What Pets Can Do: Health and Healing

Where do I begin? As a dog trainer since age 10, I have trained dogs for disaster response, guide dogs for the blind, etc. and my own service dog. Maybe I will start with my last dog, whose picture represents me on Connect. He was an incredible dog..... and yes I know everyone says that about their own dogs, and they are truly right. When I officially made Tani my service dog, I think he laid awake nights thinking up things he could do for me. He came up with stuff that I wouldn't have known how to even begin to train him. I did teach him to get me the cordless phone in case I fell. One day I did fall, and I was bleeding profusely so I couldn't call for help with my cell which is always on me. He brought me the phone, and then while sitting on the floor waiting for help to arrive, he brought me HIS pillow! I did NOT ask for it. That was his idea. Oh yes, he was a Smooth (short haired) Collie). I had smooths for 57 years, all related as in the beginning I did breed. I had many smooths that graduated from one of the established guide dog schools. At the school where I taught, when a person is ready to graduate with their dog, they have a final test. THey have to say what they will go to buy and then come back with that item. THey had about a mile to walk to the stores . And another trainer was following them for safety. Three people with their dogs were walking together, and they stopped at a corner before crossing the street. While waiting for the handlers to ascertain the traffic before telling their dogs forward. suddenly all 3 dogs started to back up!!!!!!! The trainer had no idea at first what was happening, but a car coming down the street ran up on the sidewalk. How in the world did ALL three dogs know that was about to happen!!!!!!!

Where do I begin? As a dog trainer since age 10, I have trained dogs for disaster response, guide dogs for the blind, etc. and my own service dog. Maybe I will start with my last dog, whose picture represents me on Connect. He was an incredible dog..... and yes I know everyone says that about their own dogs, and they are truly right. When I officially made Tani my service dog, I think he laid awake nights thinking up things he could do for me. He came up with stuff that I wouldn't have known how to even begin to train him. I did teach him to get me the cordless phone in case I fell. One day I did fall, and I was bleeding profusely so I couldn't call for help with my cell which is always on me. He brought me the phone, and then while sitting on the floor waiting for help to arrive, he brought me HIS pillow! I did NOT ask for it. That was his idea. Oh yes, he was a Smooth (short haired) Collie). I had smooths for 57 years, all related as in the beginning I did breed. I had many smooths that graduated from one of the established guide dog schools. At the school where I taught, when a person is ready to graduate with their dog, they have a final test. THey have to say what they will go to buy and then come back with that item. THey had about a mile to walk to the stores . And another trainer was following them for safety. Three people with their dogs were walking together, and they stopped at a corner before crossing the street. While waiting for the handlers to ascertain the traffic before telling their dogs forward. suddenly all 3 dogs started to back up!!!!!!! The trainer had no idea at first what was happening, but a car coming down the street ran up on the sidewalk. How in the world did ALL three dogs know that was about to happen!!!!!!!

Where do I begin? As a dog trainer since age 10, I have trained dogs for disaster response, guide dogs for the blind, etc. and my own service dog. Maybe I will start with my last dog, whose picture represents me on Connect. He was an incredible dog..... and yes I know everyone says that about their own dogs, and they are truly right. When I officially made Tani my service dog, I think he laid awake nights thinking up things he could do for me. He came up with stuff that I wouldn't have known how to even begin to train him. I did teach him to get me the cordless phone in case I fell. One day I did fall, and I was bleeding profusely so I couldn't call for help with my cell which is always on me. He brought me the phone, and then while sitting on the floor waiting for help to arrive, he brought me HIS pillow! I did NOT ask for it. That was his idea. Oh yes, he was a Smooth (short haired) Collie). I had smooths for 57 years, all related as in the beginning I did breed. I had many smooths that graduated from one of the established guide dog schools. At the school where I taught, when a person is ready to graduate with their dog, they have a final test. THey have to say what they will go to buy and then come back with that item. THey had about a mile to walk to the stores . And another trainer was following them for safety. Three people with their dogs were walking together, and they stopped at a corner before crossing the street. While waiting for the handlers to ascertain the traffic before telling their dogs forward. suddenly all 3 dogs started to back up!!!!!!! The trainer had no idea at first what was happening, but a car coming down the street ran up on the sidewalk. How in the world did ALL three dogs know that was about to happen!!!!!!!

I've had dogs most of my life, except in college. I've always enjoyed them as pets, and my wife has usually had a cat.

My life went upside down in 2005. I was falling into a really deep depression and made multiple suicide attempts. I kept thinking I'd hit bottom, but then I'd go down deeper and darker. I admitted myself to a small facility for survivors of suicide attempts, and stayed for 6 weeks, until I felt like I'd be safe again. I wasn't really, but life went on. I retired and began therapy, and after a couple of years I talked with my therapist about training my dog to be a service dog. I had an Aussie/Border Collie mix, who was a wonderful dog, and after working with him for over a year, he became my service animal.

Barnabas went everywhere with me, and was of great service to me with depression, PTSD and suicidal thoughts. Everybody loved him. But last year at Valentine's, he had a stroke or some other brain event, a week after a checkup at the vet's, where I was told he had years left in him (he was only 9). That was really hard, especially since I didn't have a therapist right then, and couldn't get one until a year later. That was an 18 month stretch without a therapist, and the last six were pretty dark. I was fortunate to find my next dog at our local humane shelter, a few weeks after Barnabas died. Sadie had just been brought in that day because the people had too many dogs, and decided to return her to the shelter. She was fearful and skittish, but I felt an immediate bond with her. We left her alone for a couple of days, so she could become comfortable in our home, with us, and with my wife's little dog, Pete. After a year, she's joined to me at the hip. If I go outside, she follows, and comes in when I do. We have ten acres, so she has lots of room to run, rodents to catch, cows and horses to herd - they either ignore her or run her off - but she always comes back to me and sits down near me and watches me work in the yard. If I'm kneeling, she sits right in front of me for some petting. She's very attentive, obedient and therapeutic for me. When I'm extra depressed or feeling the anxiety level rising, she lies in my lap and the pressure of the weight of her body provides calming therapy on my torso, for as long as I need her.

One challenge of having a service dog is public ignorance. Everytime we go out, someone asks if they can pet her (No), or just pets her without asking. If they don't pet her, they talk to her, which is pretty much the same as petting because they're drawing her attention away from me. Cesar teaches don't touch, don't talk, don't make eye contact.

An issue I've been dealing with is lack of understanding of the difference between service and therapy dogs. A service dog serves only its handler. A therapy dog is trained to serve others, such as in hospitals, to provide calming therapy for people. I was asked to have Sadie certified as a therapy dog, but I couldn't agree to it because of the differing purposes of the service and therapy animals. For 5 years, I was a Hospice volunteer, visiting patients for an hour a week, in their homes, in the hospital, in care homes - wherever they were. A few had house pets, so I left my dog in the car during the visit (always in safe, shaded places, with water). Every other patient loved having my dog come with me to visit them. I made an exception to the no pet rule with hospice patients because it meant so much to them. I had to resign a few months ago because they wrote a set of guidelines that specifies only certified therapy dogs could go with volunteers. I hated to give up that volunteer job. I think it helped me get out and interact with others, and it gave me a chance to give out to those who have a real need.

Of course, Sadie's more than a pet, though she is that, too, but she provides the companionship of a pet, the devotion and unconditional love.

My name is Agent Darien, I'm a 13 year old male Maltese and service dog for my Mommy. I know more about my Mommy and my Daddy when he was alive
then they did, do. I was three months old when I came to live with them, only 3 1/2 pounds. My Daddy had had an acute stroke and the doctors and his daughter thought he needed a little doggie. Our friends had an adorable Maltese and my parents decided to get a Maltese also. Mommy researched for three month full time, she's one you might call Type A, perfectionist, and had to get the perfect one for Daddy. Well, I ended up the perfect one, of course!
Mommy ended up taking the mommy role, and Daddy always wanted to please me whatever that meant. He would tell Mommy, he is not our child, he is a dog, he does not need to be disciplined like he is a child. Mommy even had a dog trainer come to the house and the trainer after being in our home for an hour, said to my Daddy, you do not want me to train your dog and you will not follow the instructions after I leave so I will not be the dog's trainer. She left!
You see Daddy from his stroke lost the Executive Powers of his brain, so although he had been very smart, his judgement was off. Made Mommy responsible for all the stuff one does not want to deal with, if you know what I mean. Also, I slept in my crate next to Mommy, so she was the one who took care of me and made sure I had a clean crate, took the traditional Mommy role. I cried and cried the first two nights I left my own Maltese Mommy and 4 brother and sisters. Mommy and Daddy held me close on their chests next to their hearts as my Mommy still does when she needs me to be close to her. She needs me so much I can't believe it sometimes. I tell her when to go to bed, when to wake up, when there is too much noise or too much light on us.
Sometimes she just thinks I want a treat, but I am barking to say, it's time to go to sleep now. Then she finally gets it because I make such noise she
has to stop everything and go to bed so I get quiet. And, I get my way! I'm coming in the living room now to give her the heads up!
Now I'm the boss, I am now 6 pounds, and here I am again in the living room telling her that's it, we are going to bed. Getting ready to bark, BARKING!
Like I said, time for bed. Thank you for listening to me, I need to talk also to somebody, I need people just like you do. We all need unconditional
love! And, you know what, I do get it. I have been very blessed. You know my feelings they are just like yours. We all want to be loved and thrive on the love we are blessed to receive. I like to write thank you notes also.

@101082101082 , Hi agent Darien, it's ok to talk about whatever u want to here. Most of us have some kind of "problem, hangup, or something", or we wouldn't be here. Welcome to the site. And I absolutely adore little animals. I have a Shi Tzu named Harley. I fell in love with him the moment I looked into his eyes. The color of milk chocolate. He's my baby, and we are together 24/7. He kept me sane in 2013, and 2014. The worst years of my life. My buddy. I hope you and your husband are doing well. Judy

My name is Agent Darien, I'm a 13 year old male Maltese and service dog for my Mommy. I know more about my Mommy and my Daddy when he was alive
then they did, do. I was three months old when I came to live with them, only 3 1/2 pounds. My Daddy had had an acute stroke and the doctors and his daughter thought he needed a little doggie. Our friends had an adorable Maltese and my parents decided to get a Maltese also. Mommy researched for three month full time, she's one you might call Type A, perfectionist, and had to get the perfect one for Daddy. Well, I ended up the perfect one, of course!
Mommy ended up taking the mommy role, and Daddy always wanted to please me whatever that meant. He would tell Mommy, he is not our child, he is a dog, he does not need to be disciplined like he is a child. Mommy even had a dog trainer come to the house and the trainer after being in our home for an hour, said to my Daddy, you do not want me to train your dog and you will not follow the instructions after I leave so I will not be the dog's trainer. She left!
You see Daddy from his stroke lost the Executive Powers of his brain, so although he had been very smart, his judgement was off. Made Mommy responsible for all the stuff one does not want to deal with, if you know what I mean. Also, I slept in my crate next to Mommy, so she was the one who took care of me and made sure I had a clean crate, took the traditional Mommy role. I cried and cried the first two nights I left my own Maltese Mommy and 4 brother and sisters. Mommy and Daddy held me close on their chests next to their hearts as my Mommy still does when she needs me to be close to her. She needs me so much I can't believe it sometimes. I tell her when to go to bed, when to wake up, when there is too much noise or too much light on us.
Sometimes she just thinks I want a treat, but I am barking to say, it's time to go to sleep now. Then she finally gets it because I make such noise she
has to stop everything and go to bed so I get quiet. And, I get my way! I'm coming in the living room now to give her the heads up!
Now I'm the boss, I am now 6 pounds, and here I am again in the living room telling her that's it, we are going to bed. Getting ready to bark, BARKING!
Like I said, time for bed. Thank you for listening to me, I need to talk also to somebody, I need people just like you do. We all need unconditional
love! And, you know what, I do get it. I have been very blessed. You know my feelings they are just like yours. We all want to be loved and thrive on the love we are blessed to receive. I like to write thank you notes also.

My name is Agent Darien, I'm a 13 year old male Maltese and service dog for my Mommy. I know more about my Mommy and my Daddy when he was alive
then they did, do. I was three months old when I came to live with them, only 3 1/2 pounds. My Daddy had had an acute stroke and the doctors and his daughter thought he needed a little doggie. Our friends had an adorable Maltese and my parents decided to get a Maltese also. Mommy researched for three month full time, she's one you might call Type A, perfectionist, and had to get the perfect one for Daddy. Well, I ended up the perfect one, of course!
Mommy ended up taking the mommy role, and Daddy always wanted to please me whatever that meant. He would tell Mommy, he is not our child, he is a dog, he does not need to be disciplined like he is a child. Mommy even had a dog trainer come to the house and the trainer after being in our home for an hour, said to my Daddy, you do not want me to train your dog and you will not follow the instructions after I leave so I will not be the dog's trainer. She left!
You see Daddy from his stroke lost the Executive Powers of his brain, so although he had been very smart, his judgement was off. Made Mommy responsible for all the stuff one does not want to deal with, if you know what I mean. Also, I slept in my crate next to Mommy, so she was the one who took care of me and made sure I had a clean crate, took the traditional Mommy role. I cried and cried the first two nights I left my own Maltese Mommy and 4 brother and sisters. Mommy and Daddy held me close on their chests next to their hearts as my Mommy still does when she needs me to be close to her. She needs me so much I can't believe it sometimes. I tell her when to go to bed, when to wake up, when there is too much noise or too much light on us.
Sometimes she just thinks I want a treat, but I am barking to say, it's time to go to sleep now. Then she finally gets it because I make such noise she
has to stop everything and go to bed so I get quiet. And, I get my way! I'm coming in the living room now to give her the heads up!
Now I'm the boss, I am now 6 pounds, and here I am again in the living room telling her that's it, we are going to bed. Getting ready to bark, BARKING!
Like I said, time for bed. Thank you for listening to me, I need to talk also to somebody, I need people just like you do. We all need unconditional
love! And, you know what, I do get it. I have been very blessed. You know my feelings they are just like yours. We all want to be loved and thrive on the love we are blessed to receive. I like to write thank you notes also.