Monday, November 7, 2016

Hey Blazer fans, Rambo is a Suns Fan!

Rambo really likes going to basketball games, especially if the Phoenix Suns are playing.  Since we live in Portland we don't get to see the Suns play live very often.  When they come to town Rambo always gets tickets and makes me take him to the game.  He is a HUGE Devin Booker fan!  Hell, he's a dyed in the wool Suns fan if there ever was one!  He never misses a game on tv either.  

In honor of the Suns coming to Portland and, seeing as the Suns (and Booker in particular) have beaten up on the Blazers so far this season, here's a little reminder for Trail Blazer fans just in case the bitter memory has faded all too quickly:



Keep an eye out for a new video from Rambo tomorrow when he'll be showing you exactly what he thinks of the Portland Trail Blazers!

GO SUNS!

Monday, October 31, 2016

A Girl And Her Service Dog Head To The Supreme Court

A Girl And Her Service Dog Head To The Supreme Court

There are very few days that go by that I don't hear about, see or personally experience the wretched disregard and outward disdain for service dogs and their handlers.  The majority of the time this draws my ire and gives rise to the impetus for educating the ignorant and putting the downright offensive imbeciles in their place.  Other times I find the way people with service dogs are treated just breaks my heart.  The story below is one that really tugged on my heartstrings.  

I hope the Supreme Court does the right thing and upholds this girls rights.  It is unfortunate that the peoples behavior towards service dog teams lean towards the extreme.  Either they don't want the dog around or they want to smother the dog with attention and, ultimately, distraction from their job.  (To the majority of humans who are in the middle and live and let live, thank you!)

You can click on the title link above to go directly to the story.  I have also included the text below.

You can bet I'll be keeping an eye on this case and will update here after the politically wounded Supreme Court comes up with a decision which is expected in June.  Justice Sotomayor's comments during the hearing give me hope.  Justice Sotomayor, when addressing the the representative for Napoleon Community Schools, stated,  "I'm so confused by your position. I'm so horribly confused."  I like that woman.

(Here is another article that speaks about the Court's hearing:  Supreme Court Hears Case on Service Dogs in Schools )

_____________________________________________________

October 31, 20165:00 AM ET
Heard on NPR Morning Edition on OPB
Nina Totenberg

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday takes up the case of a girl, her service dog and a school that barred the dog from its premises.

Ehlena Fry was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that significantly limited her motor skills but not her cognitive ability. So when she was 5, her pediatrician recommended that her parents get a service dog to help her become more independent. Family and friends threw fundraisers to scrape together the $13,000 needed for the right dog, and in 2009, Ehlena and her parents went to Ohio to train for two weeks with their new goldendoodle, a cuddly, big white pup named Wonder.

The Frys had talked to Ehlena's school about the dog, but when Ehlena brought Wonder to class with her, she was told the service dog was not allowed.

School officials have refused to talk about the case, but their legal position is that under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the district was already paying for an aide to help Ehlena physically in school and that the dog was unnecessary.

Ehlena's parents replied that the dog was not part of their daughter's education plan. He was intended to help her perform more functions by herself, to make her grow stronger and more independent.

Having a service dog for Ehlena, they maintain, is akin to having a service dog for a blind student instead of requiring the student to navigate the school by holding on to the arm of a teacher.

Wonder was trained to hit handicap buttons for her, to open and close doors, to pick up items she dropped, and perhaps most importantly, to stabilize her so that she could make transfers from a chair to a walker, or from a"One of our whole goals in getting Wonder for her was that eventually, the more she was able to use Wonder and navigate her environment, that she would need the aide less and less," says Ehlena's mother, Stacy Fry.

Early in the dispute, after mediation, the school agreed to a 30-day trial with Wonder, but Stacy Fry says the dog was not permitted to sit with Ehlena in class or to go with her to the lunchroom.

One of our whole goals in getting Wonder for her was that eventually, the more she was able to use Wonder and navigate her environment, that she would need the aide less and less.

Ehlena's mother, Stacy Fry says the 30-day trial, in fact, was marked by one hostile act after another. "There was so much animosity," she says.

She says that Ehlena and Wonder were even required to demonstrate a toilet transfer with adults from the school watching, an experience that Stacy Fry says was devastating and traumatic for her daughter.

After the 30-day trial, the school returned to its no-dog policy. Although Wonder is a hypoallergenic breed, the school said among other things that two children and one teacher were allergic to dogs, and that one child had a dog phobia because he had previously been attacked by a dog.

So the Frys home-schooled Ehlena and then transferred her to another school district where Wonder was welcomed with open arms. He went to class with Ehlena and to lunch. He was in the staff section of the yearbook. He had his own ID card. He was in the class picture. And, says Ehlena's mother, the relationship between dog and kid was integrated into the school seamlessly.

"It was amazing, and they were so accepting," Fry observes. "It was such a teaching tool, for the other kids."

The Frys sued the old school district under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws. They sought unspecified money damages for the emotional distress they say their daughter suffered before transferring to the new school district. walker to a toilet seat.

Ehlena's mother says the suit is not about money, but is meant to forge a path for other children with service animals "so that they don't have to have what happened to my daughter happen to their child."

"That is success for us," Stacy Fry says.

Represented by the ACLU, the Frys want the Supreme Court to declare that, when disabled children are prevented from having qualified service animals at school, they and their parents can go directly to federal court.

But the school district, backed by the National School Boards Association, argues that to allow such suits could cost school districts millions of dollars. They note that 6 million disabled children are covered by the law that guarantees individualized special education for disabled children, and that that law requires parents to exhaust administrative appeals before going to court to challenge an education plan.

So far, the Frys have lost in the lower courts, as have parents like them in most parts of the country. But now their case is before the Supreme Court.

Ehlena will be there, with Wonder. The goldendoodle, after seven years of hard mobility work, has retired to a pet's life. Ehlena, now 12, is in middle school.

"He helped her bridge that gap," Ehlena's mother observes. "Working with him helped her to learn how to not need him as much."

A decision in the case is expected by summer.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Advice from a trainer: Don't talk to the service dogs





I realize this is most likely a waste of electrons but this bears repeating because it seems the majority of people think I'm lucky because I get to bring my "pet" with me everywhere I go. What they don't understand is that I wouldn't be "everywhere" if I didn't have my "pet" with me. 

When unthinking (nee STUPID) people constantly distract my dog, particularly in crowds where I'm already on edge, it becomes extremely frustrating and can trigger a panic attack (and I promise you won't like my attitude when I'm trying to get you to leave us alone!). 

Isn't it enough that you all point and stare like I can't see you?  How many idiot parents do I have to walk away from while they teach their kids that its okay to point and stare at disabled people?  ("Look at the dog Susie, look at the doggy!")  I already have to put up with employees and managers at hotels, stores and restaurants that have no idea how to deal with a service dog team (i.e. they have no clue as to what the law actually says).  Can't you just leave us alone when we are walking through a throng of people with our own agenda which doesn't include being stopped so you can molest my dog while I wish I was anywhere but where you are?  I bet if I walked up and did the same thing to your child that you do to my dog you'd be calling the cops in a heartbeat.  You won't put up with sort of thing, why should we have to endure it?

Would you walk up to someone in a wheelchair and start petting their wheelchair? Same thing applies to my service dog who is, in fact, medical equipment. I get it, you're a dog person. So am I. But please leave your dog tactile fetish for your own canines and leave my dog alone already.

If the tone of this writing doesn't penetrate the skull of the people who think I bring my dog out for their enjoyment then I will put it in simple terms:  please leave my dog and I alone when we are out in public.  I'm really tired of it. 

Don't take it from me, read what a professional service dog trainer has to say about it:
Advice from a trainer: Don't talk to the service dogs



Wednesday, August 31, 2016

SUPERPOWER DOGS: A movie about Man's Greatest Hero!


Cosmic Pictures is creating a 3D IMAX movie about the real heroes in our lives:  our dogs!

According to their announcement on Prefundia, "SUPERPOWER DOGS is an epic 3D live action movie for IMAX® and giant screen theaters about amazing dogs who fight crime, save lives and make our world a better place. Produced in association with the California Science Center, SUPERPOWER DOGS...will showcase the heroic accomplishments of search and rescue, therapy and medical detection dogs and the science behind their extraordinary abilities in a way that people have never experienced or understood. Our goal is to deepen people’s appreciation for these remarkable animals, celebrate the profound bond between us, and build a stronger foundation of support for working dogs around the world."

Pretty cool, huh?!?

Cosmic Pictures is going to crowd fund the movie on Indiegogo in the very near future.  Their campaign isn't live yet but if you go to their Prefundia page and enter your email address they will let you know when the campaign launches.  Then, if you are so inclined, you can pitch in a few bucks to help make a move that will really bring awareness to the average folk about dogs, their behaviors and, most importantly, the jobs they do for us.

Dogs have been by Man's side for 15,000 years.  We've genetically developed over 400 pure breeds from the mighty wolf.  Most of those breeds were developed to fit a certain need for our ancestors.  From guard dogs to shepherds to rat killers, dogs have helped man survive through the ages.  Hopefully this movie will be the fitting tribute they deserve.

Cosmic Pictures will donate 20% of the film’s profits, and the profit of their upcoming Indiegogo campaign, to working dog organizations.

Take a minute and go check out their Prefundia page.  While you're there, be sure to sign up for their Indiegogo campaign launch.  It would be awesome if everyone would pitch in but if you sign up you aren't under any obligation for anything and you can keep track of the movie's progress and launch date.  You can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram (see the poster below).

I already ordered Rambo's Superdog outfit for opening night!  Then again, he doesn't need a cape for me to know that he's my hero!


Wednesday, August 24, 2016

An Open Letter to the Woman Who Thinks I Abuse My Dog

First off, I must apologize for giving you the impression that I was abusing my dog.  I appreciate your concern.

On that same note, shame on you for not having the mental fortitude and courage of person to speak to me directly.  I could have cleared things up right on the spot instead of having to take the time out of my day to explain it here.  I suppose it is easier to go behind my back after sufficient time to embellish the perceived horror and complain to someone who also has better things to do than make phone calls to me to tell me someone didn't have the fortitude to approach me in light of such perceived heinous cruelty.

I wouldn't normally bother worrying about the opinions of someone who is obviously ignorant to the facts but you tarnished my reputation and upset me to the point of tears. 

Rambo and I have been together for roughly 22 months.  You saw us together for maybe two minutes. So you jumped to a conclusion based on observing us only  0.000002% of the total time this dog and I have been together.  That is an awfully small sampling size of information by which to pass judgement.

My point is, you don't know me and you don't know my dog.  You know nothing of our backgrounds and apparently you didn't take into account the fact that I was in a VA hospital and maybe there was a whole lot more going on in my day besides my dog getting out of control that I had to contend with.

Rambo and I have formed a strong bond and I assure you that this dog is far from being abused.  He is pampered, spoiled, loved on and tended to with all the love and attention that I can give him.  In return he gives me the same.  When we are at home he is almost constantly near me.  If he is not sitting at my feet, he is curled up next to me with his head on my lap.  This dog sleeps with his head on my chest when he isn't curled up, pushing his body up against mine.  Rambo has the best preventative health care plan and veterinary insurance that money can buy.  He is fed nothing but high quality dog foods and treats.  He has a plethora of toys that we regularly use together.    He is equipped with every canine safety device I can find.  He has a safety harness tethered into my car's seat belt system so we're both protected in case of a crash. He has three pairs of boots (complete with boot liners), three coats (one down coat for the cold, a cooling coat for summer and a rain coat), a floatation vest, a GPS tracker, LED collars and the list goes on.  There is nothing that leaves this dog wanting.

Rambo is a very unique dog.  I'm sure anyone can say that about their dog but Rambo truly does have some traits that are unique for a dog in his position.  The most important thing to consider is that, before Joy brought Rambo into her training program, he was rescued from an unfortunate situation where he was abused and neglected as a puppy.  This has left some very deep and lasting scars on his psyche.  It affects him in a profound manner to this very day.  When I brought Rambo home it became very clear that he was deathly afraid when an adult male human raised his voice in his direction.  This very thing happened on Rambo's first day in his new home.  He tried to snatch a bit of my dinner that I had left on a plate next to my chair.  When I saw him going after the plate I simply gave him a sharp, "Rambo, No!"  Instead of just getting down, which he does now just fine, he ran to the front door and cowered, his eyes darting back and forth, searching for an escape from what he thought was the physical punishment to follow.  That absolutely broke my heart.  I got on the floor and called him over to me.  He literally crawled across the floor expecting me to hit him.  When I put my arms around him and told him it was okay I saw this dogs entire body relax.  He stood up and started wagging his tail and he looked genuinely relieved that he avoided any physical punishment.  

From that day on I have been very cognizant of how he reacts to me and I purposely work towards stopping that behavior whenever it arises.  Over time Rambo has grown and matured.  He no longer goes off like a fire alarm when someone knocks at the door.  Instead he gives one bark and goes to the door, as he has been taught, to let me know someone is there.  Now, if I raise my voice, instead of running away, he comes to me and gets right in my face to calm me down.

As well as anyone, I wholly understand what it is like to live through life-changing traumatic events.  It has tortured my soul for years and my life was empty until Rambo came along and helped me live again.  I know the fear and panic he feels when a situation triggers the ever lingering open wounds of past trauma.  I know what it is to go into a blind rage and lose all control (something Rambo never lets happen anymore!).  I know that there is little that can bring me out of that dark place where I have no choice but to scream at the ghosts and demons to chase them away.  It is a terrifying place to go to and it is hard to come back from without someone being persistent in their endeavor to bring me back down into reality.

I have seen this same rage and loss of control in Rambo too many times.  I am certain that he was not only abused by human hands but that there were other dogs that, if they did not physically attack him, frightened him sufficiently that he carries an uncontrollable fear of unfamiliar dogs with him to this day. 

I don't know exactly what you saw or think you saw at the VA hospital but what Joy described to me didn't fit the facts that I remember from that day.  For one, Rambo never barked in my presence while at the hospital.  I do know that he barked after we were separated, calling for me as I have seen him do before but I was nowhere near him.

I know what I saw and what I did in response was not in any way out of line when the totality of circumstances is taken into account.  This is, by the way, where you failed to get the whole picture before drawing illogical conclusions.

Twice that day Rambo encountered other dogs rather unexpectedly.  Usually, if I can get in front of his behavior, he will mark the dog and we will proceed as quickly as we can away from the other dog and that will be the end of it.

When I can't remove Rambo from the other dog and he perceives the other dog to be a threat, he can and will become entirely uncontrollable.  He becomes so frightened of the other dog that the only thing he can do is try to aggressively chase the other dog away.  When he gets into this mode I can see the fear and the loss of control in his eyes.  I can feel him using every muscle in his body to direct his efforts at challenging the other dog.  It is hard for me to see him get like this because I can empathise.  I can also intellectualize my fears but Rambo doesn't have that luxury.  All he has left is to act in the only way he knows how.  Unfortunately, that is wholly inappropriate behavior for a service dog and he only gets away with it because I take immediate action to curb the behavior.  This is not an easy task, I assure you.

Rambo is 85 solid pounds of fit, healthy and strong young adult male dog.  He can easily overpower me when he wants to and has done so on more than just a few occasions.  I have had to deal from the onset with his behavioral problems when around strange dogs.  Joy and her staff have even worked with me to help train him out of this behavior.  Much of the time the techniques that they taught me will work.  Things such as distracting him with treats or a rubber ball often work but only if I see the other dog first and manage to get Rambo distracted well before he spots the other dog.  If he sees the other dog first, particularly if the dog is very close, all bets are off.  Believe me, I've faced the embarrassment of trying to shove a treat in my dogs mouth only to have him spit it out and continue on his mission to chase the other dog away.  I've looked foolish more than once with an out of control dog in one hand and an rubber ball in the other with the dog not even acknowledging the ball.  I've found myself more than once in a helpless panic as my violently pulling dog has shaken himself free from his Halti with only an eighth of an inch strip of cloth keeping him from breaking free and causing who knows what kind of damage.  That little piece of cloth holding him to his leash is not the least bit reassuring as I've seen this dog break loose from a metal chain leash without even missing a step.  This leaves me little choice but to grab the dog by the collar and/or vest and physically drag him away from the other dog.

Keep in mind that this sort of behavior is quick to draw a crowd and I can feel the stare of a thousand pair of eyes as they burn holes through me.  I can hear the thoughts of an otherwise silent crowd wondering why my service dog is behaving like a crazed animal.  The entire situation is bad for both of us.

When this sort of behavior occurs, I have very little choice but to be physical with my dog.  He is very difficult to get under control given his strength and the driving force of his deep seated fears.  If that is what you saw then I understand why you thought he was being abused.  My actions were, in fact, totally necessary to keep my dog under control.  What may have looked like a dog under control to you was not what was happening.  You couldn't feel him still pulling against his Halti over and over.  You couldn't see his eyes that were straining in their sockets to look back at the other dog.  You had no idea how this dog can go from a down to yanking at his leash to get away.  I do know, however, exactly what this dog is capable of and I have to work very hard to keep him under control in this situation.

To make matters worse, the VA hospital is the last place on earth I need my service dog to misbehave.  It is bad enough that I have to get my care from a federal institution that is busy putting up more barriers to service dogs than is reasonable, I don't need them banishing my dog because he is going crazy in a public space in VA grounds.  There is a whole lot more at stake for me than worrying about whether you think the effort it takes to keep my dog under control is what you consider proper.  If you have read this with an open mind then you should now know that your assessment of the situation was incorrect and that your lack of courage to speak up to me directly has put me on the spot as a bad dog parent which is entirely untrue.

Under almost any other conditions, Rambo is exemplary in his behavior and tenor.  I have the utmost confidence in his ability to follow commands and to understand my various forms of communication.  He is, bar none, the most well behaved house dog I have ever known.  He never chews on anything that isn't specifically given to him for that purpose.  He doesn't ever get up on the counters without being told to do so, he rarely barks (and is the reason I acutely remember when he does so) and he never makes any sort of mess.  The only disagreement we have is who the neck pillow shaped like a giant dog bone belongs to and who the bed actually belongs to.  Other than that, we get along together in perfect harmony.  Neither one of us are ever lacking in attention from the other.  We are so tuned in to each others moods and feelings that often there are no words needed.  I think there is nothing cuter than Rambo after a day's adventure, waiting at the foot of my bed and encouraging me to hurry up for our afternoon nap.  He knows my routines better than I do and has bought into everything I do.

Rambo is well trained beyond the tasks required of him from Assistance Dogs International (ADI).  On command, Rambo will search the entire house for me which is very useful when I come home to find the door ajar (which has happened).  He retrieves my medicine on command.  He can turn on and off the lights.  He can wave bye-bye.  He can retrieve each one of his toys by name.  In fact, I've documented over 60 words or commands that Rambo understands.  There are certainly many more words and non-verbal cues that he understands that I have either not noted or he is using without my awareness.  My point being, I could not train this dog in so many tasks without providing him with a positive, happy, even fun environment in which to learn.  A mistreated doesn't respond like Rambo does.  Rambo is a happy, loving dog who has an unfortunate traumatic past which we are both still learning to live through.  There is no easy or quick fix to overcome PTSD.  It is a constant learning experience, one that is often overwhelming and deeply affects those around us.

Feel free to respond here openly and honestly.  The damage you've sown has already been reaped.  You can't make me feel any worse, I assure you.


UPDATE:  Yes, I heard you yesterday at the VA hospital.  That was extremely rude of you to walk by me and say "poor dog."  Next time I will NOT keep my civility and I WILL call you out in front of everybody.  Bitch.

Friday, July 29, 2016

International Assistance Dog Week (IADW), August 2-8, 2016. Theme: Fake Assistance Dogs Cause Legitimate Harm!

It will soon be International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) (August 7-13, 2016).  (Bonus:  there are coupons for dog gear on their web page!  Click on the link to get up to 25% on Kurgo lifetime guaranteed dog gear plus others!!!)  Assistance Dogs International (ADI) will be working with their affiliates worldwide to help curb fraudulent service dogs.  Speaking of "worldwide......."

.....Australia and Canada have tougher standards for identifying service dogs in public than the United States.  The US law for service dogs, found in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), are vague and easily abused by people who want to take their pets or emotional support dogs into restaurants, stores, etc.  Many of them probably don't think about the harm they are doing to people with well trained, and often certified, service dogs.  I'm not going to expound on the problem as there is a plethora of articles on the internet about people abusing service dog access.


Perhaps it is a form of discrimination to require legitimate service dogs be certified and that a record of the certification be available since that will zero in on people with disabilities.  Well, I don't think it would be that much of a sacrifice if it stopped the ignorant people from bringing their untrained dogs into stores who then misbehave in a variety of manners.  I don't think it is any more of a hassle than producing a driver's license during a traffic stop, showing identification to prove age in a bar and a hundred other instances where a person is required to prove their eligibility for various things such as driving, drinking, getting on an airplane and verifying your identity when using your credit card.  

Rambo's JLAD coat.
I swear this is in English!
I am fortunate that Rambo's training organization, The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD), is certified by Assistance Dogs International (ADI).  Rambo is required to pass an ADI public access test then, assuming he passes, is issued an identification card with a photo of us together, the organization's information and the fact that Rambo is ADI certified.  They also provided Rambo with a working dog vest with a clear window to display his certification card.  (No, I'm not publishing a hi-res photo of his JLAD/ADI card for anyone to duplicate.  Get your own the hard way!)  His vest is also custom embroidered with the JLAD logo.  You can't buy this vest from some scrupulous web site.  It is only available to JLAD graduates.  The design of the vest makes it very obvious to those who choose to actually read the information on it that this vest comes from a legitimate training organization However,  the "Do Not Pet" warning is apparently written in Swahili and totally unintelligible to the average American!

I am proud to say that, more than anything else, Rambo's exceptional behavior in public also serves to separate him from the fraudulent service dogs.  I frequently receive compliments about how well behaved Rambo is when we are out and about.  I also get nice comments from people when they see that Rambo is well cared for.  From his grooming to the hearing protection he wears and the boots that keep his feet from burning on hot pavement, people tell me that they are glad to see me taking the extra steps to protect Rambo from the elements.  


Rambo rockin' his JLAD vest and safety harness on the California coast.

My point to all this is that I think it is time for this country to amend the ADA and require service dogs be certified by ADI through their public access test.  I doubt most dog owners would take the time or even be able to train their dogs sufficiently to pass the ADI test.  Rambo received thousands of hours of training from a multitude of trainers to be able to pass the test and I constantly keep him on his toes with continued training.  In fact, he has to go back to JLAD next year to pass another public access test to keep his ADI certification current.  I'm totally for that!

I think there should be tougher penalties for fraudulent service dog owners.

I think there should be a law forbidding the sale of generic service dog vests and other service dog identification.  The sale of such items should be allowed only to certified service dog teams after providing proof of passing the ADI public access test.  

Most of all there needs to be a massive federal information campaign about fraudulent service dogs.  There should be an employer's guide to dealing with dogs that enter their premises.

Here is an example of how just a little bit of education can go a long way:  A month or so ago, Rambo and I visited the restaurant at the Full Sail brewery in Hood River, OR.  When we walked up to the dining room hostess, she asked me what kind of service dog that Rambo was.  I told her that he was primarily a PTSD service dog but he provides other services as well.  The young lady looked perplexed then excused herself while she went to ask someone else what she should do.  She came back and showed us to our seat.  I was grateful that this did not turn into an access issue.  After we were seated I pulled out a little card I carry that outlines the ADA service dog provisions, explaining what a business can and cannot do or say.  It is meant to be educational tool so I gave one of the cards to the hostess.  I told her that she seemed hesitant because she was unsure of what to do.  My favorite line to use in this case is, "since your management has not educated you on how to deal with service dog teams, take a look over this card when you get a chance and you will be armed with the information you need.  When you are done with it, please pass it on to your manager."

We went back a few weeks later and this time the hostess (a different person) looked down at a card that was posted on her lectern and she read off the two questions that the ADA allows and, satisfied with my answers, guided us to our table.  Very well done!

I don't know for certain that my giving that card (see below) to the first hostess is what actually triggered giving the hostesses at least the proper script to keep them legal but I have to commend Full Sail for taking the proper steps in a positive direction.

Here is the front and back of the cards that I carry with me:






I will get off my soapbox now and let you read about International Assistance Dog Week (IADW), August 2-8 and what ADI and affiliated training organizations are doing worldwide to protect legitimate assistance dog public access (Click links below!):

Fake Assistance Dogs Cause Legitimate Harm

International Assistance Dog Week (IADW), August 2-8, 2016


________________

Thanks for taking the time to read this post!  Comments are welcome!  Please subscribe here and at Rambo's YouTube Channel!  

 Rambo's YouTube Channel

Rambo is a JLAD Dog!  He comes from The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) in Salem, Oregon. They are an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited organization that is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising and training assistance dogs and placing them in positions of service, including veteran's with PTSD.

Joy St. Peter, Founder and Director

(503) 551-4572

Mail: The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
PO Box 12023
Salem OR  97309
E-Mail info@joydogs.org






Friday, June 24, 2016

Kickstarter Alert! - Kloudline: The World's Lightest Dog Leash

Kloudline: The World's Lightest Dog Leash


Having a service dog and going out in public means being ready for any dog related emergencies that can crop up.  That explains why I have poop bags, dog treats and treat bags stashed everywhere.  If I get in the car and realize I've forgotten something, no problem.  There is probably a spare one in the trunk.  Rambo has his own suitcase when we travel and it has an extra of everything I can carry:  leash, collar, boots, bowls, water bottles.....you get the idea.

I learned very quickly that Rambo can bite through a nylon leash in an instant whether he means to or not.  We were in San Francisco to get some tests done at the VA hospital there.   Rambo's leash inadvertently got stuck in his mouth and it only took him a couple of bites to turn a six foot leash into two utterly useless three foot leash halves, leaving me with a loose dog on VA ground (eek!).  Ever since I have kept a lightweight leash in his pack.  Unfortunately, no matter how light the leashes have been they always managed to add too much weight to his working coat and make it lean to one side.

Today I was scouring Kickstarter for new pet campaigns and came upon Kloudline.  They have designed two lightweight but strong leashes:  The Minimus and the Ultralight.  I jumped on an Ultralight leash that weighs in at less than an ounce!  The Minimus is similar to the Ultralight but it comes with a nice, printed polyester webbing handle on the human end.  The Minimus comes in at just a hair over an ounce so you'll have a light but strong leash whenever you need it.



The leash itself is made with a "braided rope called Dyneema® which is extremely strong and lightweight while maintaining a soft hand feel. Size for size, it is the same strength as steel."  



You can get the full low down on the campaign on Kickstarter at this link:  Kloudline.  Pledge a few bucks for one of these leashes and help support a dog-centric endeavor!

Oh, here is another incentive for me to try Kloudline:  Rambo broke a chain leash when he decided he wanted to play with a squirrel when we were at the lake.  It took me totally by surprise.  I was sitting on the bench reading something on my phone and the next thing I know there is a black blur going by my feet.  My first thought was not to worry about it since Rambo was chained to the heavy bench with a leather and chain leash.  Just as quickly I jumped up in surprise as that black blur turned into my dog running after a family of ground squirrels who weren't up for playing with a dog 50 times their size.  To his credit, Rambo came right back to me immediately when called (with an eye over his shoulder for those pesky squirrels!).  I was not happy when I realized that he broke the chain and didn't even skip a step.


The chain suffering from some rust from sitting in the trunk of my car didn't help matters.
Rambo isn't a chewer so I don't worry about his chomping on this leash to get loose but I bet he'd make another dash for it if the squirrels tease him enough.  I'd like to see if he can break this leash!  

Poor squirrels.

---------------------------

Rambo is a JLAD Dog!  He comes from The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) in Salem, Oregon. They are an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited organization that is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising and training assistance dogs and placing them in positions of service, including veteran's with PTSD.

Joy St. Peter, Founder and Director
(503) 551-4572
Mail: The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
PO Box 12023
Salem OR  97309
E-Mail info@joydogs.org




Donate to Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
Donations are encouraged!


Wednesday, June 15, 2016

It's a Matter of Trust!

On a recent trip to visit my mother in Las Vegas we encountered a variety of people at the airport while we were waiting for our flight home who were either very helpful or very interested in Rambo.  

First I have to say thank you to the fine employees of Southwest Airlines.  The minute I walked through the airport door with my dog and lugging three suitcases a Southwest employee rushed over to help me.  She didn't even know if I was a Southwest passenger and apparently that didn't make a difference.  She grabbed my suitcases and asked where I was going.  When I told her we were flying Southwest she took me directly to a ticket agent at the counter.  It doesn't sound like much but it really was a major help at the time that came without request.


Rambo likes to look out the window during landings! (Note his hearing protection!)
Rambo watching out the window as we taxi into the gate.  Almost potty break time!
Rambo has tucked himself nicely into the corner of the bulkhead.

One of the main reasons I fly Southwest Airlines, besides the low fares and friendly staff, is because of their seating policy.  Southwest does not assign seats, only boarding order. Consequently they have no problem letting Rambo on the airplane first and holding a bulkhead window seat open for us.  I've never had a single problem with the staff of Southwest and they have all welcomed Rambo with open arms.  I really can't' ask for any more than that!  Just try flying with an airline that not only has assigned seating but charges extra for prime seating and you will know what I'm talking about.  The FAA regulations require that an airline allow service dogs and their handlers to sit in a bulkhead seat upon request.  Sure, the FAA says that but just wait to hear who says what when a paying passenger is asked to move to another seat.  Its probably not going to happen and then Rambo would have to squeeze into a space where I'm supposed to put my feet if there were even enough room for my feet to begin with.  Thus, Southwest Airlines should be the official service dog airline.

Now on to a short tale that Rambo's trainers should find very encouraging:  While waiting to board at the Las Vegas airport for our return flight home several people became interested in Rambo.  Some wanted to just visit with him and others wanted to know more about what he does for me.  I welcome questions like that when I'm hanging around and waiting like everyone else.  Its a good opportunity to educate people about service dogs and veterans with invisible wounds and it keeps Rambo well socialized.

One visitor in particular really stands out.  She was just a toddler, barely able to stand on her own.  I just happened to stop to wait right next to her and her mother.  The girl was on my right and Rambo was at a heel position in my left.  The little girl started to get excited about Rambo's presence.  She was pointing at Rambo, pulling on her mom's arm and making happy noises.  So I brough Rambo up to this tiny girl.  Face to face, Rambo outweighed this little one by 70 pounds and he has more teeth than she will ever have.  Even if Rambo is just curious and bumps the girl with his nose he'll topple her over.  That is just enough to scare a toddler and teach her to fear dogs and I certainly don't want that to happen!

I was very aware of the hazards of putting this large dog up against a toddler.  Partly because, when I brought Rambo home a year and a half ago, he would lunge at little children.  He wouldn't bark, growl, show his teeth or any other defensive behavior.  He would just jump at them.  I don't know if he was trying to play or if he felt threatened because he was at eye level with another living creature who made direct eye contact with him.  Regardless of the reason this was a behavior that I found wholly unacceptable.

On the advice of Rambo's trainers, I asked my friend to bring his little girl over and help me teach Rambo to behave properly.  We did this a couple of times and it went well.  I learned one trick very quickly which I will demonstrate shortly.


Back to the airport.  


So there was Rambo, standing face to face with this little girl.  The first thing I did was to immediately give Rambo a "down/stay" command.  This simple step removes the incidental danger of Rambo knocking the toddler down.  Rambo also seems calmer when he is in this position.  This is partly due to the fact that dogs recognize this as a submissive position.  

After Rambo got down on the floor, I kneeled down at his side.  I told Rambo to "be nice" which he understands after being told this every time he has ever chomped on my hand when getting a treat or showed any other kind of unintended aggressive behavior.

Then I reminded Rambo to stay then told him to "visit,"  This let him know that he is now allowed to divert his attention from me and to greet whoever is in front of him or whoever I point to.  He is always very good about this and, after about 30 seconds of getting loved on from a stranger, he will swing his attention back to me, awaiting whatever command I use to bring him back.  Not only does this help keep Rambo socialized it often diverts the persons attention away from me which is helpful when I don't feel like talking to someone.

Rambo is now in a down position, stretching his neck to sniff the toddler and his tail in happy wag mode.  Standing to Rambo's right is a woman who felt she needed to voice her opinion about the situation.  Loud enough for the whole world to hear no less.

Just as the mom of the toddler let the little girl get close enough to Rambo to pet her, the other woman said, "I wouldn't let my kid close to a dog like that!"  


Ugh!

Rambo was in full Service Dog gear with his JLAD vest and his bright red Halti.  It wasn't like some unkempt Pit Bull was snarling and growling in this little child's face.  Rambo was as calm as he could be and the little girls face was filled with wonder and joy.  Even to the uniformed this wasn't a situation that screamed "Danger, Will Robinson!"


I admit, her statement put me a little on the defensive.  I found it hurtful and certainly uncalled for.  I simply could not let her comment stand without saying something.  While the toddler was petting Rambo without incident I looked up at the woman with an obvious look of distaste on my face.  


She had not only insinuated that my dog was a danger to this child, she denigrated my personal judgement.  If I thought for one second that Rambo presented any sort of hazard to this cute little human being I would never let him anywhere near her.  I don't want the child hurt and I don't need put myself in a liable position.  But, I know I can trust my dog.  That's more than I can say for a lot of humans I've known!

I looked up at the naysayer and made sure we made eye contact.  Then I calmly informed this obviously uninformed person, "I am willing to trust my life to this dog.  Trusting him to be gentle with this little girl isn't really asking all that much!"

This didn't seem to phase her so I elaborated.  "This dog comes from an accredited service dog organization.  He is very well trained which requires a great deal of continual time and effort on both our parts.  Please don't insult me or my dog when you don't understand the situation."

Obviously rebuked, she didn't say anything at all which was fine by me.  Opening her mouth was what put her on the short end of the stupid stick in the first place.  Hopefully now she is just a tiny bit more aware of the depth of a service dog's training.  I know the people around her were certainly aware as I saw many give her the hairy eyeball glance after I spoke my mind.

I might add that I was also just a little miffed that this woman had managed to divert my attention away from my dog when I should have been monitoring his behavior regardless of how much I trusted him.  I wasn't worried that Rambo would do anything like bite the girl but the possibility still existed that he could accidentally overpower the little one just by standing up. 

In the meantime, Rambo was wagging his tail as best as he could in a down position.  The little girl was all smiles and giggles as she got to pet Rambo.  I was very proud of my dog at that moment.  Rambo and I have gone through a lot of training struggles.  My heart always swells with love and pride when I see the effort to overcome those struggles come to fruition.  His JLAD trainers have been involved with helping me with fine tuning Rambo's training from the very start and I know they are always just a phone call or email away if I ever have any questions.  That gives me peace of mind knowing that, when it comes to dog training, I am not alone.

A little guy visits with Rambo during a fundraiser for the Oregon Humane Society

---------------------------

Rambo is a JLAD Dog!  He comes from The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs (JLAD) in Salem, Oregon. They are an Assistance Dogs International (ADI) accredited organization that is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to raising and training assistance dogs and placing them in positions of service, including veteran's with PTSD.

Joy St. Peter, Founder and Director
(503) 551-4572
Mail: The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
PO Box 12023
Salem OR  97309
E-Mail info@joydogs.org





Donate to Joys of Living Assistance Dogs
Donations are encouraged!





Kickstarter Alert! The Grrowler - A dog collar with a water bowl built in!


I saw this idea and jumped on it right away.  This is a great idea for just about anytime you take your dog out.  Please give them a look and consider a pledge to help this product to market.  Check out the video below and then click on over to their Kickstarter campaign.

The Grrowler

Finally, a solution to all your pet's needs... a 3-in-1 dog collar that transforms into a water bowl and stashes your doggy bags!



Sunday, June 12, 2016

Kickstarter Alert! All natural & Hypoallergenic Dog Shampoo!

I just backed Muttz + Sudz all natural and hypoallergenic dog shampoo on @Kickstarter https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/501005155/muttz-sudz-all-natural-and-hypoallergenic-dog-sham

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

I'm going to need a new dog. I think I broke mine!

Okay, broken might seem to be a bit of an exaggeration but, well, read on.

I'm in Las Vegas visiting my mom and of course Rambo is along for the journey.

My mom has lived in the same apartment complex for over 20 years now.  About five years ago a handful of feral cats moved into the complex, no doubt spurred on by some well meaning cat lover who put some food out for them. The city and the apartment management have refused to do anything about the problem and now there are easily 25 cats that call the complex home. 

It is normal to go out to my mom's car in the morning and see kitty paw prints on the hood and windshield. It's not uncommon to see groups of them sleeping on the hood of a car in winter or hiding underneath a car in the summet to escape the desert sun. One time a guy came out and counted 20 cats on top of his car! He has the photo to prove it too.

Enter Rambo. 


There is always someone bigger and badder but the bigger and badder don't mess with me!

He was pretty good when he saw a single cat. His ears perked up and he gave the cat the eye but easily moved on when he was told to "leave it."

Then came two cats. 

This caused Rambo to stop in his tracks and go into full radar lock mode. He kept his cool even with a little excited doggy dance. Still, with hardly any urging, he left the cats behind and we went on our merry way.

This afternoon the word must have spread in the local feline populace and six or seven cats were waiting in ambush for Rambo's afternoon walk.

I don't think Rambo has ever seen that many cats at once. There mere presence wasn't an issue. It was when they decided to scatter in six different directions (including "up") that was about all Rambo could handle. The sight of all those little critters scurrying every which way hit Rambo right in the prey drive! Wearing only his collar, as opposed to his Halti, he dug in with those powerful haunches of his and just about took me lawn surfing. He was hell bent on chasing these cats, never mind that he was going to drag my face through the grass in the process!

Once I regained my footing and control of my dog, I realised that this might be a problem. This was later confirmed during an evening walk when he turned to me and said, " be very, very quiet. I'm hunting cats!" 

Of course he didn't say anything but actions can be louder than words and his actions said it all. My well trained, well behaved service dog just became a hunting dog. Ugh. His head was darting back and forth and he started peering uner every parked car we passed. Great, just what I don't need is a distracted service dog.  

Using my wits and relying on my own training, i had to figure a way to counter this new but unwanted behavior.  He now has a new command added to his vocabulary. When he ducks his head under a car to look for a kitty to chase he not only gets a "leave it" command but he gets a "no hunting" admonition along with pulling his head up followed by immediate positive reinforcement with a treat.

So far this evening that approach seems to be working to curb the hunting behavior. I can't really fault him too much since he has never been faced with so many quick moving targets at once. It still worries me but I suspect that once he is removed from this environment it won't be a real problem anymore.

On the other hand I bet I could make a few bucks from the residents of the apartment complex if they were willing to pay to get rid of their feral cat problem once and for all.  All I have to do is let Rambo off his leash and I guarantee every one of those cats will go over the wall, never to return.

But then I really would need a new dog!