Day 7

Written by Michelle O'Neil on October 19th, 2009

I know it makes no sense, but when a staff member at 4 Paws showed me a picture she carries of Jingle on her cell phone, and said, “She’s been one of the staff favorites,” I felt such pride! As if I had something to do with her good looks and winning personality.

 

Jingle is such a good dog! Today we practiced more obedience, and the “touch” command. When a child is upset/ crying, the dog is taught to touch them on the leg,

“Tap, tap, hello? Look at me kid! Whaddya say we change the subject? Aren’t I cute? Got any treats?”   

We are having to modify the command, because we found out today (thankfully on me) Jingle’s nails are powerful! It’s like she’s digging a rake into your thigh. So, Jingle is only touching Riley’s sneaker for now. We will work on touching the side of her paw, to the side of Riley’s leg, more like a brush with the back of her paw rather than the clawing action she’s got going on now. Jingle is intense. You tell her “touch,” and she wants to do it. With gusto!

“See what a good girl I am? I will really touch like I mean it!”

Ouch!

Yesterday we watched the dogs practice tethering. It was amazing. The tether strap is attached to the child’s belt, or vest, and the dogs lay on the ground and will not budge.  This gives kids with autism so much more freedom out in public. The parents don’t have to constantly hold onto their hands.  Riley doesn’t need tethering, but Todd and I both helped by acting as the kids for the training. We tugged and pulled and those sweet dogs, just did what they were trained to do. Even if they were pulled, they stayed in the down position, being dragged slowly across the floor if need be.  For those autistic kids who are escape artists, it is like lugging a 50-100 pound weight depending on the dog. It really slows them down. All of the dogs have had basic training in tethering but we were fine tuning. Tethering is going to open up the world for these families.  

One last thing. The kids got to see newborn puppies! These beautiful Goldens were born last weekend. It is exhausting, but we are truly having a wonderful time here.  

Gotta run. The moms are getting together at a restaurant tonight while the dads hold the fort. Tomorrow the guys will go out. Gotta go get all gussied up. Ha! Kidding. I have nothing gussy here. I’m not that gussy a gal. Loopy, perhaps, but not gussy. 

Catch you tomorrow!

Love.

*Thank you to Sally Gaer for the wonderful photos I lifted from her Facebook page!

 

9 Comments so far ↓

  1. Jenny R says:

    That’s so funny about the dogs being dragged. Glad things are going well. Love.

  2. Amanda says:

    LOVE the tethering idea!

    Meg always dots her nose on my leg or hand when she thinks I need it (or she does!)

    Something has been playing on my mind, and I hope you don’t mind me asking, but what happens when Jingle gets old and eventually isn’t here any more? Meg was poorly last week – she’s fine now – but it got me thinking…

  3. Amanda,

    Then Riley learns about death first hand. Which is an important lesson and a part of life.

    And then, if Riley wants/still needs a service dog, 4 Paws only makes you raise 1/2 the money for a second service dog one day down the road.

  4. Amanda,

    A Friend Like Henry and Monica Holloway’s new book Cowboy & Wills both address this issue.

  5. Carrie Link says:

    Hope you had a great night out, Gussie!

  6. KC says:

    Those floppy puppy legs are KILLING me!

  7. Amanda says:

    Thanks for sharing. didn’t want to get morbid but I did wonder.

    We saw the film based on “A Friend Like Henry” which was just hysterical.

  8. GoMama says:

    Hope you had fun on your non-Gussy Night Out. And I’d have a pic of Jingle on my phone if I’d've helped train her. She’s a perfect angel dog! Look at that face! Pure Love.

  9. Can I just say that Michelle looked fabulous on our girls night out? I did not even have time to change or comb my hair, and her hair is amazing. I have been coveting her hair ever since I met her.