Barnes and Noble is such a low stimulating environment! Lately Kaiser has been visiting high stimulating environments, but it’s important to also go to low stimulating environments!
Enjoy this adorable behind the scenes of our mall trip!
Kaiser is my Multi-Purpose Service Dog (in training) and one of his purposes is Seizure Response.
While Kaiser does not alert me before I have a seizure he does respond to my seizures by doing a task called Deep Pressure Therapy (DPT). DPT relaxes the nervous system and can reduce the length of the seizure, lower my heart rate (HR), calm my nerves when I am coming out of a seizure, and so much more! DPT is one of Kaiser’s main tasks as it can can help in multiple ways for various physical and mental health problems I experience.
It is important that Kaiser and I practice his tasks. In order to make sure we practice I often have fake seizures! I never know when or where I will be during a seizure, so it is important that Kaiser is able to respond on his own without any cues!
I am so grateful for the training that Kaiser has received to make this possible! Kaiser’s trainer did a phenomenal job! This also would not be possible without the generosity of everyone who donated, shared posts, and more!
I hope to share more of Kaiser’s tasks, because he truly is such an incredible dog with a big heart.
✨DISCLAIMER✨
This was actually my first time having a fake seizure in public and practicing this task with Kaiser in a public place! However, Kaiser has responded to real seizures several times! Kaiser and I do practice at home on a regular basis. I am finally gathering the courage to practice in a public setting.
Just gotta work on that aim a bit!
Join Kaiser and I for a fun decompression walk!
Decompression walks are a favorite for Kaiser and me. I love to let Kaiser be a dog sometimes and just sniff the plants and grass and everything. As well as have a chance to walk ahead rather than heeling on every walk.
Sometimes we even get some training in!
Kaiser was able to practice walking away from something and leaving it. I also worked through a fear moment where Kaiser’s vest caught on a plant and startled him for a second. Kaiser even practiced his engagement where he checks in on me by looking at me to make sure I am okay and to check for further instructions. Finally, Kaiser also practiced recalling back into a heel a few times.
Training can be fun and exciting if you let it!
Kaiser desperately wanted to hang out with me on my birthday while I took a shower.
Now usually I probably wouldn’t mind. Kaiser is just wanting to make sure that I am okay. However, I had already spent tons of one-on-one time with Kaiser.
We had a big day of training that afternoon and I wanted to give Greg some alone time with Kai. So, I politely sent Kaiser to spend time Greg.
Kaiser absolutely enjoyed spending time with Greg, but then this happened. He continuously made trips to the bathroom door checking on me.
Greg? Unimportant. Kaiser was focused on checking on me. Thankfully Greg understood and even got sweet clip of him checking on me.
‼️Please know that I had no idea he was doing this otherwise I would’ve opened the door for him. I found out after I got out of the bathroom.
This big cart is no match for Kaiser!
As previously mentioned Kaiser is going through a fear period right now. Which has him a bit nervous or hesitant with certain sounds.
As a result Kaiser has been working extra hard around various types of sounds! This is to overall help build his confidence.
I would say that this is was a success!
Remember those old videos of Kaiser learning to recall into a heel? Well check out this progress!
Saturday morning Kaiser shown me that he needed a break. Usually Kaiser is amazing at ignoring distractions and remaining in a heel. Saturday morning? We were a hot mess.
Kaiser pulled, spun around, and reached out to say to say to a few people walking by. I corrected these behaviors, but I knew immediately that something was not right. This was not the same dog who I had spent the last few days working with.
Instead of getting angry, punishing, and assuming the worst about Kaiser I listened. I knew Kai had worked super hard all weekend. So, I decided to let him just be a dog!
Kaiser went to the park. He was so happy! We ran around and played, hung out under the pavilion, met some nice people, and even took a shirt decompression walk! The whole time Kaiser got to just be a somewhat regular dog.
I didn’t make Kaiser heel. I let Kaiser sniff around everywhere. I let Kaiser say hi to some people. I let Kaiser just be a dog.
At the end of the day we all sometimes just need a break.
When we walked back through the hotel Kaiser was back to his old self. No pulling or reaching out to people. If anything he seemed even more focused!
Kaiser’s mental health and overall happiness means the world to me. I don’t think less of him for needing a break, because sometimes I need one too.
Kaiser’s needs and voice will always be heard and respected.
“Yes mommy did you need me for something?”
Did you see that head turn? That signifies that I am more important than that chew. That is what we want to see!
Why? I could need Kaiser at any second. What if I had a seizure while he was chewing on the chew? I would need him to be willing to completely abandon the chew to come task for me.
In other words I need to be the most important thing to Kaiser. Otherwise? He might not be willing to leave his favorite toys and chews behind to task. Or Kai might not be as willing to ignore distractions around him!
It really is the little things.
Just some sweet clips from Kaiser’s recent trip to Target. He is growing up so fast and learning so much! I am so incredibly proud of him and completely blown away by his skills.
Also just a friendly reminder that Target is not pet friendly! Please check and follow a stores pet policy! Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status.
How has it been 2 months already?
I needed this. This memory is bittersweet.
It was Kaiser’s last night home and I was struggling. Time flew by too fast and I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I cried so much.
Kaiser just couldn’t understand why I kept crying.
That night I turned on one of my favorite childhood Disney shows, cuddled Kaiser, and tried to stay positive. Eventually though Kaiser had to go to bed and I had to say goodnight.
It hasn’t been easy. There’s been so many times that I have broken down crying. I miss Kaiser more than anything, but watching him learn all these amazing things helps ease my pain.
I just hope that Kaiser knows and remembers how much I love him. He’s always on my mind and in my heart.
Happy almost 8 weeks of training Kai
Kaiser has been practicing how to “leave it,” but he really showed off his skills at his recent outing!
Ignoring food (and other objects) that are dropped is so important for service dogs. It’s a really, really big deal since it could cause a distraction or be inappropriate should he try eating dropped or accessible food.
As a future service dog Kaiser will join me at restaurants and many other places where there will be food. He will be expected to ignore any food that may fall or be accessible to him. It would be inappropriate if Kaiser were to jump up or move to grab food that has dropped at a restaurant. It would also be inappropriate if Kaiser were to interact with food that may be accessible to him at a store.
It’s so important that Kaiser is not getting distracted by food. If Kaiser were to get distracted by food, then he could miss an alert or not take immediate notice of a seizure!
This is not an easy thing for a dog to do! Food is everywhere though and it’s completely unavoidable. I need Kaiser to reliable when working around food. As you can see in this video though Kaiser did take notice of the food, but was able to push ahead and ignore it. He continued walking past the food with made no move to stop. In other words he did absolutely amazing!
Kaiser still has a long ways to go, but his improvement and skills are incredible! I am so beyond proud of my special dood and how hard he is working.
‼️DISCLAIMER:
Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status. While Kaiser often visits pet friendly stores Kaiser is not a pet. Service dogs are granted full public access rights. According to the ADA service dogs are trained “tasks” that help someone with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
Please make sure to keep your pets at home and out of no
Kaiser is doing so well his first task! Service dogs learn what are referred to as “tasks” to help their handler with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
In this video Kaiser is demonstrating a previously mentioned task called “crowd control.” When performing this task Kaiser will circle around me in order to keep people from getting too close.
This is especially helpful after seizures when I might be needing space. Often times people crowd too close and this can be especially scary when coming out of a seizure.
Crowd control can also help with sensory overload that is often triggered by large crowds or people getting to close. Sensory overload can often cause me to get very upset and extremely anxious to the point that it has caused me to have a seizure.
Kaiser is needing less and less guidance from the trainer when performing this task. I am beyond proud about how well he is doing. This task still has lots of work to be done before it’s completed, but here’s a progress update.
It’s so crazy to think he’s already learning his first task. I still remember when the day we got him. Time is clearly just flying by!
‼️DISCLAIMER:
Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status. While Kaiser often visits pet friendly stores Kaiser is not a pet. Service dogs are granted full public access rights. According to the ADA service dogs are trained “tasks” that help someone with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
Please make sure to keep your pets at home and out of non-pet friendly stores, so that dogs like Kaiser are able to do their jobs safely. It’s so important that you don’t distract a service dog or
Is #throwbackthursday still a thing? Well here’s a cute throwback to Kaiser’s puppy days. Those bedtime zoomies are real…and clearly so is the litter box that he tried to get into🤦♀️
…and yes Kaiser’s #1 nickname is “Kai Kai.” I have no regrets🤣🙌
Kaiser just could care less about what this women was saying or doing. His focus remained on the trainer and away from this distraction!
This is especially amazing as Kaiser absolutely loves people. They’re his weakness at times. While Kaiser does amazing at ignoring them he isn’t perfect. Lately Kaiser has been struggling with his manners when it comes to greeting people. Corrections have been made though and he’s showing improvement!
To see Kaiser sitting and ignoring this lady is awesome. I’m just blown away and so proud!
‼️DISCLAIMER:
Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status. While Kaiser often visits pet friendly stores Kaiser is not a pet. Service dogs are granted full public access rights. According to the ADA service dogs are trained “tasks” that help someone with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
Please make sure to keep your pets at home and out of non-pet friendly stores, so that dogs like Kaiser are able to do their jobs safely. It’s so important that you don’t distract a service dog or service dog in training. Even though they may not appear to be working they are always on stand by. A service dogs main focus should always be on their person and keeping them safe.
Look at that sweet smile! This dood really just wants to please. Kai is also very clearly enjoying himself at his latest outing!
Kaiser is working hard to ignore these baby chicks! It’s not easy to do when they are small, making noises, and moving around. However, Kaiser is keeping his focus on the trainer. He does get up without being released, but remains focused on the trainer and makes the correction when asked. It’s okay mistakes happen and that one was minor!
It’s super important for Kaiser to remain focused around other animals (distractions in general), because I could need him at any moment. If Kaiser’s distracted it could mean that he could be late when responding to a seizure or he could miss an alert. So, while this might seem cute and innocent it’s very important work!
Overall Kaiser maintained focus and just did amazing! This was a real challenge for him and he proved that he could do it when put under pressure.
‼️DISCLAIMER:
Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status. While Kaiser often visits pet friendly stores Kaiser is not a pet. Service dogs are granted full public access rights. According to the ADA service dogs are trained “tasks” that help someone with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
Please make sure to keep your pets at home and out of non-pet friendly stores, so that dogs like Kaiser are able to do their jobs safely. It’s so important that you don’t distract a service dog or service dog in training. Even though they may not appear to be working they are always on stand by. A service dogs main focus should always be on their person and keeping them safe.
Kaiser has shown everyone his awesome stays before, but check this out!
Long distance stays are so tough! Kaiser is being trained to assist. He absolutely wanted to stay at his trainers side, but he followed directions and stayed even when the trainer slightly turned the corner.
Kaiser has noticeably also improved on recalling into a heel! There’s still room for improvement, but we love seeing progress and corrections being applied!
So proud of my dood!
‼️DISCLAIMER:
Kaiser is granted public access rights (in certain states) due to his service dog in training status. While Kaiser often visits pet friendly stores Kaiser is not a pet. Service dogs are granted full public access rights. According to the ADA service dogs are trained “tasks” that help someone with a disability. Examples of tasks that a service dog might perform would be high/low glucose alerts, guiding a blind or visually impaired person, high/low heart rate alerts, and more!
Please make sure to keep your pets at home and out of non-pet friendly stores, so that dogs like Kaiser are able to do their jobs safely. It’s so important that you don’t distract a service dog or service dog in training. Even though they may not appear to be working they are always on stand by. A service dogs main focus should always be on their person and keeping them safe.
