Me & my service dog, babygirl

[Changing4Best]

She is 5 years old, serves me in many a way, especially with my PTSD. I have a doctor's prescription for her from my psychiatrist and she is officially registered with the State of NC. She is the best!

I learned how to train her myself and did do so, though I did have training on how to train a dog to sit, stay, heel, etc. beforehand. However, for her Service Dog training, I studied a book called HEALING COMPANIONS by Jane Miller. This was so helpful!

Babygirl is good medicine for me. She is attentive, she listens and obeys, somtimes slowly, but she does. She is a lap dog, (miniature dachshund) willing to sit in my lap for up to 4 hours at a shot if I so desire. She is indespensible during panic attacks.

I SO LOVE HER, SHE IS A GIFT FROM GOD!!! Always has been since the day I got her when she was 4 months old.

 

[The Albatross]

Sounds like a good match Shelia. I had two red long haired dashunds and very much enjoyed the breed. My boy Levi "Spike" Johns became a pet therapy dog and I was allowed to bring him into the long term care company I worked for. Now I have three sport class rescues. I have photos of my animals now on one of the pet threads.

 

[Changing4Best]

Hi Albatross, Thanks for joining in.

Babygirl was a rescue in a sense, because someone was suspected of mistreating her in the family where she had been staying. It is an honorable thing to rescue dogs!

Babygirl just tok a nap with me, after a panic attack I had this afternoon. She got me through the attack with flying colors, but I think we both were extra tired afterward; we slept like babies! She slept in my bed with me, whereas if she felt I was doing alright completely, she might have slept in her little bed next to mine.

 

[The Albatross]

Some of the most restful sleep I have is when my girl (beagle/german short haired pointer mix) Jesse, sleeps beside me. I have two cats, one that likes the other side of me, and one who sleeps on my feet. Grace and Elsa. They are sisters. They know when I'm having nightmares and when I wake during the night they come to me and bump my hand til I wake up and I pet them until I can fall back asleep.

 

[Changing4Best]

Albatross, That is wonderful that they wake you from nightmares.

Babygirl makes me feel safe just by her presense. She's a small li' kid, but she can take up the whole bed if I let her! Sometimes I need to push her to the side a little so I have enough room to fit comfortably in the middle of the bed. She stays wherever I move her, but when I get up, she crawls into where I was sleeping to cuddle into my warmth until I return from my midnight snack that I take with my final pills of the night. Then we both sleep soundly once I move her over a bit so I can have my spot back. It is a fun little "Queen of the Mountain" kind of game!

 

[Changing4Best]

Here are some of the many things that Babygirl (my Service Dog) does for me:

She warns me of an impending heart episode for which I need to sit down or lay down if possible.
She stays by my side in panic attacks.
She even does things like lean into me, rub up against me to remind me not to worry.
She lessens the height of panic attacks with her presense and the above.
She prays (this may sound wierd, but I got a photo of her once holding her front paws together while standing up on her hind feet!).
She sleeps with me (or in her bed next to me when I am not as rattled).
She definitely knows when I am upset, not feeling well, grouchy... etc.
She reminds me to take my meds or to eat if I stare off into the distance forgetting what I'm doing.

My memory fails me and I cannot remember ALL that she does, she just does things as needed!

 

[The Albatross]

That is a wonderful list Shelia, I never broke my connection to my animal companions... though at my worst I did with the people in my life. They love unconditionally and I was able to experience the feeling of being loved even at my worst.

 

[Changing4Best]

That makes a lot of sense, Albatross, because people will become negative towards us more and more as we go down the tubes, dogs will do what they can to support us, love us and be with us no matter what. I believe also that they have extra senses we people are missing that let them know when we are on the road down to trouble physically and mentally/emotionally.

The day before yesterday Babyirl jumped on my chest and sat on my heart; not a long time later (less than 24 hours) I had chestpain and a heart episode. As well, WHEN it occurred, she stayed right by my side, laying her head on my body not far from my heart. SHE KNEW! She sensed it somehow before it occurred. (She has never jumped up on me like that before and SAT ON MY HEART. This was the first time ever!) I feel like she was trrying to protect me from whatever was occurring inside of me.

I have Lyme Disease, so she can smell the bacterial activities maybe? Lyme Disease is caused by tick bites, which happened to me many years ago. However, the effects of it linger on and on, if it is not diagnosed right away (which in my case it was not for something like 5 years!)

 

[Changing4Best]

Babygirl is a bit overweight, which is dangerous for dachshunds (causes back problems), so I have to be careful with giving her too many treats, which she constantly begs for. SO! I have a special way of telling her NO MORE. I sing her a littie short song in Spanish and when she hears me sing it, she knows that's it, no more treats. She'll go lay down dejectedly and grumble, but she does get the message. She's so smart!

There is one couch I like to sit on in front of my fish tank. I always sit there first thing in the morning after I make my coffee. She immediately comes to hug up next to me when I sit there or climb into my lap. It is like clockwork: I get up, go take care of my fish and she joins me. It is our morning ritual that I have my coffee with. She even seems aware of the fish a little, she recognises that something is moving and alive in that tank, especially when I talk soothingly to my fish. (She's a bit jealous of them I think, too!)

My best friend Tina is coming to visit today, I'm baking a cake. Babygirl loves cake, but again, she can only have a few crumbs... but she stays in the kitchen with me while I bake and makes me happy by her company. I thank God for her! She and He are my constant companions, 24/7/365. LOVE 'em both!!!

 

[Changing4Best]

The dentist's office says she can be in the exam room with me when I have my next appointment, so I am thrilled! I've never yet been with her there, so this should be very helpful. Now we just have to work better at "SIT!" and "STAY!" I had worked more with her about the emotional support than I have with those commands, because I had not really needed her to do that for me until now. We have until Dec 5th to perfect those skills. She can do them, but she is a bit slow at it and does not "STAY!" for long periods of time... Pray for us!

 

[The Albatross]

Might want to expose her to some of the unusual noises ahead of time, though just as I was saying that I'm not really sure how to do that.

Hope you had a nice visit with you friend the other day.

 

[Changing4Best]

Yes, my friend stayed overnight and we had a wonderful time, thanks.

I think maybe just sitting in the dentist's office might get her to be somewhat accustomed to the noises, even just from the wiaitng room. Maybe we can show up early that morning. She will stay tied up away from us a bit, I was told. (While he drills, etc.)