Rebel the Assistance Animal

A Hairy Situation

2009-07-16T10:56:00.004+10:00

Rebel and I have a date.

Rebel is going to take me for a walk to have coffee with a friend later on this morning. Rebel’s made a booking. She likes to chat to the Italian Waitress and watch people pass by. She doesn’t order a dogie-chino, gives her indigestion.

I put flea treatment on Rebel Sunday:(a regular monthly event): she is still very itchy and is scratching my place full of hair. I think that I will just let it pile up and then when it reaches the ceiling we could either, 1. Have a lined hair cave? or 2. Collect the hair and make 100.000,000,000 donnas for less fortunate hairless doggies?

The hairy possibilities might be endless because, well lets say she is doing a great performance. I oddly like it, emmm, so cosy , so warm... I found hair in my fridge and in the microwave oven? Hey if it is in my underwear why shouldn’t it be in those too? I’ll soon have to brush those as well as Rebel. It is hard to get the fridge to roll over though!

I did my laundry long last :)yes, I really, actually did it:(. or 3. I could paint myself with some glue and roll in the hair! The error on my part of this was I didn’t notice that I picked up one of Rebel’s drying off towels, it was in with all of my tee shirts and undies, now I have more hair on my lower region than I started out with. I’m sure most of the neighbors will have hair balls too, as it is a communal washing / drying machines. I did try :{very hard;}{ to get the hair out but I do not think that it is possible.

Hairy situation a very hairy situation!

Sorry about not posting the breeder's story but there has been an ill pup that has to be looked after first. I will post it soon.

How do you hold on to yourself and dog when...

2009-07-03T15:55:00.003+10:00

Rebel and I were walking along at Circular Quay, enjoying the sunshine when an off leash dog rushed at Rebel. This dog attacked Rebel without warning, I didn't even see it coming toward us. Rebel was injured on he right shoulder. The owner of the dog scooped the dog into his arms and ran away without saying a word to me.

I didn’t want to make this blog session about winging or for complaining. Instead to remind others that when a disabled person has a dog in harness it is under control and working. This means that it is vulnerable to other dogs which may be off lead. Dog communication is conveyed by a dog using body language. Working assistance dogs are trained to be submissive and be at the same time protective of their handlers.

Handlers and dogs must pass vigorous training and testing to be afforded the status of public access. This can take many months of training and hours of practice. A working dogs training can be ruined and the dog no longer able to pass these test because of the lack of understanding of people approaching the dog and handler. A misguided pat or distraction may cause an accidental disruptive event at a crucial time in a dogs training. There is a severe shortage of trained dogs for disabled people. Men will bark or whistle at the dog and women will get close to its face and use baby talk. This is disruptive behavior for our dogs and not a safe method of approaching any dog.

Assistance dogs are trained to respond to commands, to perform repetitive tasks in a specific manner and to stay focused on the handler. Unplanned interruptions slow the training process. To qualify as an assistance dog, must meet rigid behavior, temperament and health standards and demonstrate mastery of a wide range of skills.

It may not be obvious at that moment what the dog is doing or is about to do to aid the person, but the dogs attention to duty is often critical to the persons safety. Assistance dogs learn to do these things unobtrusively and to blend into the situation, so its not surprising the dog may seem to not be doing anything. The better trained a dog is, the less obvious the dog is working. I have had people say to me what is your dog doing for you right now? He is just setting there beside you. Rebel is a Mobility Dog. She aids my balance in many ways, both specifically by bracing for the for me, and to hold on to, and by moving with the me on uneven ground.

You it may think that it be appropriate to ask if you may pet the dog. Don’t get your feelings hurt if the handler asks you not to. There are all kinds of reasons it might be a problem at that exact moment. This is important for maintaining the dog’s training as a safe assistance dog. It is the responsibility of the handler to insure that the dogs behavior is disruptive to the business or other function of the place.
Australian law provides Assistance dogs, guide dogs and dogs in training the right to accompany physically disabled, blind or hearing-impaired people on public accommodations and to other areas open to the public. What the law says and what people do are often two different matters, misunderstanding and lack of knowledge about the roles and rights of assistance dogs. Most business owners will comply once I cite the law, yet it too frequently takes me having to request a manager or owner. Employees should have that knowledge. This takes time and practice to shift from shopper to access law educator.

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

2009-06-17T23:49:00.020+10:00

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.

2009-06-04T14:53:00.005+10:00

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?”

2009-06-01T18:15:00.002+10:00

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.

Why did Rebel choose to work with me?

2009-05-29T11:21:00.000+10:00

One day while at an appointment with my Doctor, I asked why he had a Golden Retriever as a practice pet? He replied “‘Johnson’ is not just a pet he provides therapy for some patients.” I then remembered how much I looked forward to talking with Johnson while he sat quietly listening to whatever I said to him.

You see Johnson was trained as a guide dog which didn’t quite make through the training, because of a physical disability. Every patient who came to the practice would meet Johnson and we all got to share him with the Doctor’s family.

Thinking out loud, I asked “do you think that a dog like Johnson would be able to work with me and my disability.” Doctor said,“I have never thought about before, your disability is more neurological than physical.” “Does anyone in New South Wales train dogs to work with these types of illnesses?”

The research started I phoned the Dog training organisations and was told that the waiting list was very long, that a dog could be trained for work with me and no dog was available at this time. But they would not train a dog for an owner. I thought about asking others with assistance dogs about how their team was matched up, most had a breeder or trainer recommend a dog to satisfy those needs.

Shortly after this I did meet a wonderful family who breeds Golden Retrievers, they had Rebel, would I like to meet her? We had a great time meeting and talking about their dogs. We talked about how they socialize, train them. Most importantly all of their dogs have a Veterinarian check hips, heart, eyes and general health before they go to new homes. I could see how much these dogs are loved and cared for.

Rebel came and set beside me and watched everything that I did, when I spoke she listened. I took her for a short walk and she stayed at my side waiting for me to ask her to do whatever I needed. I told the breeder that I really liked Rebel and still needed to see some other dogs so that I could make the correct choice. I did see other dogs and breeders and found that Rebel would suit me best. I visited Rebel several more times before deciding.

The breeder told me that Rebel had decided that I was right for her. Rebel and I have been doing training with a really great training company. We have passed advanced road work and many other tasks. It has been interesting to learn from a trainer who understands how dogs think and learn. Watching how the trainer teaches through love, respect and patience, helps me learn and to live with my dog.

Rebel is my Assistance Animal

2009-05-28T17:43:00.003+10:00

Rebel and I were reminded today that I am not a person who is trained in how to handle discrimination. When disabled, you sometimes feel more vulnerable, and when people threaten to refuse access, it can be frustrating.

I began to think that maybe a guide for disabled people with an assistance animal on how to advocate their rights would be useful.

Depriving any one of their rights through shallow behavior is the worst thing you could possibly do, doing this to a person with an invisible disability should be prosecuted first by education and then by law.