A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

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cavalierkisses
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:57 pm

A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by cavalierkisses »

Okay, I'm going to talk in all honesty. I didn't get my dog to mother her, though I did have a social reflection on whether is the right or wrong way to use a dog for that emotional capacity. The reason why is because I was thinking of it from a psychological question because... I have been thinking of dogs and their impact on our psychology.

Why is this so important? The real reason I have Victoria is because I have a disability, one of the invisible sort. I have been researching this for months, and started to work with my clinicians and doctors. I screened several professional trainers to work with me, and things are finally beginning to be seen. I have the dog, I have her first series of classes coming up, and I have my first official word of endorsement from those who treat me. We're ordering her first "In Training" vest, and it's all so very exciting and so very nervous.

One thing I've learned is that most Service Dogs have been best trained using positive reinforcement before most places were trying to train dogs. So, my dog always had to be trained exclusively with positive reinforcement.

So, no, she isn't my child. She is going to be my working friend, we're going to build a team to help me with my disabilities. And she's already showing such potential to fulfill them.

I wanted to take some inquiries and start a chance to talk with some people. I'm trying to map out this process from the doggy training point of view, with some additional points outside of our trainer.

The biggest thing I'm trying to figure out, and I'll be talking more with my professional trainer about it is..... how to get my dog to wake me up at a certain time and not to stop at anything.

My husband have a very, very... very rough draft of an idea: We train her to respond to the trigger of the alarm going off. She is supposed to step up with bothering me in the bed, and if by "snooze alarm" I haven't gotten up then she has permission to start barking as well. And, she isn't supposed to stop being vigilant to me being awake until two things are completed: bed is made, and handler is dressed.

I'm so overwhelmed with how I'll build her up to that. I know that basic obedience has to be mastered, and those skills will be the building block to building to such an accomplishments. But, I wanted your input!
luvmydogs
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Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:00 am

Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by luvmydogs »

Good luck with her..It will seem over whelming when you first start but it will get easier once she realizes she has a job..I love seeing the service dogs ..They are so well trained ...What type of breed is she?? I love to see pictures even though I don't know how to post them..Some day I will though.. :roll:
Fundog
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by Fundog »

It sounds like you have a good plan, though I will not even try to pretend that I know how to go about what you want her to do for you--- I know it can be done, though, and I am certain you will find a way. I completely understand where you are coming from, even though you have not specifically mentioned what your disability is. But you are right, that our pets are often vital to our psychological well-being, and can aid us immensely in recovering from illnesses that impact the psyche. I too have been ill lately (I just had to give up my job due to health problems, so now I'm unemployed), and my dogs have been vital to my therapy and recovery. For awhile there, they were the only reason I went outside, the only reason I went for a walk. You have my empathy and support-- if you need someone to talk to, you are more than welcome to PM me. Hang in there. :wink:
If an opportunity comes to you in life, say yes first, even if you don't know how to do it.
emmabeth
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by emmabeth »

Clicker training is I think going to be the way forward for you - she needs to be really keen to offer new behaviours and try new things and positive training, but especially clicker training (and free shaping with the clicker at that) really encourages this.

Everything you teach her to do MUST be a game to her - she doesnt know and never will know, that the game has a more serious and important reason behind it.

The other thing I will say is, if you teach her something that you then find she misuses or develops into inappropriate behaviour, you have to handle that very carefully indeed.

For instance, with the 'getting handler out of bed' routine - you must make sure she knows when this is appropriate to do and when it isnt - have a clear 'end' signal for the end of this behaviour and don't abuse it, so if her job is to get you out of bed and you dont want to/its hard that day.. you CANT give her the 'end' signal and get back into bed! There is probably a way round that to some degree, for example, the 'behaviour is over' signal can be you putting on a specific hat and leaving the room and then she gets her reward.

If you teach her that barking and nagging and ignoring the word 'no' or 'quiet' is acceptable - then you need to find a way around that because she may try it in other situations. You cant blame her for this (not saying you would!), because the positive training will mean shes way more likely to try out behaviours and see where they get her and you need that curious, forward thinking sort of mindset.

It wont just be a case of telling her 'no that doesnt work', you have to handle it very carefully, because knowing you are 'right' and that a thing works... and then finding out that for reasons you cant quite fathom out, you are actually wrong - is a HUGE blow to your confidence, and your dog needs to remain confident.

So each game you want her to learn, you need to look at it from all angles - work out not just how it will work and how you will teach her, but how you will make sure it stays appropriate and isnt open to misuse by you./her/anyone else.
West Midlands based 1-2-1 Training & Behaviour Canine Consultant
cavalierkisses
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Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:57 pm

Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by cavalierkisses »

We're not typically encouraged to discuss our disability with complete strangers, unless we feel it is necessary. And since this is the forum run by my dog hero... I'll do it, mostly because almost everyone here wouldn't have a clue how to harang me outside of the forum. IRL.

I have severe anxieties in multiple ways: agoraphobia, social anxiety, panic disorder, and I also have ADHD. JOY!

My dog, Victoria, is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her main duty is to be a source of comfort and be focused on me. I get afraid about leaving the house, but having another person has helped me get over it in the past. Victoria has already begun to learn naturally, just by needing her walks, play, and potty breaks, just how to get me out of the house and comfortable. She's supposed to facilitate social interaction, which she's doing in some ways just by being friendly and taking people's attention off of me! They don't see a nervous woman, but a dog that happens to be a woman. A dog can completely change how I behave and others. She's barely begun the process and she's already making a big impact.

We ordered her "In Training" vest just today! I am looking forward to it's arrival, and the beginning of her first major classes.

You never realise the work involved in a service dog. Getting her started on the journey to being a PSD is woah enough as it is, I can't imagine a seeing-eye dog.
cavalierkisses
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:57 pm

Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by cavalierkisses »

emmabeth wrote:Clicker training is I think going to be the way forward for you - she needs to be really keen to offer new behaviours and try new things and positive training, but especially clicker training (and free shaping with the clicker at that) really encourages this.

Everything you teach her to do MUST be a game to her - she doesnt know and never will know, that the game has a more serious and important reason behind it.

The other thing I will say is, if you teach her something that you then find she misuses or develops into inappropriate behaviour, you have to handle that very carefully indeed.

For instance, with the 'getting handler out of bed' routine - you must make sure she knows when this is appropriate to do and when it isnt - have a clear 'end' signal for the end of this behaviour and don't abuse it, so if her job is to get you out of bed and you dont want to/its hard that day.. you CANT give her the 'end' signal and get back into bed! There is probably a way round that to some degree, for example, the 'behaviour is over' signal can be you putting on a specific hat and leaving the room and then she gets her reward.

If you teach her that barking and nagging and ignoring the word 'no' or 'quiet' is acceptable - then you need to find a way around that because she may try it in other situations. You cant blame her for this (not saying you would!), because the positive training will mean shes way more likely to try out behaviours and see where they get her and you need that curious, forward thinking sort of mindset.

It wont just be a case of telling her 'no that doesnt work', you have to handle it very carefully, because knowing you are 'right' and that a thing works... and then finding out that for reasons you cant quite fathom out, you are actually wrong - is a HUGE blow to your confidence, and your dog needs to remain confident.

So each game you want her to learn, you need to look at it from all angles - work out not just how it will work and how you will teach her, but how you will make sure it stays appropriate and isnt open to misuse by you./her/anyone else.
I forgot to reply directly to you: Your advice is so much to take in, and what I sort of thought, but a lot of things I didn't think of.
cavalierkisses
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:57 pm

Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by cavalierkisses »

Update: Well, I've been given a series of set-backs. First of all, her basic obedience classes have been pushed back until June 1st because they didn't have enough people sign up. And, I'm trying my best to get her started.

And this is where I am almost ready to break down in tears. I cannot get Victoria to focus on me, AT ALL. I say her name and she won't look at me. I hold things of value up to my eyes and she won't look at them. Sometimes she comes with I call her, other times she just ignores me. I am trying so hard to just master the focus technique in any shape, and I haven't had one break through. I don't know what to do because I'm trying everything I've watched and read about and I feel like this is leading me towards the question of, "What if I can't even get her through basic obedience?"
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Nettle
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by Nettle »

How old is she and how long have you had her?

Can you give us a rundown on a typical day for her? When is she fed, walked, played with? When you call her, what is it for and what happens when she gets to you?

Has she had formal assistance training and if so what has she been trained to do? If not, what do you want her to do? You talk about obedience classes - what do you expect from these, and what does she do already?

All this and more (no information too trivial) will help us help you help her. Because although you have taken her on to help you, you also have to help her.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

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jacksdad
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by jacksdad »

cavalierkisses wrote:We're not typically encouraged to discuss our disability with complete strangers
Completely understandable. But I am impressed you chose to share even the small amount of detail that you did. Who knows who you might be helping by having done this.

Take hart, this is fixable.
Fundog
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by Fundog »

And just to offer a little encouragement: My Annie, whose nickname is "Schweinhund" (it means pig-dog in German, lol), would never allow any of us to miss her meal time. And somehow, she knows when that time is, and will make a right pest of herself, right on time, lol. For example: She likes to be fed breakfast at 6:30 am. Now that I am no longer working, and therefore home at that time, she does not have to wait until I get home. So this morning I was awakened out of a deep sleep by one 60 lb. mountain of fluff snuffling my face, and laying on top of me, until I assured her that if she let me up I would feed her. She continued to do a little dance, and escorted me personally out to the kitchen, until she was absolutely certain that I was not going to trick her and just go back to bed. And that was all without the cue of an alarm clock! So what you are wanting to teach your little doggy to do for you can be done-- if my Annie can do it with no formal training whatsoever, any dog can be taught! :D
If an opportunity comes to you in life, say yes first, even if you don't know how to do it.
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Mattie
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by Mattie »

cavalierkisses wrote:We're not typically encouraged to discuss our disability with complete strangers, unless we feel it is necessary. And since this is the forum run by my dog hero... I'll do it, mostly because almost everyone here wouldn't have a clue how to harang me outside of the forum. IRL.
You will find many on here have some sort of disability, even several, we don't talk about it unless it is necessary but we don't hide it either so thank you for telling us, it helps when giving advice.

I have claustaphobia, FMS, panic attacks, arthritis and prefer my own company to other humans. When training our dogs we do need to take into account anything the owner will find difficult.
And this is where I am almost ready to break down in tears. I cannot get Victoria to focus on me, AT ALL. I say her name and she won't look at me. I hold things of value up to my eyes and she won't look at them. Sometimes she comes with I call her, other times she just ignores me. I am trying so hard to just master the focus technique in any shape, and I haven't had one break through. I don't know what to do because I'm trying everything I've watched and read about and I feel like this is leading me towards the question of, "What if I can't even get her through basic obedience?"
The first thing you need to learn is to relax, you will never teach Victoria while you are this stressed, I find that meditation helps, it can be difficult at first but does work. Also I recomend a glass of wine to help chill :lol: the wine isn't really necessary, the change in attitude of the owner when they see this works, they are immediately more relaxed with their dog. You will see on here various methods of relaxation for wine to chocolate. :lol: If you need help with meditation, just say, I used to have the wrong idea completely of how to meditate.

Stop trying hard, this will also cause tension in you and when tense you will send the wrong signals to Victoria, you need to be soft and relaxed, no matter how bad you feel, smile, smiling relaxes your body language, it softens it. I do know how hard it can be to smile when you feel like crying, it does get easier the more you practice. This weekend I could have cried when Dolly kept jumping out and I had to run across a very uneven field to get to her, I had to smile so she wouldn't be frightened to come to me and learn how to swear in a high, happy voice, that is very valuable when training dogs. :lol:

Never call Victoria more than once, if you do you are teaching her it is ok to ignore you, try and call her when you know she will come and make coming to you very interesting. Very few dogs will work for treats if they have recently been fed, do training an hour or 2 before she is fed, she will work better for treats.

Good luck, any problems just say and we will help as much as we can.
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***Melissa***
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by ***Melissa*** »

This is different from your circumstances, but I hope this will also help to encourage you:

I have bipolar disorder (type 1). I have been suicidal, depressed, manic, out of control...just crazy.

At first I was treated for normal depression, and the anti-depressant medication made it worse. Later I was diagnosed with bipolar. There are medicine I can use for bipolar disorder, but won't, I rather try to use natural remedies etc when necessary. Also, husband and I always wanted to have children of our own, and you can't be on the medication while pregnant. And if you start to take the medication you must continue to use it for the rest of your life. So I didn't want to go on the medication.

Somewhere along the line we got our first dog - Striker (it's a long story, I was against getting a dog at first, but Striker stole my heart the first day we had him). About a year later we added Bibi to our family. Anyway, since we got Striker (and then Bibi) I have been *stable*. I don't know how it works, but they give me a reason to get up in the morning, to feel positive about the day, not to loose control, etc. Also, even though we wanted to have children, I always knew (a few years ago) it would be better to wait untill I was more stable (if that was ever going to happen)...about a year ago we decided that seeing I'm much more stable than I used to be, we can now begin with our human-family. 2 weeks ago I found out I'm pregnant, so my life has really turned out so well after all the doubts we've had, and after all the negative things people had to say. I must add that I have the most supportive husband in the world.

But the reason for me being stable today is b/c of Striker and Bibi. I don't know how it works, but they are my reason for being OKAY :D

Oh, and I also much prefers their company to other people's company :lol:
There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Ben Williams
cavalierkisses
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by cavalierkisses »

UPDATE

I wanted to share with everyone an experience I just recently had, an experience that showed everyone just how much Victoria is already helping out.

Last Sunday I had a major panic attack; we're talking hyperventilation, complete disorientation, I wouldn't let anyone near me not even the EMT's that were trying to help. It took some calming but finally I calmed down enough and was sent to the hospital.

The moment I showed signs of panicking my dog came running out of the car (we had just pulled up to our house when this started and I bolted from the vehicle) and ran after me. She did all of her signs of "Pick me up!" And then... just went "limp", while licking my skin from time to time to try and give me what I took as love. There was a lot of chaos going on, an ambulance showed up, police cars came (neighbors called 911), and she was calmer than she usually is with loud sounds. She put my needs before her and was there the entire time. She laid down in the hospital bed the entire time, and wouldn't let herself get distracted by people coming in and out. She was there for me and knew I needed her.

So, that's my little princess. :) Aren't dogs just the best?
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Nettle
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by Nettle »

Aren't they just! :D What a little star.

With her at your side, you should go from strength to strength. Love her.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
thepennywhistle
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Re: A new owner comes clean... Service Dog Love

Post by thepennywhistle »

She's a gem, and is going to be a friend and asset to you for life.
I'm glad you've found each other.
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