Category Archives: Texas

Experience, PTSD, San Antonio, TBI, Texas

Carol and Kensi

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Carol, who suffers from PTSD, and her SDIT, Kensi:

“This session occurred at the Forum in Universal City/ Selma. We walked around Petsmart for a while practicing our heeling maneuvers. We worked on our “sits” and “downs” in a public, busy setting, and then we grabbed some coffee at Red Robin, and Kensi did wonderfully! She wasn’t even noticeable under the table at Red Robin, and she rarely pulls on the leash when she sees distractions while we are out and about. We will do some fine tuning and adjustments with heeling around distractions. In addition, we have recently began to work with Kensi off leash!”

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

Wounded Warrior Sonny with SDIT Colt

From our magnificent trainer, Cherry, who paired Wounded Warrior Sonny with SDIT, Colt. She is training them now. She sent the following:

“A wonderful and magical update from retired Marine, Sonny and his SDIT Colt, who was adopted from In Dog We Trust through Service Dog Express some weeks ago. Sonny and Colt are inseparable, and the bond between them is something very special. Sonny takes Colt almost everywhere with him, and Colt is always on his best behavior. Colt was found wandering the streets at just 3 months old, taken in by a kind lady and then fostered until Cherry took him into her rescue, In Dog We Trust. Just look at the magic of this picture.”

She also writes about their training session:

“Sonny and Colt, sounds like a song! Our training session went extremely well – the bond between these two is quite amazing. Colt always stayed close to Sonny, which of course is wonderful!

Sonny was concerned about the number of people wanting to pet Colt, so we practiced “Watch me “, which is a good tool to use so people can see Colt is working and it keeps Colt focused on Sonny and not on the person wanting to pet.

They did great. Colt has a perfect heel, and although it was far too cold and dark to train outside, we discussed a lot about training and practiced in the lounge. This SD team is going to go far!”

ADA Rights, Military, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Daniel, Stubby and Cherry

From our marvelous trainer, Cherry, who is training with Wounded Warrior, Daniel!

“Today we had a great first session with Daniel, Stubby and me.

Daniel recently lost his beloved Service Dog Ivan, so after searching shelters and pounds, I suggested he train Ivan’s brother, Stubby.
Daniel had already done a lot of work with Stubby; he was very good at “sit”, “down”, and is learning to “stay”.

We talked for quite a bit discussing ADA laws, as it was still a murky area for Daniel. I explained what businesses are allowed to ask and what they are not. I also told him I would give him a copy of the laws to keep with him at all times so he can show anyone who is uninformed on the matter. Daniel was really pleased with that idea!

Daniel mentioned that he didn’t like people approaching to pet Stubby, so I taught him how to teach Stubby to ‘Watch me”. This will engage Stubby with Daniel and people can also see that Stubby is working. He really loved that idea, too, and wants that to be one of the three tasks for Stubby.

We then discussed “Cover”, and I showed Daniel the quickest way to teach a dog to not only stand in front to cover, but also to press right into his legs for emotional support.I also explained how dogs learn to switch on and off from pet to Service Dog and how they know to pay attention in those times when they are working.

By the end of our hour, Daniel was feeling optimistic and cheerful. Knowing what he’d learned in just that hour made him want to take Stubby out more often. I said I wanted a picture of him and Stubby for Service Dog Express, but he insisted I stood in on the picture! I was very flattered!.. I looked awful and if I’d known I was going to be photographed I’d have changed my shirt from accidentally spilling a drink on myself on my way to his house!

I am so impressed with Daniel; he has a wonderful, supportive family who also made me welcome in their home while I was there.
Good job Daniel and Stubby!

Pain Management, PTSD, San Antonio, TBI, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Jose and Dixie

An update from our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior Jose, who suffers from from a TBI, pain, and PTSD, and his SDIT, Dixie.

“We worked on the basics this session. Dixie is a very food driven dog, and learns very quickly. We worked with sits, downs, and some puppy pushups. After we were warmed up, we went into stays and waits. We reinforced which foot to lead with and the correct hand signals to use when commanding the dog to stay and wait. Dixie learned the beginning of ” heel” and began to differentiate it with “come”. The end result was Dixie sitting directly in front of the handler and looking at them in anticipation of the next command. Jose and Dixie learned a simple correction using eye contact and a “not so friendly” face will work to make Dixie submit to the commands when she decides not to listen for a spell ( see pic below). Dixie is also overweight, so I taught Jose a game called “sit pretty” that will help Dixie to tone the muscles in her hips and shed some of that weight in the process,( see pic below) and will also help prevent hip dysplasia when she gets older. Both Dixie and Jose are learning the value of playing games and having fun in their sessions. They both learn extremely well and anticipate each session with vigor and excitement!”

 

Air Force, Experience, Military, San Antonio, Texas

Letty is a Fighter – Breast Cancer Will Lose

Very shocking news about one of our dear, dear Service Dog Express trainers, and also my dear, wonderful friend, Letty Pugh. I know a lot of you had the extreme honor of training your Service Dogs with her. She has given me permission to post this. I don’t say “sad” news, because Letty’s spirit is as strong and optimistic as anyone I know. From our dear Letty:

“Ok, friends and family. Here’s the scoop….I was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. I’m putting it out on FB for two reasons. 1) I’m only 43 years old. It does happen to women our age and there is never a good reason to NOT have your mammogram done. In order to be there for the ones you love, make a little time to get your boobs hugged! ! 2) I need your prayers. I’ve chosen to have a total mastectomy on my left breast on Tuesday, 25NOV. After the surgery, I’ll be staged and will start treatment (treatment will be determined as a result of the tumor pathology).

If any of you have any questions, please, ask. I’m not afraid nor am I freaking out. The kids, Marlon and my parents are all extremely strong. Other then that…….I LOVE YOU!”

I have spoken with Letty, and she it truly at peace with this. As usual, she takes things in stride, believes all things happen for a reason, and chooses to focus on the positives in her life. Of course, as an integral part of our Service Dog Express family for so long, my feelings about her are impossible to put into words – but I am gathering all the love and prayer I have in my heart and sending it to her and her beautiful family – her husband, Marlon, her children, and her doggies. Her Service Dog, Bentley, who is deaf, will be at her side as she recovers from her surgery at SAMMC. Please, all whose lives she has touched, let her know how much you care.

Show Letty your support:  Letty on Facebook

Military, Texas, Veteran, Waco, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Jeremy and “Lilac”

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An update from our trainer Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior Jeremy in Killeen, and his dog, “Lilac”, who was rescued by “In Dog We Trust”, run by Cherry Jenkins. She nursed poor Lilac, a pit, back to health because he had such terrible mange and had lost all her hair. But she healed her with the help of the veterinarian!

“This was our initial session, and what was discussed were simple basic obedience tasks. We discussed basic obedience and leash maneuvers, and we discussed the difference between stay and wait. Lilac learned the game “take it” so that we can make the work fun. We worked a little on recalls and discussed the importance of a solid recall.”

Experience, Military, PTSD, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Jose and Jethro

I love keeping track of Service Dogs that were placed over a year ago. Here is a picture of Wounded Warrior, Jose, and his absolutely amazing, unbelievably well-trained, loving, attentive, life-changing Service Dog, Jethro. Jose lives in Del Rio, and was placed with Jethro over a year ago. Jethro received initial amazing training by our former trainer, Tony, with the help of his daughter, Jennifer. Tony already had a fully-trained SD, Lucy (who still is doing a wonderful job almost two years later!). Jose comes to San Antonio often for appointments at the VA, and he always calls to let me know how well Jethro continues to do. He says Jethro has literally brought his entire family back together. Jethro not only is Jose’s constant companion for PTSD and other medical issues, but every day, Jethro does “checks” on all four children in their rooms, morning and night – and will alert Jose and his wife, Roberta, if any of the children are sick, crying – anything. Jose and Roberta have said that Jethro has literally changed ALL of their lives – bringing healing to Jose, and bringing the family closer together. He is one AMAZING rottweiler!!!!! SO PROUD OF YOU, DEAR JETHRO!!!! (He’s on the right side in the picture giving daddy a KISS!)

Anxiety, Experience, Panic Attack, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas

Rachel and Her BFF Piper

An update from trainer Sue, who is working with 6 year-old Rachel who has severe PTSD, and her 6 year old Brindle Greyhound mix, Piper. Piper has been raised with Rachel.

“Piper is a well-trained companion dog, as Rachel’s grandmother showed and trained collies for AKC Conformation and started obedience training with Piper as a puppy.

Piper knows sit, down, heel, cover, come, load and unload, waits and does not cross the front door threshold. She gets along with men, women, other dogs, cats, kids and strangers. Rachel’s mother, Rebecca, takes Rachel and Piper for walks and Piper automatically heels on Rachel’s left side and has been trained to obey Rachel’s commands. When Rachel gets stressed out and distraught, Piper immediately sits or lays with her to allow her to hug her until she is back to normal. Piper sleeps on her bed so that Rachel does not have nightmares. Piper puts the other two dogs that live at the house in check (in a mom dog way) when they are getting too crazy. They have a male Lab/Great Dane mix 2 year old and a 6 month old male Pit-bull/Lab mix puppy.

Rachel has many triggers. She has PTSD and has screaming fits, will freeze and tense up, shuts down and won’t communicate and even will go run and find a dark place to hide when there are loud noises, knocking, sirens, raised voices, fire alarms etc. Rachel can go to PetSmart and PetCo where Piper can go, and Rachel has no episodes as she has Piper there to comfort her. Rebecca cannot take Rachel to Walmart or HEB without Piper without having to leave because Rachel has an episode. Rebecca has to go to school to help comfort or pull Rachel out of her freeze/hiding trances. The school had a fire alarm last week, and Rebecca got called to the school as Rachel ran and hid and would not come out.

Piper seems to only need to refresh her obedience commands, sit stay, down stay and do an automatic sit when you stop walking. I left Rebecca with homework this week to work on these three things.

Rebecca and Susan (her mom) have requested my assistance in helping them get grant funding and would like me to be Piper’s trainer. I think they may be eligible for “SIP” to help them fund vet care and dog training and service dog equipment for Piper. They know that eventually they will need to start training another dog that can step in to be Rachel’s Service Dog when it is time to retire Piper as a Service Dog, but hopefully, that will be sometime down the road. Piper is almost at the point where she can pass her PAT.”

 

Anxiety, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas

Kathy and Olla

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Kathy, who suffers from PTSD and anxiety, and her SDIT, Olla:

“We had our initial session today and after Kathy signed the contract, we talked about a bad behavior Olla has developed since Kathy moved into her new home. She has taken to peeing on the carpet and all over the apartment. We talked about crate training Olla. We discussed the proper method to teach the command and gesture for sit, and command and gesture for down. We talked about stay and wait, and the difference between the two. And, we talked about starting walks in the heeling position and leading with the left foot. It was simple, since Olla is a fresh dog; we will have fun sessions from now on!”

 

Anxiety, Bipolar, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas

Carol and SDIT Kensi

From trainer Andrew, who is working with Carol and her SDIT, Kensi:

“Kensi and Carol are inching their way ever closer to to Public Access Test, and we are just continually reinforcing our out in public behaviors. This session took place at a dog park near Selma. Since it is right next to the highway, Kensi seemed a little put off by it so she didn’t perform as well as expected, and to make matters worse a garbage truck pulled up next to the fence and made so much noise that poor Kensi got scared and cowered a little; but we calmed her down quickly and walked around, helping her learn that loud noises and distractions can still be safe. We went inside to an agility course and Kensi seemed to do a little better once distracted from the garbage monster! We also worked on our leashing behaviors and sit/stay and wait/stay.”