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FindingMyself88
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Thank you @TimeToHeal :)
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Possible service dog!
- Post starter FindingMyself88
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- Post starter
- #50
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
Well my dear Bristol has learned A LOT in the past 5 days. Within the first day she had learned Sit and Down. Then she learned Come (on leash or in house), Stay, Leave It. Over the past few days I have been working on her with 2 of her tasks, grounding or deep pressure therapy and alerting me. She has grounding down pretty good. I try to have a treat with me whenever we sit down and I get her to ground. It helps that she actually loves it because she loves to cuddle :)! I've taught her how to alert with her nose and we are working on alerting with her paw which I call "target".
She has slept in bed with me the past 2 nights and I can honestly tell the difference. She always sleeps laying up against me. Last night I slept 13 hours straight! That is the LONGEST I have slept in probably a year. Normally thats about what I get in a week! When I do wake up in a flashback or nightmare, I am centered quicker because of her weight against me and I can see that she is still calm.
Our biggest thing that she struggles with is keeping her attention on me. I swear she has ADHD, but I think its because she is still a puppy and in a new place. She does pay more attention to me than anyone and I think in time she will get better. She does want to please me. When I took her back to the vet Thursday to get her records, she did act up. They had kittens for adoption in a cage and she is FASCINATED with cats! I literally had to pick her up and make her face me. So that is something that definitely needs work. We've also had the issue of her getting out twice this week because someone left the door open and she ran into the neighbors yard. The first time she finally came back to me and the second time she ran back to the house. So we definitely have more work to do on stay and come.
Another issue we have is she gets so excited with everyone and wants to jump and play. Again, I think this is a puppy thing plus she was kept in a kennel for the past month with very little exercise and attention. Ultimately I think her desire to please me will outweigh this in time.
We are getting better at heeling. What I do is put the leash in my right hand, have it go behind my legs and then her walk on my left side. This makes it so that if she tries to pull ahead, my legs stop her. If she continues, I stop until she pays me attention then we continue.
She loves to play fetch and tug of war! I play fetch with her in our fenced in area and tug of war in the house. While playing I will incorporate training by having her sit or lay down and stay while I throw the toy then release her to go.
So overall I am very pleased :). I knew training wouldn't be easy and there is no such thing as a perfect dog, especially a puppy. Boxers mature slower than other breeds, normally mature by age 3 so she has another year or so to go. We don't have any pet shops in my home town, but when I drive back to Bham every week for counseling, I plan on taking her to pet shops and dog parks to socialize her and get her use to going different places. We do have a tractor supply here and some of them allow dogs so I am going to call and see if they will. Which of course they would have to if I say she is a SD in training. However, I don't want to label her as that until we have her basic obedience solidly down.
Anyways, this has been a long enough update!
She has slept in bed with me the past 2 nights and I can honestly tell the difference. She always sleeps laying up against me. Last night I slept 13 hours straight! That is the LONGEST I have slept in probably a year. Normally thats about what I get in a week! When I do wake up in a flashback or nightmare, I am centered quicker because of her weight against me and I can see that she is still calm.
Our biggest thing that she struggles with is keeping her attention on me. I swear she has ADHD, but I think its because she is still a puppy and in a new place. She does pay more attention to me than anyone and I think in time she will get better. She does want to please me. When I took her back to the vet Thursday to get her records, she did act up. They had kittens for adoption in a cage and she is FASCINATED with cats! I literally had to pick her up and make her face me. So that is something that definitely needs work. We've also had the issue of her getting out twice this week because someone left the door open and she ran into the neighbors yard. The first time she finally came back to me and the second time she ran back to the house. So we definitely have more work to do on stay and come.
Another issue we have is she gets so excited with everyone and wants to jump and play. Again, I think this is a puppy thing plus she was kept in a kennel for the past month with very little exercise and attention. Ultimately I think her desire to please me will outweigh this in time.
We are getting better at heeling. What I do is put the leash in my right hand, have it go behind my legs and then her walk on my left side. This makes it so that if she tries to pull ahead, my legs stop her. If she continues, I stop until she pays me attention then we continue.
She loves to play fetch and tug of war! I play fetch with her in our fenced in area and tug of war in the house. While playing I will incorporate training by having her sit or lay down and stay while I throw the toy then release her to go.
So overall I am very pleased :). I knew training wouldn't be easy and there is no such thing as a perfect dog, especially a puppy. Boxers mature slower than other breeds, normally mature by age 3 so she has another year or so to go. We don't have any pet shops in my home town, but when I drive back to Bham every week for counseling, I plan on taking her to pet shops and dog parks to socialize her and get her use to going different places. We do have a tractor supply here and some of them allow dogs so I am going to call and see if they will. Which of course they would have to if I say she is a SD in training. However, I don't want to label her as that until we have her basic obedience solidly down.
Anyways, this has been a long enough update!
- Post starter
- #51
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
Well Bristol was really put to the test this morning! She has been there to obey cues during mild anxiety or after nightmares, flashbacks and dissociation. But today she reacted properly to me having a full panic attack! Long story short my grandfather upset me and some other stuff. She calmly came along beside me and nudged my hand with her nose. Then when I got on bed she allowed me to do some breathig exercises. When that didn't work she began pawing my hand persistently until I started petting her and got as close as possible to me. Once I calmed down a bit she got her tug rope and started asking me to play :). I'm so proud of her!
Sorry for typos. I am on my phone...
Sorry for typos. I am on my phone...
Last edited by a moderator:
- Post starter
- #52
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
Took Bristol to her first store as a Service Dog in Training and she did AMAZING! We went into walmart and they were moderately busy. She stuck to my side and sat almost every time I stopped on her own. We stayed in there about 30 minutes or so. I am very proud of her. I bought a gentle leader head collar and it is working wanders on keeping her from pulling when distracted. She has gotten better about people, just dogs and cats that we need work on. I just had to ask people not to approach her because she still does get overly excited when paid attention to by strangers.
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- #53
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
Been busy the past couple of days. Saturday we took Bristol into Wal-mart again and A grocery store. One of the employees at Walmart came up to me and said "You know you can't have pets in here right?" He seemed skeptical when I told him she was a service dog in training, but he didn't question further.
Today we took her to the vet and he gave her overall a clean bill of health. She had some wax build up in her ears that he treated and said her tail would need to be docked to keep her from having problems in the future. So they just happened to have a cancellation for tomorrow so we left her there. It is not going to be fun without her the next 2 nights, but she needs this done. Last night I literally destroyed the bed in my nightmares, but Bristol was there every time, licking my face and pawing my arm to wake me up.
I can't believe how far we have come in just 2 short weeks. She is already helping me so much and very sensitive to my mood.
Today we took her to the vet and he gave her overall a clean bill of health. She had some wax build up in her ears that he treated and said her tail would need to be docked to keep her from having problems in the future. So they just happened to have a cancellation for tomorrow so we left her there. It is not going to be fun without her the next 2 nights, but she needs this done. Last night I literally destroyed the bed in my nightmares, but Bristol was there every time, licking my face and pawing my arm to wake me up.
I can't believe how far we have come in just 2 short weeks. She is already helping me so much and very sensitive to my mood.
- Post starter
- #54
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
So training with Bristol has been going okay/good. We are trying to work on our obedience in gradually higher distraction areas. We have come a little ways in being distracted by other animals, but still have a LONG way to go! I took her to a family reunion the other week and even with a little boy who would not listen to me when I said she needed to be left alone, she laid/sat at least 3/4 of the time, which was 4 hours long!
The surgery went well, her tail looks MUCH better and it also helped her to look more like the boxer/lab mix she is instead of a pit bull! She has to wear a muzzle for 2 weeks unless I am close enough to watch her. She hates the muzzle, so I try to be where she doesn't have to wear it.
Her vest came in :) I will post some pictures below!
The surgery went well, her tail looks MUCH better and it also helped her to look more like the boxer/lab mix she is instead of a pit bull! She has to wear a muzzle for 2 weeks unless I am close enough to watch her. She hates the muzzle, so I try to be where she doesn't have to wear it.
Her vest came in :) I will post some pictures below!
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- #55
FindingMyself88
Platinum Member
Well today has been a BIG day for Bristol, a big week actually! Today she got her stitches out (yay!!) and she went to her first 2 restaurants and sat down to eat!!
Tuesday when I made the trip to bham for my therapy, I took her everywhere with me aside from Therapy (still trying to get it cleared through the board). This means gas stations, dollar tree, mcdonalds (only went in to use bathroom and buy a tea). We also did some task and distraction training at Home Depot. She is doing amazing!
Today we went to wal-mart and while waiting on my grandfather's medicine, me and my grandmother went and got us a drink at subway and sat down. Their tables made it impossible for Bristol to lay under the table, but I moved one of the chairs away and she laid right beside me. She did move when my grandmother accidentally kicked her, but laid back down. Yesterday was an incredibly bad day, so today I was still out of it. Bristol sensed my anxiety and saw me fidgeting with my pants so she jumped up and did her task of grounding me by putting her front legs on my lap and leaning into my chest and giving me kisses. She did this for just a minute or so and laid back down!
Then tonight me and a friend went to Burger King. The manager came out and asked if she was a SD and I said in training yes ma'am. Then she asked what for. I told her I was not obligated to tell her my diagnosis, but that she was a medical alert dog (easiest way to put it). She was very nice and left us alone afterwards. We sat in a booth and at first, I slid all the way in and put her under the table on the outside. She is still getting use to people walking by her, so she would stand when they did. After a few times, I moved her to the inside and put myself on the outside. I should've done that in the beginning. For the rest of the hour, she laid calmly with her head on my foot :).
The apartment has finally cleared us, so tomorrow we will be moving back to where I live! I am so excited to be home!
Tuesday when I made the trip to bham for my therapy, I took her everywhere with me aside from Therapy (still trying to get it cleared through the board). This means gas stations, dollar tree, mcdonalds (only went in to use bathroom and buy a tea). We also did some task and distraction training at Home Depot. She is doing amazing!
Today we went to wal-mart and while waiting on my grandfather's medicine, me and my grandmother went and got us a drink at subway and sat down. Their tables made it impossible for Bristol to lay under the table, but I moved one of the chairs away and she laid right beside me. She did move when my grandmother accidentally kicked her, but laid back down. Yesterday was an incredibly bad day, so today I was still out of it. Bristol sensed my anxiety and saw me fidgeting with my pants so she jumped up and did her task of grounding me by putting her front legs on my lap and leaning into my chest and giving me kisses. She did this for just a minute or so and laid back down!
Then tonight me and a friend went to Burger King. The manager came out and asked if she was a SD and I said in training yes ma'am. Then she asked what for. I told her I was not obligated to tell her my diagnosis, but that she was a medical alert dog (easiest way to put it). She was very nice and left us alone afterwards. We sat in a booth and at first, I slid all the way in and put her under the table on the outside. She is still getting use to people walking by her, so she would stand when they did. After a few times, I moved her to the inside and put myself on the outside. I should've done that in the beginning. For the rest of the hour, she laid calmly with her head on my foot :).
The apartment has finally cleared us, so tomorrow we will be moving back to where I live! I am so excited to be home!
TimeToHeal
Gold Member
Yaaaaay!!!!! :D:tup::hug:
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