Originally Posted By beamerdog Jackson is a Heinz 57, no relation to Inspector! He was rescued from a Maryland shelter (not PA as I thought). We think he might be a smooth long coated retriever mix. I think he has some bear in his bloodline.
Originally Posted By smedley Glad to hear it's going well beamer, don't rush to check in with us whilst you have so much work to do, we will wait patiently till the training is completed and you have a little more spare time. I would also love to see pics of your new friend though
Originally Posted By beamerdog Okay, here's an update. Training is incredibly tiring. There's a lot to learn even though I did all that puppy homing. Jackson is really great at support and pulling me along and really knows his commands well. However, and here's the big thing. Even though 2 other dogs have, he has not overtly alerted to any insulin reactions (and I've had more than a few since training started). The trainers think he's staring at me and flaring his nostrils, but hey, I'm too out of it when I'm having a reaction to be aware of this. the other dogs were whining and moaning, and I could really hear them. He is, however, letting me know that my sugars are higher than normal by standing in front of me. That's okay, but the reaction is what's life-threatening and really why I need the dog. The trainers think he'll become more "envolved" when we eventually bond. I'm being optimistic, but when the other two dogs alerted today - and they've never been with me - it was somewhat disturbing. Well, I'm hanging in there. The other people in the class are quite interesting. But most of them don't see my "disability" as being quite as "bad" as theirs. One of them actually asked me to move from the seat on a bench where I was sitting because they wanted to sit, too. I guarantee you that I was just as much in pain and just as tired as they were. Try walking for an entire afternoon with no fatty pads on the bottom of your feet. (I contemplated taking off my shoes and putting my smelly feet up for them to inspect, lol.)But I moved anyway. It's only three weeks and it wasn't worth it to argue. Here's how much of the conversation goes: Recipient One: I have QDF disease. I have no flesh on my arms and nose and can't breathe. Recipient Two: I have IYH disease. It's worse than yours. I have black and blue marks on my eyelids and my navel quivers when I drink milk. Recipient Three: I have KJH disease. It's far worse than the two of you. I can't move my teeth and my bones sing the National Anthem when I sleep. Me: I'm hungry. When's lunch. Just kidding. It's not quite that bad;-)
Originally Posted By debtee Hang in there Beamer! These people in the class seem to be quite judgemental towards you. If a non-disabled person treated them like their illness was not serious, I'm sure they would not take kindly to it. I do think you are taking the right attitude to not argue with them as you are there to learn for you not them, remember they are the ones with issues about this not you. I hope Jackson continues to bond with you and settles into training soon.
Originally Posted By LadyKluck >>Recipient Three: I have KJH disease. It's far worse than the two of you. I can't move my teeth and my bones sing the National Anthem when I sleep.<< ROFL!! beamer, I'm so glad you're still keeping your sense of humor with all of the training - I love reading your updates!
Originally Posted By beamerdog Sunday update: Wow, Jackson alerted to a low blood sugar yesterday 35 minutes BEFORE I had the insulin reaction. We had shared our nightly journals and I was so frustrated that I broke down and cried when I was reading it. Definitely not like me at all. When I came back in, he wouldn't settle and kept sniffing the air. The trainers asked me to take my sugar and it was normal. Thirty-five minutes later, the dog was still antsy and when I took it, the meter read very low!! What a breakthrough for both of us. The class was really excited because they knew how upset I was. Last night my family and I went out with another classmate and their partner and had a really good time. I like this person because they, too, have an "invisible" handicap and we understand each other very well. I'm totally exhausted - I'm checking in with a few LP threads, so I excuse myself if I miss a couple of birthdays or events. I'll catch up in about 2 weeks. I'm going to wait until the last minute to sign up or not for the Bash. Tomorrow is a field trip to Longwood Gardens (arboretum, formal gardens and conservatory). I'll be renting a ECV and it'll be the first time Jackson works with me next to one. I understand that this is the first day the dogs generally stop working. Of course Jackson stops working when he's alerting, so that'll also be a challenge. After my hysteria when reading my journal yesterday and Jackson alerting, people have gotten a lot nicer to me. Thought for the day: I have muscles hurting that I never knew existed ;-)
Originally Posted By MissCandice We are all rooting for you here on LP. Take a break from here if need be, and keep rested.
Originally Posted By beamerdog For those who are interested in horticulture: main page: <a href="http://www.longwoodgardens.org/" target="_blank">http://www.longwoodgardens.org /</a> and virtual tours: <a href="http://www.longwoodgardens.org/Tour/ConservatoryTour/Conservatory.htm" target="_blank">http://www.longwoodgardens.org /Tour/ConservatoryTour/Conservatory.htm</a>
Originally Posted By beamerdog End of second week update: Well, it amazes me how far we've all come in the past two weeks. Jackson is alerting to my low blood sugars. I'm getting better at picking up on his alerts. Hopefully he'll become more assertive as time goes by since I doubt whether I'll pick up on his figitiness (is that a word?) when I'm sleeping, lol. He can also open a big mall door by tapping on the handicap buttons and also by using an adaptive hook and leash. Most of the dogs just pull it open, but he takes a little leap before pulling which cracks me up He can also give a wallet to a clerk to do a go pay, hold a bag for me and pick up just about anything off the floor and give it to me. He helps me up and down steps and curbs and pulls me along when I get tired. Today we competed in a local Halloween competition for dogs and he got second place when he picked up 9 socks and gave them to me in 3 minutes. I got a cute little purse filled with doggie treats. Yea Jackson! We have a day off tomorrow which is great since we are ready to kill each other. I'm glad for my experience in puppy homing since I'm doing better than most on the field trips. Jackson is one of the few dogs who hasn't pooped, peed or thrown up in some inappropriate place. (Okay, no comments from Wendebird about Tiva in the Liberty Bell Pavillion!) People keep forgetting not to stress their dogs, take them out, give them water, etc. The trainers keep after them, and it's all very upsetting to me. I've been helping a woman who's in a wheelchair with some of these issues and also gain more confidence in how to work things out when her dog doesn't want to do a skill. I can understand how it's easy to want to give up when your own body doesn't want to cooperate. She's a quick study and she's really doing much better already. Monday is Health Class III when we get to take care of glands in unmentionable places. OMG, can't wait to see some of the faces when they have to take care of their dogs. Tuesday we go to the Philadelphia Zoo (weather permitting) and Thursday we take the train into Philly to the Reading Market. Certification tests are on Sat. and graduation in Sunday. I'll be working with the trainers on the other days on having Jackson help me up from the floor. I haven't fallen once since we started team training! I'll also need new packs on the sides of his gear designed as I can't fit my glucose meter or a cold pack with my insulin in the current one. Well, hope someone reads this thread since the Bash is starting ;-)
Originally Posted By beamerdog >> we are ready to kill each other<< The people are ready to kill each other, not Jackson and me, lol. I just reread that.
Originally Posted By goodgirl Beamerdog, I've been busy in recent weeks and haven't had a chance to read this. I finally have time and read through the entire thread. WOW! I am so impressed. With you. With Jackson. With all of the people involved. You are doing amazing things. It brings tears to my eyes. I am so glad things are going so well for you and Jackson. Your sharing of the experience has been eye-opening. I never new so much was involved nor what these dogs could do. Thank you so much for relating all of it to us.
Originally Posted By beamerdog Thanks and you're welcome, goodgirl! You all will get a laugh from this: when we were at the mall yesterday after the door excersize we had to meet the trainer at the elevator to have our dog push the call button and then go up, out, push the button again and return to the first floor. Before I got to the elevator, I saw the Disney Store and just had to go in. When I came out, the Executive Director was waiting for me to let me know that the trainer at the elevator was waiting for me. She said she knew exactly where to find me in the mall. She just knew that I couldn't pass the store without going in, lol.
Originally Posted By Labuda re: #33 - Thanks for clariftying, beamer - it freaked me out to think you & your lil' Jackson pup were about to kill each other, especially when it sounded like y'all were doing so well together! lol
Originally Posted By smedley Hee hee, imagined Jackson sneaking up behind you with a heavy object to hit you over the head! Glad this is all going so well for you beamerdog, you seem really positive about it, I'm sure Jackson is going to make a huge difference to your every day life.
Originally Posted By wendebird >>Jackson is one of the few dogs who hasn't pooped, peed or thrown up in some inappropriate place. (Okay, no comments from Wendebird about Tiva in the Liberty Bell Pavillion!)<< LOL!!! ooops, x Thanks for these updates, I love reading about you & Jackson.
Originally Posted By teddibubbles Thank you for telling us what your doing!.. I wolkup thinking about this topic. and wishing I had a service dog too. ..lucky I looked and here was the topic... I dont understand where to look into it.. as I live out in the desert.and mostly a shut in. so I dont wish to bug anyone. but if you have any real info where to look to for a service dog. please can you email me that info.(hopefully in cailfornia. thank you.
Originally Posted By TiggerPooh1973 LOL, I thought you and Jackson were going to have at each other too! Glad to hear that is not the case.
