Service Dogs are getting a bad rap.  Today I was questioned by a kid asking what my dog is trained for.  Then he said "PTSD".  I said no and walked away.  Walking in the world with your dog is not easy because people do not understand why that dog is there.  For you the handler. 

A Service Dog needs a good temperament to be in public and be highly trained.  A Service Dog can be in many capacities.  A person can use their own dog or pay for a trained one which is   $25,000.00 according to the AKC.   

​There is a 2nd kind of Service Dog that would not fit in the full fledged SD.  This is the dog at home with the person who will task train their own dog at home but not use it out in the world.   Task Training.  Pick up the cell phone, open the fridge, bring me my socks, and more.  Tasks to make someones day easier.  

Calls Trainers receive.  
Caller 1:  Can I make my dog into a Service Dog?
Trainer:   How old?
Caller 1:  6 years old
Trainer: How is your dog out in the world?
Caller 1:  Very bad.  Jumps barks and will not listen.
Trainer:  Taking a deep breath.  I can help you with your dog.  I can never promise you can make it a service dog.

Caller 2:  I just got a puppy and want to train it to be a service dog.
Trainer:  How old is your puppy?  
Caller 2:  12 weeks old.
Trainer: is it potty trained?
Caller 2:  Sometimes and sometimes she goes on the rug.  
Trainer:  So your pup is not potty trained?  
Caller 2:  Correct
Trainer:  Ok, lets start with potty training.  

Caller 3: I want to train my dog to be a Service Dog.
Trainer:  How old
Caller 3:  A year old.
Trainer:  Perfect if it is social in the world.
Caller 3:  My dog is good out in the world.
Trainer:  Awsome, lets set up a meet up.

Caller 4:  I want to train my dog to be a service dog to help me in my house.
Trainer: How old?
Caller 4: 6 years
Trainer:  Is this just for in your home and not a full service dog to go everywhere>?  
Caller 4:  I am home bound so will the dog be.
Trainer: Awsome we can train tasks in your home, lets set up a meet up.

Task training is fun. Teaching a muzzle is fun.  All dogs should learn even if not used.

My first Belgian Malinois was an import for a client to be a drug detection dog.  He wanted a crazy ball driven dog.  Ok, I located one. 

At the airport I had no clue what I was picking up.  My first time hanging with a Malinois and an adult at that.  I picked up the crate in the office.  With all doors closed I took him out on a slip leash.  He was friendly with paws up on everything.  I had a tennis ball in my pocket and wanted to bounce off the floor one time just to see.  I never thought the ball would go into this high  garbage can in the office.  The Malinois jumped in head first before I blinked an eye.  I loved this fun behavior.  And my journey began. 

The 2nd Malinois was an unregistered small mahogany 1/2 tail Malinois who had over the top drive in all kinds of ways.   This dog just quivered with excitement to work.  His name was was Sammy.   

 I was training my German Shepherd for Schutzhund 3.  I brought Sammy to the club with me.  He got his BH and he was a sharp dog.  Sammy got his Schutzhund 1.  He was fun to watch in the bite work.  He outed though,.  He was sold as a detection dog as intended.  A little detour for hiu.

I wanted to breed Malinois for Police but with a pedigree.   
Good Working Malinois with a Pedigree.  
 FCI for AKC registry in the USA.   

Jamey
One day a video from Europe came with dogs on it for sale.   No facebook.   And there was my Malinois with a pedigree and all kinds of other titles for beauty and work.
I saw this crazy barking in the blind Schutzhund 3 dog.  Jamey.   

A week later he came to the USA.  Nothing phased this dog.  He was just happy.  I was happy. 
I was blessed to be able to find and buy my 3rd Belgian Malinois   VDH CH, V1, AM & SKC James des Deux Pottois (1985) LOSH 544045 
SCHHIII, BTR, ZTP, CD, TT, CGC, ROM, CACIB

For pedigree go to:
Pedigree Data Base

to be continued

​Zippy the living dog and Harmony my little love bug dog who is not here anymore.

My little dog left this world a few days ago.   It's been 3 days and my heart aches but life goes on.  Watching the remaining dog's dynamics is amazing.

The 2 dogs were always together.  That is all the living dog knows since she was born.  They were always together.   Whatever I did with one dog there was always the little dog tag along.  They did not play together but they walked and sniffed and rode in the car together.  One in the front and one in the back.  They were together.  We walked together for many years but the long walks started to end when the little one started showing signs of tiredness.  

With the other dog gone the other is sleeping a lot.  Yes a Malinois just sleeping.   More than normal.   

My remaining dog has glued herself to me.   Both dogs used to follow me from room to room but sometimes stayed.  Mostly follow.  Zippy tries to out think me.  Am I making a right or left.  To the bathroom or bedroom or front door etc.  Like she is saying where should I go that you are going to be in one second.  lol  Her racing me seems more frantic.  All that has happened can bring on anxiety which I am seeing now.  And a Malinois and anxiety means destruction.    Big time..  MALINOIS DO THIS YA KNOW.  All anxious dogs do this. Some more than others.  Anxiety is a scary thing in a dog.    The safest place for my dog when I leave without her is her crate.  She is quiet and comfy in there.  Makes her feel safer I think.  At least I do not come home and want to rip her up because my house is destroyed.  
  
I will watch her closely and take her out frequently to run and play and training.  Keeping her mind busy.

Takes time for grieving even in dogs.  I've seen it in my other dogs over the years.  When my little dogs bff died she would not go out in the back yard alone for a month or so,   

I saw this many years ago with a pair of Cocker Spaniels I groomed.  When the solo dog came in after his bff died a few weeks prior, he was sad and stand offish to me which was not normal. 
​
​Dogs may not think of it like we do but they do feel something is missing or changed.  Dogs do not like change.  

Training with Kindness to the dog.  

Shen do you make the choice?  Are you able to spend and spend to keep them breathing?  Are yo able to spend making them comfortable?   What can you do for a dying dog?
If I could would I save my dog to be miserable?  Just keep it living but no quality of life?  Who chooses what is quality and what is not?    Would I?  Would I keep my dog alive via surgeries or pills even if it made her sicker or healthy for a day.  I say her because this is the point in my life I am at with my little dog of almost 15 years old.   Harmony fit her name and brought that peace into my life.  She was my emotional support dog when she rode with me and I could pet her when I wanted.  When you have a dog who loves this then it is great.  Harmony was my Harmony in life. 

My dog is riddled with lumps and bumps.  We (meaning her Vet & I) are keeping her comfortable.  That was last week.

Our Vet showed me how to do a Calendar for good and bad days for my dog.  Friday was her last better day.  She is still hanging and following me and wants to be near but the eating is slowing almost to a stop.  She is drinking which is very important.

Now she just sleeps.  So when is the time?  We have our own thoughts on this but it is something we share if we have dogs that get old and sick.

We have been to the Vet and she perks up.  She is not fond of a table or a Vet.  

I saw friends dog died suddenly although he did have a kidney problem.  The owner said he was to blame and should not have taken him out.  The dog died at the vet.  Is it more sad when you get hit with it suddenly?  Is it more sad because I have to make the decision to kill my own dog?  I do not have that answer.  Did this person have to make the death decision for his dog because the quality of life for the dog was over.  I don't have that answer.  

It is never easy when you love dogs.  Never Easy.  I've gone through this many times for my entire life.  Making these choices and hoping and praying for the best.  Each time is never easier or the same.  

In my head I think that my little dog is ok and happy to be with me.  Or is it the other way around?  I am ok and happy to be with my little dog since we have done the same for almost 15 years.  

We are blessed that we can help our dogs out of this world.  At least that is what I tell myself because I would do anything for my little dog but there is nothing left to do.  I pray then that I am correct because tears are tears and start with this thought, this blog.  The thought of it is over is difficult but is the act of choosing to make it over harder?  

My last dog was so difficult as she was part of my life and this dog was part of hers and mine.  Maybe it is that an era is over so onto the new.  I will cry and hurt and my eyes will be reder than ever for a bit but I have my other dog who also needs me.   They give me purpose so I still have that.  I think if I did not I would foster the world.  Now I just train one at a time.

See just that little second of talking about saying goodbye helps.  

One more thing.  I see the sad posts and had friends and family who lost their beloved pets.  Everyone says so sorry and try's to console but only you the one who lost that pet knows the pain and will deal with it the best way you know how.

Decisions? 
Should I put my dog out of misery or pain?  Should I wait?  Should I try this new drug and how long to wait before I see if it works or not.  How much pain will my dog suffer before I help it? 
 
What do I do after?  Leave the body?  Cremate it? Take it home and bury it?  

It is the same if your dog goes suddenly.  The pain that is.