Category Archives: Veteran

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!”

 

Military, Texas, Veteran, Waco, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Jeremy and “Lilac”

1 Comment

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!)

Experience, Military, PTSD, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

An Update from Wounded Warrior Donald

A wonderful update from Donald, a Wounded Warrior who was at Laurel Ridge here in San Antonio and adopted beautiful Maximus. He is working with a Service Dog trainer in California. Donald writes:

“I’ve been so busy getting adjusted to being in the real world and military again and training Max. I’ve been training with him daily. We have worked on heeling on my left side. My trainer and I have been really focusing on heeling; for example – Max has at all times to keep his shoulder to my knee when I walk and not have his full body past my knee. We also been working on changing directions and having Max stay in a perfect heel.

In addition, when I stop walking, we are training Max to immediately sit and wait. We are working on having him stay at a spot while I walk away 20 to 30 yards without coming to me while give the command stay. I’ve been walking with him every day to get the motion of him heeling beside me more fluid and natural. There’s some more things we’ve been working on but that’s the major ones. I will send pictures later today when I’m off work of Max. He is wonderful!”

 

Military, PTSD, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Update from Wounded Warrior Andrew

An update from Wounded Warrior Andrew, who was paired with “Ozzie” (now “Mozzie) while at Laurel Ridge! Andrew is now stationed in North Carolina, and working with a Service Dog trainer that we talked with named Casper.

“Hi Laurie!

I’ll get some pictures out soon!

Mozzie and I have been meeting with Casper at Unleashed Dog Training weekly and going though a 70-80 minute class, then coming home with weekly homework that Mozzie and I have been working on.

So far we’ve worked on the following:

Getting him to focus on me, and me on him – rewarding with treats, my nose, his nose, his mouth. Ensuring always to reward him this way so he’s always looking to me.

Positional sitting, left side of me, ensuring I adjust to where he sits each time. He’s starting to sit exactly where he needs to be each time on his own, but I still correct now to make sure we solidify the position exactly.

Positional down, same as above.

We work on a handling exam a few times a week, starting at the nose, eyes, ears, mouth, working down the front, front legs, paws, bare spot on the chest, belly, back legs and paws, tail, and back up to the collar. He still requires a bit of treating throughout the exam, but he’s getting a lot better at being ‘inspected’ and handled.

We’ve talked about the sequencing of commands, and chaining commands.

We’re working on stay, in both sit and down right now. Casper has been deliberate in training ME to remember that it’s about seconds and inches and not minutes and feet (in how far/long you can get the dog to stay). We also discussed how even a small stay with a reward is exponentially better then ANYTIME the dog breaks, since a break could mean multiple steps backwards in progress. It’s better to reward, than to correct.

Lastly, we’re also working on “around”, the repositioning of Mozzie when he isn’t on my left side. Always ensuring that he moves behind me to return to his place. We’re training return with sit, and Mozzie is getting the idea that anytime we’re not moving and he is on my left it’s appropriate for him to be sitting next to me.

Overall, Mozzie is doing extremely well. He’s learned quickly that when the leash is on, he’s supposed to be in a different frame of mind. Even when we have a large amount of people over to the home I’m staying at, and I put his leash on, he’s a completely different dog until the leash comes off.

Finally, Casper has done a phenomenal job at expressing to us the human element in the training of our animals, such that WE need to remember that anything that our dogs do wrong is because we haven’t trained them right, not that THEY didn’t understand.

More to follow Laurie:)
Andrew”

Air Force, Army, Austin, Coast Guard, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Experience, General, Houston, Lubbock, Marine, Military, Navy, New Mexico, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Waco, Wounded Warrior

Unbelievable kindness

Unbelievable kindness. Ken, a Wounded Warrior who has Service Dog “Mozart”, does this amazing artwork. He is donating proceeds from the sale of it to help wounded warriors get funding for Service Dog training with Service Dog Express!!! THANK YOU KEN!!!!!

Helping Veterans suffering from PTSD the oppurtunity to adopt service dogs to assist in their rehabilitation at no cost
Helping Veterans suffering from PTSD the opportunity to adopt service dogs to assist in their rehabilitation at no cost
Military, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Wounded Warrior Jesse, and his SDIT, Rocco.

From our wonderful trainer, Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior Jesse, and his SDIT, Rocco.

“Today, we simply reinforced the “wait” and “stay” commands and “loose lease” maneuvers. We played fun games in between, such as : “Take It“, which is the act of the dog chasing after a treat thrown by the person. This game is the precursor of not only a good recall but of retrieve. We also reinforced the basic obedience since Rocco still seems to be having issues with his patience, at least when there is a different person in his house…”

San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Jesse and Rocco

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior, Jesse, and his dog, Rocco. Andrew has very innovative ways of teaching different commands – that’s why I love ALL our trainers – they all have their own styles and as long as they get to the Public Access Test point safely and efficiently, I encourage them to use their extensive knowledge.

“We initially began with basic obedience, making it fun, using food as lures, and properly exercising the command gestures. Jesse learned that “wait” means if there are no further commands given after wait, then the dog can get up and be free; but “stay” means to stay put no matter what. I also showed him some puppy push-ups to help make “sit” and “down” less monotonous, and showed him “take it”, which is the act of the person throwing a food reward for the dog then commanding the dog back to a “sit” position in front of him after saying “come” so as to receive a reward. This game is a variation of the “come” command. Another one we worked on was to walk the dog around nonchalantly on his leash – then Jesse calls Rocco to Jesse randomly and excitedly whenever Jesse feels so inclined. We also worked on patience and staying still while putting on the leash and the vest.”

Anxiety, El Paso, Military, New Mexico, PTSD, TBI, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Look whose adopted beautiful Nelly!

Look whose adopted beautiful Nelly! Nelly was rescued and fostered by Cherry Jenkins of In Dog We Trust!! Jason traveled all the way from El Paso to meet Nelly! Our trainer, Michelle, in New Mexico, will be training him.

Jason is a Wounded Warrior who served for 12 years. He suffers from PTSD, TBI, frequent migraines, flashbacks, night terrors, and anxiety. Let’s hope wonderful Nelly will be his best companion to help him as a Service Dog for all his troubles!!!

Experience, Houston, Military, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Update from Ronnie

A happy update from one of our clients, Ronnie, and his SD, Roxy – sent to his trainer, Kendra!

“Hi Kendra,

Just wanted to update you on Roxy and I. Unfortunately, I have been working a lot so we were pretty limited to where we went except for work. She has been doing great at night waking me up during nightmares! Recently, Marleah and I went to the movies and the Renaissance Festival with Roxy. She did great at the movies – she even put her head between seats to watch the movie. She also did great at the festival; tons of meet & greets and did awesome every time. I’m so proud of her and thank you for all the amazing training.”

WONDERFUL WORK, KENDRA!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, TOO, RONNIE!!