The Possibility Dogs

What a Handful of 'Unadoptables' Taught Me about Service, Hope, and Healing

By: Susannah Charleson

Narrated by: Susannah Charleson

Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the critically acclaimed bestseller, Scent of the Missing, comes a heartwarming and inspiring story that shows how dogs can be rescued and can rescue in return.

For her first book, Susannah Charleson was praised for her unique insight into the kinship between humans and dogs, as revealed through canine search and rescue. In The Possibility Dogs Charleson chronicles her journey into the world of psychiatric-service and therapy dogs trained to serve the human mind, a journey that began as a personal one. After a particularly grisly search led to a struggle with PTSD, Charleson credits healing to her partnership with search dog Puzzle. Inspired by that experience and having met dogs formally trained to assist in such crises, Charleson learns to identify abandoned dogs with service potential, often plucking them from shelters at the last minute, and to train them for work beside hurting partners, to whom these second-chance dogs bring intelligence, comfort, and hope.

From black Lab puppy Merlin, once cast away in a garbage bag, who stabilizes his partner’s panic attacks to Ollie, the blind and deaf terrier who soothes anxious children, to Jake Piper, the starving pit bull mix who goes from abandoned to irreplaceable, The Possibility Dogs illuminates a whole new world of canine potential.

©2013 Susannah Charleson (P)2013 Blackstone Audio

Powerful stories

At first, some of the back stories were very difficult to hear - mistreatment of animals sickens me. But to hear of dogs not only saved from terrible circumstances, but going on to help people in amazing ways was very inspiring. I also enjoyed learning more about the training process. The author beautifully weaves the stories of dogs & humans, including her own journey. She also does a masterful job of narration.

Salve to the soul

First, I LOVE Susannah’s voice. Not only are her stories well told and interesting, her voice is soothing. It feels like you’re just sitting chatting together,not just being “read to” I so admire ppl who take on the huge job and sacrifice of training service dogs. As a retired Vet tech,foster and rescuer I cherish each of her books as they bring back memories good and painful.

Inspirational

Every rescuer and dog owner should read this book. So much valuable insight. I truly feel the "possibilities" are endless of how much good this book can supply.

Susannah, Loved this book

Wow, what a great book.. I liked that you went thru the variety of breeds.
So my two boxers (two yrs apart) died within a week of each other. We had adopted two children two years before ages 1 and 3 who fell deeply in love with Stormy and Patsy. They lived to ages 10 and 12. We couldn’t get a dog for at least a year and a half.
Instead we adopted a cat. He ruled the house and could cause my other sons ranch dog to cower.
A year and a half later my 7 yr old son asked to go on a date with me in the UTV. We went by the animal shelter and he saw what he thought was a German Shepherd. We stopped to look at it, and it was a Belgian Malenois…no way at 70 was I going to attempt that one. As we left, a High School volunteer asked us to take a look at Astra, a one year old female, black with white marking dog. Breed guessed at was Pit Bull/Great Dane. I told my son we would go home and pray about it. We visited again and went home to think about it. The previous owners had Astra and her brother. I think they didn’t want to pay to get her spayed.
She is one smart girl. She sit/stays, heels, shakes, plays dead dog. When we brought her home, she went in a crouching position to meet the cat, the cat walked up and smacked her in the muzzle with her paw. They sleep together in Astras kennel at night with the door open.
Thanks for sharing some of the things you do with your dogs. We are working on door now.
Had her DNA and health risk tested. Astra is 1/3 American Staffordshire Terrier, 1/3 Pit Bull And 1/3 Boxer. Her health is very good….she is a God dog.

I've Haven't Been This Moved By A Book In So Long!

I haven't been this moved and affected by a book since perhaps my reading of The Book Thief. At first, I wondered if Susannah Charleson was one of those cray "dog ladies", but very soon, I found I couldn't be more wrong about her. Wow, was I wrong! The more I listened, the more I realized what a very special person this author is. She is someone to be taken very seriously. She is someone to be admired.

This lady has the audacity to give a small, abandoned, very sick puppy a first and last name, Jake Piper! She is not the least bit hesitant to revive a dog with CPR. She knows how to fly a plane and is an actual flight instructor. She is an accomplished author. And most of all, very most of all, she loves and understands dogs to an extent I have not come across before. Listening to her book, you realize she sees dogs in a different way that most of us do, even those of us that purport to be dog lovers, like me. She sees into their souls, understanding their motivations and behaviors, and treats them like the true individuals they are.

Susannah Charleson has trained her dog, Puzzle, in search and rescue. She trains other dogs to be of service to people who have a wide variety of needs. She understands the needs for psychiatric service dogs, something I really wasn't familiar with. Seeing people who look perfectly normal with "service" or companion dogs, I have been less than kind in my thoughts in the past. However, now I understand what is going on and now I have more compassion. Listening to this book has made me a better person, I believe.

The stories the author tells, about several service dogs and the duties they perform, along with the stories of her own brood of pups, frequently brought tears to my eyes. Not so much tears of sadness, but of happiness and good feelings, that two such different creatures could work together so well for mutual benefit. This book is happy, funny, joyful, and yes, sometimes sad. Overall, I just call it wonderful.

I didn't have trouble with the author's narration. I did not find the book slow or find her voice trailing off. I had no complaints, and I feel it was a great narration.

This book was an unexpected treat for me. I just had to have more. I purchased the author's previous book about her experiences with her dog in doing search and rescue. It will be my next listen.

Captivating. Engaging

I want to live in Susannah Charleson's world with her. There is no one better suited to telling her story than the author herself. Excellent and worthy follow up to Scent of the Missing which has become the book I most recommend to others. Brava and Thank you.

Woof!

What did you love best about The Possibility Dogs?

I enjoyed this book immensely! As a service dog handler myself, I can relate to much of the training exercises, and was even given little tips on how to work on unwanted behaviors in my own service dog partner.

I learned a lot about ESAs and psychiatric service dogs, owner training, and many other tidbits that I'd never even considered.

Which scene was your favorite?

I cried during some of the scenes where dogs are deemed unadoptable. It is so sad! Some of the reasons were tragic, others horrifying.
I loved the training with Jake Piper... he reminds me a lot of my service dog partner.

Any additional comments?

I agree with another review that the breathless narration is annoying on occasion. If Scent of the Missing is a better performance, then I look forward to it!

This book will make you smile, laugh, cry, and warm your heart.

Such a Gifted woman and GIfted author!

What did you love best about The Possibility Dogs?

What did I not like about this book? Absolutely nothing!

What does Susannah Charleson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It added to the value of this book, that the author did the reading. Now I will look for all of her work and read them as well, no matter the subject.

Any additional comments?

Thank You, Thank You!!

Moving and inspirational

I so love this book! I listen again and again!
If you love dogs, you'll love it!

Love this!

Such truly heartfelt writing, made even more special by her narration and true love for these magnificent dogs!!!!!