Update from the Holidays

I really put things on hold over the Holidays. It was just too hectic to try and take Mal anywhere for training with the crazy Christmas shoppers crowding the stores. We just worked on obedience at home, and took lots of walks up and down the road. 

Since New Years, I have had him out in public to work 3 times. The first was a trip to Ramsey Canyon to hike with the whole family. When we went into the Visitors Center (which you have to pass through to get to the trail) I was told "no dogs allowed" on the trail. I must admit, I froze. Luckily the Hubs saw this and told the volunteer Mal is a service dog, and pointed to his harness/patches. The guy apologized immediately, but it got me thinking that his patches are really only visible to me. Here is a shot of us on the hike. You can barely tell he has anything to mark him as a Service Dog.

 I know that I don't have to have them visible, or have them on him at all, but the more visible it is, the less likely I am to have issues with "confrontation" in public. After all, I have him for Anxiety and Panic issues, so the less I have to have discussions about his Public Access status, the better.

That being said, we are flat broke right now, so the up to $150 packs I have found online are out of the question. Off to buy fabric! I made him a simple cape with a pocket to keep his paperwork in, and took the patches off his harness to use on the cape. 

Much better!

I can use it with his harness on under it, or just hook the leash to his collar. We have been to the mall, Target, and Wal-Mart and I feel a lot more confident that he is easily identifiable as a Service Dog, not a pet I just brought into the store.

As far as Mal, he is such a trooper! He has been doing so well with both Obedience and Public Access. He is so friendly that our biggest obstacle at the moment is keeping his attention on me, but even that is improving every day. I think in the next month we will start on his task training for the Individual Tasks he is required to do. He only needs 2 to comply to the ADA Standard, but I have chosen four.

1) Steady: I get dizzy from my meds sometimes, and he will pull slightly on the leash to help me keep balance

2) Tactile Stimulation: He will engage me to pet him with licking and/or "paws up" on my lap during a Panic Attack

3) Calming Pressure: He will "lean" on me when I am beginning to have Anxiety to remind he to remain calm

4) Crowd Control: He will become a physical barrier between me and others in a social situation

As an added bonus, teaching him "Steady" is helping him learn to not pull during "Heel" as he learns the difference in the 2 commands! Yay!