Service dog rollercoaster

[KP the nut]

I was given a huge guilt trip about the kids having presents there and everyone wanting to see us and my wife stood up for me saying that they knew about this and we are sorry but we will not be attending.

Good for you and your wife. Your family need to understand that Abby is a medical requirement (as is insulin), you need her to help you function. Hang in, hopefully they will come around.

Abby sounds amazing. I hear lots of stories about bad dogs, when really the problem is the owners not giving the dogs enough exercise. I love the idea of the car, just imagining it makes me smile:D. Also if any friends have dogs, maybe they could be exercised together. I take mine to a local park and my 2 have great fun playing with their friends. They make their own games.

It is still early days and you are getting to know one another. Does she cuddle on your knee, my sprollie (all 25kg) of him comes and lies on me. He lies on his back in the crook of my arm, with his head resting in my neck and I tell him he is such a bloke - bliss.

Have lots more adventures - I'm looking forward to reading them

KP

 

[popeye]

Yesterday Abby and I were out for a drive. I just needed some time to think. While wandering around this little town of ours which I haven't really explored too much we came across a bunch of cars parked near a fence. Since I didn't have anywhere else to be I stopped and tried to figure out why all the cars were out here in the middle of basically no where. Well come to find out we had happened across a 7 acre dog park!!! I rushed right home got my other dog and headed back there with a few bags for waste and a gallon of water. Man this place was great! Abby finally got to just run for no other reason than she had the space to do it. Jethro my little buddy ran around like crazy too.

I don't think I have ever had as much fun watching dogs run around than I did while I was there. There was 10 other dogs there I counted them. They were all well behaved and liked to run around all over the place. Abby might have been sweet on this little bloodhound pup because she wouldn't let other dogs bully the puppy. Jethro made a friend with the old lady that was there with her poodle. He just jumped up on the bench with her and sat there letting her pet him.

There is just something magical about watching a dog run at full speed without being in any danger.

 

[KP the nut]

I bet you smiled loads. It can't be helped, when they run they are just so happy, playing and chasing that it brings a smile to your face.:D It is fantastic that you have found this place. Why not set a goal that you will go there so many times each week.

I do that, I know it is good for me, but sometimes the effort. I usually manage it, the dogs give me so much it is a small price to pay. I have just come home after taking mine out, no friends tonight and a short run as well but we went.

Dog people are special as well, friendships are formed but for a long time you will be known as Abby and Jethros
Dad:)

I'm so happy for you all, I'll be waiting for more adventures
(((HUGS))) if you (Abby and Jethro) accept them
KP

 

[popeye]

Several trips to the dog park later Abby is doing a wonderful Job. She was with me at Farm and fleet on Sunday and I flipped out. There was a whole shelf that got toppled by a forklift while they were trying to put more road salt into a center display and the forklift toppled a shelf. causing such a thunderous crash I was mentally teleported back to the explosion. I didn't even realize she was paying attention to me. Apparently I dropped to my knees and started rocking back and forth and she just sat there for a minute watching me and when I didn't stand up right away she tackled me and licked me and pawed at me until I was forced to pay attention to her.

She did her job to the letter and helped me remember where I was. I did have to take a pill to calm down completely but she did her job. I am so proud of her and proud of myself. With her help I was able to come out of a severe flashback and still be able to finish my shopping. I was there looking for a pair of carhart gloves for going to the dog park.

 

[KP the nut]

I'm sorry for your trigger, but so pleased Abby remembered her stuff - such a clever girl

.

It must be a big relieve for you to have her. It means that slowly you can take control of your life.

(((HUGS))) to you all
KP

 

[allowedtoheal]

:)

 

[seedling]

I was at our Farm and Fleet this week. She brought you out enough so you could think to be able to take a pill, be able to know how to take care of yourself. What a great dog.

 

[popeye]

I have been thinking about this for awhile now and I am going to start a new post about this topic but I was wondering how great of a need is there for psychiatric service dogs? In my search I didn't find much if anything about training them by professionals. I was thinking maybe I would start work on creating a better way for those of us with ptsd to obtain a well trained service dog.

 

[KP the nut]

I'm in the UK and didn't know until I read your post that there were psychiatric service dogs.

Yours is a good idea to create a better way.

HUGS to you and your dogs
KP

 

[amethist]

I have been searching in the UK for some kind of help with this.

You can get them for a few illnesses, but PTSD seems to be out in the cold again.

Amethist

 

[seedling]

Popeye, my mom is in Albuquerque NM and sent me a clipping from people out that way that help people train their own dogs. They work with the person and the dog in a set program. It's for people specifically with PTSD. It's good to see some things like this starting up. Their service is a fraction of the cost of a dog trained in an extensive program and then matched with someone.

I could get some info on it if you wanted to look at what they are doing. Maybe you can find it on the web too?

 

[John Burnham]

There is a new PTSD service dog organization starting in Phoenix, AZ. named Soldier's Best Friend. Our goal is to place and train veterans diagnosed with PTSD or TBI at no cost to the veteran. Please feel free to checkout our website http://soldiersbestfriend.org. Thanks