Always Surprising Me

Today, I was sitting in my power chair, preparing to cut my husband's and my son's hair for them. As I was getting the clippers and scissors out, Kodi came to me, wanting a little attention.

I pet him, told him he was a good boy and proceeded to rub the heal of my sock against the foot rest of my chair, so I could take it off in preparation, so I wouldn't get hair clippings stuck in my sock and then track them all over the house.

I pulled my heal a little too hard and the sock fell off. Kodi immediately picked it up and handed it to me. The other sock, I gently rubbed against my foot rest and wiggled my toes. He sniffed the toe of my sock as I said, "Kodi tug it". (First time we tried this skill)

He gently took my sock in his mouth and pulled it off my foot, handing it immediately to me. What a good boy! He got a nice treat for his efforts.

We had tried to teach him to help me with taking my slippers off, several months ago, but he really didn't understand what we were asking. Today, he didn't hesitate.

Once he had helped me, he went under the kitchen table and laid down out of the way, as I cut both heads of hair. When I was finished and my husband was sweeping the floor, he came to my side, up against my chair and leaned against me as I pet him, wagging his tail happily.

After my husband and son had showers, I slipped in to wash all the hair clippings off. Kodi laid right outside the shower stall while I was inside, then went in on the bed when I came into the bedroom.

When I sat down on the bed to dress, Kodi came up behind me, rested his chin on my shoulder and licked my face.

He is my sweet angel.

More Than An Assistance Dog, More Than A Companion

Recently, Kodi has proven to be more of a 'protector' than I ever had imagined.

After being outside, on a cold windy winter day, we came inside, at which time I had to go to the bathroom. I gave him his 'good boy' treat and hurried into the bedroom.

As I approached my bed, a serious case of Winter asthma hit. I could hardly breathe, couldn't catch my breath. Now, moreso than going to the bathroom, catching my breath became the priority.

I leaned over the side of my bed, my chest hurting, and put my head in my hands, trying to focus and slow my breathing, to take a couple of deep breaths. I could hear and feel my own wheezing, as I struggled.

Kodi heard me and came into the bedroom, jumping up on the bed next to me. For a split second, he sat there, just watching me, then he laid down next to me and began to push his nose in between my hands and my face.

He whimpered softly and tried to lick me, as he pushed harder and harder with his nose, until he had his face between my face and my hands.

When he had finally nuzzled in and had my chin resting on the top of his head, he lifted his head, forcing me to lift my head. As he got me up off the bed, he stood up under my chin with the top of his head and began to lick me, rubbing his face against my face.

In the matter of a moment or two, focusing on Kodi, I was able to catch my breath and the attack passed.

Then again, one day last week, I was in a compromising position and needed my husband's help. I was calling and calling out to him, but he wasn't hearing me. It turned out he had headphones on and was listening to loud music.

Kodi came into the room, stood in the doorway and looked at me with a tilted head, as if to say "what do you need momma?", so I told him "Get Daddy... can you get daddy?"

Kodi turned and ran into the other room, where I could hear him whimpering, crying, trying to get my husband's attention. Then I heard my husband asking him what was wrong, at which time I yelled for him again and he heard me.

Effectively, Kodi got Daddy for me, he brought help to me when he could not help me himself.

I am so incredibly blessed to have this intelligent and caring creature as my canine companion.