Chihuahua Pin attacks and Rainy diagnosed with terminal cancer

August 2013 -June 12, 2016

8/13 Mini Schnauzer SmokeyHaze passed away.
 
Life has a tendency to go on whether or not we want or like it.  Rainy worked hard along side my wheelchair until spring of 2014.  I had my first total knee replacement April 2014 and Rainy helped me so much during my rehab at home.  I had my second total knee replacement in June 2014 and Rainy eased into retirement.  She loves being an in house service dog helping me with chores.  

Spring 2014 was a very hard year too.  Back in 2010 I got my Chihuahua KamelRose Enchanted Twig "Twig"'s sister KamelRose Pinch of StarDust "Pin", as a used Chihuahua with no manners/socialization and not house broken.  Pin, like her brother Twig did agility but by this time Twig could no longer do agility due to the AA luxation that had to be surgically repaired.  Pin was a problem in this house and with her pack from day 1.  
Over the next few years we learned how to live together though not always in harmony, Pin was always the problem. Due to Twig having a genetic deformity, before starting Pin in agility I took her to the UofM to be seen by Twig's orthopedist.  Pin was found to have bilaterally bent femurs, given the okey dokey to run agility but that I had to be watchful.  Should Pin start hopping in the hind end she had to stop agility as she would develop luxating petellas. I had wanted Pin to finish her block of April '16 classes but that was not to be.  

As I got ready for my total knee replacement I was working with a personal trainer at Courage Center to build my strength, the strength needed for this major surgery.  When I got home I found Pin had attacked Cally, my old in house service dog, and Cally could no longer walk.  Cally was rushed to her vet then up to the emergency clinic where she stayed for 5 days as they helped her learn to walk again.  Cally went back to the emergency clinic for a week while I had my second knee done.  Although she could walk now, Cally was never the same and she lived only 5 months after the vicious attack by Pin. In my house Agility is a reward so with Pin's bad behavior she was no longer entitled to that reward and I dropped her from class immediately.

Early December 2014 I purchased a wonderful small red/white smooth coat Chihuahua from a breeder in Missouri.  As I was now learning to move/walk/balance etc without the use of a wheelchair or crutches I wanted to start a new dog in agility so that I could learn the moves while using my feet.  In the electric wheelchair I was a master handler...without the wheelchair I was lost.  My new puppy, Magic Cricket is simply wonderful.  I am writhing this 6/12/16 and Cricket has completed her Agility Foundations Classes I, II, III and will start Novice agility on 6/15.  She is so fast and can work from distances...what a smart little dog.  Whispy is still running agility along side me minus the wheelchair and she is having more fun than ever.

July 2,2015 I developed Osteomyalis an unknown bacterial infection involving my L4-L5 vertebrae and ended up in the hospital July 27-29, home infusions of heavy antibiotics for 9 weeks and then switched to the oral versions for many more weeks. On bed rest for 5 months.  Rain helped me so much during this terrible "down time".

Skip ahead to Feb 2016.  I found 4 large lumps on Rain's throat and rushed her to the emergency clinic.  It was determined that she had at least Stage III Lymphoma cancer which is incurable as all her lymph nodes were involved. The first most conservative treatment was started Feb 21 and if it was going to work it would have diminished the size of the lymph nodes within 24 hours.  This did not happen and Rainy stayed in the hospital until Tues when the oncologist came in.  After careful consideration I decided that Rainy would have the 5 IV Chemo treatments to put her into a remission of 9-12 months.

Rainy worked so hard for me and continued to work in house after my knee replacements.  With this cancer diagnosis I want Rainy to have retirement and the best summer of her life being able to pick ripe cherry tomatoes from the garden, walk in the garden amidst all the plants and flowers without being scolded.  I owe Rainy my life!

June 5, 2016 I was awakened in the wee hours to a horrible smell.  I thought Pin had a UTI because when I wiped her hind end the fluid was clear and pale pink. It was the beginning of a very quick end.  While I washed my hands Pin left the bedroom leaving 2 "black" teacup saucer size puddles on the floor. I wiped them up immediately to find they were both all red blood but one had large blood clots in it.  I called the emergency vet and went to find Pin though finding 2 more "black" puddles and two puddles of clear frothy vomit in the dining room entrance and 1 more "black" puddle beneath the footstool. Pin was lying on the couch pillow.  I bundled her up, turned the heat HIGH in the van and drove to the emergency clinic 20 minutes away. Pin was cold and shocky.  I had packaged the bloody paper towels in a zip lock bag to show the vet.  From the time I left home at 1230a to approx 120a Pin continued to bleed, her temp was 97.  I held her as she died.  Pin survived a little over an hour after I smelled what I thought was a UTI.  Pin's vet medical opinion of what caused this was that Pin was a feces eater, had been all her life and that she probably developed a bacterial infection that compromised her small intestine causing the hemorrhage. 

Things of Interest

ADDITIONAL TRAINING, Classes and Tips
22 September 2007 - more formal training just for the fun of it

IN MEMORIAM
26 September 2007 - Sudden, unexpected loss of pack member to a freak but tragically fatal accident

INTO MY LIFE A LITTLE RAIN

(photo of Rain, service dog in training, when she was 4 months old, taken in May 2004)

I had begun my research on Service Dogs the year before I began my search for her and a year before I actually found her. I didn't know who she would ultimately be but I had a good idea: a Dobie girl; sweet; intelligent; smart; a willing worker; any color but black; natural ears and from big but not "king size" parents. I looked at many Doberman litters. I knew I would find her.

She was born January 3, 2004 and I visited her in her birth home, for the first time in February. She was the only girl in the litter. She was the only one who wasn't black. Her parents were sweet, not at all bothered by me picking up their babies, both big and smart. She shared the beginning of her life with her litter mates of course but also a miniature dark brown adult daschund. She was inquisitive and enjoyed visiting with me. When I set her down on the floor she ran over to the little daschund's padded cloth domed house and went inside, turning around and peering out at me. She was so CUTE!

This was my first glimpse of the little girl that would become my mobility service dog, Rain.

TRAINING: The making of a Service Dog

Baby Rain on her way home 02/04, moving easily into my existing pack. Cally, 6# Chihuahua, assumed the role of "mom" to baby Rain.

Rain at 4 months of age looking very much like a miniature adult Doberman though her feet are a dead give away that she has much growing to do still.

Rain, a Service Dog in Training. Photo taken at the Dobe-O-Rama in February 2005, Rain 13 months old)

THE START: Service Dog in Training (SDIT)
2/15/04 - 11/30/04

Personal Needs Assessment - Type of Mobility Assistance Needed From Service Dog (SD):
Bracing for stairs and steps; Steadying to keep me from falling on uneven ground when I lose my balance on inclines and declines; counterbalance for walking; helping me get up off the ground when I do fall; assist me in getting up and down from sitting position; pick items up from the floor. (04/2004)

INFORMAL TRAINING: 6 weeks to 16 weeks of age:
Basic Obedience training began the day I brought her home using clicker and positive reinforcement; socialization out in public (city park, plant nurseries, park building, parking lots at stores); riding in the truck. Rain was completely house broken before I began taking her into buildings that allowed pets, at the age of 12 weeks.

Commands learned: sit; down; stay; look at me; no; yes; no jump; no bite; gentle. We worked on these until her formal training began.

FORMAL TRAINING: 16 weeks of age to full fledged SD:
Rain's formal training began at 4 months of age when we were accepted into a local service dog training program, I was one of only two Owner/Trainers (OT) training and working Rain along side the programs fostered Service Dog In Training (SDIT) puppies. Thru the program Rain and I went on "meet ups" with the programs SDITs at local malls. While at the malls we worked and trained as a group: "in public" manners; basic obedience amid mall distractions. 2-5 minute training sessions in varied places in the mall: food court - food counter for ordering, sitting at tables, busing dishes; department stores - in and out of clothing racks and looking in mirrors; toy departments - children running around, moving noisy toys to tempt the puppies; stores that had shopping carts - moving in and around moving shopping carts, walking calmly alongside; at Home Depot - exposed to the running power saw as a worker cut lumber for a customer, tall ladders employees used to get things from high shelves, fork lift moving forward and backwards...etc. exposing our SDITs to many things they may encounter in their work, should they graduate.

We also attended an 8 week basic obedience class where she polished her skills amidst the commotion of other dogs, puppies and humans. Rain passed with flying colors...for graduating the instructor gave Rain a big dog cookie. Rain slowly but graciously took the cookie then looked at me. I asked Rain if she wanted me to hold it for her and she placed it in my open hand. I held the cookie as she bit off a piece and ate it and continued to hold it until she finished eating her treat.

Rain and I were with the service dog program until she was 8 months old when the training instructor who had been working with us told me that Rain was already technically a service dog as I had already taught her specialized tasks to mitigate my mobility disability and she was solid on her obedience.

We were now on our own. We found an advanced obedience class and Rain successfully completed it. Rain was still quite young besides being physically and psychologically too immature to be a Service Dog. I knew she needed time to grow, to mature and have many more experiences out in the world before I could see her as a Service Dog and not an SDIT any longer. I began to look for a training program for service dogs.

Rain completed Obedience 1&2; participated in a Tellington TTouch class with a confidence course.

OBEDIENCE COMMANDS - Rain is solid and reliable on these:
Sit
Down
Stay
Stand
Come
Wait
Heel
Finish
Leave it
Look at me

OTHER COMMANDS/TASKS - Rain is solid and reliable on these:
Brace - stand solidly
Easy - move carefully due to my unsteadiness
Get - retrieve
Give - "hand" retrieve item
Hold - hold item in mouth
Find - look for
Nudge - push/touch with nose
Touch - push/touch with foot
Take - pick up/hold onto with mouth
Back - back up
Forward -start walking
Gee - turn right
Haw - turn left
Ahead Gee - turning up ahead right
Ahead Haw - turning up ahead left
Ahead - move ahead of me alone
Behind - drop behind me
Side - move to my other side in heel position
ComeBy (in harness) - move closer to me/heel position
No Sniff - keep nose to self
Feet Up - rise up and put feet on counter
Feet Down - drop back down on all fours
No Touch - keep nose to self
No Jump - keep feet on floor
Hup In/On - get into/onto
Hup Out/Off - get out/down
Under - go under table, bench, desk, chair etc
No Shake - do not shake
Shake - okay to shake
Give me five - shake hands
No Bark - do not bark
Stop - immediately stop and stand still
Catch - catch item tossed
Excuse Me - move out of my way
Move - get out of the way NOW! HURRY!!!
Mine - leave it alone, it's mine, not open for discussion
Out - leave the room
Bizzy Bizzy - toileting word for urinating
Poo Poo - toileting word for defecating
Okay - release word, relax
Steady - calm down, go easy
Room - go to "your room" for a time out
Face - put face in harness or cape
Teeth - use back teeth on item
Bite - use front teeth on item
Ouch - that hurts me
Quiet - no talking
Tug - gently pull item


CHAINED TASKS - Rain solid and reliable on these:

Get socks - FIND socks to put on -> GIVE put them in my hand
Take socks - BITE sock -> TUG sock -> GIVE sock to me
Step - AHEAD one step -> BRACE stand solid
Zipper - BITE zipper tab -> TUG move head to activate zipper
ComeBy (out of harness)- HEEL leaning against my leg -> BRACE to balance myself -> FORWARD begin moving....voice directions to where I need her to help me
laser pointer retrieving


TRAINING SCHEDULE:
Training every day on basic obedience for 1-2 minutes several times per day.
Tasks done every day out of home at least 5 times per week: stores; riding the light rail; food places; appointments; riding in the truck; Mall of America; dentist; doctor; neighborhood meetings, etc. Off lead training every day for 1-15 minutes.


ON LINE Service dog Training
December 2004-June 2005

I found an on line service dog training program under the auspices of a service dog certifying non profit organization. This group was chaotic and was like a snake with no head, its leader was non-existent and with no curriculum I was going no where fast. I was asked by the list owner to be the administrator of the group in early May. I began to write an on-line training manual, established rules, dropped inactive members, etc and the group was up and running by the middle of May. The members were now required to make and keep a training journal and post weekly training from those journals on line. They also had to begin answering open ended questions the were geared to get their SDITs a well rounded world experience. Volunteer Trainers (VTs) worked closely with their Owner/Trainers. (OTs) This became a true service dog training program in reality, not just by name. Everything was documented. The primary purpose of this on line program was so that those of us living in States where we had the added police enforcement for public access issues involving SDITs and SDs if our dogs were in or from a service dog training program, would have that protection because we were training thru a service dog training program. Additionally, our SDITs would be certified SDs when finished. Rain graduated from the on-line service dog program in May 2005 and on June 1, 2005 when we earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) award did I make it official. Then list owner reneged on the certification of ALL its graduate SDs and I quit as program administrator in August 9, 2005.



SDIT WEEKLY TRAINING JOURNALS: December 2004
12/01 -12/06/04

Training Journals were free form as no guidance was given in how and what should be journaled, for example:

TRAINING: basic obedience 1-5 minutes many times thru out the day, done daily both in and out of house; GET SOCKS and TAKE SOCKS practiced daily, AM/PM; working on loose leash and flexi leash along side electric scooter, using new command of GO AHEAD; ZIP, new command for new task using a zipper; dremeling nails, wearing NeoPaws winter dog shoes; tethering when very distracted; continue working out in public in mobility harness at least 5 times during the week.





SDIT TRAINING JOURNAL FORMAT: January 2005 thru May 2005

Beginning this month we began to journal a specific way rather than free form as we had been doing:

Task/Command:

# of times per day:

Approx time per task:

Total time per week:

Rating/Comment:

Ratings: (Poor, Good, Very Good, Excellent)

When a task/command was rated Excellent (reliable and consistent) then that task/command didn't need to be journaled any more.

We followed this format for the rest of our training journaling.

The Tasks listed below are rated EXCELLENT and will not be journaled any more:

LIGHT chained task: ahead ->feet up -> nudge -> feet down);

DOOR PAD (chained task: ahead ->nudge ->).

HIGH PLAINS SERVICE DOGS

(Rain in her official High Plains Service Dog vest with AKC CGC patches and HPSD program reflective patches. Photo taken 03/06)

Rain is a Service Dog

06/01/05 Rain took and passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test Rain has learned everything I need her to learn and more, at this stage of our life together as a team. Besides the obedience training, Rain has learned tasks that help mitigate my disability and reliably performs these tasks: whether I am using my rollator walker, scooter or Canadian crutches; Rain pushes the electronic door openers for me and retrieves dropped items; she removes my socks each night as my knees are too swollen to bend. Additionally, Rain has learned to brace for curbs; on stairs either up or down Rain braces for each step until I tell her to take another step; Rain counter balances my walking; Rain "steadies" over uneven terrain; Rain walks very slowly when I direct her; out of harness Rain will upon command brace long the side of my leg to help steady me and to help me walk; Rain braces while standing still. These tasks are done reliably, though I do not put much if any weight on her mobility harness handle as she is still young.

At the age of 24 months Rain will have her hips and elbows x-rayed and then will learn to help me up off the ground when I fall and learn to help me up or down into a sitting position on the chair. I will also be able to apply more weight to her mobility handle regular. As I become more disabled my need will change and Rain will be taught additional tasks. Rain is rock solid on her obedience. Rain is professional, calm, quiet, focused, obedient and a problem solver.

Although Rain is 18 months old, she is mature in her thinking. She is able to do intelligent disobedience - she refused to work when she is sick, I haven't known she wasn't feeling well the times this has happened; she will insist I take a piece of dropped clothing from her mouth knowing it is already washed and needs to go in the dryer with the other just washed clothes even though I've had her drop it in the dirty clothes pile; she will refuse to come inside to be harnessed for work if she has not completely emptied her bladder or bowels no matter what the weather conditions are outside, etc.

Many weeks ago my Volunteer Trainer told me that Rain is not a SDIT any more, that in fact Rain is a Service Dog (SD). This is something that I wasn't willing or able to accept, despite all Rain's training. I had one more thing to do to make Rain's promotion to Service Dog valid in my own mind, tangible proof for me, taking and passing the AKC CGC.

On 06/10/05 we took the AKC CGC test with accommodations (Rain wore her mobility harness for the test) and passed. This had been my goal to achieve this award since we left the local service dog program. That service dog program's trained service dogs do not take the AKC CGC test; they are all trained wearing Gentle Leaders, which are prohibited when taking the AKC CGC test. I needed to prove to me and to them (that service dog program) that it could be done by Rain, a Doberman, and me. This was the validation I needed to promote Rain to Service Dog.

Rain is a SERVICE DOG! I applied to a service dog program, High Plains Service Dogs, seeking certification as a Mobility Service Dog Team, as the on line program thru which I had trained reneged on certification of all its graduates. After submitting all the weekly training journals, proof of liability insurance, clean bill of health and proof Rain was up to date on all her vaccinations etc we received certification as a Mobility Service Dog Team.

I would like to mention that the ADA of 1990 covers only public access for Service Dogs, not service dogs in training; the ADA of 1990 does not require certification of Service Dogs; the ADA of 1990 does not require service dogs be trained by or thru a service dog program. The ADA is a Federal civil rights act and is enforceable by the Feds, not local law enforcement.

Rain is an Owner Trained mobility Service Dog, we are certified by a service dog program as a Mobility Service Dog Team because the State in which we resides provides for police enforcement of public access issues involving SDITs and SDs training thru or certified by a recognized service dog program.

o6/01/05 Rain and I were certified as a Mobility Service Dog Team by High Plains-Service Dogs!

High Plains-Service Dogs (HP-SD) is a division of a not for profit service dog agency, "High Plains Association of Service Dog Advocates." HP-SD directly assists with the training, guidance, education and certification of Human-Canine Teams.

At the time of this writing HP-SD is offering assistance to Mobility Service Dog Teams ONLY. The human partner must be a qualified mobility disabled person in accordance with the guidelines and description under the "American with Disabilities Act" (ADA) as well as the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and District Court decisions. The number of persons who actually qualify for this protection is quite limited and due to on going Federal Court rulings those limitations are even more severe than Congress intended when it passed this Civil Rights Law in 1992.

quick link: High Plains Service Dogs

SERVICE DOG EQUIPMENT

Circle-E custom made mobility harness. Photos taken 03/06

SERVICE DOG HARNESSES
***************************************
Sub Title: "Rain SD and my Experiences with Mobility Service Dog Harnesses"

2005 When Rain and I were with the service dog program I asked the trainer what kind of harness Rain would have to help me walk as the only types of harnesses I saw their SDs wear were nylon back packs with a short nylon handle. I was told Rain would have a back pack. I asked how she was supposed to help me walk and brace and do the things I needed if I only had a soft nylon handle to grab. That type of "harness" may have been all that a person in a wheelchair needed, but I could still walk short distances and it would not be sufficient to help me. In hind sight it was a good thing that we left the service dog program because I was then free to do my own research for a product to meet my specific needs and not having to just accept what the service dog program used.

I went on line to locate sources of service or assistance dog harnesses. I also joined an on-line service dog group from which I gained a lot of knowledge about the ADA, the Supreme Court of the United States (the SCOTUS), District Courts and their decisions ever narrowing who qualifies as disabled under the ADA, service dog issues and information about service dog harnesses. I had an idea in my head of what I needed: leather harness, rigid handle of some sort that I could use to brace.

Despite reading negative remarks from users of the Bridgeport mobility harness and really good things about the custom made LDS mobility harness, I purchased the Bridgeport mobility harness because of its low price.

The Bridgeport mobility harness comes in sizes: S, M, L. Rain seemed to be a M (medium). The fixed handle heights were 3" or 6". When standing next to Rain I could put my knuckles on her shoulders, I then ordered the 3" high handled mobility harness.

When it arrived it looked really nice and I put it right on Rain and we began to use it. Then one day maybe a week or so later I changed to a pair of clogs, they made me taller and I had to lean to grasp the 3" handle. So I ordered the 6" fixed handled Bridgeport mobility harness. The price of the two harnesses was nearly 1/2 the cost of the custom made LDS harness and I thought I was doing well.

A few weeks of using the harnesses I noticed that Rain wasn't eager to have her harness put on, in fact she began ducking her head to avoid having the harness put on her. I then began to really notice that the front chest strap of the Bridgeport harness severely restricted her shoulder motions when she went up or down stairs or got in and out of the truck. These very things were most important for Rain to be able to do. So I took the Bridgeport mobility harnesses, one at a time to a friend who repairs saddles and he followed my suggestions modifying the chest straps of both harnesses. At first Rain seemed fine using the harnesses again but that was only for a very short time. Soon she began avoiding putting her head willingly into the harnesses. Despite the modifications her full range of shoulder motion was not achievable. The negative remarks of Bridgeport rigid handle mobility harnesses rang true. I should have listened and saved my money.

I immediately took Rain's measurements as described on the LDS site and ordered Rain a custom made rigid adjustable, articulating handled mobility harness. What a difference between this LDS harness and the Bridgeport harnesses. Unlike the Bridgeport, I was able to chose the leather color and the metal of the buckles, the handle could be lengthened or shortened to accommodate me wearing clogs or low shoes, the handle could be folded down onto Rain's back when needed.

Another difference I noticed immediately was that the chest strap attached to a brass ring up on the center of her shoulders, not across her chest like the Bridgeport one. The "saddle" for the handle on the LDS mobility harness was also directly over Rain's shoulders with the girth strap set back. The Bridgeport mobility harness handle was in line with the girth strap thus the handle was behind Rain's shoulders. The placement of the handle is important as any weight placed on the dog MUST be on the shoulders. Weight on the back of the dog can permanently injure the dogs back. The padding of the "saddle" on the LDS was a honeycomb hi-tech material which wouldn't collapse and was washable. The Bridgeport harness used fleece, fake sheepskin on it which easily compressed to flat and was not washable. I had ordered the ambidextrous handle from LDS as Rain works on both sides and I can use either hand. Later I ordered the ergonomic left handle for the harness as I found I was using Rain more on my left side and the ambidextrous handle was hard on my wrist when I used it every day. The handles are very easy to exchange on the harness and I am glad that I have both the left and the ambidextrous handles. LDS recently came out with an insulated back pack that fits between the handles of their mobility harness and guide dog harnesses. I ordered one and found that it sat a little too far back for my liking so I modified it moving it forward. The pack was also too big - too deep and too tall for my liking.

A short time ago a friend who uses a manual wheelchair complained that the pulling harness handle she'd paid extra for from LDS was causing her SD to lean sideways when pulling her as the handle was out over the hips of her dog. I made a modification to her harness and Rain's mobility harness using an English leather bit converter, rolled leather and you get two in the pack for $19.95, one for her harness and one for Rain's. I attached one end to the brass ring at the top of the chest strap on the shoulders and the other to the girth strap as low on the back "saddle" as I could get it. This made it an easy to hold, easy on the hand handle that put the dog exactly along side and it was able to pull with its body straight up, not leaning away from the wheelchair.

Since I wrote the above, about the LDS harness, Rain began ducking her head not wanting to wear this harness. I also noticed that the harness handle had become unstable and thus no longer safe for me to rely on. I went looking for yet another harness and found Circle-E custom made harnesses, 2006. (See reviews of the various harnesses Rain and I have tried)

Once I was asked by someone about where to get a service dog mobility harness. After thinking about it this is what I replied: 'Mobility harnesses can be found on the web, but buyer beware because it is a real "fishing expedition". You have to know what you want out of the harness, what you want the harness to do, how the harness fits the dog, do you want or are you willing to buy an off the shelf kind - you know like the ones that only come in a couple of sizes and you try to get one that fits your dog and your needs, do you want a custom fit harness, do you want or need accessories or a special function involving the harness, do you know what material you want the harness made from, do you want a harness that takes upkeep like leather or basically no upkeep like nylon, how easy is the harness to put on and take off (this is very important in cold climate States as SDs typically toilet out of harness when they are working, or if the user had hand dexterity/strength issues), do you want or need an adjustable solid handle, do you need an articulating or adjustable handle or an ergonomic handle, etc.

These are just some of the things that one must know before buying a harness and no one but the user knows better what their personal needs and preferences are. I wish that there was just one place I could recommend where you could get answers to your questions and see/test the different harnesses out there. Unfortunately unless you belong to a group for service dogs where you have the opportunity to ask questions of users of those harnesses, you will like many of us have to go with as educated guess as you can make, trial and error and hope you don't waste too much money while trying to find the right harness that works for both of you OR hurts your dog, whether temporarily or permanently in the process before finding the harness that works well for the dog and you.

Some of the companies on the web are responsible and responsive to their customers, others are not. Some mobility service dog users have a "bad" experience with a company while others do well with the same company. Some companies have a return policy that is cancelled if you even put the harness on the dog one time but unfortunately you are not informed of that until you put it on the dog and find it doesn't fit and want to get the company to either exchange it for the proper size or make the necessary changes in the harness. The only advise I can give you about mobility harness shopping is "good luck fishing"...it's a real crap shoot. Keep in mind that Dobies are a deep chested relatively narrow built breed and harder to fit.'

Word of caution: know what your needs are for a mobility harness, what is it you want the mobility harness to do to help your mobility, before you make your purchase. Also more importantly, make sure that what you are purchasing is a mobility harness and not a guide dog harness or a tracking harness as they are totally different harness' made for totally and non-compatible purposes. One is for guiding - showing the way to a person who cannot see, one is for helping Search & Rescue keep track of their dog. The mobility harness is a specialized piece of equipment that the SD wears to assist a person with mobility disabilities where they need help in stabilization, counter balancing, bracing for stairs or curbs, even helping their team member get up off the ground when they fall, to name a few.

A lot of obedience work goes into the SD candidate before making the actual mobility harness purchase and then only after doing ones research. In preparation of that purchase additional commands, directional commands, must be taught to the SD candidate so that it can be directed once in a mobility harness.

One cannot just buy a mobility harness, slap it on the dog and expect the dog to know what is needed and how to do it. That would be like climbing aboard a horse that has never been ridden by a human by someone who has never ridden a horse before and expecting the horse to act like a calm well ridden saddle horse. It is NOT going to happen. Working in a mobility harness are the result of skills that are taught to the SD, not something that just magically happens when a mobility harness is placed on it.

Service Dog Vests/Capes

Capes/vests come in many shapes and colors. This one has pockets on both sides as well as reflective "Service Dog In Training patches" and reflective strip along the lower edge.

Modified padded vest from Active Dogs with custom "pockets" on both sides and several inner zippered compartments, reflective program patches, reflective zipper pulls and reflective chest strap.

Soft harness has a top zippered top pack with two reflective piping along side of outside zippered compartment and zippered compartments within, reflective program patches, reflective chest strap (not viewable from this angle), rolled leather handle, and sheepskin padding of shoulder straps to keep Rain's fur from breaking.

2005 I think that the name "vest" or "cape" are interchangeable and really mean the same thing, it is a piece of cloth material that lies on the dog's back sometimes denoting thru patches that it is a service dog or assistance dog. I use the words interchangeably but do not confuse this with a harness which is made of nylon straps or leather straps.

Rain's first SDIT cape I made myself. I am fortunate that I sew. It was small like a race horse saddle compared to a western saddle on a horse. Her second cape was from the local service dog program and not only was it used and dirty when given to me but the style took up her entire back and the girth strap fastened behind her rib cage. I was able to exchange that SDIT cape for a new one for a puppy, I changed the way it closed in front, made a longer girth strap and it looked wonderful one her.

I went on line and found ActiveDogs, ordering a Search and Rescue vest in a custom color with custom patches. This is a well made padded vest and it was the one Rain was wearing when the rottweiler jumped on her back biting her shoulders at PetSmart. It totally protected her.

When I began using a mobility harness I didn't use a cape. Then I joined the On-Line service dog training program and purchased a SDIT cape for the organization thru NuCapes. I modified this cape so that it could be on the LDS mobility harness. I did this as the State in which we reside provides police enforcement of public access issues involving SDITs and SDs that are thru a recognized service dog program.

Since that first modified NuCape I have made many SD capes for Rain that fit on her LDS harness, though they cannot be used when the insulated LDS harness pack is on the harness due to the way the pack attaches to the harness.

I am waiting for a power wheelchair for myself as I can no longer walk but a few feet. Because I don't need Rain in her mobility harness all the the time when we are out and about I plan to attach it to the wheelchair in a place that I can readily access it to put it on her when needed. I plan for Rain to wear a service dog back pack...after searching the web and finding that the packs offered there are too big and allow the dog to carry more weight than it should, I designed my own set of nylon packs for Rain. They will hold a check book, wallet, a few papers, has zippers and pockets but in no way can it hold more than one pound in either of the packs. I have made them with reflective piping so that Rain can easily be seen at dusk, dawn, or at night in headlights. The pack nylon is also made of bright high visibility colors.

2006 I have now modified a padded vest from ActiveDogs by adding pockets to both sides with inner zippered compartments and made a soft harness with a small pack both can be used when in the wheelchair.

I prefer the soft harness as I have since added a rolled leather handle to it. Due to Rain's thin coat I have also added real sheepskin to pad the shoulder straps to keep the nylon straps from breaking her fur. The sheepskin are velcroed tubes made for horse halters and came in a variety of colors though not the one I wanted (purple of course) so I selected black. For high visibility in low light or at night the pack has reflective piping on the top, the zipper pulls have reflective tracers, the strap that connects the shoulder straps to the girth has reflective arrows on purple, as well as the High Plains Service Dog patches being completely reflective.

MOBILITY HARNESS Reviews

Bridgeport Mobility Harness Review

(Modified chest strap on Bridgeport 6" fixed handled leather mobility harness)


2004 I started with the Bridgeport 3" rigid fixed handled leather mobility harness, size M, then had to buy the 6" rigid fixed handled mobility harness, size M when I changed to taller shoes and I couldn't reach the handle without leaning sideways as the handles are not adjustable. I have had to have both Bridgeport harness chest straps modified by a local saddle shop because Bridgeport refused to help me. The harnesses, before modification, impeded Rain's reach for steps and loading in the truck which ultimately made her harness shy. The fake sheepskin padding which cannot be washed or cleaned, matted down immediately and I shaved it off and glued on real sheepskin for padding. The fixed harness handle is behind the dog's shoulders directly in line with the girth strap which puts any weight on the handle on the dog's back not its shoulders. Customer service with Bridgeport did not exist for me and either of these harnesses. Bridgeport now had changed the chest strap of their mobility harness, similar to the modification I had had done, and I do not have personal experience with one of their new harnesses, but based on my personal experience with mobility harnesses I have purchased from them and the way I was treated, I would not recommend this company. Even with the modifications made to their harnesses it didn't take Rain long to again become harness shy and I needed to find a new, better fitting, harness that allowed her more or full range shoulder unrestricted movement.

LDS Mobility Harness Review

(LDS leather mobility harness with left ergonomic articulating adjustable handle with the insulated LDS modified pack)



(LDS leather mobility harness with ambidextrous articulating adjustable handle with custom modified SDIT vest affixed to the harness)


2004 Rain and I now use the LDS leather mobility harness. The things we like about the harness: the fit is perfect due to the many measurements; the "saddle" padding is a high-tech honeycomb that is washable and will not mat down; the rigid handle can be adjusted up and down in height and it can be released to lie on the dogs back when/if necessary; the rigid handle can be purchased in either right ergonomic, left ergonomic or ambidextrous depending on which side your dog usually works; there is a choice of leather color and hardware color (brass or nickel); the handle is directly over the dog's shoulders and the girth strap is set back; LDS is very easy to work with. Also LDS recently came out with a nice insulated pact that comes in many colors that affixes to the saddle on the shoulders of the dog. I first purchased the ambidextrous handle but later go the left ergonomic handle. The handles are very easy to change so if my left wrist hurts too much to hold the handle I put the ambidextrous one on and work Rain on my right side.

What I dislike about the LDS leather mobility harness: the price is high in my opinion for a harness that is riveted and not sewn; the leather edges are not smoothed; optional pulling handle*, for use when using a wheelchair is expensive and puts the dog out in front and leaning sideways; and the buckle tongues are flared and difficult to insert in the holes punched in the leather - I had to make the holes larger using a leather punch. The insulated pack sits too far back on the saddle and I modified it by moving it forward directly over the dog's shoulders.

All in all, I highly recommend the LDS leather mobility harness. (written before problems arose with the LSD harness - I no longer highly recommend it.)

*I have a less expensive "fix" for the pulling handle that leaves the dog directly along side the wheelchair and not leaning when pulling. I used a rolled leather horse English bit converter as it has buckles on both ends (come 2 in a pack for less than $20) buckled to the "O" ring on the shoulders and attached as low as possible to the girth strap where it lies on the saddle. I have also used a rolled leather dog collar of the appropriate length...but this took more work as I had to remove the hardware on the collar - not an easy task, punch new holes adding snap clips which I secured with Chicago screws, then clipped it to the harness.

Circle-E Harness Review

(Rain wearing her new Circle-E mobility harness with the handle set at 3" in height. Photo taken 03/06)

(Rain SD wearing her new Circle E custom made mobility harness with handle set at 5" in height. Photo taken 2/06)


2006 I became disenchanted with the LDS harness for several reasons and began looking for another harness that wouldn't have the problems I had experienced with the LDS harness. My search brought me to Circle-E and the saddle maker Arnie Epstein. This harness is wonderful!

As I had continued to use the LDS harness with the ergonomic handle I noticed that the handle had become unstable and I did not feel safe and secure as I had when it was new. I noticed, upon looking over the LDS harness that the leather saddle had in fact twisted/bent allowing the handle shaft to shift, it's leather was not of uniform thickness. I had considered having the local saddle maker fix the harness by replacing the saddle leather, but the straps were also very wide (over kill in my opinion) and if I was going to have the saddle replaced I would have the straps replaced with narrower ones with beveled edges and sewn in place not riveted as the original ones were...the cost stopped me dead in my tracks! It would cost me as much to have the harness rebuilt using the handle and the handle hardware as it would to purchase a NEW harness from LDS ($$$), and that wasn't going to happen. That is the primary reason I went looking for another mobility harness.

Additionally, Rain had begun ducking her head when I brought out the LDS harness, though she had not out and out refused to wear it as she had with the Bridgeport harnesses. This indicated to me that she did not like the LDS harness any more.

Arnie Epstein of Circle-E, the creator and maker of the harness that Rain now uses knows his leather as he is a saddle maker himself. He had created a custom mobility harness and thru working with disabled persons using his harness on their Service Dogs he has made modifications to better reflect what the users need and want. He is on his "New Generation M2" harness with Rain's and he made yet another modification to the M2 generation harness for a friend who's Service Dog's chest is not like Rain's deep well defined chest with a tucked up belly but is more "tube" shaped - basically a straight bottom line..who knows, maybe hers is a New Generation M2.5 or possibly even a New Generation M3.

I took the measurements as the Circle-E website described and when I got the harness I had to make no adjustments...it fit Rain PERFECTLY!!

I had ordered the adjustable handle that could be lowered onto Rain's back (her signal that we are staying put for a while, go to sleep). As Rain is a tall girl and I have long arms the handle is not very tall - 3" and 5" settings. When I went to lower it on her back I found that there was a problem with it, called Arnie and sent it back to be adjusted. It only cost me shipping both ways. When the handle came back it worked beautifully. The slides easily go up and down unlike the LDS harness handle. When Rain has a good shake though, I must double check to make sure that the slides are still in position to properly secure the harness handle. That is how easily they slide.

The harness has: a leather saddle beautifully sewn and sealed with real sheep skin for padding; center chest piece that evenly distributes pressure unlike the LDS harness which only has a large "O" ring; narrower leather chest straps than the LDS harness, that go from the center chest piece to the saddle with a lot of adjustment options; now the really neat thing about this harness is that it utilizes medical orthotic strapping for the girth and from the center chest piece to the girth with special ratchets and the girth has a special padded leather piece in the center where it lies on the lowest part of the dogs chest - for comfort. These ratchets are very easy to use, to make adjustments, to release - especially easy for those with limited hand dexterity or diminished hand strength. This harness is extremely light weight, although I don't know exactly what it weighs it is considerably less than the LDS which I had thought was light compared to the Bridgeport harnesses. I would doubt that the Circle-E harness weighs 2 pounds, I think it is less than that.

In addition to the options that I got (adjustable height of the handle and a handle that can be laid down on the dog's back) one can also get the "no pull" option. It is a wonderful invention of Arnie's as the disabled person using the harness can easily stop the dog from pulling (leaning into the harness).

Arnie Epstein's customer service is absolutely excellent as well has the workmanship and design of this custom made mobility harnesses. I HIGHLY recommend the Circle-E harness to those who need a rigid handle mobility harness.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING, Classes & Tips

(photo taken from Fresh Air Training LLC, who conducts the BARK and SNARK and GROWL [formerly, BARK and SNARK] classes for dog reactive and dog aggressive dogs)




BARK and SNARK Class

In February 2005, Rain and I went to the Dobe-O-Rama. Rain was showing signs of being afraid of dogs that came at her face on, we had in fact been attacked on 5 separate unprovoked occasions when Rain was working in cape or rigid handle mobility harness, on leash, by a total of 6 dogs (one was a German shepherd service dog on leash being protective of its owner or very dog reactive, one a rottie on a flexi lead in PetSmart, we were double teamed by a rottie and doberman running off leash in the city park not under owners control more than a block away from her dogs, a golden retriever and finally a Pitt bull who were both running loose with their owners no where to be seen in separate incidents). There were lots of things to buy, seminars to attend and well behaved dobies were all over the place. It would be a fun outing amidst a great many dogs for both Rain and I.

Before the seminar about dog reactive and dog aggressive dogs we were seated by the training ring and the sponsoring group had different doggie games they were playing. Rain went out in the training ring by herself to pick a bone from the bone box and brought it happily back to me, seated outside the training ring. There were so many dobies in attendance, more than I had been around at one time since I had trained and shown my first dobe in obedience and had hung out with other dobie owners. Dobes all around the training ring and in the adjoining room, pretty tight quarters for all and not one altercation.

I explained to one of the members involved in putting on the event that Rain had never played with a big dog, that she has little dogs at home whom she dearly loves and the woman said that her dog Sterling was a great dog for Rain to go in the training ring with. Sterling was a huge 5 year old blue dobe rescue. I turned Rain loose and she ran and spun and enjoyed herself. Then she approached Sterling and put her front end down in a play bow and gave a little woof then spun, sprinting away trying to get him to play chase. Sterling just stood there and looked at her, but she kept trying. Rain was having a blast trying to get that big dog to play with her.

We attended a seminar by a trainer who had a class for dog reactive dogs and dog aggressive dogs. I was very interested in the seminar as I hoped to gain information about dog aggressive and dog reactive dogs so that I could better protect Rain from them if I could learn what to watch for from those types of dogs. It was a very educational seminar and it only piqued my interest in learning more about those kinds of dogs as well as making sure Rain wouldn't become dog reactive.

After the seminar I talked with the speaker/trainer about Rain and what Rain had experienced. The trainer gave me new insight of those "attacks" by strange dogs. Rain looked different than any dog those dogs had probably seen - she was wearing something on her back which made her look different. In the case of the rigid handled mobility harness it might be perceived by a strange dog that Rain was "looking aggressive" as the handle (3" above her back) looked like the hump of Rain's shoulders. In the case of the capes it was just something they hadn't seen before and were reacting to it's strangeness. I signed us up for her next Bark and Snark Class.


Bark and Snark class began 2/23/05. It was held in the gymnasium of the local humane society. There were originally 5 dogs (2 Pitt bulls, a small terrier, a border collie who was taking the class for the second time and dobie Rain) in the class and 3 trainers. For the first several times in class we only had voice control over our dogs as we did not hold a leash but they were each restrained by a cable and "snap-back" safely spaced along the 4 walls of the gym. Later we would be taking our dogs off the cable, putting our leashes on them walking them around the gym doing various exercises with the other dogs and eventually turning our dogs loose with the other dogs loose in the gym and under our voice control.

That first class began and the other 2 instructors had not met Rain and I, they asked me after watching Rain and seeing how well behaved and gentle she was, why Rain was even in the class. I explained what had happened to Rain, being jumped on several times while working in cape, and wanted to learn all that I could as well as Rain learn what to do when confronted by dog aggressive or dog reactive dogs and to help teach Rain that I was there to protect her.

1st Class homework: "NAME GAME" and"Gottach"

2nd Class homer work: open bar/closed bar.

3rd Class homework: back out.

There were 8 classes, Rain and I attended all.

In the class was a little terrier, "Poppy the Terrible". When the time came to let the dogs off leash Rain was teamed with Poppy. Poppy reacted to Rain and per the protocol her parents immediately left the area out of sight. Poppy went to the door her parents had exited thru when Rain came up to see what she was doing. Poppy immediately wheeled around and charged Rain who was about 5-6 feet behind her. It was pretty funny, Poppy was doing her most vicious "Poppy the Terrible" act and Rain just sat back on her haunches looking down at that snarking little dog as if to say "is that all the better you can do?" When Rain didn't react to Poppy at all Poppy went back to the door where her parents had gone. Rain stood up and went about investigating the rest of the room.

Eventually nearly the entire class was off leash in the gym. One, Jack the Pitt bull, had to remain on leash as he had a "hair trigger". Happy and wagging one moment and in the blink of an eye would go off with teeth bared, snapping and roaring. As I was the only disabled handler there one of the trainers would take Rain out in the center of the gym, turn her loose and keep track of her while I was seated in a far corner of the room watching. Rain would lope around visiting with the people and their dogs and come back to check on me and I would send her out again. Jack and his owner walked by Rain at one point and Jack went off at Rain, straining at his leash, snapping his jaws in his muzzle and roaring at her. Rain stopped in her tracks and then got "real big" and roared back in Jack's face and then continued her good natured lope around the room visiting. When Rain told Jack off he actually stopped in his tracks and closed his mouth. From that time on whenever Jack was near Rain he literally turned his face away from her, totally avoiding looking at her. That was the one and only reaction Rain had to any of the dogs in the class.

We worked off leash on long recalls with food lying in the center of their paths. We worked on having our dogs focus on us as we and they moved in, out and around the dogs in the class off leash, with the exception of Jack.


On graduation night there were a lot of visitors seated around the perimeter of the room and we did off leash obedience like long recalls with all the dogs at the same time. Rain loped around the room greeting all the humans, she had a kiss for each one of them. Jack did not graduate and the trainer recommended that he attend at least 16 more weeks of intensive training to possibly reach the point of being off leash in the gym. Jack was a scary dog.

Both Rain and I learned a lot from this Bark and Snark Class. We learned about ourselves and we learned to trust each other even more. Our partnership bond was growing even stronger.

Later Rain and I went to an off leash park with the Bark and Snark trainer, our first and yet probably last time as the off leash parks are not disability accessible. I now use a wheelchair instead of the rollator walker I used that day in 2005.

Rain had a great time! She ran and played. A young couple arrived with their mini Eskimo dog and their 2 year old son. Their little dog went off playing with other dogs in the off leash park and Rain began to play with the little boy. Rain play bowed and woofed softly enticing him to a long game of "catch the doggie" and he was up for it. He laughed and giggled as he ran after Rain who would stop and wait for him to get near then run off, whirling and darting past him daring him to tag her. He wasn't quick enough to ever tag Rain. They played until they were both exhausted and collapsed on the ground...the little boy still giggling and Rain panting heavily with a twinkle in her eye. It was amazing to watch this big baby dog playing with this little baby man - never once touching him nor bumping into him...I am sure that came from Rain living and playing with little dogs and the need to temper her strength and enthusiasm with them.






New Tasks/Commands

Since Rain's SDIT Training Journal was written I have stopped using the rollator walker and now use an electric wheelchair. Rain is learning how to work along side the wheelchair, her body placement with regard to the wheelchair and honing her retrieving skills.

January 2006
Task/Command: wheelchair placement ("SnapBack" on chair and Rain's collar)
# of times per day: 1
Approx time per task: 30 minutes
Total time per week: 0 to 2 as weather permits
Rating/Comment: VERY GOOD/goal is to wean Rain from the "SnapBack" affixed to the wheelchair, working on loose leash and or off leash in proper position.

April 2006
Task/Command: wheelchair placement
Rating/Comment: EXCELLENT/Rain is no longer wearing a "SnapBack" and is working on loose leash or off leash in proper position: turning, speeding up and slowing down and stopping with the wheelchair.

November 2006 Task/Command: LOAD UP (in new Grand Caravan minivan thru rear entry) Rating/Comment: EXCELLENT/Rain easily will load up - sent up the rear ramp to her seat in the front of the vehicle.

(photo of CallaLily, 6# 8 year old chihuahua, Service Dog, she has gone from working in the house with no public access rights to being a fully certified Service Dog, retrieving one of the ceramic dog food dishes, photo taken December 2005. Cally will retrieve anything she can get her teeth on and either drag it or carry it to me. She also taught Rain how to retrieve and is Rain's competition if Rain hesitates on a retrieve. Cal works as a Service Dog primarily in the house as it gives Rain a break while home. With Cally's work at home Rain then only needs to help me with bigger things. Cal has been a house service dog since 2000 and became certified in 2006.)


Classes

September 2007
I love the dog training center where I've been taking Whisp for Agility classes and decided to take Rain thru Novice Obedience for a second time ... just for the fun of it. Rain had completed Novice Obedience back in 2004 when she had begun to learn how to work in a mobility harness. Things have changed since then and Rain has been working along side my electric wheelchair. I thought that it would be fun for the two of us to take Novice again with my newer mode of mobility. I hadn't realized how much I missed formal classes until Whisp began her Agility. It is wonderful quality training/bonding time spent with each of them.

22 Sept was our first class and it was HUGE!! Two large St Bernards were the biggest dogs in the class down to small lab size. I have never been in a class this many dogs and it was a blast! Rain also had a lot of fun. Her eyes sparkled and her joy showed in her face.

This block of lessons are for 10 to be used within 6 months which allows people to come and go from the classes, as they see fit, making the classes very fluid as far as attendance. We missed class last Saturday as I needed to attend CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Training) thru my city's emergency preparedness. I am looking forward to going to class this Saturday.

TIPS

My mobility Service Dog Rain and my Service Dog Cally, who primarily works in the house, were trained using a clicker as well as positive reinforcement. I really like clicker training.

No matter what type of training method one uses (except abusive or cruel ones which I abhor) remember that training should be FUN for you and your dog. If you are tired, worried, tense, angry...don't train until you can have fun. If your dog is frustrating you go back and do some things that your dog knows well and end on a positive note so your dog will continue to look forward to training.

Some times it seems like training is going really well, the dog is grasping everything you try and then one day the dog acts as if you are speaking a foreign language or suddenly went deaf. This is a plateau and it is normal. I look at it as the dog's mind/memory is now downloading and storing the training information, or awaiting a visit from the "brain faeries", and it might take a day or two but then your dog will be right back up to speed as if there never was a problem. When this happens we take a day or two off from our training and go on a field trip or just do something fun for the two of us.

Sometimes when trying to train a new task and the dog doesn't seem to understand, step back and take a look at the separate steps that comprise the task. It might just be as simple as changing the word to a familiar one to teach the task then changing to the word(s) you ultimately want to use. Rain had trouble with the "door pads" the words I was using for the electronic touch plates, I backed up to having her "touch" the pads (CDs taped to the walls), then I had her "Touch Pads", then I had her "Touch Door Pads", then I had her "Door Pads" now all I have to say is "Door". She was doing the same task but I was building to the words I wanted to end up using, the transition was very easy for her.

OR it might be that the dog understands the words but not in the context you are using them. Rain knows the words "Rise Up" for putting her feet on a check out counter (she doesn't counter surf at home, thank heavens) but when it came time to teach her to turn on/off a light switch she couldn't figure out how to "Rise Up" on a vertical flat surface as she had only done it on raised horizontal surfaces. I lifted her front feet up on the wall, pushing the pad of one paw on the wall light switch while saying "Rise Up Lights". I only had to do this twice before "the light bulb went on" in her head and her faced smiled. When I then gave her the command to "Rise Up Lights" she immediately put her feet up on the wall and flipped the switch. Now all I have to say is "lights" and she turns it on/off, which ever is needed.

ADVENTURES and OBSERVATIONS

ADVENTURES


JUNE 2005A pit bull off leash came after Rain and I while we were going to the park, me on the scooter. Since the time the two dogs (a pit bull and a doberman) double teamed us in the park I began carrying a small stun gun. Rain was on the leather leash which was across my chest so I could run the scooter - since the Bark and Snark class I now use a "Snap Back" between her collar and the leash when using the scooter and now also with the power wheelchair. When the dog came at us Rain turned and looked as I yelled "NO!" and activated the stun gun for the noise affect. The dog stopped in its tracks then circled around and tried again, with Rain and I responding the same way - Rain was looking at the dog and I yelled "NO!" and activated the stun gun and the dog headed for home. Rain had not only learned that she didn't need to be afraid of dogs that come after her/us but she learned that I will protect her/us. Bark and Snark was money well spent.


9 DECEMBER 2005
We went to the Government Center, a huge two tower complex, it was Rain's first time and it was my first time in an electric wheelchair. Actually it has been about 10 years since I've been in the Government Center, well before tightened security. Rain rode a couple different sized elevators along side the wheelchair with no problems, even when packed with people, who by the way were very nice to us.

We went thru security screening. I sent Rain thru first letting out her leash so she could pass thru unencumbered, I followed in the wheelchair...this was a first for us. Rain led the way down the aisle and around the corner where I was to be hand searched. When we got to the end I was searched, I asked if they wanted to 'squeeze Rain' for contraband and they laughed but asked if they could pet her as she was so sweet. I consented, then off we went on our way.

I am glad I have a wheelchair as there were only 2 disability parking places and both were taken, we had to park at the far end of the level which was no problem as I was mobile. In fact Rain enjoyed stretching her legs on our return as we went fast thru the parking ramp to the truck.

12 DECEMBER 2005

Today we had to take SmokeyHaze, the mini schnauzer, to the vet as he is ill. The appointment went well and we paid the bill while in the exam room to avoid standing at the counter. When we exited the exam room we walked into a waiting room full of people and their dogs and a cat. I was a little uneasy as the waiting room is very small and I don't let strange dogs get within 6 feet minimum of Rain, normally, but I had no choice as I would have to walk between all those animals with Smokey and Rain (working in harness) at a distance of about a foot. We did just fine! Rain ignored all the dogs and Smokey just followed right along, the other animals stood and watched...no one barked or whined.

NOVEMBER 2006
Fall of 2005 I got the electric wheelchair and had my 2001 Chevy Silverado 4 door converted with a Bruno wheelchair lift in the bed of the truck and a Bruno "turny" seat replacing the factory driver seat. I had thought at the time that this would serve me for many years. WRONG! We got stranded in the hot sun this past summer with a "mother board" problem with the wheelchair lift - the wheelchair was on the pavement and I had no way to get it back into the bed of the truck ARGH! The mother board was replaced but I continued to have minor problems with the lift and lost confidence in it.

Fall 2006 I purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan, after doing much research in wheelchair conversions, and had the VISION rear entry conversion done, http://www.viewpointmobility.com/ Due to the lay of the land where I park my vehicle a rear entry was the only type I could get.

The vehicle was purchased in the first few days of October, put on a transport truck to MI and I took possession of it mid to late November.

Rain was very used to the pickup truck. She had learned to brace herself against my left hip with her feet when I told her "hang on" as I made right turns on the cloverleafs of the interstate. She watched my hand and foot positions as I drove. When my right hand came up on the steering wheel and my right foot moved from gas pedal to brake pedal Rain would put her front feet against my left hip ready to brace for the turn....she is so smart. Although she was seat belted in place she was able to rest her head on my lap and I could put my hand on her shoulder as we drove about.

With the minivan things are very different. Rain has had to learn to go up the rear ramp and get seated in her front bucket seat as I load up, locking the wheelchair into the EZ Lock on the floor, closing and locking the rear entry before I transfer to the drivers seat and slide up to the steering wheel. She wears a different kind of seat belt now too. It took Rain a bit to get used to sitting up in a bucket seat and finding a way to rest comfortably against the seat back when she is tired and wants to nod off. She still watches my hand and foot position and has figured out how to brace herself in her seat. I do miss the contact I had with Rain like I had in the truck but I have to say that I really love this new vehicle. Going places is now so much fun and oh so easy compared to the PU truck with the outside wheelchair lift. It's fun even going places when it is raining or snowing outside - the very things I avoided when I had the PU truck.

Vertical Porch Lift as seen from the yard looking up toward the driveway.


Rain entering the Vertical Porch Lift from the driveway.




Rain on the Vertical Porch Lift waiting to go down to the back yard.

Rain enjoying the trip from the driveway down to the back yard.

The ramp of the Vertical Porch Lift is now down on the ground and Rain is waiting for the command to disembark.

As I ride up the vertical porch lift from the back yard up to the alley I can open up the rear of the van and once on the driveway just send Rain right on in with me following behind. The rear entry takes about 5 seconds to totally open or totally close so we have very little time waiting out in the weather now which is very nice. I love my new van!!

25 January 2007
SmokeyHaze, the mini schnauzer, went to the groomer at Petsmart. After we picked him up and were heading to the van I was a pit bull dragging it's female owner 4 vehicles past mine. With SmokeyHaze riding on my lap I was very concerned by the lack of control I was seeing with the on coming dog. I stopped and took my leash off Rain, if there was an altercation should that dog break loose of its owner I wanted Rain to be able to be free to move, not be constrained by her leash. I hurriedly remotely unlocked the van, deployed the ramp and told Rain LOAD UP as I continued toward the van. Rain moved out, cutting in front of me and headed right up the ramp into the van. I hurried up the ramp too and as the ramp was closing the pit bull reached my van. WHEW!

I feel very vulnerable to dog attacks and dog bites in the wheelchair. With SmokeyHaze on my lap I would be unable to defend Rain, SmokeyHaze or myself. Thankfully the pit bull wasn't dog reactive but I am glad we were safely in the van as the woman on the other end of its leash certainly had no control over that dog.

....I always wonder what makes people, with dogs that they cannot control, even bring a dog like that into a dog friendly place like Petsmart. The only conclusion I can draw is IGNORANT STUPIDITY!!!

When Rain was young, a Rottie on a flexi lead jumped on her in a totally unprovoked attack at Petsmart. Since that time I have been very careful when at "dog friendly" stores because not all dogs that are taken there are dog friendly.


OBSERVATIONS
17 December 2006, I was thinking back on my past (DuskyHaze) and current (Rain and Cally) and possible future (Whisp) Service Dogs and came upon an interesting observation. All 4 of these dogs had several things in common: they all watched TV, especially interested in people and animals/birds; they were able to see things that the other dogs totally missed like the time I got "Billy Bass" the singing fish - both DuskyHaze and Cally immediately noticed it moving up on the mantle while the other dogs didn't notice it at all, Rain noticed a man at the vet's who had a beard and a small kitten on his shoulder the same color as his beard and let me know that that was indeed odd - none of the other dogs in the waiting room had noticed that the man had two sets of eyes and that that second set was in an odd place, Whisp is very curious about everything and how it moves or what it does, DuskyHaze loved to lie for hours looking at the view thru the large peep hole on the front door - keeping an eye on "her yard" and would let me know when someone approached until the sun conure parrot Talon TallBird took over that duty and beeped like the door alarm when someone approached the front door; and all these dogs learned tasks, commands and my words for things very quickly from each other and want to show off what they have picked up/learned.


2001 Chevy Silverado 4 door 4 wheel drive pick up truck with Bruno wheelchair lift in truck bed.




Bruno wheelchair lift docking system poised above the wheelchair.


I began to wonder how I was going to teach Rain directional commands as I couldn't walk very far any more...it was one of the many things I had to figure out. I decided that the directional commands I would use would be the ones used when driving horses in harness as they came to me very easily. I used to drive my mare Dulcenea in harness years ago. Rain could not see over the dash when seated on the bench seat as she was still a tiny baby.

As I drove Rain about on daily drive abouts I gave the command word for the action of the vehicle. When I turned on my right blinker I would say AHEAD GEE meaning that we would be turning right up ahead. Then as I began to turn right I would say GEE. I did the same thing for left turns. I used the word STOP when I was bringing the truck to a stop. When we would be approaching a cloverleaf that turned to the right I would say HANG ON and Rain figured out that if she put her foot on my hip to brace herself she was secure in that type of large turn.
When I got the rollator walker, a walker with larger wheels, hand brakes and a seat, I used the same directional commands and Rain was able to transfer the commands I used when she was riding in the truck to when we were walking on our own legs.
When Rain graduated to a rigid handled mobility harness she again was able to translate the directional commands that I originally used in the truck on those early drive abouts.
I so enjoyed our time in the truck. Rain would lie down and I could rest my hand on her shoulder or stroke her head and face as I drove. When I would say HANG ON, she would immediately put a foot against my hip to brace herself...it was so neat, so comfortable for both of us.


30 JANUARY 2007 Winter was just around the corner and I dreaded it for the first time in my life. Although the Bruno wheelchair lift was allowing me to keep using my pick up truck, Rain and I one day were stranded in a hot parking lot on a 90+ degree sunny summer day when it failed to lift the wheelchair up off the pavement. ARGH and EEK!! The mother board had to be replaced as well as one of 3 switches in the hand control for the Bruno but I never again trusted it. It continued to "act up" though we were never completely stranded as we had been that hot summer day. I became afraid of being stranded on a bitterly cold day in a MN winter.

I began researching alternative means of personal transportation that would allow me to continue to live in the home I've owned since 1980. Parking is a problem and I needed a specific type of conversion. I found it in a product by Vision http://www.viewpointmobility.com/ - a rear entry to a mini van. Now I was not the mini van kind of person but I liked that it was all automatic and even if the electric failed the ramp could still be deployed so we could at least get into the vehicle and out of the elements with the wheelchair. Early October I purchased a Dodge Grand Caravan. I was not able to test drive it as I require the "Zero Effort" steering modification in all my vehicles since 1988. The van was put on a transport truck and driven to MI where the conversion was done. About 8 weeks later the van was finished and returned to the Mobility place thru whom the modifications were made.

Rain going into the Vision conversion 2006 Dodge Grand Caravan.



Rain waiting for the command to disembark from the mini van.



Rain coming down the ramp from the mini van.

I just love this vehicle...I didn't think I would or could like a mini van let alone love one, but I sure love this vehicle with it's conversion. It has made my life so much easier and I am no longer afraid of being stranded.
Along with the mini van came some adjustment for both Rain and I. Rain had no problem learning to use the ramp to enter and exit the vehicle or use the driver's door to enter or exit the vehicle. Because the driver's seat slides all the way back so that I can easily transfer to and from the wheelchair I sometimes leave the front seat back too far and Rain has had to figure out that she just jumps on the floor board where the front seat used to be and then get on the front passenger seat where she rides. Rain has had to figure out how to ride on a high back bucket seat as she was used to sprawling out on the front bench seat of the pick up truck.
Now before I go any further, I can hear folks telling me how dangerous it is for Rain to be in the front seat of either vehicle, I must tell you that Rain wears her doggie seat belt every time. If Rain were not in a seat belt not only could she be injured or killed in an accident but she could kill me. In the truck Rain's seat belt buckled right into the human seat belt slot. In the van her seat belt is clipped into the human shoulder harness as the human seat belt is buckled. In the pick up truck I was able to manually turn off the front passenger air bag and it was only turned on when I had a human passenger and Rain would sit between us, still in her seat belt. In the mini van there is an indicator on the dash that shows that the air bag is turned off because Rain isn't able to sit on the seat as a human, which would activate the air bag.




Rain, strapped in her doggie seat belt in the passenger side of the pick up truck, it is the olive green cloth covering. The black sheepskin is from her soft mobility harness. Rain has several different shades with bling. She only wears them when we are in the vehicle, to protect her eyes from the glare of the sun. I only wear sunglasses when driving. I failed to removed Rain's shades before having her get out of the vehicle, one time, so she rubbed her face on the back of the seat to get them off before she got out.

Rain has had to figure out what to do when I am going around the clover leafs now that she can't put her paw on my hip to brace herself. When I first got the van, Rain seemed very uncomfortable. She now seems to sit so high compared to when we were in the truck. Rain is not able to sprawl out as she had in the truck and hasn't, as yet, found a way to comfortably lie down curled up on her seat. In the truck Rain faced forward when sitting up, in the van Rain is sitting facing me. With this new body positioning Rain has been spending her time watching me as I drive. Rain watches the placement of my hands on the steering wheel and has picked up on the hand position changes and directional changes of the vehicle.

I have "Zero Effort" steering - a modification in the power steering box that takes all the stops out of it so that it is almost like thinking around corners as the steering wheel is very loose - and my right hand is low on the wheel when I am driving. My right hand moves up to the 2 o'clock position when I am going to be turning to the right. My left hand moves up to the 10 o'clock position when I am going to be turning to the left. Rain has figured this out. When my right hand moves up on the wheel she will lean heavily against the back of the seat to brace herself and she will look to ahead to watch any vehicles ahead of us. As soon as the vehicle begins to straighten out again she relaxes and sits forward in her seat again.

When I move my left hand up on the wheel Rain looks out the windshield to watch the cars ahead of us but remains sitting relaxed and forward in her seat.

Rain has been watching my right foot and when I put my foot on the brake pedal she presses her body against the seat back bracing herself. When I put my foot on the accelerator she sits up away from the seat back and will look out the windshield occasionally. When I take my right foot off the gas pedal and place it flat on the floor board as I do when I engage the cruise control, Rain leans comfortably back against the seat back and either falls asleep or watches the scenery go by.

I now reserve HANG ON for when I have to suddenly slam on the brakes and Rain will immediately slam herself against her seat back, bracing herself for the sudden stop.

From her early directional training in the pick up truck, when I turn on the turn signals in the van, Rain now prepares herself for a turn - it is then that she looks at the placement of my hand(s) on the steering wheel to see which way we are going to be turning.

I am truly amazed at all that Rain has understood about driving and riding in a vehicle.