Bello's downtime at Granny's house

Bello works very hard at all of his training (SAR & SD work). Bello has also been learning German and ASL commands. Bello is learning other languages because people; for some unknown reason, believe they can give my dog commands (which technically is interferring with medical equipment and illegal but most people are very uneducated when it comes to SDs and the laws protecting them and their handlers. However, since he works so hard we always make time for him to have down time to just be a dog and have adventure!

Last weekend we took a trip to Junction Tx where Granny's house is! We love it in Junction for many reasons:

1. no one can find us
2. no technology
3. lots of open pastures and country side to run free in
4. rivers to swim in
5. very pet friendly community (at least always has been to us)

This visit was no different than all our other visits to Granny's. The goal: arrive! Who knows what comes next after that!

After we arrived on Friday Bello had the chance to meet his first kitten! While he was curious and the kitten was scared by Bello's size it actually went pretty well and the kitten ended up following Bello around any time we were outside over the weekend!

While we were there we hiked in the South LLano state park, trampled through old cemeteries, stopped and read all the historical markers on our routes, visited a few local businesses and enjoyed the wildlife! One of the things I love about our place in Junction is that for generations my family has had deer that come to a water trough that sits about 10 ft from our front porch every morning and evening. We kept Bello inside at the times they visited to we could see their arrival! 

At first Bello barked unsure about these strange visitors but once I quieted him down he sat on the couch and watched out the window! This is always a very beautiful scene when the deer come to visit! 

We were also able to see all of our barn cats 

and many beautiful birds and butterflies! 

Overall it was a very good weekend and a much needed rest for both Bello and I. He works so hard and I am so proud of how far he has come in the short 7 months that I have had him! 

This week Bello will test for his Good Canine Citizenship and then we will schedule his test for Public Access.  

Bello is becoming a Good Canine Citizen

For the past few months (can't believe it has only been apx 7 months since Bello came to live with me) Bello has been working on several new skill sets. One of the skill sets is his basic obedience which for him has to be excellent so that he can have public access as a service dog and not to mention that I couldn't have a dog that wasn't well mannered!

In order to pass the Good Canine Citizen test Bello must be able to do the following tasks:

1. Accept a friendly stranger - who's friendlier than Santa?

2. Sit for petting

3. Have excellent appearance and grooming

4, Walk on a loose lead in the heel position - need to capture

5. Walk through a crowd (of at least 3 people) and pass them without jumping, barking or any reaction other than possibly noticing them  - need to capture this

6. Sit/Down and stay in place

7. Come on command

8. Have excellent Dog reaction - be able to meet and greet another dog without barking, aggression

9. Have minimal reaction to distraction - such as falling objects, persons appearing around a corner, etc.

10.  Supervised Separation - be able to hand his leash to another person while I walk out of site for 3 mins without Bello barking, whining or pulling  - need to capture

If it wasn't for Bello

Most people do not have any idea how many different types of Service Dogs (SD) there are.  Many people assume you're blind if you have a service dog because seeing eye dogs are the only SDs they have ever heard of.  There are many types of service dogs even ones for disabilities that are "invisible" because as many people do not know....not all disabilities can be seen.

Types of Service Dogs:

• Guide or seeing eye dogs
  
  
  
• Hearing dogs
  
• Mobility Dog
  
• Diabetic Alert Dog
• Seizure Alert Dog
• Seizure Response Dog
• Psychiatric Service Dog
  
• Autism Dog
  
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Dog
• Allergy Detections Dog
  

SDs are much more than the family pet.  SDs are working dogs that have specific jobs to help aid their handlers mitigate their disability. These tasks that a SD performs can differ greatly according to their handlers needs. A task can be anything from helping with balance, bringing medications to handler in time of emergency, to finding help during a medical emergency.  

Psychiatric SDs perform tasks to help mitigate their handlers illness and protect them from harm.  Most psychiatric SDs (often call ptsd sds) perform tasks that aid their handlers with mental illness that effect their day to day lives.  

• bring medications in time of anxiety attack
  
• bring water to take medications 
• bring phone to contact therapist or other support network member during an anxiety attack
• bringing help in crisis
• perform stimulation to interrupt an anxiety attack such as nudging hands, licking hands, arms, face, anything to get attention focused on them
• provide pressure against chest or abdomen during a panic attack
  

Many people often confuse an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) with a psychiatric service dog.  An ESA simply provides a therapeutic presence to their owner and has no specialized training nor are they permitted public access. Psychiatric Service Dogs are provided with public access. 

Bello (and all my previous SDs NaNook & NaKoda) are psychiatric SDs.  There are often days I don't believe I would get out of bed or do anything if it wasn't for them.  During July 2016 - Oct 2016 I realized just how much NaNook and NaKoda had previously helped me after she passed.  Just the act of having to feed and exercise my dogs often is what got me out of bed and out of my house.  When NaKoda passed in July I noticed I was reverting back to not leaving the house and avoiding situations that increased my anxiety and caused panic attacks.  

Just the act of driving 3 hours to the city to even pick a new candidate for training took everything I had without NaKoda to travel with me but thank God I made it and found Bello! Bello's need for high levels of daily exercise alone keeps me active and gets me outside the house at least twice a day.  His desire to be with me helps his training as he goes everywhere with me not just because of my need for him in crowded stores, strange places, or places at night where I might be alone. Just the act of being together all the time helps create a stronger bond and with me talking to him he learns my body language to often predict what I might need in a given situation. One of the ultimate goals of a service dog is for them to learn to anticipate your needs and implement their actions/decisions on their own.  

Just yesterday while in a grocery store during a heavy traffic time Bello began nudging my hand when we approached an isle that was particularly crowded. The touch task is one Bello and I have been working on the past few weeks and this helps me to focus on him rather than the fact that I need something on a crowded isle.  Bello has also begun placing himself between me and crowds of people this is a task that he has taken on himself. It makes me more comfortable not to be in reach of strangers.  

If it wasn't for Bello and his ability to learn these things quickly and show signs of beginning to anticipate my needs I don't believe my life would be as active and rewarding as it is today.  This is one of the main reasons why I reward Bello every chance I get! 

 

Bello Amazes

Cody is a 13 year old male shepherd mix that has never gotten along with other male dogs except Dutch (who came to live with him as a puppy) and has been very attached to me ever since he was taken in as a stray puppy by my "adoptive" mom. 

Bello however, has managed to win him over with patience and time.

Dutch is an easy going 4 yr old male chocolate lab.

All 3 males have a high prey drive and love a good game of fetch!

However, 3 males and only 2 tennis balls quickly proved to be a problem.

I made the comment to Bello that we needed another ball. Upon hearing Bello making noises up on the patio I turned around in my chair to see Bello "paws up" on the table trying to get something. To my surprise, he dropped another tennis ball which Dutch quickly picked up! I didn't even know there was a tennis ball in the bucket on the table but Bello sniffed it out and retrieved it as he has been taught to do through learning the names of objects, scent/tracking and his service skills of bringing me the objects I ask for! 

                   Bello Morning Star amazes me every day!