Dogs as our helpers

[Jazzyfizzle]

I thought I would see how many of us use our dogs as assistants, either in a forma/recognized fashion, or just around the house. I know Ada mentioned to me she is training her's to be her assistant, and my girl Jazz is a medical alert service dog.
She began alerting on blood sugar lows several years ago after I became I a diabetic. After I realized what she was doing, I looked into it a great deal and began training her to alert all the time on lows. She already had the natural talent for it and it was very easy for her. We progressed to getting her Canine Good Citizen certificate, moved forward with it all, and she is now my service dog. She never ceases to amaze me.

I am working on now, having her bring my cell phone, or objects from around the house.

I would love to hear about your dog Ada, or anyone who is doing this type of thing. I think animals truly are a gift for us. I dont' know what I would do without my Jazzy fizzle.

Thanks!

Jazzy

[Farrahlicious]

*blushing*
is there room for a "Doggie Hall of Shame" in this post?? you guys have amazing pets, i'm so jealous... i have two terrible monsters who are on "attack mode" 24/7. If you come over, the chances of you bleeding to death from injuries to your ankles are huge. *sigh* I have two mini-mini Daschunds and Angus (4) is adorable, but the only thing he would do for you is beg for treats. Rex is his little brother and even i'm scared of the dog! there's nothing to do there because my mom spoiled them like babies. However, my boyfriend's "Heinz 57" (mutt, mix of G'd knows what, but he's BIG and shagalicious!) apparently notices when i'm not having a good day. Norton would sit in front of me, and if i leave the tv room to go lay down, he'll come every few minutes to check on me. I believe that even if we can't get our pets to help us out, they do have a certain "energy bond" with us. My cats can't do a thing, but it's very comforting when i'm having a bad day and Roxy comes and purrs by my side. I think it's love that keeps us going, some of you have kids, husbands, families to tend to, and even in your worst days, you try your best, because the love you feel for them is stronger than the pain, the fatigue, the dizziness, etc. It's the love that keeps us going and fighting every day.
Ok, that would be my "rant of the day". Go out and get your luvvin' on!
love,
Farrah

[wyfrog]

Dogs are truely a blessing.  We adopted an ole lab from the pound many years ago.  He is amazing!  He stays close on my "bad" days and helps me with my balance.  He just knows!  Yep, fur angels from above, I agree with that!

[birdgirl77074]

Wow.. your dogs sound like little fur-angels from above. I am severely hard of hearing(due to congenital nerve deafness), and am considering looking in to a "hearing ear" dog. I know that I would be less afraid of going out alone and would not be missing phone calls or people knocking at the door; like I do now. Plus, it would help with my depression, etc.

Have any of you worked with the hearing ear dogs? Was it easy or hard?

Thanks,

Donna

[Rena705]

Don't be sayin' that or my husband will have a fit!  I have been literally begging for a dog to be "my" dog since we got Kayleigh but I would want something with a little less energy.  Kassy was abused when we got her and she was very timid and quiet and loving and I don't think I will ever have another like her.

Kayleigh on the other hand is a firecracker and she drives me nuts!  Don't get me wrong, I do love her but I miss the cuddles that Kassy gave and she was MY dog...now Kayleigh is hubby's dog.  I miss having a dog!

I posted pictures of both of them on My Profile...check them out if you haven't already!

Lots of Hugs,

Rena

[Jazzyfizzle]

Wonderful stories all :) It is great to hear how they help our lives and are so perceptive our needs.

Heather, I would say they could. I know a friend of mine attached a small cord to her phone for her dog to carry it by, as the dog knew he wasn't allowed to 'chew' on the phone, and perceived picking up the phone as chewing on it. He does great carrying it by the cord. The smaller dogs could possibly drag the cell phone along by a cord such as this.

Rena, that is exactly how Jazz started, by waking me up at night during low blood sugars that I was sleeping through. (sometimes I do not feel my lows). I am so sorry about Kassy. I can set you up with a great new sheltie puppy to keep Kayleigh company (smile and wink) :))  

Ada & Princess, you might want to try clicker training, it is great!

T, you have it right on the money, they accept us unconditionally for who we are at any time. :)

Jazzy

[young at heart]

MY OLDEST NEWFOUNDLAND IS ALWAYS AT MY SIDE.SHE KNOWS WHEN MY RIGHT LEG IS GONNA GIVE OUT.
WHEN MY VISION STARTS TO GET WONKY,SHE'LL PUSH ME AWAY FROM DOOR WAYS AND SO FORTH.
SHE WILL PICK UP MY BLANKET IF IT FALLS OF MY LAP AND WILL OPEN THE REFRIDGERATOR IF THERES A TOWEL ON THE HANDLE.
I NEVER TAKE A BATH WITHOUT HER IN THE BATHROOM.
I SHOULD FURTHER TRAINING WITH HER,SHE HAS A GREAT PERSONALITY AND REAL FRIENDLY AND LOYAL.
NOW MY 6 MONTH OLD NEWFIE PUP,IS FAR FROM TRAINABLE AT THIS POINT,SHE'S VERY LARGE FOR HER AGE,AND VERY POWERFUL.MAYBE IN TIME SHE'LL COME AROUND.

ANIMALS TRAINABLE SERVICE DOGS OR NOT THEY ARE VERY THERAPUTIC,I BELEIVE ON ANIMALS ARE.

THE EXCEPT US FOR WHO WE ARE.

T-LYNN

[Heather3418]

My little Chihuahua's and toy poodle would gather at my side, like little heating pads, seemingly knowing how painful my legs were.  My ex has them now,since my current life's partner doesn't want the responsibilities of the puppies right now...Boo Hoo, but hopefully I will once again, have the puppies at my side that provide me with such comfort when I am hurting so badly.

I wonder if the little ones can be trained to fetch articles for you.  I know they are smart little boogers, but don't know if they coudl carry such things as a cordless phone or the like.

Great idea though...
Heather

[princess73]

Wow! I guess I need to work on training my dog more. I have a Chow-Shepherd mix named Bear. Since I have not been feeling well, he never leaves my side. He does exactly what I tell him to do as far as sit, go downstairs, get in cage, etc. I haven't tried to train him on retreiving things for us. My husband even noticed that when we are in bed, Bear always has to be on my side. We tried switching places and Bear would switch sides. When I answered the door the other day, he sensed uneasiness in my voice and went into attack mode. I have never seen him do that! He keeps me company while my kids are in school and my husband is at work. I don't feel quite as lonely when I think of him by my side. I think everyone in our situation needs a good dog!

[dowma]

so interesting about your dog possibly picking up on you having seizures.  I was diagnosed as having seizures and have a Maltese.  Two weeks ago I was feeling really lowsy and couldn't get out of bed, having multiple seizures, my dog wouldn't leave my side she just laid next to me or on top of me.  she didn't even leave to eat or go outside.  It was pretty amazing how she reacted.  
Othewise she is terribly hyper, she's a great lap dog and wonderful companion I love her.  
Lots of hugs,
Mary Beth

[spastic]

My border collie/aussie Rune comes and hovers around me before I have those severe locking up muscle spasms and when my blood pressure gets low, at first I didn't realize that is what he was doing and my huge collie Bear can get me sitting up when I fall down. The two seem to work as a pair in these problems, Rune protects me while Bear nudges me up. Im glad I live in a very small town and traffic is never a problem. I've been trying to work with them to bring me things but unless I have a biscuit they wont even try. lol  

Big Hugs

Ada

[Rena705]

Hi Jazz...I would love to get involved with something like this with my little monster but she is just too hyper and has a mind of her own that no one is going to change!  She is a bordercollie/airedale terrier cross and until she slows down a bit...no chance!

I would like to have her in the pet therapy program at the extended care centre that I used to work at but maybe in a few years.

I did take my sheltie/cross Kassy to the hospital on a regular basis and everyone loved her and she did pretty well but wouldn't go with anyone but me.  She has passed on now and I miss her terribly but I think there is hope for Kayleigh!

She seems very in tune with my illness and a couple of times at night she has woken me and my hubby up and will not leave me and has to be very close and will not let me sleep...we think it may be precursors that I may be having to seizures but I have not had a seizure yet.  I have tried to explain this to my dr. but because I am on anti-seizure meds for pain they don't believe I could have a seizure...maybe my drugs are being played around with too much and it's causing this activity in my brain...who knows??? The dog seems to know something is going on and I think I will listen to her!!

Rena

[Jazzyfizzle]

Woops, please excuse my usual typo's...should be....  in a FORMAL/recognized fashion