Getting A Service Dog.

[Freida]

Yay!!!!!!!

 

[blackemerald1]

K went outside today whilst I decided to get some housework done like vacuum the disgusting carpet because the house smells like - dog?

About half an hour later, she came bounding back in the door a brand new very happy dog!! With an entirely new look, she was so pleased with her new hair doo... She'd changed her white hair to black... which was almost all of her except her spots? She was very excited rubbing up against me, swinging that back end around like a road train losing it's trailer on a bend. Tail spinning atop of it all. The epitome of blissful happiness??? :wtf:

So I did the only thing a human knows best and took her outside and gave her a right old brushing. Yes!!

After 20 minutes of brushing I'd tidied her all up & returned her to being a white dog with tan spots. Pleased with myself I went inside to finish my work.

Twenty minutes later she reappears wearing all black again. I give up & I now officially don't care!! She's a dog & if she wants to be a black dog with tan spots then I am not arguing anymore.

Oh and now.. I think she's barked twice more. But I don't know why. eh?? spooky girl!

She's fetching a ball and playing tug with a rope with so much zeal that it might be going a tiny bit overboard?

She brings the ball back in her mouth and launches herself off the ground and into my arms. I'm sitting on the back step so just a little bit awkward. There's dog, arms, mouth, ears & tail flapping around in my face after every retrieval. And she's not too keen on 'giving' the ball back. If I do manage to get it out of her mouth she'll give me a little excited nip. Definitely discouraging the nip bit. Not sure how to tone down the launching on top of me? Any ideas??

 

[Sideways]

She loves you soooo much!

Try shuffling her calmly back down in front of you, tell her to sit, then give (if you have a command for that?). Just calmly. She'll get the hang of it pretty quick when she figures out that's the only way to keep playing.

Lovin happy doggo stories right now:)

 

[Sideways]

Hope you're doing okay. Very glad you've got B to be with you.

 

[blackemerald1]

Yeah I'm doing much better now that K is with me - thank you for asking. I cannot imagine how I'd be if I didn't have her. She's tremendously good company.

It took me a little by surprise that I'd need to self-isolate to the extent that I must and as early as I was asked to. But I'll err on the side of my doctor's advice.

K is very healthy for me in so many ways. She makes me adhere to a reasonable routine because her needs must be met regardless of how I feel.

She loves to get out in the morning. She prances around the backyard taking big, bouncy steps similar to the gait of a dressage horse 'taking the trot' - maybe extended trot? It's a gait that seems to make her taller & possibly enables her to sprint if she wanted to. It seems powerful and intimidating.

She only does this gait first up in the morning and usually she 'patrols' the entire perimeter of the yard, head held aloft, wind scenting everything. Completely absorbed and processing. She comes back contented, wagging her tail and thrilled to get back onto her bed, curl up and go to sleep again!

For me, I'm awake & having a cup of tea and disinclined to return to bed. Sometimes, if it's cool, I curl up on the couch. If I fall asleep she usually gives me about 90 minutes before my face gets a wet wash. ugh... I know it's well intended but...

The trainer who should have come back last week can no longer come. We are going to use skype to make sure she's adhering to her training schedule. Her final PAC will be delayed a little, well a lot but she is still qualified until that final assessment according to the trainer. I'm unconcerned because if it's one thing I'm good at, it's training. :rolleyes:

I've toned down her enthusiastic launches into my arms when retrieving a ball or her rope. She's still just as excited & I'm giving her heaps of praise, belly scratches etc. She's accidentally (on purpose) nipped me? Hmm I didn't find that funny at all & she found out immediately. No game, no laughing, no fun. She knew.

I'm hoping her training for crowds, shopping etc is good because she won't be getting any of those experiences for a long time.

I've taught her to weave between my legs as I walk. She got that within a minute or so. I've taught her to walk backwards, crawl forwards, grab the ball and roll onto her back. Idk why I taught her to do that last one. lol.

She's certainly not a barker. But if she wants to warn me, she rubs up against my legs and growls in the direction of the threat. I can feel her chest rumble in my knees. That is reassuring.

In terms of grooming. She hates, hates being brushed. She'll eat the brush, chew the brush, do chase the brush, twirl around and around on the spot to grab the brush. It's a soft spongy rubbery brush so not harsh or prickly. I don't know what her issue is.

After I've given up trying to brush her, she's quite happy to let me scratch her coat with my fingers and groom her that way. Then she has a big roll on the grass covering herself in dirt again??

So we are doing okay. :)

 

[Sideways]

With brushing? Perhaps try a licky mat to distract her while you brush? Idk - just, thanks for the post and making me laugh! It's good to hear you doing alright in these difficult circumstances. Wanted you to know you haven't been forgotten about, even though isolation might feel like it.

 

[blackemerald1]

Oh thank you @Sideways. :hug:
I know that things are really hard for you now too. I'm thinking of you and hoping you're coping ok too. We are in this together you know! We have some very common issues and our dogs! How is your dog getting along?

 

[Sideways]

Doggo is blissfully unaware that anything much has changed. He's very busy constantly trying to get up on my chest to do DPT, so he knows I'm stressed. But his world hasn't really changed other than we don't go out now, so he doesn't need to do any work! He's keeping me reasonably grounded. Alone in this together ?

 

[Freida]

so excited for you still! Service dogs are the best! :)

 

[blackemerald1]

K did her first set of exams yesterday - with the examiner in video link via my laptop. So he saw he run through all of her specific alerts and she passed. I think she knew she had to knuckle down and show them! So I'm super happy about that.

We can now progress onto another level of alerts which I think she is more than ready for.

Her next examination is in six weeks.

I also received news yesterday, in a backward way, but nevertheless confirmed as 100% correct, that I've been accepted into the national disability insurance scheme. Yay.. First planning meeting is in about three weeks.

I'm really surprised that on my first application I got in. I was cautioned by my medical professionals several times that it might take a few attempts and my application might need to be tweaked. But no! I've got in. So that's a surprise.

So medical, food expenses for K will now be met. Relief!! They have asked me to prepare for the planning meeting with more ideas about what I would like in terms of my goals etc., and ways to help overcome my other disability. wow Nobody has ever asked me that or offered help in those ways.

What sort of things should I be thinking of? I've no idea. I just do things by myself - always.

 

[Freida]

That's awesome! both for K and you!

 

[Sideways]

That's excellent news, both about the NDIS and K's exams:)