Practical Training Part 2

Today I needed to go to the local pharmacy to pick up my son's prescription. My husband had my car, so I thought, if the weather was good, I would take Kodi and we would walk.

I called the pharmacy and asked if since Kodi is a Service Dog in training, would they still allow entrance. They told me yes, in training or not, if he's a service dog, he can come in.

I put Kodi's Service Dog Vest on and we walked along the bike path. We took a side street and crossed the main road. When we got to the pharmacy, I stopped near the building, in the shade, and offered Kodi a drink of water, hoping doing so might calm him a bit.

After putting his dish away, I took his lead in hand and we went to the doors. They were automatic, so I gave him the command to go 'behind my chair' and he went there, following me inside.

Once inside, he was curious at all the smells. He sniffed the floor as we went back an aisle, passing a customer who was shopping. We turned and approached the pharmacy counter where two elderly customers were waiting. We stopped to wait our turn.

Kodi sat or stood next to my chair within arm's reach quietly, as the other customers were being waited on. He only made one little sound, one time, otherwise he was a good boy.

When we were waited on, I signed that I picked up the prescription and as I took the bag from the pharmacist Kodi stood up and tried to take the package for me. I reassured him that I had it and we went down an aisle toward the front of the store. We passed another customer and stopped in an open area where I could put the bag into my side pouch.

We started toward the exit. I gave him the command to go 'behind my chair' which he did, as we went back outside.

When we reached the outside of the building, I took him off to the side and gave him a lot of praise, pet him and told him he was a good boy. He rubbed his face against my thigh and hand, licking me.

On the walk home, he had his head up, loping along, enjoying the fresh air, obviously proud of himself.

It felt wonderful to be a successful team!

Practical Training

Recently, I needed to stop at the bank, while I was out with Kodi. I asked my husband to walk with us, so he could stand outside with Kodi while I went into the bank.

It was the first time I would try to take my power chair into the accessible entrance of the bank. They have two sets of doors with a foyer in between. The doors don’t have an automatic opener, so they present a challenge to a person in a wheelchair.

Service Dogs have to be able to enter a business or public area appropriately. They have to walk through the doors, staying out of the way of other patrons and maintain spacial awareness of the power chair. They have to be quiet, refrain from seeking attention and remain within 24 inches of the chair.

I can train Kodi to complete a number of skills at home, but wasn’t sure how I would work on training him in a public setting, as most businesses don’t fully understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in regard to Service Dog access, illegally disallowing professionally trained Service Dogs, let alone owner trained dogs.

As I approached the teller in the bank, another employee came out of a nearby office saying to the teller, “There’s a dog outside you would absolutely love.” The teller looked at me and said “I see you going by with your dog all the time. Why didn’t you bring him in?” I explained that he wasn’t adequately trained to behave properly and I didn’t want to make it more difficult for other Service Dog teams in the future. She asked me to bring him inside, so I called out to my husband and he brought Kodi in.

Once inside, they fawned over him, petting him, giving him 6 dog biscuit. I explained that I’m training him to be my Service Dog and anticipate not being able to take him into businesses with me until he’s at least 3 years old, much less a ‘puppy’ than he is now.

The woman offered for us to stop in, any time we walk by the bank, practicing going in and out of the doors, practicing proper behavior indoors, in close quarters with strangers.

The next time we went to the bank, I took Kodi inside. I didn’t have his backpack with his service patches on, but knew the employees were familiar with him, so I didn’t anticipate any problems. An employee from another office came out asking “What’s that dog doing in here? Only Service Dogs are allowed.” A teller spoke up for us saying he is being trained.
To protect Kodi and myself, I ordered a mesh Service Dog vest from a Service Dog Supply Co. They affixed patches to either side of the vest that say “IN TRAINING”. I attached one of his “Please don’t pet me I’m working” patches.

Today, with his vest on, the first time we’ve really been able to go out, as it’s been raining for days, we went to the bank to withdraw some money for Sidney. We were alone, so we had to maneuver the doors ourselves.

Kodi went through the first door ahead of me. He stepped to the side and waited for me, then I opened the second door and he went in ahead of me, stepping to one side. After I was inside, we went to the first teller. He tried to put his paws up on the counter, but I told him paws off and he got down. He did this a couple of times, looking for a treat, before he sat down next to my chair and quietly waited.

He whined once, knowing he would get a dog biscuit, but sat still waiting patiently, even after another customer came in behind him and walked around us.

They gave him a biscuit, which he ate, as I put my things away in my side pouch. We went out the doors in the same way we came in, with him going through first and stepping to one side, waiting on me.

I was so proud of him. He seems to always know when his vest (or backpack) is on, he’s working. He doesn’t pull, is less distracted, more attentive of me – stopping to put his paws up on my lap, kiss me, sniff me, checking on me.

We are well on our way to eventually getting ‘certified’. It’s not required by the ADA, but it helps eliminate any concerns a business establishment might have.

He continues to amaze me with his ability to learn, to serve and to care for me and my needs.

Kodi Performing Service Dog Skills ~ Video Blog

These are some videos of Kodi performing his 'Service Dog' skills.

Inseparable

Lately, "Kodi", my husky companion, and I have been inseparable.
While we do spend 99% of our time together in the house and backyard, we usually aren't right in each other's space the whole time.

The last few days, he's right at my feet, all the time. Even in the yard, he comes and sits next to me, lays in the grass at my feet.

He's sharing his toys more easily, readily, lately. He's attentive and affectionate more-so than ever before. I didn't think that was possible.

I can't sit at the computer very long, without him pushing in between my body and the computer. He tries to help me with everything, even picking up my sneakers when I take them off and offering them back to me.

He is my guardian angel, my shadow. He won't go to bed and sleep until I am in the bed with him. He helps me ready for bed, even learning recently how to take the 'hair-tie' out of my hair.

When we are ready to sleep, he laying between my husband and I, his chin over my leg or ankle, I rest my hand on his hip, or his tail, so we are touching, before going to sleep. There's something comforting about knowing he's there, close by.

He comes in the bathroom with me and lays outside the shower stall while I shower, he lays in front of the tub, against my feet when I'm sitting in the bathroom. If he's not in the bathroom with me, he jumps up on the bed and watches me until I ready to leave the room. If I'm cooking or doing dishes, he's laying on the floor close by and will stand up and move with me if I leave the room.

It looks like we're going to be able to start walking again soon, as I'm supposed to be getting a new power chair in 2 weeks. I'll get to work with him on some new skills, and we'll get to spend time together outside, walking, going to the park, etc.

He's started this 'new thing' when we're coming in from outside, as we're walking around the deck. If he sees something in another yard or across the street, he'll put his paws up on the banister. If I walk to his side and put my arm around him, he'll lean in against my body, lift his chin up so he's looking in my face and he'll lick my chin, still leaning against me, as we look out to watch what it is he's caught sight of.

Our bond continues to strengthen. I'm excited about the training possibilities, as he becomes more attentive and attached.

The next time I groom him, I have to look for those 'wings'!