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'!

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.