Busy, Busy!

Leon and I are doing okay. A friend of mine has been sick and in and out of the hospital --so Leon and I have been spending a lot of time with her (plus she's just a really awesome person to be around). Leon has been awesome at the hospitals when visiting and made a number of secret admirers among the nurses and staff. He even memorized where her room was in the hospital (and did so even when she was moved to a different floor--only took one time of visiting and he knew exactly where she was!) When I was confused about which way to go, he took me right to her room.

My friend is home now for the time being. Leon gets so excited about going to see her. I guess he knows how important she has become in my life and how much she means to me as a friend.

I've been doing okay myself. I started the vitamin cocktail a few months back and am finally at therapeutic levels. I have noticed a marked improvement in my ability to function and get things done --and not feel so much of the time like I have to peel myself off of the bed/couch. I still struggle and still have to be careful not to overdo things, but am enjoying feeling better than I have in a LONG time!

Leon's doing okay. We have started his special shampoo. So he will be getting a bath every day for the next 2 weeks. And then twice a week after that. I bought a hair dryer just for him!

Our recertification for CPL is coming up. I'm getting friends together and getting things lined up to do the test by video and get it sent off to CPL before the end of the month. So wish us luck! :)

Hope y'all are all doing well!

Forgot to post the photos!

Sorry! I forgot to come and post the couple of photos of Leon from my friend's wedding! I've had a lot on my plate lately and it slipped my mind.

Here you go. It was a beautiful wedding at a state park. :)

Leon and I are doing okay. Trying to raise funds for his veterinary expenses (monthly medication, special food, bloodwork and the special shampoo the vet wants me to use on him). He seems to be doing much better on the new food (so far, so good) --still a little itchy and has dandruff, but his skin is clearing up. This is a combo of food and environmental allergies, so the food change was just part of the solution --the medication seems to be helping as well.

If anyone would like to help pitch in for veterinary expenses, I am working on getting a page set up for this purpose. In the meantime, I have a Paypal account --jesuslovesme2345 at hotmail.com (broken because of spam bots --just replace the "at" with a @ and remove the spaces).

Leon means SO much to me. It is a challenge being partnered with a dog with a chronic health problem. He works wonderfully and has helped me regain some of the independence I lost when my first dog retired. So I am doing the best I can to keep him working since he enjoys it so much and has enriched my life, making it much more full.

Any donation toward Leon's vet expenses will help make it possible for our partnership to continue. These expenses above normal dog veterinary expenses are a hardship since I am on a limited income. So anything that you are able to give would help us out a LOT and would mean the world to me.

Training Outing/Checking In

Hi y'all! Sorry for not posting again. My brain has been all over the place and I forgot! I apologize.

Earlier this month (April), Leon and I met our local trainer downtown to do some training/work down in the Tunnels. We also went up on a viewing platform with huge windows where you can look out and see the skyscrapers. Leon wasn't sure of the glass at first (since it's 60 stories up), but quickly realized it was no big deal and even began looking out on his own out of curiosity.

I fixed the problem of the tug on the refrigerator (the sock didn't work out well) --I used a rope toy that Leon had gotten for Christmas and tied it to the handle with a piece of ribbon. Leon can grip that much better and he ENTHUSIASTICALLY opens the fridge when asked (he doesn't do things halfway! Got to give him that. haha). Teaching him to close the fridge by pushing it with his nose and not using his paw is still in process to get it reliable, but he's doing well with it so far. I'm also trying to teach him to use his mouth more when retrieving instead of pawing at the object/kicking it around before picking it up (papers don't stand a chance at coming out of a Leon encounter unscathed), but he is improving, I am happy to say.

He retrieved my book for me off of a low table in the exam room at my cardiologist's office and brought it straight to me --no damage to the book whatsoever --very soft-mouthed. I am proud of how quick he learns to do things differently. :)

I will hopefully get back into making YouTube videos soon. I took a hiatus because of health stuff and craziness going on. I plan on making a video of us going into and out of the elevator safely with my scooter. I also hope to get video of Leon working next time we meet with our local trainer down in Houston (it's hard for me to take the video myself while walking with Leon and I need someone to film for me).

I am doing okay. Had a muscle biopsy done on April 9. Waiting for the results to see if I have mitochondrial disease like my medical team suspects. I am able to drive again (yay!) so I have been enjoying the freedom once again.

Leon and I are going to a friend's wedding this weekend. Leon will get to wear his black leather collar and bow tie (for formal occasions). I will take photos and post when I can. :)

 

Inappropriate Service Dog Handler Behavior

Shorty Rossi, a celebrity who has the opportunity to be a good example of service dog teams --he engages in this behavior with his dog in a restaurant: (Link to another blog where this is discussed --photo included)

Inappropriate Service Dog Handler Behavior

First of all, it is VERY inappropriate and unprofessional to feed your service dog off a plate in a restaurant. Since this person is in the limelight, it sets a very bad example of service dog teams and bad publicity --this is not appropriate or condoned behavior in the service dog community.

As much as I like to be supportive of other service dog teams, I cannot turn a blind eye to this type of behavior. It is abhorrent.

Fridge--Just for Fun :)

Today, Leon and I revisited a skill that isn't something I need him to do for me at this time --so we did it just for fun and for something to do here at home.

Here's the video:

Enjoy! :D

Brief-ish Update

Sorry I haven't written in a few weeks. Not a whole lot going on.

I was grounded from driving at the beginning of the month by my doctors pending some testing. My syncope attacks haven't been well-controlled by my medication anymore and have come on with less and less time standing. So my cardiologist upped my medication and sent me to a neurologist for consult. I had an EEG 2 weeks ago and a VNG (dizziness test) last week --I find out the results tomorrow --and if I can be cleared to drive again.

So Leon and I have been stuck mostly at home base this month. Been having some beautiful weather, so Leon has got to go for runs with my scooter (posted a video on YouTube of our run last week to the pond near my house --he likes watching the duck, turtles and fish). A close friend of mine and her husband picked us up on Saturday and we went to the mall --Leon was SO happy to be out working (and to have it not be another doctor's appointment!) My friends pushed me in a mall wheelchair and Leon heeled next to it. He did wonderfully. It was good to get out of the apartment and spend time with good friends.

Hopefully sometime soon I'll get back to making videos of Leon in gear working and doing more tasks that he does to help me (and some other tasks/tricks just for fun). Kind of got a little burned out for a while. Will give me something constructive and fun to do instead of whiling away my days on the Internet. And Leon will enjoy it.

Things People Say to SD Handlers

This YouTube video is a great one that showcases things that people say to service dog handlers. I have actually heard almost all of these things at one point or another. Haha

Usually opens up a good chance for education and dispelling some common myths/misconceptions about persons with disabilities and the assistance dogs that they are partnered with.

Morning Routine

Hi y'all!

Leon and I are doing okay. I've been having some crazy syncope/heart stuff, so we've mostly been resting at home the past few days (got out for a few hours yesterday, but it was rough). I see my cardiologist on Thursday.

I saw this video on YouTube about a cat vs. dog trick contest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5dIB2oF6sQ&list=FLodC-thEUDY4sU51bK9uvLg&index=1&feature=plpp_video

It inspired me to do some "for fun" clicker training with Leon and Marzipan (I've really not done much training at all in a while, to be honest). Would be something fun for us to do while I'm here at home --mental stimulation for both animals (Marzipan will do ANYTHING for her Feline Greenies --and Leon, well, he's a Lab and loves FOOD --so he will work well for his kibble/special treats).

Here is a video I took this morning of our "morning routine" of doling out breakfast. Marzipan's "sit pretty" --I taught that using the clicker and shaping her behavior (it serves a purpose --keeps her from getting in the way while I'm pouring her food into her bowl).

Lastly, I leave you with this photo of Leon and Marzipan:

Until next time. :)

Food Bowl Retrieval

For those that remember the whole food bowl ordeal when Leon and I got home from training (where he suddenly decided he was terrified of his stainless steel food bowl and could not possibly retrieve it--even though he had been retrieving it for quite a while) --well, we overcame that issue after a little over a month of trial and error (and with help from knowledgeable people at Service Dog Central). He has retrieved the bowl without issue ever since.

Finally got a video of him retrieving and carrying the bowl. This was taken at college group last night --he had been running around playing and was thirsty --so he picked up his bowl and carried it to the water fountains. :)

I also got video of him playing, but have to fiddle with the video a bit, so I'll post that when I get it finished.