I believe the following story is important for anyone who is seriously considering getting a service dog. There are many service dog programs, all well-educated in the art of taking a dog to a high level of obedience. But my wife and I discovered that the mark of an extraordinary dog training company is not the dog training; it is the Trainer's intuitive knowledge and experience of matching the personality of the trained dog with the owner's. Barbara's magic is matching a dog to your exact needs and desires.

My son, James, was in a car accident when he was 10 (he is now 29) with anoxic brain damage. James wanted a German Shepherd, and we thought this would be the best breed to suit his needs. James, however, does not have a dominant personality. Barbara tried to gently tell us that a German Shepherd would try to take control of his owner unless the owner was a "take charge and take control person." Of course, we did not listen, so Barbara did exactly what we asked and found James a beautiful female German Shepherd named Stella. It wasn't long before we discovered that no matter how well-trained Stella was, she quickly learned to take advantage of James' lack of dominance whenever possible. James got frustrated, and it became clear that Stella, although a magnificently smart and beautiful German Shepherd, was not the best fit for James.

Without hesitation and no "I told you so" moments, Barbara took Stella back and found her a wonderful home. She told us she would keep looking for another dog until she found the perfect match based on what she had learned about James' personality.

One day, Barbara called us to say she had the perfect dog for James. He was a 1.5 year old Golden Doodle named Skiff. This dog was the absolute perfect match for James. He is laid back, sweet, smart, patient, and loyal. When the right person and dog find each other, wonderful things happen. My wife and I fell in love with Skiff, too, and we enjoy having Skiff at home and taking him on long walks just as much as James does.

Skiff may love us, but he is completely loyal to James. One afternoon, I took hold of his leash, but Skiff pulled me over so he could walk closely beside James.

If you want a trained dog, there are plenty of companies and trainers that can do it. But if you want a professional service that is passionate about matching the dog's heart and personality with its owner's, call Rolling Meadows Academy. You will not only find a great dog, but you will also form a long-lasting and personal friendship with Barbara.