite and help Kim. They have to tell these people who have good intentions that they have to give the dog time to respond, and he always does. Then the people watch in awe as the dog opens a door or picks up something that was dropped.
Apollo is a labrador/golden retriever mix. He looks just like a black lab, but his eyes are a soft brown. He is the latest service dog for the family. Their first was Orson. Gretel III, who they received in 2017, is still with them, but she’s retired.
When a dog gets to be 10 years old, they are retired and a family can put in for their next pup from Canine Companions, Kim’s father Dennis explained.
“He absolutely loves her,” he said, describing how the dog lays at her side when they’re watching TV. He’s always attentive and works hard.
“He just took to her right away,” Kim’s mother Louise said.
This is their third service dog and each one is trained differently. This is because techniques and needs change over the years.
Canine Companions, the national foundation that donated the dog, said that Apollo is two years old and was specially bred and trained by the organization to serve people with disabilities. He knows more than 40 professional commands. For example, he can open doors, turn on lights, and pick up dropped items.
The Bratniks are such advocates for how life-changing these dogs are that they have trained puppies for Canine Companions.
“We raised eight puppies from 8 weeks old to 16 months,” Dennis said. They house train them and take them wherever they go. Then they’re ready for advanced training.
The most recent one is becoming a therapy dog. They’ve also raised a PTSD dog for a veteran. Their ninth is coming soon.
“They are like little children because they will see what they can get away with,” Louise said.
September is Service Dog Month. Another note on the calendar is that Canine Companions is marking their 50th anniversary. You can volunteer, donate and learn more at canine.org.
