General, San Antonio, Texas

19 year-old Daveed and his SDIT, Redmon

From our trainer Andrew, who is working with a dad and son team, Jesse and Daveed with their two separate SDITs. It’s difficult to train two dogs, but he’s doing a great job! Here is his write up with training with 19 year-old Daveed and his SDIT, Redmon.

“This session was comprised of mainly teaching Daveed’s SDIT, “Redmon” duration with a down/stay. We also went to the back yard and taught the dog to sit when Daveed stops walking, and we taught Redmon that he needs to sit patiently at the bottom of the stairs as Daveed ascends so as to not rush past him and knock him back down them, as Daveed has balance issues. Redmon is a very good dog, loyal and smart… His motives are treat based and praise to some extent.”

Austin, Experience, General, Texas

Lucia Is Dedicated!

From our trainer in Austin, who continues to work with dear Lucia and Lily even though Lily has already passed her PAT – Lucia is just that dedicated!

“I had a session with Lucia and Lily yesterday at Petco. We worked on Lily’s fascination with the squeaky sounds! Lily LOVES toys but also gets really amped up when she hears a squeaky sounds and wants to go find it. So I came up with the idea for Lucia to desensitize Lily to the squeaky sound by finding a YouTube video of squeaky toy sound effects and work on keep Lily calm while the sound goes off.

They also worked on leave it with toys on the floor and Lily has gotten so GOOD and leaving the toys alone!

I brought my dog to the session as well to be a distraction for Lily and Lily did not mind her at all. She has this down!”

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY INNOVATIVE AND CLEVER IDEA ON THE PART OF OUR AUSTIN TRAINER!! BRAVO TO OUR TRAINER, LUCIA, LILY, AND SQUEAKY TOYS!!!

Anxiety, Army, Military, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Hug him Tabitha!

An update from trainer Beverly, who is working with Wounded Warrior DJ, and his SDIT, Tabitha!

“At this session, we practiced previous skills of heel, wait, sit, down and leave it. We added more distractions at Lowes, and Tabitha did very well at focusing on DJ and doing what she was asked to do. I showed DJ how to work with Tabitha on her restaurant skills and Tabitha did very well staying under the table while we discussed his “homework for the week” for about 20 mins. Tabitha knew when DJ’s anxiety was increasing and climbed up to give a hug!

The plan for the next session is a weekend intensive session to work on any remaining issues, and to practice her PAT skills to see what remains to be addressed.”

WHAT AMAZING PICTURES BEVERLY PROVIDED SHOWING TABITHA IN AN OFF-LEASH SIT/STAY, DOWN/STAY, DOWNING UNDER THE TABLE, AND GIVING “IT’S OK, DAD” HUGS!!

 

Equipment, Military, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Christopher’s Leashes

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LOOK at these beautiful, durable leashes that our dear client, Wounded Warrior, Christopher, is making for those who need specialized leashes and harnesses for our clients! He will make them any way you need them – over the shoulder, around the waist, adjustable with clips, and any you can choose from any of these colors! He does it because he cares – very inexpensive. If you are interested, please send him an email at [email protected]! So creative!

Experience, Panic Attack, Virginia

SDiT Baron, Catt, and the Presentation

Such joyful news and a testament to how much Service Dogs help us! This is from our newest trainer in VA – Catherine – with her SDIT, Baron! Catherine is a brilliant student at Virginia Tech!

“I wanted to let you guys know about something really exciting from Friday. I had a professional presentation on research I had done over the summer on Friday. In the past, this would have been a presentation that I would have been panicking over for weeks. I probably would have gotten so upset before the presentation even started that I would have to be excused and do the presentation in a quiet room with only the professor (if I could even do that).

With my SDIT Baron’s help, I was able to make it through the ENTIRE 2 hour presentation!!! I only had to step out twice, and Baron stayed by my feet or in a “cover” the whole time! I can’t believe I actually made it through my presentation and I am so proud of myself! I just wanted to thank you guys for everything because without Baron, I would still be hiding in my house ordering my groceries.

This is why I decided I wanted to be a trainer with SDE. I want other people to have this moment for themselves too!!

Thank you and much love from Baron & Catt!

CATT – THAT IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!!! WE ARE ALL SOOO VERY PROUD OF YOU – WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT! TWO HOURS – HOW MANY OF US COULD DO THAT? YOU SHOULD BE SO PROUD OF YOURSELF AND WE ALL ARE SENDING THE BIGGEST OF HUGS TO BARON!!!!

Depression, Fibromyalgia, Military, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Hope and SDiT Brooklyn

From our trainer Beverly, who is working with Hope, a Wounded Warrior who suffers from PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, Fibromyalgia and asthma, and her SDIT, Brooklyn.

“We met at the dog park in Selma so I could not only assess how the dog (Brooklyn) acted with people, but around a noisy environment and other dogs. Brooklyn was appropriate although she still has some puppy behaviors since she is young (about 6 mos) but is calm and not fazed by anything I did with her.

I discussed training and procedures with Hope and at the end of the session even showed her how to begin working on “sit” with Brooklyn (who picked it up right away.) We plan to meet next week to begin her formal training. At the retail pet store there at Bluebonnet Bunk n Biscuit, where we were at, I showed her the different training collars and we discussed the pros and cons of each. Hope is excited to start this journey with Brooklyn and I think they’ll make a great SD Team”

Anxiety, Austin, Depression, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, Texas

Meghan and SDiT Precious

From our trainer in Austin, who is working with Meghan, who suffers from PTSD, severe anxiety/depression, and fibromyalgia, and her SDIT, Precious.

“I had a session with Meghan and Precious at Petsmart yesterday and it went really well! I had not seen her in three weeks and could see the progress of Precious’ eye contact and heeling. His heeling is so GOOD!

The major thing we focused on was Precious’ excitement when he sees other dogs. When he sees another dog, he starts to whine and then starts barking because he can’t go to them.

We tried working the “look at that” technique by treating him before he reacts when he sees another dog and bringing his engagement back to Meghan.

I suggested that he needs more exposure around dogs while on leash out in public. Our next few sessions, our goal is to go to Townlake where all the dogs are on the trail and desensitize Precious to dogs around him.”

Austin, Depression, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, Texas

Amy and Guzzo

From our trainer in Austin, who evaluated an SDIT, “Guzzo”, for client Amy, who suffers from fibromyalgia, depresssion and PTSD. Amy wanted to be sure that “Guzzo” was up for the challenge of being a Service Dog!

“I evaluated Amy’s 1 1/2 year old black lab/ old English bulldog mix, Guzzo. He is such a sweetheart. He is very dog-friendly and people- friendly. He knows the commands, sit, down and stay. The key thing I saw that he needs major work on is exposure to public places and settling down around busy areas.

Amy is a nice woman who was doubtful about Guzzo being a potential Service Dog because she felt she had been slacking in the training – but I reassured her she was on the right path! She was pleased to hear that Guzzo is made for her!”

Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas

Carol and SDiT Kensi

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Carol, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, anxiety, and PTSD, and her SDIT, Kensi.

“For this session, we went over some basic obedience like “down/stay” and “sit/stay”. We talked about the importance of speaking the word, then making the gesture, then immediately rewarding the proper execution of the command. I played a relationship game with her called restrained recall. This is the act of the dog learning to come quickly and enthusiastically to the handler once she has been released by the helper. Kensi seemed to get it right away, but only strolled up to Carol. I can see with practice that Kensi will build drive for this exercise and become more enthusiastic as the repetitions progress. I showed Carol the “cover” maneuver, and she seemed understand, but has a little trouble with reaching around and luring the dog behind her. I gave her some tips on how to ease that a little and we will see how Kensi is taking to “cover” next week.”

 

Anxiety, Depression, Hearing, Military, Mobility, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Amber and Brinn

From our trainer Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior Amber, who suffers from PTSD, Major Depression, General Anxiety Disorder, cervical strain, lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Right Knee meniscus tear, and hearing loss, and her SDIT, “Brinn”.

“On September 22nd, 2014, I had my first session with Amber and Brinn. We mainly talked about the expected capabilities of her Service Dog in Training, what she has already worked on with Brinn, and what help she needs from Brinn the most. Brinn already knows a plethora of commands, as Amber has been working with her daily for the month that she has had her. She knows basic obedience such as sit, down, come, wait, leave it, load, unload, and already how to “cover”. What Brinn needs is reinforcement, so we focused on that. Brinn does have a problem pulling on the leash when she has on a normal nylon collar, so I showed Amber a technique for loose leash walking. Amber has begun working with Brinn on it already.

Amber’s family is also fostering a dog named Wendy and, together they both are not good at focusing on the commands as they want to play instead of listen. Wendy is more versed than Brinn is and responds better than Brinn to the commands when she is alone with a handler. We discussed working with them and scheduling times to teach the more difficult commands.

All in all, we had a good session. I was only needed to instruct them on reinforcement of the commands that Amber has already been working hard to teach Brinn and we will continue to do so in future sessions.”