Storm - The Service Dog

03/26/2024

Something mom found that I think we can all agree on...

"Dogs are not just dogs, they are sanity, they are happiness, they are teachers, therapists, and Best Friends!"

11/24/2023

Happy Friendsgiving to those who are in the US hope your day is going well!

08/15/2023

Out shopping with mom in her chair

08/15/2023

Feeling a little uncomfortable at the moment, mom n dad shaved me down, now I'm feeling EVERY little breeze that passes by n that is REALLY strange feeling right now, its going to take a few days to get use to being without my old coat!

Sighs, I know I needed the shave down do to the weather n because LB has caused some of it to matt up that mom hasn't been able to keep up with keeping it unmatted but still Grrrrr.

Upside, maybe this will allow those darn filters to actually pick me up now instead of not actually seeing me. Though I think it won't really matter but one way to find out. ::grins::

08/05/2023

Celebrating my 6th year on Facebook. Thank you for your continuing support. I could never have made it without you. 🙏🤗🎉

08/03/2023

Lazing around at mom's medical appointment - the floor is soooooo nice and cool feeling after that blasted heat we're having today.

07/30/2023

Moms been playing around on TT with some of the AI filters, n most don't see me but a couple have n these are two of the resulting images.

07/08/2023

A little late but since it is it still works since I am a Service Dog :) So here is the only image that mom managed to take of me during Pride, ya she wasn't thinking of photos that day, she was more concerned with not getting walked into, tripped over n other issues that always seem to be a issue for us now.

But it was a decent day, even if it was personally to hot out (mom made sure I got plenty of water n time to rest).

04/10/2023

It was a decent day over all, mom took LB and me along side dad to the dog park.

The park has really changed since we last where there, its now split into two sizes, one for pups our size and one for the smaller ones who tend to get picked on or run over (or who like to pick fights with the larger ones more often it seems).

At any rate we enjoyed a good time, racing around and saying hello to new people, though mom did have to remove my vest, because ppl where actually reading it and not interacting with me as a result.

Chuckles

That was a new one, I'm soooo use to people actually ignoring what my vest says and petting me and talking to me, etc. That the fact that 0 ppl in the park would touch me while the vest was on was a first for me in ALL my years wearing it to a dog park.

Like why can't they do that when I'm out working with mom? Why can't they develop.reading skills when I'm actually on duty and working instead of off duty and allowed my freedom! ::shakes head::

Other than that it was a fun time at the park, though one unfriendly dog came later to the park and actually went after LB when she was trying to chase after me, which was NOT cool at all of him to do. Mom actual signed for me to keep away, which I didn't want to do since I wanted to make sure sis was safe (yes I know mom was making sure she was, but I raised LB so I'm entitled to checking in on her!)

After that issue, it became less fun at the park and I started not running around as much as I was watching mom a LOT more. Eventually it happened again and this time the other dog took it to far and mom signed that where leaving.

Sighs, that was so not the way I wanted to end the time there. But there is almost always that one who can't behave, which is soooo annoying. But mom was right, better to leave and let the issue become someone else's problem.

So we left but not before mom made sure to give us some extra yummy treats!

I don't know about LB but I'm getting a little old for some of the shenanigans that happen at the dog park. I don't care for it as much as I did when Payton was around, I still enjoy it. But it just isn't the same for me anymore.

Well post more, take care everyone!

04/10/2023

Happy Easter to those who follow this practice and to everyone else who doesn't I hope the weekend and day has gone well for you and yours.

11/02/2022

Been a while since anything has been posted mostly because mom keeps forgetting to log me into my page so I can post. Then again she doesn't always remember to post to her own page so standards to reason.

At any rate, things are going well. I'm older and wiser and slowing down a little more then I'd like, but I can still give LB a run for her paws.

In September mom took LB and I with dad to a apple farm she got injured while there, but over all it was a fun time there, lots of interesting new smells and people to see, though in truth I'm not a people person as LB is. I like them well enough but I prefer the company of mom n dad over more humans most of the time.

Well I hope everything is going well for everyone and with luck mom will remember to allow me to post most, take care!

04/21/2021

Afternoon everyone, it has been a while since I posted anything mostly because mom keeps forgetting to let me get on and post (to be honest with all that has been going on I haven't really had anything to report since I tend to spend most of my days sleeping or watching our the window as the world goes buy, save for the odd walk outside and very odd trip outside of a walk my day is really dull now sadly.

But I am still alive and I am doing alright, I have had a few issues with licking to much that I've gotten myself into a sort of bother that mom and dad are nun to pleased about, but other than that I'm as healthy as I can be (though mom still says that I don't eat enough, but I eat as I'm hungry thank you very much).

Well post as mom remembers to allow me, take care!

09/23/2020

09/16/2020

September is Service Dog Awareness Month

09/13/2020

I know I am always asking for what you have to eat dad, but its only because I want to make sure you can eat it all :)

Which means I hope you are able to enjoy your Birthday, cause I if you need help I know Payton and I are more then willing to help!

09/02/2020

September is Dystonia Awareness Month (it is also Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness Month [PCOS], and apparently a few others also).

As a kick-off to September, I am helping mom spread awareness for one of her conditions (she also has PCOS) I am helping her get the word out regarding Dystonia.

Now in case you do not know, Dystonia is a very complex, highly variable neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that can cause slow repetitive movements and/or abnormal postures. But it can also cause rapid muscle movements such as repetitive jerking and seizure-like posturing (something which my mom deals with a lot in public that I try to help her with). As many as 250,000 people in the United States have dystonia, making it the third most common movement disorder behind Essential Tremor (somethign my mom was diagnosed with five years before getting told she has Dystonia) and Parkinson's disease.

08/25/2020

Well went with mom today to another medical appointment, a new place that we had never been to before, and it smelled funny that it had me sneezing more than a few times (which made mom laugh, but wasn't really funny as it was a really strong unpleasant smell).

When we arrived mom unloaded me from the car and we entered the building, it was cool on my paws as the floor was pure tile, not my favorite thing to walk on as I find it has very little grip when you come from bad weather (but since it was hot and sunny it was nice on my paws for once).

The people moms meet were dressed really strange they had their entire face covered, they also smelled really funny. Mom was not overly happy during the appointment, I could tell as she was fidgeting with my ears and in general, seemed to be trying to remain calm. Not sure what was going on, but it might have had to do with the ppl having their face covered completely as I've noticed that is something that she seems to have a problem with (no idea why, ppl just look funny with their faces covered).

Afer what seemed like HOURS with one of the persons, we went to another room with another person, who was also fully covered face and all (he even had covering over his feet - which I found really strange to see). At any rate, the room we went to smelled nasty so many chemicals in the air = YUCK!

Mom sat in this BIG chair and had to take her shoes off, the person examined her feet and did stuff to them while I watched. Mom didn't seem to have as much of an issue with this person as she had me laying down next to the chair, guess this person wasn't causing her the same issues as the other person was.

After that, we made our way back to the car where dad and Payton where waiting for us. Mom drove us all back home, but not before stopping at a yummy place to pick up something for dad and us (alright mostly for dad, but he shared a little of it with Payton and me). After which we headed back home and when we got in Payton and I took up our normal spots and took a nap while mom and dad did whatever it was that they were doing.

So all in all, not a very eventful day, some excitement earlier in the morning and early afternoon - but not overly much compared to how things were months ago. Sighs I miss going to the park every week like we use to, but mom and dad haven't taken us there like they use to, mom said it is because it isn't as safe to do so like it once was.

It still sucks, but if mom says it isn't as safe then I guess it isn't she knows best - but it doesn't stop Payton and me wishing that we could go back there more often.

Well post more later, take care!

08/24/2020

Not much been happening here this weekend, mom and dad have been mostly just doing stuff around the apartment so Payton and I have mostly just been sleeping the days away.

Mom has had a couple of episodes of low glucose that she wasn't aware of happening, so I made sure she knew about it. But other than that it has been rather uneventful for me in general.

Mom did get Payton and I a new toy from the store we went to it has a squeaker in it I am so trying to get to, but I love playing with the toy as it is soft and I can toss it all around to play with it.

Mom says dollar store toys make the best toys for us to play with, I guess she is right. I don't know all I do know is that some of the most recent toys she has given me to play with have been fun until Payton gets his paws on it then its no longer fun to play with.

Oh well post more later this week, take care, everyone!

07/22/2020

I had an adventure with mom yesterday we went to the big store that sells my food and their food and other items that smell different.

This trip was not like all the other's we've taken. It was later in the day, for one. That time of night is most uncommon for us to be out. But also this time mom was sitting in that big black thing that moves - she calls it a wheelchair.

Anyhow, mom hasn't been going out very much for the past long while, last time she went out she also was in her wheelchair. Mom has been spending a lot of time in it of late.

I wasn't sure what to expect when dad put my Vest on when I saw mom was in her wheelchair. Mom doesn't tend to have me wear my Vest when she is using her chair, at least not around the home she hasn't.

To my mild surprise, we all piled into the moving box that takes us to the car. Mom had us load up into it, which was not something I was expecting at all.

Once we where loaded, Dad put mom's chair in the back of the car, and off we drove. When we arrived we were at the place we tend to only go to during the day - mom got out but didn't let me out right away, she waited to let me out until she was in her wheelchair. Which I found strange, but if that's how she wanted to do it.

We went into the store. But, instead of me and mom getting the cart, dad and Payton got it (that was strange to see). After that, we didn't head the area that smells like our food. We headed to the isle that smells of plastic, cookies, and salted potatoes instead. Mom and dad got a few items that they needed, though from the words mom said, it seems he got a few extra things.

After that moved into the isles that are colder area, then the rest and mom had dad pick up a few more items, no idea what all I know is they smelled like cardboard and more plastic. Mom had me move behind her, one of the moves she had been doing with me at home for some reason, but when she had me do it, it made sense what she had been teaching me. It kept me out of the people's way but allowed me to see what she was doing.

We followed dad to leave. This time it was different. Mom wasn't unloading the cart like she tends to. It was dad who was doing it all - that was strange to see. But mom was loading the bagged items into the cart like normal, but I could tell that she was having trouble doing so - I wish I had been able to help her as she seemed to be having more trouble.

After dad put everything out of the cart, he took to loading it with the bags. Something that again is new. He tends to wait for her to load the stuff into the cart unless she asks him to help her. At any rate, he then moved the cart we went up to the person behind big plastic mom did whatever it was that she needed to do. After that, we followed dad out of the store and back to the car. Mom had me load back into the car and then got herself into the driver's seat while dad loaded her wheelchair and the groceries.

One thing I was not happy about is that the groceries ended up in MY area of the back seat! Payton got his space still, but my space was loaded everything from the cart - talk about totally UNFAIR! I had to share Payton's space. That was not what I was expecting to do at all. I'm not sure I like that idea either.

When we got back home, Dad had mom stop where she does, but instead of leaving us to go with her, he unloaded everything from the car and got back in for the ride down. There he unloaded mom's wheelchair. We then all took the big moving box up to where we get out to head for our home.

I am not sure what to make of things. It was an adventure going out with mom in her wheelchair. I am not sure I like it or not since it isn't something she had done much of, but our shopping trip was faster than the past. Plus, she seemed like she wasn't in pain from it that I could tell, so maybe this wheelchair of hers is a good thing after all if it means she has less pain.

07/11/2020

Well lets see here, Heeling is one of the big things yes, but there is something else that gets asked time and time again and that is about Collars - what type is best to use and why is it best to use that specific type, etc.

When people see Payton and I they see that we are wearing two type of collars (or in Payton case 3) we both wear our basic "Flat"collar which is what our city and rabies tags are attached to, for us the flat collar is nothing more then a tag holder, mom and dad do not tend to attach either of our leashes to them (they can and have, but its not common to do so).

The other collar that you see on both of us is called a Martingales, it is also known as a limited-slip collar. This collar originally designed for dogs with narrow heads such as Greyhounds Saluki, whippets and other sighthounds. But it is now just as commonly used for other dogs outside of the ones mentioned above. This type of collar shouldn’t be worn all the time, as it can catch on things and potancialy strangle the dog, so its best use for when training or just out walking (big time if your pup might be able to slip out from their flat collar if a leash was to be attached to it).

Another type that you might see on occasion us wearing is what is called a Head Collar or Gentle Leader, it is mostly used for dogs that like to pull as it doesn’t allow the dog to put their full weight in to it and it makes it really uncomfortable to pull when you muzzle is getting turned against you (believe me it is far from pleasant, I really DISKLIKE it when mom pulls mine out to demonstrate it for others to see how its used). But I will admit that it is a useful tool and it didn’t take me long to realize that I didn’t like it and it was best to listen to mom fast. Payton on the other hand, nope for him it didn’t help him with his pulling he just became what mom calls a land shark trying to get the thing off at every possible moment he has a chance to do so (so for him not the right training tool).

One collar tool that mom does like, but I’m not a big fan of is the Choke Chain, that that chain that many people thing of as being very abusive and abrasive and will go out of there way to shame someone who is using it (even if they are using it correctly). I know I don’t like it, but mom’s been using them all her life so she does on occasion pull it out (which is fine, I’ve learned to not pay it attention since I know not to pull when its on - trust me pulling and getting choked so its not easy to breath isn’t fun, so ya I learned fast to avoid doing that one with that thing on). It is also a collar that is never left on a dog it is strictly used for training.

The other common collar tool you will see Payton wearing is known as a Prong or pinch collar - many people see images all over the net of dogs with marks on their skin and a caption that says this is what a prong does. Which it can yes, but the is only if it is left on the dog 24/7 and never taken off until it ends up growing into the neck and becoming a issue. It like any other collar is a tool used in training and thus has it place for some dogs. The collar should sit high up on the neck, just behind the dogs ears. It should fit snuggly so that the links can’t shift to the front of the dogs neck and cause issues with its trachea.

So there you have a basic of the collars that you can see us wearing and what they are for. Each has its own ups and downs, and each works for some and not other’s - the key is finding the right training tool that works for your pup.

07/10/2020

Mom's been asked a few times if she has any videos on training and ya that is one of her downfalls not recording our training sessions. Blame it on mom being from the time of camera film and still not being used to digital recording stuff as she is always saying she is going to get shots of Payton or me, but almost never does.

At any rate, for those who have asked, I'm going to be posting some of the stuff mom has in her files that she uses as reference for training plus I'm hoping mom will remember to actually do some filming of our basic sessions.

The following is one of mom's send to for new puppy parents (part of her training pack so to speak) this is a good site for the basics (and beyond also) that all pups should learn :) The only part of it that mom doesn't use is the physical clicker, for her disability that is just something that she has never been able to actually use, so she tends to use her tongue in its place to make a clicking noise.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/heeling-teach-dog-walk/

Of course, there are a lot of others, but the above is one of the handful that mom recommends to anyone looking for the basics.

Teaching your dog to heel can be easy and fun with these tricks from AKC's dog training experts.

06/25/2020

Mom thinks it funny to have a bath and try to invite me to join her. Ummm nope nope and bleep nope, not going to happen mom I'll stay right here out of your reach thank you very much!

06/23/2020

I hope everyone is staying safe with the weather we are currently having. I know that my mom and dad are trying to keep my brother and I as cool as possible with the recent heat wave that we've gone though, thouhg thankfuly today is a rainy day here in Toronto so its helped to cool things off, though the trade off is that is really muggy feeling so I do NOT like being outside that close the pavement as it just feels icky to me.

05/30/2020

Well not doing much today, mom is business working at her computer, dad's on the couch doing something and my brother and I are enjoying the bed all to ourselves.

Sighs, getting to stretch out full is sooooooooo nice to be able to do once and a while, even better when mom has the blind open so I can look outside without having to do anything more then prop my head up on the pillow!

10/20/2019

Visiting with grandpa, he isnt feeling to well but he doesnt understand why. I'm trying to help him feel better the best way i know how.

07/06/2019

At the storage unit with mom, dad and bro mom thought it would be funny to walk away so I jumped into the front to see where she went. Thanks mom should have known you where waiting for a photo opp.

06/17/2019

Visiting with Grandpa on Father's Day, was enjoyable getting all the scratches from him I was sooooooo happy to see him.

I gave him Huggies and kisses as much as he would allow me to do so.

Happy Grand Father's Day grandpa!

05/15/2019

Waiting with mom at her nurologist appointment where she just got told some news what wasn't welcomed but does answer some questions.

05/13/2019

Doing some training with Mom n Payton at Canadian Tire mostly ignoring other dogs as they come and go from the store.

Also doing some down stays and other things including ignoring the yummy dog food on the shelves.