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.