In Transition

It's blog carnival time again.
Assistance Dog Blog Carnival: http://aftergadget.wordpress.com/about-the-assistance-dog-blog-carnival/

This round is hosted at:
http://learninbabysteps.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/call-for-submissions-for-the-ninth-assistance-dog-blog-carnival/

The theme this round is "Moments", and I've had a lot of them of late.

Duncan has mild but problematic neurological issues. He’s stable. At 6 years of age, he’s in the prime of his life, but he’s no longer able to do public access work. He has moments of distress and drooling, but they are blessedly few and far between.

Strider turned 5 months on the 19th. He’s a very good puppy, and he likes learning.

Because I live in the same house, visit the same places, and go to the same dog training club, Strider’s life with me overlaps Duncan’s life with me in many places. Often as not, the pattern of “command, dog’s name” comes out “go left, Du-Strider.” I'm not used to working with Strider, but we're getting there.

Moments can be like a knife in the heart- going to a store without a dog, relying on my family to play service human, remembering this spot, or that thing, and what Duncan did. Remembering how he backed up and sat down on my feet in an aisle at a thrift store too narrow for him to come back to brace position, because we’re asking the pups to come front then sit facing out. Or when Strider sits on my feet when I’m standing around at home, because he’s quick on the uptake.

Moments when Strider and I are at the training building, and he does something perfectly, and I say “Good boy, Dunc-” and catching myself to use his name. So many “good dogs” have been directed at Duncan, it’s hard to be giving the same attention to another dog.

Moments when I take Strider out for socialization runs, and have to shut the door in Duncan’s face because I can’t work them both hurt on a level I wasn’t expecting.

Moments when Strider does something well, or something so far ahead of the other puppies in class, I feel like we’re going to make it as a team.

Moments when I come home and they both greet me, or when they chase each other in the yard, or wrestle at my feet bring me joy.

Moments when they work together almost always make me laugh. Whether we’re playing “find me” and they split up to cover ground because they trust each other to cover part of the search, or if I put them out to potty and Duncan opens the door to let them back in while Strider rushes in to where I’m sleeping and wakes me up with kisses and wiggles so I’ll get up and make them breakfast and Duncan brings the pans.

Moments working Strider on new things keep me focused on how we're working together, where he looks back to check with me make me so proud. Today we went to a therapy session. His second run to this office. He’s figured out all the things that were strange and worrisome last time are harmless, and was confident, quiet, and friendly (not typical for my little Shepherd boy. He’s very polite, but not overt in approaching people.) We hit the bathrooms, his first public bathroom, and the automatic flush fascinated him, as did the automatic paper towel dispenser. Watching Strider’s reaction to these new things makes me aware of all the instants in a day where we do things we take for granted.

I am between public work dogs, and training the puppy is added work and stress in public. I am thankful I am not without a service dog in the home. For all the difficulties, work and worry, I find this transition is full of moments of joy.

I look forward to many more moments with my boys, both at home where Duncan can help me, and out in the world as Strider and I build a partnership one step at a time.

Growing up

Strider's 16 weeks. Four months. Thirty five pounds, 17+ inches at the shoulder.

This is so different than any prior dog. I've owned puppies before, but never has their job relied on their size or structure. At least, not as much as Strider's future job relies on his bulk and height. I've got a minor level of stress- will he grow big enough? will he grow properly?- but mostly I'm in awe of how much he is growing.

Duncan, the only other dog I've needed to be of a size for mobility work, came from a shelter mostly grown. I suppose that's the yardstick- 75 pounds and 23 inches by ~9 months. But I didn't see his first 9 months of growth, and all my other pups have topped out under 65 pounds. I have no idea what's normal, what's ideal.

Strider is most the way there on height. If he keeps with putting on 2.1+ pounds a week, we'll get there on weight. Which hopefully means I'll get the Duncan sized dog I've been dreaming of out of this "buy a puppy" gamble.

I think I'm pretty well settled on his registered name, so I'll need to send the paperwork off soon. I think I'll wait and get him microchipped first, so I can add his microchip number to his tattoo number on the paperwork so it's part of his permanent record.

He's already got a chest and head as broad as Twist, our 50 pound female Setter.

Strider stands looking at the camera, ears pricked and expression mildly interested.

I love my lunker puppy.

Setting the Rhythm

This is a post for the 8th Assistance Dog Blog Carnival
ADBC origins http://aftergadget.wordpress.com/about-the-assistance-dog-blog-carnival/
The call for submissions for this round is at Ruled By Paws http://www.ruledbypaws.ca/2012/06/assistance-dog-blog-carnival-call-for-submissions/
The topic is "Marchin' to your own drum".

I have never gone the stereotypical route of applying with a service dog program. I first learned that I could use a SD with my disabilities while I was still in college, and I was focused on getting done with class as soon as I could (now-now-now!). There was no time in my plans to go train with a dog for weeks, no time to pause from classes. I learned an incredible amount from a number of people on several Yahoo groups. Everything got funneled into a desperate, needy place, where had-to, must-do, and need-it-now beat out a terrifying rhythm.

My years of bird dog training, and knowledge of many dogs I had seen grow up (and how they turned out) fed into a fear-driven pounding of things that must happen as I hit shelters and checked pounds to see if they had anything with the right temperament near the size I needed in a mobility dog.

I found one, and then the real pressure began. I had the few short months of summer to turn my big brown mutt from friendly but unruly to businesslike. By some grace (and a lot of luck), we did it, and Duncan went back to school with me, ready to take on the chaotic schedule of classes, meetings, and study groups.

All fueled by need it now, can’t fail and fear.

I knew I’d beaten enormous odds to pull a dog from the shelter and have him work out as a service dog, so I began looking around for breeds I might be able to use in the future when Duncan was 3. It wasn't that he wasn't working, it was that the fear was still there, still driving my choices. When he was 5, I contacted a German Shepherd breeder whose dogs I liked the looks of, with temperaments which seemed to be appropriate for public work. I didn’t ever want to be without a service dog, in that place of pounding worry and pressure to make it work, again.

Duncan developed neurological issues, which are mild, but I can’t see the fairness in working an ill dog. My plan to have Duncan work and help me train my SDIT fell through. I am without a public access service dog, though Duncan works in the home and when we visit family in their homes. I grieved the loss of his aid while out in the world, but the relentless worry never returned because he was still home, still working there.

I’m back at the very beginning when it comes to SDs. I’ve started with my now 9 week old GSD pup, Strider, on a very few things- “tug”, “touch” and I’m encouraging every pick-up-and-carry of object he offers. I’ve got a lot of hope and need in this puppy. Somehow Duncan’s able and willing attitude in the home has kept me from falling back on the desperate, speed of need rhythms.

I am taking it slow with Strider, making sure he’s happy with the new things in his life while we work on the skills that are vitally important to our future together. Sometimes, I do wonder what would have happened if I’d gone to a program, and had that support system in place as I retired my first SD. It’s a mild curiosity, as I don’t regret my choices to do it myself.

Having Duncan pick up the burden I couldn’t carry on my own, and bring his joy into my life has slowed many of my worries. I’m not desperate for a helper this time around, and I think that more relaxed attitude will benefit Strider as we move forward.

I’m happy with the way working with Duncan has changed the tempo of my life. I’m hopeful Duncan will continue to transition well into retirement, and I’m hopeful Strider will come into his own as a SDIT and mobility SD in the years to come.

With Duncan, there was no time for him to be a puppy and grow up. I was working toward a goal, I needed help, and I needed it immediately. I chose an older dog to cut down on the time he’d be growing and unable to do tasks. I pushed Duncan hard, and he handled it.

This time around, because of Duncan and the help he does at home, and the way I’ve re-arranged my life to do things without Duncan, Strider gets time to be a puppy. Because of Duncan, I had the option to go looking for a puppy from a breeder. It’s a freedom I wouldn’t have had without shelter shopping and finding Duncan.

Additionally, while Duncan was a mutt, he met the "expectations" of the public for the most part. Mostly Lab shaped, a warm brown with an engaging face and tan markings, mostly gregarious, mostly quiet, he was commented on and adored by many who saw him working. I don't know how things will be different with Strider, but I think it'll be a new wrinkle to adjust to in the partnership. He is a bicolor (black with a little tan on his paws and cheeks) GSD, with the traditional prick ears. He'll be a different outline, a different presence. I don't know how the public will interact with him, but he's already less of a draw for cooing well-wishers than the other puppy in the house.

Duncan’s neurological issues remain steady, and I hope he’s around to help me keep the tempo of “everything in its own time” for many more years. He’ll be 6 next month. I like the heartbeat he’s given my life, and I hope I can keep it as Strider and I work into the future.

Introducing Strider

He sat on my lap as we did the paperwork. (pre tattoo)

On July 12th, I got to meet the Blackthorn S litter (Xita x Jedi). There were 7 boys and 5 girls. I watched the litter for a while, and based on the recommendations of the breeder, a SD trainer friend of mine, and my own observations, I took home the bicolor boy with the puppy name Simba.

The next day we were back, and I helped hold them for tattoos, and we headed back west, toward home. 1040 miles and one car accident later (we were rear ended in East Saint Louis when construction halted traffic, we were unharmed, Strider was unphased), we were home. Duncan's taken to the little dude very well, and I'm still working on coming up with his official name. His call name is Strider. He's smart, toy motivated, and seems to be very fetch oriented.

He and the English Setter puppy Sunny are the sort of chaos you'd expect in two pups from working bloodlines, but so far they're a joy to have.

She's Home

The tricolor female English Setter puppy has arrived. She's settling in as well as can be expected for being in her first new home in 8 weeks. Eventually, we'll start working on scent detection for low blood sugar, in the mean time, she gets to be a little puppy in a big world. No name settled on just yet. Photos after jump.

How do I DO these things?

So, after a week of house sitting, and holding down the fort, I walked across the room, stepped funky (like, didn't lift my toes and tried to walk on the top of my foot funky) and I now have an impressive goose egg, a very painful sprain, and 3 new x-rays. Nothing appears to be broken or dislocated, but it's PAIN when I try to put weight on it.

Fun times.

My parents were almost home from their trip to Texas when I called to see where they were (grocery store), so it was "Hi, glad you're home. Drive me to the ER?" I've got a few photos of it, so as it changes colors, I'll have a series. Not sure if I want it all kinds of colors, or just the yellow and fade out sort of bruising. 

Hopping along with a walking stick (it's easier than the cane) and I have a script for a walker. But it was 8:30 pm when we got there, so no pharmacies open when we left. They again tried to send me out with crutches, but there's no way. Tomorrow, we'll go pick up the walker. Yay.

Also, it's my right foot, so there's minimal likelihood I'm driving to work tomorrow.


I was a bit out of it, grabbed a bag of peas, set it on the back of a chair, went and got an ace wrap to hold the peas on, went and sat on the couch, and then looked over at the chair. Muttered things you can't repeat in mixed company, and was about to crawl back over when I remembered I have a fetch trained service dog. Sent him to the chair, had him get on the chair and grab the ice peas. He was not sure what to make of it because it was so cold, but he brought it to me. I love this dog so much.

Puppy incoming

Duncan is retired from public work. I hate to write that, though he's been home-only for health reasons for months. He's still a wondermutt, and still learning new ways to be helpful. We're currently laying the foundation for automatic retrieval of a landline phone if he finds someone on the ground, or if I ask for the phone. There will be two new puppies in the household this summer. My dad is getting an English Setter from field champion lines (Tomoka and High Mark, so she'll be deeply into the Smith Kennel bloodlines.) I'm hoping to cross train her as a low blood sugar alert dog (Dad is diabetic, Mom's hypoglycemic). She'll be coming home some time after the 21st. I've got a deposit down on a German Shepherd litter. Hoping for a large male with moderate drives and a laid back attitude (which is very hard to find in the imported working bloodlines I've been looking at to get the body type I think is best for mobility work). They'll be three weeks old this Saturday. Had talked to the breeder before Duncan had issues with his health and needed to retire, but my plan to have a working public SD and a backup SDIT fell apart on me. I was in a wreck in September. My broken arm has healed, but I've still got after effects from a concussion. The new disabilities will likely shape the tasks the GSD will be taught.