Category Archives: PTSD

Anxiety, Austin, Psychiatric, PTSD, Texas

Brooklyn and Starlette

An update from our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Brooklyn, who suffers from PTSD, flashbacks, anxiety, and nightmares, and his SDIT, Starlette.

“This was a wonderful session where we discussed the importance of duration. Since the Public Access Test requires that the dog stay in the commanded position (i.e. down or sit, for at least three minutes), we discussed that. Starlette is doing extremely well. She has taken to her new family, and has become very protective over Brooklyn’s son and Brooklyn himself, but in a positive and progressive way. In times of stress, Starlette will take the lead and push back in a “cover” position against Brooklyn as of to say “you can stand back I got this”, and she will hold her ground in a non aggressive way. She has learned to play a game which they have aptly named “find Sean” which is the name of Brooklyn’s son, where Starlette will go find the two year old boy, circle him, and sit next to him. Brooklyn has worked on the “find your spot” game. The “find your spot” game is the act of the dog finding a handler-designated spot for the dog to go to when told. Starlette has her spot in each of the three main rooms in the house (the kitchen, the living room, and the bedroom). She is doing so well that Brooklyn is going to begin taking her to work with him where he works as a chef in the kitchen at a hospital on 32nd street in downtown Austin!

Houston, Military, PTSD, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Ronnie and his SDIT, Roxy

From our wonderful trainer, Kendra, who is training with Wounded Warrior Ronnie and his SDIT, Roxy!

“I met with Ronnie and SDIT Roxy today at Toys R Us. Roxy did a controlled load and unload of of the vehicle. She walked safely in the parking lot and entered in a controlled manner. We walked with a cart to practice and Roxy was not at all distracted by the cart. She does tend to move to the side to be able to see around the cart, so we will work on having her follow right next to Ronnie’s side. I told Ronnie when walking with a cart, practice walking right next to the isle so Roxy can’t veer ahead. This way she will learn where she needs to be beside the buggy in a heel.

We went to the ball isle and worked with tossing and bouncing balls, as this is Roxy’s weak point. At first, Roxy was very intent on watching me with the ball. So I moved a bit further away as Ronnie got her to sit and watch him. I bounced and threw the ball in the air and she stayed sitting and looked right back at him. So slowly I moved closer and closer until eventually I could walk past her. She then did something really awesome. As she was in the aisle and I was walking past her bouncing the ball, she scooted over to give me more room to pass! So we moved on, and I sat on a skateboard and pushed myself toward her and past her. She wasn’t bothered.

We walked through the store and Ronnie and Roxy had a meet and greet with a customer and she did it perfectly. I also put some quarters in the ride on machine at the front of the store to see what her reaction would be, and she was unsure at first, but with some reassuring she was over it in a matter of seconds. Ronnie also put her in a sit/stay and walked to the other side of the aisle and around the aisle (I was holding the leash) and she stayed. She did, however, stand up when he was back in her sight because she was so happy to see him again! Roxy does have some anxiety when Ronnie isn’t in her sight in public, but I more believe it’s because she knows he needs her – it’s just the way they interact and how she is constantly looking at him and how he interacts with her. She just lays on the floor and watches Ronnie.

Roxy’s bond with Ronnie is amazing. They are best friends and she will do anything for him. He told me that the other day there were out and a man was standing entirely too close to Ronnie, so he just tugged on Roxy’s leash and she went between Ronnie and the other man – and the man was so close that Roxy moved him away as she got in place. Roxy is a natural and Ronnie’s dedication really shows. I am so proud of both of them!

We also walked next door to the grocery store. We worked on walking through the store and practiced “leave it” with Roxy not sniffing. We will continue to work in that. We will work some more at the mall next week to see how she does at sitting down and eating and also work on Roxy’s nervousness around the bedding aisle. Ronnie taught Roxy “belly rub” and “Shake” and “hugs”!

Experience, Military, PTSD, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

A fun day for Wounded Warrior, Christopher

A fun day for Wounded Warrior, Christopher, who has been travelling to the VA in Kansas regularly because his treatment is better there. His SD, Maggie, is becoming a frequent flyer!! They went to a movie today – and Maggie did wonderfully! Christopher takes such immaculate care of Maggie!! But…umm…Maggie – you have to OPEN your eyes to watch the movie!!!!! So glad you were well-behaved!!

Medical Alert, Military, Mobility, Multiple Sclerosis, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Warrent and Panther

From trainer Beverly, who began working with Warrant, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and PTSD. He is in a wheel chair and unable to walk more than 4 steps without assistance. His SDIT is “Panther”!

“At our initial meeting, Panther was a bit shy initially, but once he warmed up, we played and he allowed me to hold him and rub him all over. Although he is a small dog – a “YorkiPoo”, he’s smart and a tad stubborn! Warrant has MS, and wants Panther to be a medical alert dog to tell others if he falls or needs help and for his own peace of mind. There is an obvious strong bond between them. You can just see the love Warrant has for his little buddy in the pictures.

At our first training session, we worked on “Sit” and “Down”, then started on “Short Stay” for them to work on through the week. Panther caught on quickly, but he also gets bored quickly. We discussed the need for short training sessions (15-20 mins) a couple times per day. In addition, Warrant should be consistent with the rules for Panther; for him to work with Panther before meals so that Panther is treat-motivated. Warrant should also ensure they have appropriate “pack structure” within the house and that Panther is not allowed to “be the boss.” They both (Warrant and Panther) seemed to enjoy the session and look forward to learning more. I look forward to seeing what this little spunky dog is capable of. He’s very smart, and so is Warrant!”

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

Nathan and Owen

From trainer Beverly, who is working with Wounded Warrior, Nathan, who suffers from PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder related to childhood abuse and military service, and his SDIT, Owen:

“Nathan was having an issue with Owen barking at new things (animals at theme parks, the “man in a space suit” at the museum, etc), He does tend to bark at certain things he doesn’t understand or recognize (ceiling fans) and, wants to chase the squirrels and birds. We worked on getting him to focus on Nathan and the yummy treats instead of the squirrels and birds. We also worked on Owen’s sit/down stays amid distractions. Owen is proficient in sit, down, stay, watch me, and heeling. We will be trying the Pet Corrector to control the barking.”

PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

DJ and Tabitha

From trainer Beverly, who is working with Wounded Warrior DJ, who suffers from PTSD, and his SDIT, Tabitha:

“We met at the Bluebonnet Bunk n Biscuit and trained inside their store as well as in their small dog park. There was one other dog there initially, and Tabitha barked excitedly. Although it sounds loud, she appears to be just be curious and want to play. Tabitha was corrected and we settled her back down. We worked on distracting her more with yummy treats and trying to get her to understand that “not reacting” will have more reward for her than to react. By the end of the session, she was not reacting to the dogs that were being taken home after day care or dropped off for boarding!

We also worked on Tabitha’s sit-stay and down-stay. Their homework for the week is to practice her stay more and gain more consistency with it and with her recall. To practice this, DJ got a 30’ leash, used to stay and have him walk away with Tabitha in a stay – then call her to COME and use the leash to “reel her in”. Tabitha is doing much better with the new collar as well! Tabitha can still sit, down, stay, leave it, watch me, wait, and heel very well.”

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

Brian and Cassandra

From trainer Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior, Brian, who suffers from PTSD, and his dog, Cassandra.

“I had a training session with Brian and his Service Dog in Training Cassandra. We went over ways of handling her hypervigilance in public with people and dogs that come too close to Brian, and how to build toy drive in the dog. We went over the food on the floor game, so Cassandra would only take food given by his handler and not any other food. We also worked on the restrained recall game. The session mostly consisted of focus and drive issues, and how to direct Cassandra’s attention off of the undesired object to the handler.”

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

Brooklyn and Starlette

From trainer Andrew, who is working with Brooklyn, a Wounded Warrior who suffers from PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, anger and anxiety outbreaks. Andrew writes:

“I had another session with Brooklyn and his Service Dog in Training, Starlette. We went over what we had previously worked on: basic obedience and loose leash walking and controlled entry into a doorway. We also went over some new homework for them which consists of a food on the floor game to teach Starlette to begin discriminating food not given by her handler and food given by the handler. We worked on a find your spot game, and a restrained recall game so as to build drive and focus on her handler. We talked about finding ways to build toy drive and talked about what is and is not accept able to chase, and what particular dog behaviors that we could use as a reward in times of play so that Starlette could just be a dog.”

Anxiety, Depression, Houston, PTSD, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Ronnie and Roxy

A wonderful write-up from Kendra, our trainer in Houston, and her client, Ronnie, who is a Wounded Warrior with PTSD, anxiety and depression, and his SDIT, Roxy.

“I met at the mall with client Ronnie and SDIT Roxy. and as always it was a complete pleasure!!! Roxy entered the mall in a controlled manner and after we entered, we stood at the entrance to allow her to see and hear all the distractions. It was her very first time in the mall! I am amazed at the hard work and dedication that Ronnie puts forth with Roxy. At the entrance she sat and laid down. Once she was focused we continued on. We walked through the mall for an hour. We went into Game Stop and did two meet and greets. We walked on all different floors, hardwood, tile, stone, and carpet. We went into the department store and rode on the elevator for the first time, too! Roxy didn’t hesitate, was not fearful or nervous. She went on that elevator with confidence!

We walked through the bedding aisle, and she was unsure of it, so we continued to walk through there until she was more at ease. Client Ronnie also put her in a sit while we was in the bedding aisle and she did beautifully. We continued to walk the mall and even walked in the food court. We passed right next to a man holding a tray of food and she paid no attention to him; didn’t sniff at him or anything. We also sat at a table and Roxy naturally goes under the table. She was even falling asleep under there! There were TONS of distractions as the mall was very busy (more than normal), and Roxy’s focus always returned to Ronnie. Ronnie is a lot more confident having Roxy with him. We will continue with training in public and next week and will met at the toy store.”