Living With a Service Dog
What’s it like to live with a service dog? I have been asked this question a number of times so I will share my reflections of living with Dekker who has been my right hand dog for over six years.
Learning to interact with a service dog meant that I had to surrender my understanding of dogs as ‘pets’. And I have had a number in my lifetime.
My first pup was Chico, an Alaskan husky, followed by Princess, a German shepherd who followed me everywhere. That was in the day before leash laws.
I remember the day our family had gone to church, which was about two blocks away, leaving Princess in the yard to guard the house. It was a hot summer day, the organ was playing, and everyone was standing to sing— and who do you think came down the aisle as if she were the bride?
After Princess came Bess, a golden retriever, Nicki and Charlie, a pair of labs – one white, the other black – who had a penchant for travel and we often found ourselves searching the countryside for these pilgrims.
An energetic springer spaniel was broadsided by a car in front of the house while little black curly Ebby was left running in circles of distress.
There was an assortment of homeless dogs who came to stay over the years as is common when you live in the country.
People seem to assume that if you have a farm then you will take care of the animals that they would feel guilty leaving at the shelter. This was true of cats also.
Suffice it to say that I am an experienced owner of dogs, cats…and goats, but I won’t talk about them here.
When I went to get the dog that would become my official service dog, I bumped into a whole new world of animal care.
Little prepared for how my role would change I eagerly attended the two-week program to get my own training.
I had to learn what my service dog had been learning for the last couple of years and discovered a whole new approach to dog handling. This was a lot different than teaching a pup to sit and lie down.
For the first couple of days at NEADS, a well-established school for service dogs, I settled into a dorm-like environment, met a half dozen other ‘freshmen’ in the class, and was oriented to what would be a complete change in how I viewed animal training.
After two days of lectures from the trainers, I began to understand that I wasn’t about to get just another dog who knew a few tricks.
I would be matched with an animal who was specifically chosen for my particular needs…one who was taller than his class mates to more easily walk with the mobility device I use, an Afari (3 wheeled waking bike) and that would have a temperament to stay calm in unpredictable noisy events in my life.
At the time I played in a community band and it was LOUD. The dog that was chosen for me they called ‘bomb proof’.
On the second day, each dog was brought out into the large room where we were assembled and introduced to their new handler. One by one beautiful golden labs passed by, leaving me wondering when my dog would arrive.
Finally a tall black animal with a square head, typical of Britsh labs, was brought to stand before me, his big brown eyes riveted on my face and for a few moments, I stared at those eyes with awe and joy.
No words between us. Just a magical moment of connection in the silence. My journey as a service dog owner was just beginning!
For the next two weeks I learned that obediance wasn’t an option. And that his needs for exercise and command reinforcement weren’t negotiable.
I learned how much I didn’t know about dog training and that my new dog would teach me a new way of being in the world. A way of confidence and security because I would always have him by my side.
Dekker carries the name of a young man who played “Deck Hockey” and who sadly died at a young age. He carries his benefactor’s energy, skill and love with dignity.
I learned that not only does Dekker do what a well-trained pet might do, ie fetch, sit, stay–he also kicks into overdrive with uncanny presence when there are problems.
Shortly after arriving home with him we were playing ball in the yard. I was unaware of the ice under a thin layer of snow and before I knew it I landed on my back.
Immediately Dekker left his ball and returned to stay at my side. I gave him a command to speak and he barked to let people know there was a problem. (Reminded me of old Lassie shows!)
When someone arrived he stood steady with my command to ‘brace” so I could utilize his strong shoulders to get up off the ground. I use this command often to balance myself when I need to pick up something outside of my center of gravity.
Dekker loves to show off (no…make that “I love to show him off”) with simple commands like ‘cane’ and he’s off to find it, or “leash” and he picks it up and hands it to me.
He can pick up a credit card from the floor, open and shut doors when my arms are full, and he loves to smack an automatic door-opening pad with his paws when we are out.
He knows how to open a refrigerator door that has a rope attached to it and retrieve a can of soda or a sandwich for me. Because this isn’t something I need him to do, I haven’t been keeping up with his training there.
One day I decided to revive it and in his enthusiasm he yanked the door so hard that every last shelf with all the bottles came flying off the door, landing with a crash all around us.
Dekker looked at me with expectation of praise for his efforts “Did I do good, Mom? Huh? Huh?” Needless to say, I don’t send him to get anything from the fridge anymore!!
Living with a well-trained service dog is an honor and a blessing. Even when I was in the hospital for a week he stayed with me the entire time without complaint or inconvenience.
Friends came to take him out twice a day and otherwise, he stayed by my side without moving. He seemed to understand the difference between hospital and home.
I have met several people who have a wonderful friendly dog as a pet that they want to train as a service dog.
My advice is to fully enjoy their beloved pet and leave the training to professionals who understand that most dogs are not constitutionally wired to this kind of work.
Dekker came from the Guiding Eyes organization and then trained in the prison system for a year and a half of concentrated instruction.
Fifty percent of the dogs that began training with him ‘flunked out’…not because they couldn’t learn but because they were too friendly. Perfect for a pet. Not so good for a service dog.
Well, this is just a tiny peek into life with Dekker. Leave a comment if you have more questions. And be sure to sign up so you can read his “Pawnderings” once a month.
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