Speech about service dogs --need to narrow focus

[Sheenar]

I'll be doing a speech about service dogs for my speech class in a few weeks. I'm trying to narrow it down a bit though. Take the poll and let me know what aspects sound most interesting to you in a speech. Because my speech can't be too long, I have to narrow my focus to a specific one.

Thank you!

[Sheenar]

Can a mod help me out here? I tried to post the poll and it told me a poll can only be submitted within 2 minutes of posting the thread. Well, I was trying to think of poll choices and didn't make it during that time.
It won't let me delete this thread and try again, so what do I do?

This is how the poll was:

What topic about service dogs sounds most interesting to you?

A. How service dogs are trained
B. How service dogs help persons with disabilities
C. The laws concerning service dogs
D. How to act around a service dog

Please help!

[USSRGirl]

Erm... *looks for poll* ... ??? XD

Well, I'm not sure what you got planned for your main focus, but personally I've been wondering about training/qualifying dogs to be service and therapy animals lately. I'd be interested to hear a speech that discussed that and what roles modern service dogs play (a lot of people still default to service dog = seeing eye dog), if that helps! ^.^ In any case hope it goes well! If you get to use a power point or board or anything like that some cute visuals like one in your sig always help keep people's attention on what you're talking about.


EDIT: Oh, there it is. XD I'd go for choices A or B personally.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I think that "D. How to act around a service dog" would be the best choice because it works best in terms of audience awareness. Point being that most people don't know how to act when being around service dogs.

You could even bring Pebbles and have an audience member to the front and show how should react to certain situations. Doing that will get you some points.

[Sheenar]

I plan to use something much better than Powerpoint...my living and breathing service dog Pebbles! I think that actually showing people what she does in real day-to-day life makes a bigger impact than showing a video or something.

I tried to get an actual poll up, but it wouldn't let me b/c it took longer than 2 minutes to type in my choices. They really should allow more time.

[Sohma]

I think A and B are probably both going to be the favorites, they would be very interesting subjects. They are my favorites too. But like Smartypants-san said D would be great too, to give awarness about behavior.
I think that C would also be very interesting to some, but that one might not be as popular with "everyone else". I am actually curious about that now though. Never put much thought into the laws. >___<

By the way, your puppy is very cute, and apparently very inteligent!

[Sheenar]

I can get you some info if you would like, Sohma. I've got the hookup. (Being I went through 3 weeks of training with Pebbles and had to learn about all these things.)
www.adionline.org --Assistance Dogs International

www.k94life.org --Canine Partners for Life --the organization Pebbles came from

Let me know if you have any questions! While I'm asking for opinions, I'm also more than happy to answer whatever questions I can.

[GeneD]

A. How service dogs are trained
B. How service dogs help persons with disabilities
C. The laws concerning service dogs
D. How to act around a service dog

Mmmm...all these topics seem interesting. I like C though, since it's something most people aren't even aware of. And D would obviously be very practical. A and B should be fairly easy to combine though.

If you don't mind, I've been wondering about this, but what is it you need a service dog for. Sorry if my question is too personal, but I was just wondering...

[Sheenar]

Pebbles is my mobility-assist dog. I have Cerebral Palsy, so my balance is not good. I used to fall a lot and usually got hurt when I did. Pebbles helps me by helping me balance when I walk so I don't fall (only 2 falls in the 16 months we've been together). She also picks up things that I drop or need from the floor so I don't have to bend over (doing so hurts my back and can cause me to lose balance). She can even pick up a dime!

Hope this answers your question.

[Danderson]

I think B and C have my interest.....I've never been around anyone with a service dog before, but from what I've heard it's interesting to know that these dogs know how to help ppl beyond what any normal animal would.....

Now if only they could attempt to train Gunea Pigs and Hamsters to do that stuff....and CATS!!!

[Mithrandir]

OK. I've added a poll to the top here. The system expects you to add the poll to the thread before submitting it. When you tried to add a poll later, the system was defaulting to the "two minute edit window" that has been tripping people up for a while.

Have fun!

[Radical Dreamer]

A good idea might be to go with B. That way, your overarching topic could be "How Service Dogs Help Those With Disabilities," followed by your main points, being "how service dogs help the blind," "how service dogs help the paralyzed," etc. It could make for a fairly simple structure, and would be interesting, to boot! XD

[ClosetOtaku]

The most important question to ask yourself is: who is your audience?

If it is a general audience (lots of backgrounds), keeping your message simple and focused on the "I didn't know that!" type of issues works well.

On the other hand, if you have an audience of experts (lawyers, doctors, etc.), you may want to explore the more technical aspects.

Being a speech class, it sounds like a general audience -- think of "ten things I bet you didn't know about service dogs", work that into an organized structure, and I think you will have an entertaining and informative speech.

[Sheenar]

I'm just afraid that if I make the topic too broad, I'll go over my time limit.

Radical Dreamer, I plan to talk about just service dogs (dogs used for persons with mobility disabilities) and not guide or hearing dogs. A service dog is what I have, so it's the type I want to focus on. Again, just narrowing my focus so I stay in the time limit and also so I'm not jumping around a lot and confusing people.

I have another idea:
What about a talk answering commonly asked questions about service dogs? What are some questions y'all would ask?

Do you like this idea better or should I stick with one from the poll?

[bakura_fan]

I have another idea:
What about a talk answering commonly asked questions about service dogs? What are some questions y'all would ask?

Do you like this idea better or should I stick with one from the poll?

hmm. Not sure what you're asking...but how about this? Prepare your material. Reserve a space at the end for questions. If no one has any questions (which can happen), try having some more extra material (like an add on but not needed if you run out of time or people have q's) so that way you're prepared for both? I've had to make speeches before, but mainly in groups and it was really difficult to scrunch enough info in without going over, however we also had to have question time as well, so that didn't help much. Good luck!

[termyt]

I voted like most of the others mostly because I think most people think of only seeing eye dogs. I'm sure many people have been surprised to realize you have a service dog, yet you can see. So a speech on what services dogs do to help people would be interesting.

I can also so see how educational a "how to act around service dogs" speech would be. People love animals and want to intereact with them and should know the "rules." They would probably be motivated to share those with others if they spot another service dog in public.

[Sohma]

I can get you some info if you would like, Sohma. I've got the hookup. (Being I went through 3 weeks of training with Pebbles and had to learn about all these things.)
www.adionline.org --Assistance Dogs International

www.k94life.org --Canine Partners for Life --the organization Pebbles came from

Let me know if you have any questions! While I'm asking for opinions, I'm also more than happy to answer whatever questions I can.

OK, thank you so much, I'll check these out! =D