Service Dog Training for Mom

🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾N E W U P D A T E B E L O W ! Just scroll down❗️🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

For the past 7 years, I have been looking into getting a service dog. My name is Gail Martin and I have a neurological condition called spinocerebellar ataxia-- SCA for short. It is a progressive degeneration of the part of the brain that controls coordination and balance. Greater assistance and effort are needed to stand and walk. Right now I manage with a walker, scooter and forearm crutches for shorter jaunts. I do fall easily and have additional visual issues. In the future, I will likely progress to a wheelchair. SCA is a part of who I am; it does present its challenges.

A Brace/mobility dog is trained to provide assistance in moving from place to place and helps when needed to regain footing ;they provide bracing to stand or steady myself, open doors, pick up dropped items and even fetch a phone in an emergency. When the dog is older, he can pull a wheelchair. Basic service dog training begins in puppyhood and continues when the dog is almost done growing with brace and mobility training.

In steps Compass Key (formerly PAWS Training Center) They have Portland trainers that specialize in basic obedience and training to prepares my dog to become a service/mobility dog. There is a facility for further training in Seattle. "The PAWS Training Center's Service Dog Training Program is designed to exceed training requirements of service dogs as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)". Training is in 4 phases: 1) Basic Obedience 2) Advanced Obedience 3) Disability Skills, and 4) Public Access. The cost ranges from $8,000 to $11,500, with an additional $500 for a Stability Harness.

May 27, 2017–I have a dog!! Well, a puppy. His name is Jackson Brown--Jack for short. Friends who raise English Labrador Retrievers-https://www.facebook.com/https://www.facebook.com/silverandchocolatelabradors//—have kindly and generously blessed me with a pick of one of their litters. There is one beautiful chocolate boy from one of James' dog, Kona. He is coming home with me Saturday. I am so excited!

I plan to begin basic puppy training and socialization myself until I can get funding. I definitely will need help! The initial evaluation and consultation fee is $300. Would you help me in this adventure? Any amount would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks for your interest. Please share with your friends.

🐾🐾🐾🐾 🐾N E W P O S T🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾February 28, 2019– Jackson Browne is now almost two years old!! Please see my Facebook page. https://m.facebook.com/servicedogformom/ There are updates on Jack’s progress and lots of pictures. Next month I will be calling Compass Key for a consultation to see what kind of further training they could provide and the cost. Jackson and I have gone through some training at a local pet store and have done some private lessons. He definitely needs more work! The last 14 months have been somewhat of a wash as far as training. I’ve had three surgeries, a pulmonary embolism , and a fall sustaining some mild brain trauma.

I have been doing more training myself, and I definitely see areas we need to work on. When I walk with Jack using my walker or electric scooter, he gets ahead of me. So far he has not pulled me over, but being over 90 pounds of dog, it is definitely possible and I would like to avoid that! So I am back to working on some basic training with him. When I use a harness with a handle, I can walk without a walker – I love that! We just need refining—and a harness with a bit longer handle. We especially need “brace” training where he stands rocksolid when I am losing my balance. I really don’t know how to train him for that and other mobility dog work. —I hope the center in Washington can help. I believe they do Skype. I have also decided to check on some other training available in my home area.

Thank you for your interest in this journey that Jack and I are on. Thank you also for your generous financial support – any amount helps.

🐾 As a sidenote, I have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine. Recently, I loosened the straps to accommodate an ice pack on my head. The next night I forgot to tighten it back to normal. Jack was sleeping on my bed that night and in the middle of the night I awoke to him standing over me panting nervously and licking me. He NEVER wakes up until after I get up in the morning. In my sleepy confusion I thought perhaps he needed to go outside, but realized he would be at the door if that was the case. Then I realized my CPAP was not on. My husband has observed me not breathing when not using the CPAP. After petting and assuring Jack, and putting the mask back on, he curled up at my feet and went back to sleep❗️I never trained him to alert me❗️ I was amazed and thankful to my big brown dog. He is amazing and very smart ❗️🐾

https://m.facebook.com/servicedogformom/