http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/2010/07/12/freedom-for-dogs/ autism service dog Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:25:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/2010/07/12/freedom-for-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-15702 Maggie Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:54:32 +0000 http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/?p=664#comment-15702 We have a 4 Paws service dog named Kermit. I have been reading your blog ever since you got Jingle. I love reading about your entire family and life with Jingle. Kermit is a great dog and does a great service for his boy. But we get the same thing from people. Especially at home where he is more 'dog'. Still working on the greeting people thing at home. Picked up bad habits from our older dog at home. I am so glad the retractable leash is working well. We have found as well that your first instinct is usually your best! Thanks so much for your blog. I love it! We have a 4 Paws service dog named Kermit. I have been reading your blog ever since you got Jingle. I love reading about your entire family and life with Jingle. Kermit is a great dog and does a great service for his boy. But we get the same thing from people. Especially at home where he is more ‘dog’. Still working on the greeting people thing at home. Picked up bad habits from our older dog at home. I am so glad the retractable leash is working well. We have found as well that your first instinct is usually your best! Thanks so much for your blog. I love it!

]]> http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/2010/07/12/freedom-for-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-11920 Eileen Mon, 12 Jul 2010 20:06:55 +0000 http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/?p=664#comment-11920 I know just what you mean! I use a service dog, one of whose main jobs is behavior interruption. He doesn't need to be at a perfect heel at all times to do his job...but I feel so judged by the community when he's not. It probably doesn't help that even when he is heeling perfectly we are not-infrequently stopped and questioned since he's a small dog (no need to be big for what I need). Anyway, he wears a vest when we're in public, and that's my way of telling him he's on duty. Obviously he's ready to work all the time, but on duty his manners have to be on. Stay in a heel, no sniffing, no greeting people, lie quietly, etc. This is a very clear way for me to tell him when he can be a dog, and when he needs to work and be in control. And it lets me give him freedom so easily! I imagine dirty looks when I walk to a store with him free, then put on his vest and walk in, but I know I'm in my rights, and his behavior is nothing to complain about! I know just what you mean! I use a service dog, one of whose main jobs is behavior interruption. He doesn’t need to be at a perfect heel at all times to do his job…but I feel so judged by the community when he’s not. It probably doesn’t help that even when he is heeling perfectly we are not-infrequently stopped and questioned since he’s a small dog (no need to be big for what I need). Anyway, he wears a vest when we’re in public, and that’s my way of telling him he’s on duty. Obviously he’s ready to work all the time, but on duty his manners have to be on. Stay in a heel, no sniffing, no greeting people, lie quietly, etc. This is a very clear way for me to tell him when he can be a dog, and when he needs to work and be in control. And it lets me give him freedom so easily! I imagine dirty looks when I walk to a store with him free, then put on his vest and walk in, but I know I’m in my rights, and his behavior is nothing to complain about!

]]> http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/2010/07/12/freedom-for-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-11836 Amanda Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:09:43 +0000 http://fullsoulahead.com/service-dog/?p=664#comment-11836 Meg doesn't get the whole walk to heal on the lead thing either. She's so used to being off it I think it puts her off her stride. Off the lead she'll come and walk by you as long as you remind her every ten paces....the only time she really goes on the lead is going to the vet so may be that has something to do with it. It's one of the joys of living in the back end of no-where :D Meg doesn’t get the whole walk to heal on the lead thing either. She’s so used to being off it I think it puts her off her stride. Off the lead she’ll come and walk by you as long as you remind her every ten paces….the only time she really goes on the lead is going to the vet so may be that has something to do with it. It’s one of the joys of living in the back end of no-where

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