Category Archives: General

Austin, Experience, General, Texas

Public Access Test Session

From our wonderful trainer in Austin, who has been working with client Lucia and her SDIT, Lily!
“Hi Laurie!

Lucia and Lily did a mock Public Access Test session yesterday at Target! We went through everything according to ADI standards, and Lily did phenomenal!

We have set a date for next Sunday to do the official PAT at a shopping center that has a Starbucks, Petsmart and other shops. We will plan to do this for a couple of hours and go into different environments.

Here are some pictures!”


CONGRATULATIONS, DEAR LUCIA AND LILY!!!! YOU WILL DO WONDERFULLY ON SUNDAY! JUST REMEMBER NOT TO BE NERVOUS – THERE IS NO NEED TO BE, AND IF YOU ARE NERVOUS, LILY WILL KNOW IT!

 

General

Brandi And Her Son Alex

From our trainer Beverly, who is working with mom Brandi and her son, Alex, who has autism. They chose a wonderful dog, Will, who has been fostered and trained by Beverly.

“At our first session, I discussed with Brandi any concerns she had. Brandi states that Will does wonderfully with Alex, but she would like for him to go to Alex more if he has a meltdown and stay with him. She will work with Will by keeping him on a leash and bringing him to Alex if she notices him getting upset (before meltdown level), and engage Alex with Will by having Alex pet Will and encouraging Will to lick Alex to sense his body chemistry and to calm Alex.

I showed Brandi and Alex the “Leave it” game to practice with Will and how to work on “Watch Me” with him. Will already knows “sit”, “heel”, and how to “give kisses” to dear Alex.

Brandi is receiving funding from Any Baby Can to help with the training of Will. They are a wonderful organization, and we are grateful for their assistance!

Next session, we will take Will to Petsmart and work on store skills.”

General, New Mexico

Ms. Abby made a special friend

From Michelle, our trainer in New Mexico! She took her Therapy Dog, Abby, to a Social Work Conference this week. Ms. Abby made a special friend with a wonderful woman who has a disability. Ms. Abby is amazing at picking up on when people have disabilities or a need for nurturing. A true Therapy Dog! Michelle was amazed to see how she focused on a couple people this week in particular.

 

Ms. Peggy Pittman-Munke, is a Social Worker with Murray State University. Because of Abby’s attention to her, she donated $30.00 in honor of Abby to Service Dog Express, which will go to our non-profit rescue, In Dog We Trust.

Wonderful work, Ms. Abby! A true ambassador!!!!

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General, Virginia

Goodbye Duke – RIP

Very sad news for client Catherine, who is training SDIT Baron in Virginia with Shannon. Catherine had a dog named Duke for two years whom she loved very much. He was a rescue – Shepherd mix. Duke was Catherine’s best friend, and they had two wonderful years together. However, Catherine called me a couple of months ago to let me know that out of the blue, Duke was starting to show aggressive tendencies – with no pattern of instigation. He would be the loving, gentle Duke one minute, and then turn on her or her SDIT Baron or people walking down the street in an instant. She asked Shannon if she should take Duke to an animal behaviorist to figure out why this was happening, but based upon what I heard of Duke’s history and the sudden changes with no pattern, I knew it must be something medical going on – I suspected a cancer of some sort causing him pain or a neurological issue, including the possibility of a brain tumor. Catherine took Duke in to the veterinarian as I advised immediately, and, sadly, the veterinarian confirmed that Duke had a brain tumor.

Catherine knew that Duke’s quality of life was extremely deteriorated. Each time he would turn aggressive and try to bite or actually bite her, he would suddenly snap out of it and lick her wounds with a look on his face as if he were saying, “Mom, what have I done?” Catherine did not want to put Duke through chemotherapy and radiation.  So, she took a day and just spent it with Duke, giving him wonderful things like steaks, hot dogs, plays in the park, lots of love, long walks, and a lot of snuggling. She wanted his last day to be happy and filled with wonderful memories.

Catherine humanely had Duke, 2 years old, euthanized the next day. Please give a moment of silence for dear Catherine and wonderful Duke. Please also be very aware of odd changes in your dog’s behavior. They may not be behavioral at the root – there may be something medical going on.

Rest in blessed peace, dear Duke. Thank you for loving Catherine for the time you were here on earth.

Catherine wrote:

This bond between us
Can’t be broken
I will be here
Don’t you cry

‘Cause you’ll be in my heart
Yes, you’ll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more

Dallas-Fort Worth, General, Texas

Last session with Tex and Erin

From Candace, our trainer in Ft. Worth, who was putting the “final touches” on training with 30 year-old Erin, who suffers from some developmental delays, and beautiful Tex, from our non-profit, In Dog We Trust rescue.

“The last session with Tex and Erin was wonderful! We went to a local Ft. Worth mall and Tex was outstanding! He needs some more socialization of course, but he has an appropriate startle response. He is also very well behaved when walking in tight crowds. Again, the bond between Erin and Tex is palpable. I have no doubt that given time and patience, they will become an excellent team.”

NOW, ERIN IS ON TO HER HOME IN INDIANA, WHERE WE HAVE HER SET UP WITH A TRAINER THERE TO CONTINUE ON HER OWN! BEST OF LUCK, DEAR ERIN AND TEX! WE WILL MISS YOU!

Anxiety, General, Mobility, Panic Attack, Psychiatric, San Antonio, Texas

Stunning Stella!

An update from trainer Cherry Jenkins, who is training with Nancy, who suffers with mobility, vertigo, and anxiety, and her husband, Jim, who suffers mobility and anxiety, and their SDIT, Stella!

Stella is absolutely stunning!  Stella is part Rottweiler/ part Wolf, which makes her a truly beautiful dog!

Stella is the SDIT to Nancy and her husband Jim. Even though they have only had a few session due to interruptions with their health, they have made tremendous strides with Stella, training whenever they can. This really showed at our latest session in Target.

Stella ‘heeled’ beautifully at all times and we practiced ‘leave it’, ‘stay’, and ‘down’.  Stella kept perfectly calm even when a group of noisy children walked their way. Stella is also learning to ‘cover’ as one of her three tasks.”

.IMG_20140710_161922_817(1) Nancy

Anxiety, Bipolar, General, New Mexico, Panic Attack, Psychiatric

SDiT Sadie Update

From Michelle, our trainer in New Mexico, who is working with Terryn, who suffers from panic disorder, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, and her SDIT, Sadie!

“Today I met with SDIT Sadie (she is Mastiff and Lab mix) we only worked on Sit/Stay and Down/Stay.  Although she is 5 months old, she is learning to focus on mom and make progress with “watch me”. It takes her a little while to remember that mom is in charge, but once we begin working, Sadie warms up quickly and remembers her commands.

We began at the park with very little shade compared to our last meeting, and moved  to a local pet store a few miles away.  Both girls (my TD Abby and Sadie) seemed to listen more with the cooler temperatures of the store.  We continued to work on down/stay with sit/stay and “leave it” (with many new smells of rabbits, birds, ferrets, and fish). Both girls were complimented on their behaviors and really didn’t mind the other animals since they were the only 2 dogs in the store.  The only time they had the slightest interest in the other animals was when the birds where moving or out of the cages.”

Anxiety, Epilepsy, General, Medical Alert, Panic Attack, Psychiatric, San Antonio, Seizure, Texas

Wonderful meeting for Kimberly and Viva!

An update from Cherry Jenkins and Kimberly!

Meeting a new dog that will be trained to be a Service Dog for anyone can be an exciting experience, and it was especially wonderful for Kimberly, who met for the first time her SDIT Viva.

VivaViva and Kimberly took to each other immediately. Kimberly suffers with seizures and anxiety, and needs a dog to help her cope with every day life as well have Viva trained to detect and alert if Kimberly will have or has a seizure.

For a dog to detect a seizure, the bonding with human and dog must be intense, so the first meeting to see if they will bond is crucial.  There were obviously no worries for Kimberly as Viva took to her instantly!

SD VivaViva looked at Kimberly directly in her eyes and smiled and was happy to lay down by her side while we chatted about the entire process and our journey together. Kimberly has the wonderful support of her family, who were there at the meeting and were equally thrilled at the instant connection that Viva and Kimberly had.

The family and I got along really well too, and I was honored when they asked me if I would be their trainer. Nothing would make me happier than to work with such a wonderful family.

Kimberly’s mom, Tonya, said that she could see that Viva was going to change Kimberly’s life. I agree, and I am so pleased that they have invited me along on their journey.

Viva was adopted from In Dog We Trust rescue San Antonio.

General, New Mexico

SDiT Kilo is welcomed in IGA

SDiT Kilo is welcomed into IGA in Roswell, NM with open arms.

Mom Shauna updates:

The Manager at the IGA store, LOVES Kilo. He greets him each time we take Kilo in, and Kilo is starting to get to know him, and everyone else. They love him there, and said they wish their dogs were as good as him. lol

Shauna, Great job!!!! I hope that Kilo is not scared of the colored tiles.  We will work on his reaction to wheelchairs and motorized carts once you are feeling better.