Re: "Independence" Dog Story
Karen E Casey (mushroo(AT)juno.com)
Mon, 18 Jan 1999 10:03:12 -0500
Hi Barb and Marcie!
Welcome to the group- It's been a Godsend to me!
I too had seen service dogs demonstrated at malls, and since I owned a
German Shepherd and a Benji dog mutt, I thought I could "train" them to
help. Four years ago, when my symptoms first started, I had very stiff
legs and balance difficulties., I would call my German Shepherd, a very
independent soul, who would oblige about 60% of the time. I would hold
his collar and he would "help" me across the yard to retrieve clothes off
the clothesline or to fill his water dish.
Then he discovered a more entertaining alternative. He would grab a
sock from the laundry basket and take off across the yard or
mischieviously spill his water dish. I'd take off after him (at .000025
mph) and he'd drop the sock and lie down just until I was inches away,
and them go again! Perhaps it was his way of guaranteeing the 1/2 hour
exercise I needed!! LOL
My health has since declined and I use an electric wheelchair. I am
trying to get back what I have lost. Can the dogs help??? Benji is
willing, loving but not too bright. He comes every time I call him,
can shake hands and sit. However any other request confuses him. Rinnie
is smart and capable, but stubborn and unwilling. He'll always start to
obey, then gets a certain look in his eye and does the unpredictable! I
think he's stuck in the "terrible two's" although he is 5 years old!
But they are definitely Independence dogs, all the way. You see,
they have totally trashed the yard. They seem to find things to scatter
about-from thin air: a water softener filter, a broken brush from the old
pool vacuum cleaner, a flower pot. Small white rocks litter the back yard
because the beasts like to pretend they are balls and grab one and run
every time a person enters the yard. They want to play!!! Looks like I
need to get outside with my chair and my reacher and do something about
the mess before the neighbors call the law!! LOL
Straightening them out does help me work on skills that will lead me
to independence! I guess I won't trade them in for a REAL service dog at
this time. I might get too "lazy!!"
Let me know if you want to borrow these precious life aids! I'm always
the kind who shares!!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!! Take Care now Karen