Those of you who know Wyatt well know that he is quite a chatterbox. What you may not know is my son is allergic to writing. No, really. He will throw a hairy fit on the floor, lose all of his smiley faces for the day and be sent to his room before we could get him to complete a writing task. Not pretty. So what does this have to do with a service dog? Let me tell you.
Today my son wrote a letter.
He ASKED to write a letter.
Then he actually did it. It took him 35 minutes on the computer of hunting and pecking. He had to repeat over and over the letter he was looking for so he wouldn't forget. He wrote in sentences without prompting. He wrote original ideas.
He wrote to his dog, without tears or tantrums, without us forcing, cajoling or threatening him.
He wrote.
And his mom cried happy tears.
Dear Rexie,
How are you doing?I am so so so excited to meet you. Because I never meet you. I want to play fetch with you. I love yellow fur. I want to pet you. Are you fuzzy or soft?
Love Wyatt.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
IT'S A GIRL!!!!
Our amazingly talented new service dog now has a face to go with her name. Wyatt has said, "I want a yellow dog." about a hundred times. Guess what? Our new service dog is a yellow lab and Great Pyrenees mix. She is gentle and sweet according to one of the 4 Paws helpers. We are going to need a GIANT kennel according to Karen Shirk, the director of 4 Paws. She is a tall, beautiful animal. Wyatt (actually all of us) are VERY excited!
She was raised with the name Kieko, however, Wyatt just keeps calling her Rexie. When I try to get him to say "Kieko" he says, "EEK!o" kind of like he just stepped on a worm, "Eek!" or he refers to her as Igor. Other service dog families have reported that their service dogs have adapted very well to name changes, and don't become confused. I guess it is kind of like the nicknames we give our kids. They just assume we are too goofy to remember their real names! Kieko/Rexie's birthday is June 4th, the same day as my cousin's. We leave after school on the 5th. Her picture is posted above (HUGE - sorry I can't figure out how to resize as it was a bitmap and not a jpeg). We will try to continue to post throughout training to journal our progress!
Our amazingly talented new service dog now has a face to go with her name. Wyatt has said, "I want a yellow dog." about a hundred times. Guess what? Our new service dog is a yellow lab and Great Pyrenees mix. She is gentle and sweet according to one of the 4 Paws helpers. We are going to need a GIANT kennel according to Karen Shirk, the director of 4 Paws. She is a tall, beautiful animal. Wyatt (actually all of us) are VERY excited!
She was raised with the name Kieko, however, Wyatt just keeps calling her Rexie. When I try to get him to say "Kieko" he says, "EEK!o" kind of like he just stepped on a worm, "Eek!" or he refers to her as Igor. Other service dog families have reported that their service dogs have adapted very well to name changes, and don't become confused. I guess it is kind of like the nicknames we give our kids. They just assume we are too goofy to remember their real names! Kieko/Rexie's birthday is June 4th, the same day as my cousin's. We leave after school on the 5th. Her picture is posted above (HUGE - sorry I can't figure out how to resize as it was a bitmap and not a jpeg). We will try to continue to post throughout training to journal our progress!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Service VS. Therapy Dogs
No, no, no. It is not a grudge match I am talking about!
It seems I have not really explained the difference well.
Renee, my brilliant, witty, educated friend made a comment in the "comment section" of my previous entry regarding seeing eye dogs and therapy dogs. Something to the effect of "letting our therapy dog into her DQ to clean up the lobby." See what I mean about witty? Did she honestly think my children wouldn't get to it first? Anyway, I called her to let her know that we are receiving a service dog, not a therapy dog. Silence. I told her it will have all the same access rights and privileges as a seeing eye dog. More silence. Then she asked me, "Well, what's the difference?" Ummmm. Yeah. I felt a little stupid. I mean this was Wyatt's GODMOTHER whom I talk to every other day asking me this question. So here goes....
Top 10 List of SERVICE DOGS (SD) vs. certified THERAPY DOGS (TD)
10. Seeing Eye dogs and Autism Assistance dogs are both types service dogs. They are specifically trained to help one person who is disabled under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) mitigate their disability to gain independence. Therapy dogs are trained to interact with many people, but not one particular person.
9. SD live with the same person who they are trained to assist. This does not mean they are always "on the job." It means they are "on call." TD live with handlers (generally) who take their TD to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc. to enrich those peoples' lives at scheduled times.
8. SD generally receive training of 200 hours to be certified. 4 Paws dogs each receive over 500 hours of advanced training after their basic training is complete. Seeing eye dogs receive over two years of training! TD, on the other hand, need to show aptitude but do not require any formal training.
7. Therapy dogs are not granted Carte Blanche public access. Deny a certified Service Dog access to any public place and you will have lawyers set upon you... YIKES! There are laws that protect and grant access to SDs. They are Federal Laws, so individual states cannot "undo" them (not that anyone would want to... I mean, who wants to look like and evil ogre on the front page of the paper?)
6. There are many different types of SDs. Some of the specific types include seeing eye, hearing ear, autism assistance, drug traffic alert, mobility assistance, bomb sniffing, and seizure alert dogs. There are not specific types of therapy dogs, as they are not trained to assist someone with a specific disability. They are trained to give love and support. Aren't most dogs trained for that? If they weren't, they'd be CATS!
5. SD are very expensive to train. There are few organizations with 501c3 designation that are recognized to do so. TD can be trained through 4H! The dog gets trained and the kid gets a ribbon - sounds like a win/win.
4. Access tests must be passed in order for your dog to be given SD status. TD have temperament scales, but there are no tests.
3. SD get to wear a cool harness and a pack. OK, TDs get to wear a cape, but I think it is a bit delusional :)
2. SD improve a person's life and helps him or her to function as "normally" as possible. (What is normal anyway?) They have a "job!" TD bring joy, but do not have a "job."
And the #1 Difference between SD and TD is ....
1. SDs are required to be highly intelligent, adaptable, problem solving, lovable companions to one person that helps them mitigate their disability. SDs are working dogs. They have a Doggie Doctorate. TDs are lovable but do not necessarily have to be little Einsteins! TDs are wonderful pets who are often shared with other people who benefit from their TLC vibe - you know Tender Loving Canine.
Hope that clears things up a bit. If not, leave a comment, and I will try to address it!
Thanks, Nay, for the opportunity to clarify!
It seems I have not really explained the difference well.
Renee, my brilliant, witty, educated friend made a comment in the "comment section" of my previous entry regarding seeing eye dogs and therapy dogs. Something to the effect of "letting our therapy dog into her DQ to clean up the lobby." See what I mean about witty? Did she honestly think my children wouldn't get to it first? Anyway, I called her to let her know that we are receiving a service dog, not a therapy dog. Silence. I told her it will have all the same access rights and privileges as a seeing eye dog. More silence. Then she asked me, "Well, what's the difference?" Ummmm. Yeah. I felt a little stupid. I mean this was Wyatt's GODMOTHER whom I talk to every other day asking me this question. So here goes....
Top 10 List of SERVICE DOGS (SD) vs. certified THERAPY DOGS (TD)
10. Seeing Eye dogs and Autism Assistance dogs are both types service dogs. They are specifically trained to help one person who is disabled under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) mitigate their disability to gain independence. Therapy dogs are trained to interact with many people, but not one particular person.
9. SD live with the same person who they are trained to assist. This does not mean they are always "on the job." It means they are "on call." TD live with handlers (generally) who take their TD to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc. to enrich those peoples' lives at scheduled times.
8. SD generally receive training of 200 hours to be certified. 4 Paws dogs each receive over 500 hours of advanced training after their basic training is complete. Seeing eye dogs receive over two years of training! TD, on the other hand, need to show aptitude but do not require any formal training.
7. Therapy dogs are not granted Carte Blanche public access. Deny a certified Service Dog access to any public place and you will have lawyers set upon you... YIKES! There are laws that protect and grant access to SDs. They are Federal Laws, so individual states cannot "undo" them (not that anyone would want to... I mean, who wants to look like and evil ogre on the front page of the paper?)
6. There are many different types of SDs. Some of the specific types include seeing eye, hearing ear, autism assistance, drug traffic alert, mobility assistance, bomb sniffing, and seizure alert dogs. There are not specific types of therapy dogs, as they are not trained to assist someone with a specific disability. They are trained to give love and support. Aren't most dogs trained for that? If they weren't, they'd be CATS!
5. SD are very expensive to train. There are few organizations with 501c3 designation that are recognized to do so. TD can be trained through 4H! The dog gets trained and the kid gets a ribbon - sounds like a win/win.
4. Access tests must be passed in order for your dog to be given SD status. TD have temperament scales, but there are no tests.
3. SD get to wear a cool harness and a pack. OK, TDs get to wear a cape, but I think it is a bit delusional :)
2. SD improve a person's life and helps him or her to function as "normally" as possible. (What is normal anyway?) They have a "job!" TD bring joy, but do not have a "job."
And the #1 Difference between SD and TD is ....
1. SDs are required to be highly intelligent, adaptable, problem solving, lovable companions to one person that helps them mitigate their disability. SDs are working dogs. They have a Doggie Doctorate. TDs are lovable but do not necessarily have to be little Einsteins! TDs are wonderful pets who are often shared with other people who benefit from their TLC vibe - you know Tender Loving Canine.
Hope that clears things up a bit. If not, leave a comment, and I will try to address it!
Thanks, Nay, for the opportunity to clarify!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
THE COUNTDOWN!!!!
We are so thrilled, as we have begun the real countdown to receiving Wyatt's new best friend! April 30th is the day we receive a letter from Wyatt's dog. Yes, that's right. Wyatt's dog will write an email to our family revealing his identity, treat preferences, personality and excitement to meet our little Wyatt! Of course, without opposable thumbs, his letter will have to be transcribed. Karen Shirk, executive director of 4 Paws for Ability, will be our new family member's transcriptionist. We hear she speaks canine fluently!
May 5th after school we leave for Xenia, Ohio. On May 6th, we begin class at 9:00 in the morning and will meet the wunderhund that will bring positive change to our son's life and foster his independence! We will attend class in Ohio each day for ten days straight. On May 15th, God willing, we will graduate from 4 Paws as certified service dog handlers. You always knew we were certifiable, now we will also be certified! May 18th will be our maiden voyage to our church with Rex. Father Tony commented that he is looking forward to meeting a new parishioner. We are very glad that our faith community understands! I am always thankful for the awesome people who have been placed into our lives. Some of our other 4 Paws families are not as fortunate, and have had to leave their communities of faith. Two of our 4 Paws families are being discriminated against, and are being denied access to public places (their children's schools.) Please say a quick prayer for those who are ignorant, so that their eyes and hearts may be opened. Their checkbooks certainly will be opened and emptied after the ADA finishes with them! (Oops, did I just write that?) In any case, let's just hope and pray that it doesn't get ugly and the districts choose to do what is right and follow access laws!
As soon as we know which dog is going to be our service dog, we will definitely post it! Check back often on the 30th!
With excitement and gratitude,
Wyatt's family
We are so thrilled, as we have begun the real countdown to receiving Wyatt's new best friend! April 30th is the day we receive a letter from Wyatt's dog. Yes, that's right. Wyatt's dog will write an email to our family revealing his identity, treat preferences, personality and excitement to meet our little Wyatt! Of course, without opposable thumbs, his letter will have to be transcribed. Karen Shirk, executive director of 4 Paws for Ability, will be our new family member's transcriptionist. We hear she speaks canine fluently!
May 5th after school we leave for Xenia, Ohio. On May 6th, we begin class at 9:00 in the morning and will meet the wunderhund that will bring positive change to our son's life and foster his independence! We will attend class in Ohio each day for ten days straight. On May 15th, God willing, we will graduate from 4 Paws as certified service dog handlers. You always knew we were certifiable, now we will also be certified! May 18th will be our maiden voyage to our church with Rex. Father Tony commented that he is looking forward to meeting a new parishioner. We are very glad that our faith community understands! I am always thankful for the awesome people who have been placed into our lives. Some of our other 4 Paws families are not as fortunate, and have had to leave their communities of faith. Two of our 4 Paws families are being discriminated against, and are being denied access to public places (their children's schools.) Please say a quick prayer for those who are ignorant, so that their eyes and hearts may be opened. Their checkbooks certainly will be opened and emptied after the ADA finishes with them! (Oops, did I just write that?) In any case, let's just hope and pray that it doesn't get ugly and the districts choose to do what is right and follow access laws!
As soon as we know which dog is going to be our service dog, we will definitely post it! Check back often on the 30th!
With excitement and gratitude,
Wyatt's family
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