Service Dogs

 

          We Make Your Rehab Happen

 

                                     We don't have the slightest clue what it is, but we know its properties.

                                              We can't see it, but we know it's there. -- Leander Kahney

                                             (from wired.com, 5/23,/2003 re the existence of Dark Matter)

 

…that quote pretty much captures a Service Dog's devotion to any CPI Rehab Battler and their loved ones. My name is Sir Coogee. I am a quite famous Service Dog (type in "dogee" at YouTube.com I live in Saratoga Springs, New York (about 200 north of my other home on the upper west side of my beloved Manhattan) and this is my personal contribution to my Sugar Daddy Hedbring in particular and and Segwaydom in general...

 

       Let me start by making this clear: I know what’s happening, believe me I do. When it comes to catastrophic physical injuries (CPI) and the mental hassles that go hand in hand with CPI and SCI (Spinal Cord Injuries), I know a whole lot about how we doggies can help you out. Yes, you physically handicapped dudes, are fighting a lonely battle, I know. I also know that your loved ones try their best to improve your plight, but you and I both know they have their own problems, their own worries, their own struggles to overcome day in and day out.

 

     Modern life seems so bloody full of threats, setbacks, failure, deceit, and disappointment. So believe me when I say that my mates and I offer relief. We want to make your world better for you. We want you to be eager to wake up, quick to get up, resolved to stay up, and reluctant to retire. To cope is to win and we help you cope, to transcend, to find pockets of happiness and solace every single rehab day.

     As Rehab Service Dogs (under ADA Regs, we Service Dogs are not "pets" -- lordy lordy), we have advanced intuition in devotion. We bring to you no baggage or burden, only boundless love. Give us your time and we will give you our all. That is our goal. Such is our therapy. That’s why we’re Service Dogs (and of course, shhhhh [whisper], pets). We will be reliably and dependably co-dependent, co-enabling, co-habitative, and yes, copacetic! (Woof!)

 

     So, on the subject Catastrophic Personal Injuries (CPI), let’s start with some rhetorical questions. Wouldn’t you like to be get more limber? What about the critical need to exercise your lower back, your knee joints, your shoulders? What about bending over – ah, without falling over? Brushing your own teeth? Being strong enough to pick up and set down your feet so you can walk up three or four steps without crutch or cane?

     Or how about just sitting up in bed or getting up from your stifling wheelchair to at least a supported standing position? At some point wouldn’t it be neat to be able to sit on and get off the toilet gently and more smoothly? Wouldn’t you like to walk better … faster … with better balance and coordination? Want to get your mind off your wretched pain and woes, at least part of the time? Does the possibility of being happier, more mellow, more motivated meet your fancy? Of course it does and we are here to help. Throw in the wonderful rehab assistance a Segway can provide and your life can be immensurably (good word for a Service Dog, eh?!) enhanced.

 

      My Sugar Daddy was a quadriplegic blob for weeks. He was a paraplegic for many months. He was bed-ridden and wheel-chair bound for years. He’s now walking without crutch, cane, or braces. He drives, mows his lawn, shovels snow, rakes leaves, walks up and down stairways, does his own grocery shopping and on and on. Easy for him? Hell no. Every day is a battle – against fatigue, deep joint pain, depression, endless buzzing/tingling/numbness in his arms and legs, toileting problems, leg spasms.... Well, let’s just say that post-CPI in general and post-SCI in particular is a life wracked by daily “issues” (to use a favorite term of pseudo-intellectuals and talk-show babblers). Our goal is to help our SCI Battlers make the most of every day.  

 

Why a (Service) Doggie?

 

One of SugDad’s favorite quotes is a John Dewey classic: “Let Each Become All (S)He is Capable of Being”. You CPI/SCI Battlers can get back a lot of what you lost. I know because I witnessed it happen. Can you do it alone? Please say "mostly yes," for in truth the Battle is lonely; loved ones and even hired assistants have their own lives and problems. Can you speed up your progress and lessen the dread? Yes, indeed. How? Can you spell Rehab Therapy Service Dog (and a trusty Segway)? 

 

Of course you want to speed your recovery. Of course you want to invigorate your rehab? We can help. We service dudes will bring to your plight at least:

 

·        Companionship – We Service Dogs make jolly good domestic partners. No arguments from us when you have a bad-mood day. Want to rattle around outside in your powered wheelchair? No worries, we are eager and happy to oblige. (Remember what SugDad (SugarDad) always stresses, though: Nothing but a powered wheelchair. It's silly to burn up therapy energy struggling with a manual wheelchair.)

Want to take a taxi to the bank, post office, or hardware store? Consider it done. We’re with you all the way. And we will even hang around outside on our leash while you do some quick grocery shopping. (We generally aren’t allowed in stores where food is sold. Lots of Deli’s are cool with it, though, if you make it quick and we are well behaved.)

     Want a neat bedmate who will keep you toasty warm? Well, we are the absolute best in bed! Every single loving doggie owner will tell you that. We love hanging out in beddy-bye with you. You read, watch TV, work you computer, or listen to your (ah, legally) downloaded MP3 music. True, I must admit, some of us snore a bit and many of us swipe the bed covers and pillows if we can. But pretty much we will snooze and dream on a bit while you chill out, rest, and prepare for us yet again nudging you to do a bit more exercising with your CPI-wracked body (and mind).

     Companionship? You got full-time kindly company with a high-IQ, low maintenance Service dog. Cats are great if you are bed-ridden, wheelchair bound, prone to frequent illness, or are quite unstable on your feet. Otherwise, may I suggest one of us Service Dogs, pretty please. We will prompt more physical activity on your part. And we come in a variety of flavors as you will discover shortly, much to your unmuzzled delight.

·        Motivation – We Service Dogs in particular will keep you busy. We will give you all kinds of neat reasons to get outta bed in the morning; to get outta the wheelchair if possible; to get off the couch one more time; to make one last evening trip outside; to cook up a bit of stew, a little chook (Aussie-speak for chicken), rack of ribs, slab of beef, tender slices of liver. Our goal is to give you ample reasons to stay active – and happier.

·        Exercise/Play – Some of us Service Dogs need to run, run, run. Play, play, play. We can be high energy. Most terriers are that way. On the other hand, pugs love to just hang out on your lap. You are welcome to take us to a nearby cemetery. We will run around among the headstones, chase eager squirrels among all the trees, tease the leaves as they flutter about the ground, and work our back teeth on a fallen tree limb or two. While we frolic, you can take a stroll or hang out in the car if you are really tired. Either way, it’s a big thrill for us.

     On the way home, we can take a deserted back road along the way. You can let us out of the car, for most of us terriers love to run along behind the car (up to 30 mph!) for 150-200 yards or so. Great exercise. On the other hand, the pugs among us are quite content just to hang out with you in the car and follow you around the apartment or house and play tug-of-war with you when it meets your fancy.

      Most of us love kids too, you know. In most cases we will give you great pleasure as you watch the kids chase us around the yard, dog run, nearby park, or in the woods. You can then gauge your own activity while watching us tire out the kids. You are sure to enjoy our antics. (Of course, we indeed hope you'll follow us around on your trusty Segway.)

      Whatever your rehab needs, for sure there’s a potential Service Dog just waiting to help you along. And remember, when we move around we do our best to get you up and moving around as well.

·        Intelligence – All of us doggies endorsed here are very – very – intelligent. We are quick learners, fast teachers, insightful, intuitive, compassionate, committed, honest, dependable, loyal, caring, and very s-m-a-r-t. Heck, how many humans (“homo saps”) do you know with those kinds of qualities? Ah, when you take us to dog training school, observe who is really being trained. Yuppy duppy puppy, dude. We ensure you are trained to help us make great Service Dogs.

·        Social interaction – Nearly all of us love kids! We know many CPI victims have young relatives, so we are pretty darn tolerant. Besides, those young dudes are a hoot to play with. Also, we are a great focal point for initiating a bit of street-level banter. “Oh, how cute!” “My, what a nice doggie.” “Nice dog. Is he a Timbuktu Angus?” “Good morning, Sir. That’s a friendly dog. Can I pet her?” (Of course you can. You look physically able to do so. The question is, may you. And yes, you have permission to pet the Service Dog – whose grammar prowess clearly far outstrips yours, you card-carrying dingbat.) (See, we doggies also know what you are thinking but are too classy to say out loud!)

·        Entertainment – Most of us pets, we service dogs, are fun to watch. Well, pet turtles are a bit of a drag, but generally speaking most Service dogs do like to entertain. We aim to please, and that includes keeping you as happy and busy and mentally up as possible.

·        Conversation – Talk all you want, we listen. Kiddy-cats listen. Ferrets listen. Rabbits listen. Parakeets listen. We Service Dogs in particular love to listen. Want to have a bit of a gum flapper? Babble on, mate. We are all ears. Want to have a little cry now and again? We understand and will snuggle up with you as long as you want. Having a bad pain day and need to holler a bit. Go for it: Seldom do we argue, disagree, or even complain. We may sneak a quizzical look your way, but we’re cool.

·        Scheduling/Pacing – We will keep your days organized. We will get you outta bed in the morning by 8am. Time to go for a potty stroll. Then we have breakfast. Then we go to do some errands. Then it’s off to the dog run or another stroll (it is probably wee-wee time again, anyway). Time to rest, watch some TV, check the local paper, or enjoy some radio; you get into that and I’ll play with my squeaky toys, (We Service Dogs and kitties alike love noisy furry squishy toys.) Now, we hope you will fit kids into our schedule. Where kids abound, we are in seventh heaven!

·        Distraction -- The fact is, we will do pretty much whatever it takes to keep your mind off your woes. We will keep you company, occupied, happy. Playing with us (a lot). Cooking for us. Grooming and petting. Picking up after us. Taking trips with us (even if it is just around the block in your powered wheelchair [remember: manual wheelchairs are out; powered scooters and chairs are in!]) And of course, most of us Service Dogs love running longside your #2 (we are #1) Rehab Assistant -- yup, your Segway!.

·        Understanding – Want to know what is the best of all about us Service Dogs? We know stuff. We know what’s happening. We know you Battlers. Whether cranky or cordial, we know. Tired, in pain, spasms, frustrated, anxious, distraught. Whatever your physical condition or mental state, we just know how tough it is. And we will always be there beside you, up under your arm, snuggled between your legs, tight up against your feet. We are always there with you, for you, helping you cope in your courageous comeback fight against the catastrophic personal injury that so cruelly struck you down.

·        Compassion – We care about you. A lot. We are 24/7. Your other loved ones have their own cross to bear, as we mentioned. We sure do love to care heaps about you. I adore my SugDad. More importantly, let me also say this: If you adopt a rescue doggie (or kitty), you will be even more loved, more appreciated, more protected. Rescue pets (aka service dogs) will bring you unequalled devotion, loyalty, and faithfulness. We breeder-babes will dearly love you for sure. But heaven hath no love like a doggie or kitty rescued from cruelty or abandonment. Either way, we all bring to you a degree of compassion that you will grow to cherish.

·        Responsibility – We need a modicum of personal attention. Not much, mind you. But there are a few things we do need. Ample fresh water twice a day. Top-quality meals 2-3 times a day. Toenails checked weekly and probably clipped monthly. Bathed as needed and at least monthly. Closely checked for tics and fleas after each cavort in nearby fields, wooded areas, around ponds and streams. Heart and worm pills as vet-specified. Vet visit every 3-4 months to check things you may have overlooked as a CPI-Battler. We do thus require that you be responsible toward us. And in so doing, it will help you shift the focus off your ills and pains and problems.

·        Discipline – We need almost none if we are your “24/7 pet” (Oops, sorry: Service Dog). We will pick up quite smartly your routines, your voice cues, your mood swings, your mannerisms, and your needs and schedules. Your expectations will be imprinted quickly.

·        Self-confidence -- Digging me out of the woods; climbing over a log in the woods; trudging through the snow, ocean surf, or deep autumn leaves; bending over to pick up ball after ball after ball, stuffed animal after … well, as your balance improves, your limbs grow more limber, and your feet keep their footing, we will accept a bit of the credit.

        For a moment just think of the great feeling of accomplishment: You walk into a store, bend off, pick up, hold, and carry one of those heavy-duty hard black, red, or gray plastic baskets. After months and months of physical rehab, you no longer need a shopping cart for support. You pick and choose five, six, ten, or more items and successfully carry the filled basket to the checkout counter, and then to the car, bus, or subway train. You are brimming with warranted self-confidence from the achievement. If  waiting patiently in the car (window or two rolled down a bit for fresh air), we lick you to death when you return. We too are so proud of you. Very very proud...

·        Tranquility/calmness – Just hanging out with us has such a serene calming effect. We are so halyconic!

·        Protection – A dog’s ears never sleep. If it moves, we hear it. If we hear it, you will know. We Service Dogs can be taught to be territorial and we know the boundaries. No unwanted dude messes with you when we’re around! My fellow rat terrier, Noodle, is a great example.

      Noodle was SugarDad’s “baby-ratter.” The smallest of the four rat terrier sizes (around 15 lbs), Klein and James would drop Noodle off at SugarDad’s apt when they left for work around 3pm or so most every day. (They are waiters at fancy restaurants in New York.) As I hear SugarDad tell it, Noodle would stay in bed with him and bark if anyone approached he door. If SugarDad would buzz open the apartment door, “The Nood” (as SugarDad fondly refers to him) would bark or growl and worry about asking questions later. Whomever The Nood decided was in the “social loop” would eagerly get hugs and kisses. Everyone else was dagger-eyed with a stare that backed off the new visitor until Noodle felt them no threat to then-helpless, bed-ridden SugarDad Hedbring.

        Most Service Dogs I know provide excellent personal and property protection that is reliable, dependable, and balanced.

·        Depression – – We service dogs bring you “The Change You    Deserve”. We are a walking 24/7 antidepressant! Lean on us!

            Low on energy? We will perk you up!

            Lacking motivation? We will fire you up!

            Getting out of bed is pointless? We will get you up!

            Seeing the cup as half empty? We will fill it up!

            Exercising is too much work? We will make it playful!

Serotonin-‘challenged’? We will make this brain chemical           hum! We know that it plays an important role in fighting depression. We know that Paxil is a prescription drug that treats depression by raise the brain's levels of serotonin. Well, we will do our best to make you feel that our presence alone has raised your happy serotonin level! If you want, we can be serotonin’s best friend! We’ll ensure a happy haven.

Melatonin-overloaded? We will help make this brain chemical chill out a bit. Yup, we service dogs know that the melatonin production rises as the sun goes down, darkness kicks in, and you wind down. You begin to feel less alert? Not until later, if we are around. Body temperature starts to fall? Nah, we will help keep it up a bit longer! Sleep seems more inviting? Not a chance! If you want, we can become your melatonin’s worst enemy!

Rainy days get you down? "Sunshine hitting the retina of the eye produces mood-enhancing neurochemicals in the brain," says New Jersey psychologist, Dr. Farrell. "That makes you feel good." My experience with SugDad is that sunny weather is feel-good weather all through the entire body. Not just the eyes. SugDad loves to bask in the sun. I do too. And my eyes are mostly closed; so too SugarDad’s. Whatever the case, we doggie will get you out in the sun a lot. And we will pump up your mood when the clouds come. SugDad calls me his “Prince of Glee.” Woof!

 

So Why not a Service Dog Doggie?

 

While nearly impossible to believe(!), pets and Service Dogs are not for everyone.

 

Some folks are allergic to pets -- generally their dandruff. Others are allergic to cats and not dogs, or are allergic to all animals except for parakeets. Still others may have a fear of dogs or cats, or simply don’t like animals in general for whatever reason.

 

Some homo saps may grow weary of our antics and our needs, however minimal they may be. Some may not like our tendency to want to lick you to death, or hump the back of your leg as our expression of appreciation and love. And true, taking us out in the rain, wind, sleet, hail or snow may be too much of a downer for some Rehab Battlers.

Clearly, then, pets are not for everyone. The very idea of acquiring a Service Dog demands careful and thoughtful consideration. The long term commitment is considerable. SCI Battlers confined to a bed or wheelchair may think twice about a doggie or kitty. Rehab Battlers who have associated illnesses requiring frequent stays away from home might be wise to forego pets (including service dogs). Those who are quite weak physically, or who are financially strapped, or who simply lack the required motivation might want to wait awhile to see how their plight works out longer term. For sure, it is vitally important to think long and hard about the practicality and sacrifices involved in a decision that has consequences for 12 to 15 years.

       We Service Dogs are 24/7 domestic partners. We are with you all the time. With us, you really can’t give us 6 hours a day and call us a pet. We are your pet, yes. But we are also a constant, trusted, devoted companion, seven days a week, twenty-four hours of every single day. We’re mates. We’re partners. We’re inseparable. We’re precious. We are ... Service Dogs.

       Rehab Battlers get a huge bang for their buck from a Therapy Service Dog. Doggies offer huge mental and physical rehab returns on your investment. But there is an investment – of time (24/7, 12 years), of commitment (24/7 means you must love the pet), of patience and tolerance (like kids, doggies can test your mettle from time to time), of money (pets become ill too; pills, checkups, inoculations all cost money). To commit to a Therapy P/Service Doggie is a major long-term decision.

       So please check with your physician first. Chat it up with family members and home health care assistants. Bounce the idea of a Therapy Pet/Service Doggie around with dog owners, cat lovers, bird keepers, rabbit rousers, ferret fanatics, lion tamers and all the rest. If your decision is a go, read on!

 

Enjoy a Service Doggie!

 

                           "The [doggie] heart feels things the eyes cannot see,
                           and knows what the mind cannot understand."

                                                                                     --Robert Vallett

 

So you do want to get a doggie? Good decision! We do rehab and we do it jolly well. Get yourself a doggie, and preferably one like me if I may so state. I’m a rat terrier. Twenty-eight pounds. Short hair. Low maintenance. High energy. I’m the sort of domestic partner teenage SCI Battlers to middle age SCI Battlers with energy, determination, and motivation will most likely enjoy. For the elderly, the pre-teen, and assorted others, I may be a bit too hyper. (But there are alternative doggie breeds, as discussed below.) 

 

In the interest of full disclosure, some of us Service Dogs do have a fault or two, no question about it. Unlike other possible service animals,        (1) many of us love chasing squirrels. We have little interest in catching them, but we sure get a kick out of chasing those critters. Maybe it’s the fluffy, furry, flailing tails. Hard to say, but what fun! Yes, chipmunks are ok but they too bloody quick. Rabbits are a scream to chase, but they zigzag and dart too much and are impossible to catch. Cats are fun until they stop, arch their back, and hiss. Then I’m outta there. Ducks bore me. Cows scare me to death (they get together, chew with their mouths open, and just stare. Definitely they rattle my cage!).

       (2) Why I don’t know, but we Service Dogs sometimes have no clue about cars, buses, trains, cycles, bikes, roller skates or roller-blades. So we do ask that our domestic partners look out for us in that regard.

       (3) Some of us Service Dogs have a thing about, ah, “perfume”. What you homo saps find ghastly, smelly, and repulsive, some of us find rater alluring. So if some of us tend to roll around or rub our neck in stuff you find offensive, no problem. No need to yell and scream and carry on like a sick chook. Instead, just holler out with a sharp “No!” and give us a swat on the behind. We are smart. We will quickly learn your definition of non-perfume.

       (4) Unlike kitties, for example, we will need to be toilet trained. Again, fret not. Our bodies mature quickly. When put on an hourly potty schedule, our bladder and bowel learn to hold on until potty time. Within 3-4 months we wee-wee three times a day, or whenever you exercise yourself and us. We poo-poo generally once during the day, again during an outdoor activity session. (Please bring along a doggie-bag to clean up our calling-card. We know it’s a hassle, but in truth we are a whole lot less hard on the environment that many homo saps, right?) Until trained, there are neat commercially available pampers-like material you can put on the floor. We quickly learn to “go” on that mat. Not a worry to be had.

     (5) Some of us fixed males are not big on unfixed other males, generally speaking. They have a bad-ass attitude, always ready to argue, too often eager to pick on other dogs (and some people). Yes, there are some exceptions, like Labs and retrievers and pugs, but they are few. Oh, and by the way, we have absolutely no problem with being fixed. Some of you homo saps may have some bizarre hangup about spading and neutering, but we don’t. The fact is that it saves us a lot of walkabout hassle. It also improves our mood a whole lot, and tends to help us avoid a variety of health problems. Ignorant and macho homo sapiens may have an issue with fixing us dudes, but we sure don’t. Breed us or fix us. Simple as that.

     All in all, we Service Dogs are not perfect. But … well, we aren’t far off! We are pretty much hassle-free, in fact. Your love, like ours I trust, will not be misplaced, abused or unfulfilled.  

 

A Service Doggie? Some Yes/No Decisions…

 

1.      Commitment? – To review: (a) If your Catastrophic Personal Injury (CPI) limits your mobility severely; (b) if your CPI/SCI has resulted in a fragile medical condition where illness is frequent; (c) if you have deep rapid-cycle mood swings; (d) if fatigue is such that “I just can’t be bothered”; (e) if you are really going to be long-term (more than three years) unstable on your feet; (f) if falling is a risk you simply cannot afford to take (financially as well as medically); (g) if traveling, frequent hospital visits, overnight home-away stays define your post-SCI life -- then please think long and hard and decide carefully. We Service Dogs have feelings too. If you do decide on a potential Service Dog, the attachment-bond from our perspective will be strong, uncompromising, reliable, and deep.

 

2.      Kitty or Puppy? – If your rehab needs are more mental than physical; if you are bed-ridden or wheelchair-bound or crutches-dependent; if your living space is small or outside exercise area distant or limited; if picking up doggy poo bothers you; if washing Service Dogs is too much of a hassle, then please think puddy-cat perhaps. Kitties make great companions, offer exquisite comfort, less maintenance, less injury risk, and kitties will surely stimulate some physical activity on your part.

 

3.      Large dude or Small bloke? – Small is safer, more manageable, and less expensive when it comes to Service Dogs. You CPI/SCI Battlers are pretty bloody wobbly on your feet. Even with a cane or crutch, “splatsi-poo” faceplants remain a concern year after year. Bigger, huskier, or taller doggies can too easily topple you in a second. Who needs that level of risk when there are so many small, short, light doggies and kitties available.

 

4.      Long or Short Hair? – May we suggest short-hair dogs? Less cost re haircuts. Less hassle re shedding. Less of a problem finding tics, flees, cuts, sores, and so forth. Far easier to wash, clean and groom. Hair matting is not an issue. Yes, some of us may need to be dressed in a sweater or coat during colder months, but that’s a mere trifle. Short hair has many, many advantages, and delightfully few if any disadvantages.

 

5.      Lapper or Runner? – If you are older, limited in mobility, wobbly on your feet, or have a small living or exercise space, consider a Pug (or similar) doggie – or kitty. They are calmer, more sedate, mellow, and make fine lap dogs. Of course ‘lapper’ doggies still require daily walks, but no way do they need the extended daily exercise that we high energy small terriers require.

 

6.      Barker or Silent type? – The quieter the better, almost always with SCI Battlers. You need your rest. We know in fact that your peace and quiet are second only to solace and solitude. We understand that. Some of us are yappers. Some, like me, are pretty quiet. (I only cause drama when a stranger approaches the house, apt, or car.)  Noisy Service Dogs make for bad domestic partners. Peace assuages lots. We know.

 

7.      Male or Female? -- It is in just about all cases a matter of personal taste. The quality of breeder-care, reputation of rescue facility, whether we are fixed, and your own love and devotion will pretty much determine our temperament. Maleness is in itself generally will not prove an issue. However, the local rescue center, breeder, and local vet will have more precise insights to shed on this particular topic, for sure.

 

8.      Neutered/Spade? -- Breed us or fix us. Period. You don’t want to fix us? Then don’t get a puppy or kitty. Period!

 

Which Service Doggie? Some Thoughts…

 

We are not talking about “service dogs for the blind here. Nor is this chapter about “formally trained” dogs. We also are not including large dogs, due to the risk of SCI Battlers getting knocked down or pulled off balance.

       All therapy Service Dogs listed here are picked with the understanding that we are “fixed” within our first year. (Hey, SugarDad has no recollection of his circumcision and he’s cool. I have no memory of my alteration either. And in both cases the benefits are significant. SugDad has even said that had he been fixed early on, how much easier life might have been!)

·        Small Rat Terrier – short hair, smart, assertive, loving, devoted, 15 lbs; not a yapper or nipper; needs tons of exercise/hyper; fine inside doggie if run outside 3-4 times a day. The B-E-S-T for SCI Battlers able, willing, and determined to devote hours a day, every day to the physical exercise required to bounce back. (Ratters are preferable to Jack Russells because in general we tend to be less yappy, less nippy, less aggressive, and more kid-friendly. We are just as hyper and high energy, however. I am a mid-size dude, weighing in at a bragging-rights solid, heavily muscled 28 lbs – about 13 kilograms, I’m told.) As a ratter myself, please do not get a hyper doggie any bigger than my mid-size. Smaller is more manageable when it comes to high-energy Service Dogs.

             I know I am so very fortunate. I was never abuse, ignored, unloved, abandoned. I am a breeder babe. My breeder is a wonderful lady by the name of Margaret Burz. She is energetic and absolutely loves ratters (and all doggies I bet). I was picked up personally by SugarDad and he saw how clean and organized and upbeat her facility is. Her attractive, well-designed webby is worth an extended visit, stay, and follow-up:

            http://www.nrta.com/breederswebpages/burz/burz.shtml

·        Jack Russell – wonderfully impish, high energy/hyper, so smart and so clever, low maintenance, loving and devoted, delightful antics and very entertaining … but requires a firm hand or will very quickly run your show. Much like a rat terrier but less tolerant, tends to be more yappy, and can be nippy. Needs plenty of exercise. Firm hand, wonderful pet.

·        Boston Terrier – small, short hair, gentle, smart, excellent for small apartments or small exercise areas. An excellent 3rd choice for a potential Service Dog..

·        Pug – small, easy to pick up, short hair, very loving, playful, low-energy, mellow. ‘Pugsters’ are one of the B-E-S-T for living in small quarters and the best for SCI Battlers unable or unwilling to devote more than an hour a day to walking the doggie. Great choice for the elderly and the young, or bed-ridden SCI Battlers. Bad choice as a Service Dog.

·        Short-haired Dachshund – playful, loving, devoted, smart. Great indoors therapy pet; needs 2-3 30minute walks a day. A bit long to pick up or carry far unless your post-SCI balance is good. Great Therapy Pet. Not a good candidate for Service Dog status.

·        Fox terrier – smooth haired; smart, fun, needs ‘average’ exercise; loving; up to 20 lbs. Tend to be yappy and possessive, however.

·        Miniature or Toy Poodle – longer, curly hair/grooming; prefers you to other dogs; pamper a poodle and be loved to death! But needs 2-3 30minute daily walks. If the grooming is okay and some yappy vocal cords don’t get you (or any nearby neighbors) down, this dude is one of the B-E-S-T. To wit: fine Therapy Dog, bad Service Dog characteristics.

·        Miniature Pinscher – short/smooth hair, short, loving, frisky, does not tolerate young kids well. Some can be rather yappy. Ton of fun, but requires a firm hand.

·        Chihuahua – short/smooth hair, small/5-7 lbs, very frisky; fast; quick; great lap dog but does require a firm hand. Great apartment dog, though often very yappy. Fiercely loving and loyal, and can be very assertive toward newcomers. Again, fine Therapy Dog, bad Service Dog characteristics.

·        Cocker Spaniel – long hair/grooming; lounge-dog; very cuddily, loving.Very content to hang out, be mellow, be quiet, and cuddle. One of the B-E-S-T for SCI Battlers, if long hair and frequent grooming are okay with you in your rehab. Fine Therapy Dog, bad Service Dog characteristics.

·        Schnauzer – keep hair short/frequent grooming; great lap doggie; needs to get out for a walk 2-3 times a day for 30 minutes or so. Yes, fine Therapy Dog, bad Service Dog characteristics.

 

Of course it is true that other rehab therapy Service Dogs abound. We come in a variety of breeds, models, versions, abilities, sizes, colors, and shapes. However, the pet bow-wows listed above are mates I know something about. Small, mostly short hair, most light-weight, mostly sturdy and hardy, all very intelligent. I have a lot of mates who are Chocolate or Black Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Huskies, and German Shepherds, among others. Wonderful, all of them. But just too large for you SCI Battlers. I have hung out and rattled around with all of them over the past three years or so. Without question, then, I feel sure that one of the potential Service Dogs listed above will meet your SCI Battle-back physical or mental needs – if, indeed, a doggie is for you.

 

What We Service Dogs Bring to the Rehab Table

 

If you have a pet, you are clearly interested in your rehab therapy. If you have an active therapy pet doggie like me, you really have no choice but to improve -- a lot. I, for example, expect a lot from SugarDad and I work hard to ensure he gets the job done day in and day out. Some of our activities ….

·        “Feel-good” feelings: It is hard to explain. Pets in general, and cats and Service Dogs in particular make you feel better. It’s true. With us around you just feel better. You seem happier, more mellow, and less focused on your SCI hassles. It is soothing to you to have us on your lap, and we really enjoy it too. You enjoy petting and grooming us and we like it lots. As SugDad says, it’s great synergy (whatever he thinks he means by that).

·        Medical/pain help: The more SCI Battlers move, the better you all feel. The kinks get worked out. The joint pain often diminishes. The dreaded spasms often seem to decrease in intensity and frequency. We also suggest that you attach a very small pouch to our collar. In the pouch will be a small piece of laminated paper that includes the following information: my name, your name, our address, our phone number, your physician’s name and phone number, and the meds you are taking. Believe me, in 6-point font size all that vital data will fit nicely on a return address-sized label. Fold it up, pop it into a min-zip-lock baggie, and fit baggie into a mini-pouch stitched/stapled to my collar.     

·        Meal preparation: Lots of fine motor activity; patience; persistence; task repetition. Opening bottles and small cans with those built-in ring openers. Washing and drying and storing utensils and cutlery. Cutting, dicing, shredding tasty bits of tucker (Aussie-speak for food or meal) for you and moi. 

·        Washing & Grooming: SugDad bathes me in the tub as needed or every 3-4 weeks. It involves a lot of intense body bending, leg, arm and hand exercise. Handling me, washing, shampooing, add in a hair conditioner, wiping me reasonably dry, playing with me during and after – well, I agree that t’ain’t easy. My SugarDad also does a lot of grooming me with a soft brush; good for me, good for him. Scouring me for tics and fleas also involves considerable play-centered activity. I make it that way to ensure SugarDad gets a good workout. He never complains … and it does put him in a good mood.

·        Fine motor exercise: Grooming us. Scratching our backs and tummies us with your fingers (and your toes, too, by the way). Cutting our toenails. Brushing our teeth (true). Cleaning our ears. Picking prickers off our bodies. Giving us meds. Dicing some of our food. Opening small cans of tucker (a huge hassle for SugarDad). Breaking up dog biscuits. Cutting meat away from the bone. Tucking us in at night! 

·        Full Body exercise: We Service Dogs focus on rehabbing your entire body (and most of your mind as well). We ensure that you get lots of daily exercise -- bending at the knees, working the back muscles, balancing in a knees-bent position, turning the head and neck.

              Think about this: You can walk in the woods.  It is great balance training, with or without crutch or cane. Nobody is around but us Service Dogs. You can stumble, slip, slide, fall – and with all the leaves and pinecones and small branches, you probably won’t even mind. And there are ample trees and limbs and logs of all sizes to lend support as you pull yourself back up. And yes indeed, we are there to hang out with you as you practice.

·        Outdoor exercise: You want physical rehab? We’ll give you rehab! Just a series of short, slow walks is fine. Get a Pug. Need more? Get one of us small, short-haired terriers. We promise to keep you as busy, happy, and distracted as possible. You practice your balance, eye-hand coordination, gait, reaction time, finger dexterity, bike riding or auto-driving. We will chase the balls, walk the city blocks, enjoy the dog runs, stroll through the snow, accompany you through public gardens, ride around with you in the car, and hang out in bed or on the couch with you.

       But what we will not do is allow you to vegetate. You must get up early and not retire for the night before 8:30pm or so. You must not be allowed to rest “too long” between sessions of physical activity. (With SugarDad, I allow longer rest periods as the afternoon turns into evening.) And above all, you certainly are not allowed to ignore us. We will keep you awake, aware, alert, and active. For that’s why we are here. And if the rain is harsh, we will chase those soft, little, fluffy, squeaky toys and tennis balls all over the house (see photos). Good for me, great exercise for you.

      Exercise. Mowing the lawn, even in stages. Shoveling snow, if even for 15 minutes with long rest periods. Raking leaves, if only in short spurts. Walking in the snow, if only around the yard or block. Walking ankle-high in the surf, if only for a few yards. We Service Dogs understand the post-SCI toll that such activity exacts from your weakened bodies.

       Have you any idea the rehab that goes along with you just plain puttering around? Rattling around the kitchen, doing a little bit of whatever; or tinkering in the shed, the basement, or garage; or doing a bit of weeding or raking in the garden; or picking up some rubbish along the ocean or lake front near your home. And guess what? With a doggie with you, you will enjoy our antics and energy as you putter. Yup, we are putter-enablers. 

SugarDad gets heaps of exercise just running me. His futile cry in the past was, “He’s killing me, man!” True, he spent much of the day resting, sleeping, and keeping his hurtin’ legs up on the couch – between bouts of playing with me indoors and out. Now, in mid-2007 and many years into his endless rehab, it’s all about daily routine now.

       My SugDad burns me out too these days. Depending on the heat, I get a chance to run behind the car. So much fun it is, too. My top speed is nearly 40mph (50kph) in the morning when I’m fresh. My morning cruising speed is about 22mph (35kph). By 3pm or so I do fade a bit to sluggish 20mph trot. (Hey, I ain’t no Greyhound you know.)

·        Distraction: We will do our best to keep your mind off your woes. We know your nerve pain. We see the spasms (we are startled at first when those legs suddenly jump or snap close like a vice when you are lying down). We understand your frustration when unable to pull back the protective aluminum seals on bottles and containers; or trying to twist open a bottle cap; or fighting to pull apart two plastic flaps that seal prepackaged food; or needing to climb a three-step ladder and can’t; or lacking the groin and tummy strength to use the clutch in your standard-shift car; or wobble-walking out of a restaurant and people slide aside, thinking you’re drunk -- all due to poor finger dexterity and/ or poor muscle tone. The motivation is there. The endurance is there. The determination is obvious. The stamina is okay. It’s just a combination of SCI-related problems that we know drives you nuts at time. We try to drive you to distraction, instead. For if you go nuts, we don’t get fed! (humor)