Sex and the Single Assistance Dog; what are my children doing now?

I decided to post some photos of a promotional photo shoot. These puppies were engaged to be actors. They are twelve weeks old and they are Rebel’s grandchildren.

Rebel has produced daughters and sons and has many grand children. She also has a son living in Chicago(USA).

Have you ever wondered what makes a good dog good and an exceptional gifted dog? I asked that question to Leonie & Steve Neill owners of Goldmatt Kennels in an interview recently.

Read what a top Golden Retriever breeder has to say about these beautiful dogs in the next post.

My reaction to what was festering inside of me.

Sometimes a person with disabilities will need approach private trainers asking for help to train their assistance animal. I needed to do this with Rebel. I needed to learn the skills to work with her. I took Rebel two days after bring her home to be assessed by a well known and in the media ‘professional’ training company.

The assessment lasted less than ten minutes, it was conducted as follows:“Why did you get that dog?” “It’s useless and will never be an assistance dog!” “You will never be able to have it work for you, the training is beyond the capability of that dog!” “Why didn’t you get one from an assistance dog providing organization?” “Who told you that you need a dog?” “Pay the fee before you leave”

The only thing more inappropriate than his behavior, was my reaction festering inside of me!

My reaction was to shrink into myself, having an internal argument, about the situation. While his tirade continued about my dog and me, I had began to go into a dissociative state. Rebel was getting increasingly protective of me. She was not aggressive just standing our ground. Standing largely front of me facing side on, she would not let that trainer move closer toward me. He then said, “I can see that you two have a bond. I might be able to train you and your dog.”

Rebel then touched her nose on my right palm and I shifted myself back into reality. The trainer asked if I had a disability. I promptly said, “Yes and that he would never or ever train my dog.” Rebel then guided me back to our car she sat with her nose on my shoulder breathing doggy love down my neck until I calmed myself.

A few weeks later, I meet and make friends with Ben and Kane. They are teamed with a wonderfully trained partnership. Rebel fell in to love, playing with Kane in the park. I asked about Kane’s training how Ben and Kane teamed up and so on. Ben commended that the trainer has to understand disability and personal learning needs. From his point of view; this is the most important factor in choosing the right trainer to help in building a team. He recommended The Australian Dog Squad.

I had little understanding of how my disability needs could be matched to rebel’s skills. I thought that I would difficult to ask; ‘what do I need to know about training my dog to work with me?’ This was not a problem. The trainer asked me “what do you need to know about training your dog when she is working so well for you now?” The Australian Dog Squad assessment took more than an hour, the assessment took place in my house. We discussed what I needed to have to alleviate my mobility and other disability issues. The next half hour was outside in our local environment with Rebel and I walking and working together while the trainer assessed her learning style. We have had many lessons and every one is based on what I need and then what does Rebel need so we work together as partners. We both enjoy consistency of these lessons. We are having fun even when a lesson is important and this works for our team.

As I've become accepting of my disability, the more confident I became about working with my dog partner Rebel, I've rediscovered much of my independence which had been whittled away over the past few years. It's independence on different terms from before in life with disability without an assistance dog. I'm no longer on my own and unencumbered, Rebel has a precious gift which I value greatly. I feel as though working with her, I have regained freedom. I also have learned that I cannot take my freedom for granted.

I did not realize the strength of my need for independence until some of it is lost or threatened. It seems that I take my freedoms so much for granted that sometimes an unconsciousness covers daily life. Going about doing whatever I choose to do, going here and there, into this shop or that in my private world time zone. Sometimes unexpectedly there are too many people ahead in the check out que, or traffic accident holding up movement on the road. Life has inconveniences, things on the foot path, Rebel and I just, ‘get on with it,’ avoid that stuff which has nothing to do with what we want to do. Sometimes I grumble to Rebel, or we just complain if someone will listen to us.

I realized that the choice to train Rebel myself with the support and guidance of The Australian Dog Squad is one of the ways that I have strengthened my independence. Furthermore Rebel and I are both growing into more aware beings. Moreover working with Rebel has been the best and most effective therapy that I have ever received.

“What is that dog doing mummy?”

I was out with Rebel today and we had to go onto a flat escalator at the shopping centre, as we got on I heard a small child say, “What is that dog doing mummy?” Her mother said, “It is a guide dog for that man he cannot see.”

Rebel and I went into the shop. I talk to Rebel about what ever I’m doing; “Where are the eggs or baked beans, oh! look beet root is on special, and so on.” It seems to keep her focused on shopping, it is so boring. A man shopping said. “What is that dog doing in this shop ?”

I said to Rebel“check-out,” it is a signal that we can go to pay. She likes queuing, after the shopping, we go to a bench seat and she gets to rest. Outside in her favorite resting place when a family with four children walked past, one of the children said, “Dad why does that man get to bring ring his dog to the shops?,Why can’t we bring Maxie?” “The man has a Seeing Eye Dog he is blind,” said Dad.

I thought for a short while and then decided that I needed to explain to the children what my dog is doing. I said, “Hello, Rebel is my assistance animal; I am not blind, Rebel helps me in many ways.” The children asked so many interesting questions, Rebel enjoyed talking and listening and being petted by them. We all had a good time and as the family left to go home every child wanted to say goodbye to Rebel.

It seems that most people think that assistance dogs must be a large breed of dog. Labradors Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds usually have the task being guide and mobility assistance dogs. An assistance dog can provide disability support regardless of its size or breed. Hearing assistance dogs, seizure and medical alert dogs, mental health dogs, and emotional support dogs tasks may be performed by a smaller dog of any breed. The size and breed of dog is selected to the patience and disability of the handler. Different needs and tasks are assessed and a dog that can best fulfill those needs is chosen.

The training to meet these tasks takes time, patience, and consistency over many months. Many people are choosing smaller dogs. The training usually less intensive because these dogs are not required for road work and are not usually working in public places. Most of these dogs work in the home and they are less difficult to care for. When they taken out into public places they are less conspicuous and much more portable.

It is a misconception that an assistance dog must be certified. All dogs must be registered by local council. Some assistance animals have undergone formal training and certification by Assistance Dog Training Organisations, and some have been trained by its own handler and a qualified dog trainer working together. The disability and impairment of the handler that determines that a dog is an assistance animal, these dogs are individually trained to provide assistance or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a physical or mental disability.