Anxiety, Austin, Depression, Fibromyalgia, PTSD, Texas

First Training Session With Meghan

A wonderful update from our trainer in Austin:

“Hi Laurie!

This was my first training session with Meghan, who suffers from PTSD, severe anxiety/depression, night terrors, and fibromyalgia, and her SDIT Precious. When we first met awhile ago, she wanted to make her dog, Maximus a Service Dog – but within the last couple of weeks, Precious showed up in her life and has done an amazing job of keeping her calm and safe when she is not feeling well. Precious already instinctively knows what his job is. He was made to be her Service Dog!

I met with her and Precious at her apartment. We started out the session outside working on heeling with distractions around. He was good at heeling, but needs more practice. I started out training Precious on “close”, and he caught on quickly! He is a smart one!

Precious gets super excited when he sees other dogs out in public, so I taught Meghan the “look at that” technique where you treat the dog before there is any reaction. So, you have to be on guard when you see another dog nearby. You click before there is a reaction and treat them for it – this prolongs the dog from reacting and keeps him looking back at you because you are treating him.

Then, we went upstairs to her apartment and worked on “leave it”. Precious has a habit of eating Maximus’s food once Maximus walks away and takes a break. So I recommended to Meghan to use this opportunity to practice “leave it”. He got it! As soon as he would walk over to Maximus’ bowl, I stood in front of it and told him to leave it. He sat right away and did not move, then I treated him for that.

This dog chose Meghan for a reason and I am super excited about working with them!”

SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS, MEGHAN AND PRECIOUS! GREAT TRAINING!

Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine, Military, Navy, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran

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ADA Rights, New Mexico

Denied Service in New Mexico

So proud of Shauna in New Mexico, who was denied service at an Allsups convenient store. Even after the manager called me and asked me to send him ADA Service Dog laws, which I did, Shauna went through this AGAIN:

“Kilo and I went back to that Allsups, and the male was working who was the one I argued with on the phone. The first thing he asked when I walked in is if I talked to the manager. I told him no, but that Laurie from Service Dog Express did, and hopefully the situation is resolved, for it could have turned into a hefty law suit. Then I offered the paper work for him to read, which he did. He then proceeded to argue with me that his fiance has a Service Dog, and everywhere they go, they have to show “paper work”. I told him that I have never had to show anything, nor was I ever questioned. And now that he read the laws, I told him to inform his fiance of her rights, that no place has a right to ask for “paperwork”. He then tried to tell me that places that serve food have all rights to do so! I shook my head, sighed and said NO, they do NOT have the right. He wanted to keep arguing, but I told him to drop it, he read the paperwork, and the law is above any company policy.

He then started to tell me about a woman in a wheelchair who wears a tag around her neck for her Service Dog, and states its the law she does. I told them I believe that is a choice, but not the law. I directed them to check out the ADA laws, and as well contact SDE if they wanted any more information. I bought my Coke and left. I honestly do not wanna go back to that Allsups, ever, but sometimes it’s on my way home. Sadly, my state of mind is still not set right to peacefully deal with confrontations like that, but my SDIT Kilo is amazing at quickly calming me down. He didn’t go in the down position while I was there; he stayed pressed to me the whole time or a bit to my side, bumping my hand with his head.

Shauna didn’t give up! She just called the corporate offices to Allsups, and they were amazing. They even said that those employees should NOT have asked for anything, not even to have mentioned seeing Kilo, especially since he was fully in his vest/gear. She told me she was going to call the district manager here in Roswell to make sure the problem is taken care of, and that that particular Allsups is more educated. She even agreed that I was harassed. I don’t think those people will be having a job much longer, but at least they will be schooled about Service Dogs!”

I AM SO VERY PROUD OF YOU, SHAUNA!! WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH WAS TERRIBLE, BUT YOU STOOD UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND DID THE RIGHT THING!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

Austin, General, PTSD, Texas

Lucia and Lily at Home Depot

YAY for our trainer in Austin! She’s been working hard! Here is her latest update on dear, wonderful Lucia, who suffers from PTSD, and her SDIT, Lily!

“Hi Laurie!

I had a GREAT session with Lucia and Lily at Home Depot tonight! We wanted to work on Lily heeling with distractions around and Lily did AWESOME job! I also had Lucia work on her loose-leash walking and no leash – just walking by her side! Lily did so great, a few times she would forge ahead but Lucia would call her back into a close and continue heeling! Even without the leash!!! She has great recalls now! I am so proud of them!!!

We also worked on sit/stays and down/stays as well and Lily can hold them for about eight feet and then breaks them but it’s great progress!!!


They are getting real close to taking the PAT! This was ONE of the BEST sessions we have had so far!

YAY FOR LUCIA AND LILY!!! I SIMPLY LOVE THESE TWO! LUCIA IS ONE OF THE SWEETEST PEOPLE I’VE EVER KNOWN, AND HER WORK WITH LILY IS SO CONSISTENT IT ALMOST BRINGS ME TO TEARS!! AGAIN, WONDERFUL TRAINING FROM OUR AUSTIN TRAINER!!!

Anxiety, Austin, Bipolar, Depression, Texas

Lee and Hagger

From our trainer in Austin, who is working with wonderful client, Lee, who suffers from Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder and Major Social Anxiety, major hearing loss in the left ear which also causes balance issues, scoliosis, and chronic right shoulder pain – at such a young age! Lee is SO inspirational!

“Hi Laurie,

I just had my third session with Lee and Hagger tonight. They are doing very well Lee wanted to work on Hagger’s possessiveness/resource guarding with dinner and his bone towards their friend Johnny. Hagger gives a little growl anytime Johnny walks by him while he is eating dinner or chewing on his bone. So I worked with Johnny on being in Hagger’s space while eating dinner and had him reinforce Hagger for not growling, positive reinforcement for no reaction. Same thing with his bone as well. I also questioned if it was because Johnny would stand over him and if that was a trigger for his growling, so I told Johnny and Lee to watch if he growls when Johnny sits down at Hagger’s level or only when he stands…..

We also worked on his Hagger’s heeling in the parking lot; by that time, Hagger the Humungous was tired from training. I also give Lee some tips on what to do when Hagger forges ahead. I taught Lee the close position to bring Hagger back to place. His eye contact was good. After talking with Lee and keeping up with his Facebook posts on training, I know they are ready for the PAT in the next couple of sessions. I am so proud of Lee for being committed to the training and Hagger is doing a fine job!”

SO PROUD OF YOU, LEE AND HAGGER! YOUR CONSISTENT WORK, STRONG BOND, AND BELIEF IN THE PROCESS IS PAYING OFF! WONDERFUL TRAINING BY OUR TRAINER IN AUSTIN!!!!

Alzheimer's Disease

A Kind And Considerate Grandson!

A wonderful update from rescuer and trainer Cherry Jenkins!

“Mika is a gorgeous, 2 year-old Native American Indian Dog. She’s not only stunning to look at, but incredibly smart too! Mika’s handler is Nicholas, pictured here with beautiful Mika.

Nicholas is helping to train Mika for his grandmother, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. He wishes Mika to be trained to help his grandmother by: Providing a calming effect, as she often gets upset, provide constant companionship to her, and to learn to alert his grandmother’s caregiver should she fall. Of course, Nicholas’ mother, Phoebe, will be involved in the process.

What a kind and considerate grandson!

Every time I give him homework, when I see him again not only have they accomplished it, but with flying colors!

One of Mika’s three tasks is to bark if Nicholas’ grandmother needs help in public.

Nicholas and Mika have already mastered most of the basic commands! We are next going to start on training how to handle Mika in a store. I am more than confident they will be complete naturals!”

WHAT A TRULY AMAZING GIFT THIS GRANDSON IS GIVING HIS GRANDMOTHER. TRULY A BEAUTIFUL THING TO SEE PEOPLE TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF OUR OLDER GENERATIONS. EVERY LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT THE AGE, DESERVES THAT KIND OF RESPECT. CHERRY – YOU WILL BE A WONDERFUL TRAINER FOR THIS FAMILY!

Austin, Epilepsy, Seizure, Texas

Latest on Tyler and SDIT Destiny

An extremely moving comment from Jo, whose son, Tyler, struggles with epilepsy and has SDIT Destiny, rescued and trained by Cherry Jenkins with Service Dog Express and In Dog We Trust, and still receiving training up where Tyler lives to help alert to and help with seizures. Jo writes:

epilepsy “Nobody really gets having a child with epilepsy unless they live it too. Watching Tyler swim at this competition today in TWO events is mind blowing. Considering what he has going on in his brain while trying to swim FAST. Fighting constant electrical surges in his brain that confuses his body. Fighting FOUR anti-seizure meds in his system whose jobs are to SLOW his brain down.

So my son may not finish first. He may come in last. Either way, I could never be more proud of him.

And yet still I wonder what WOULD he be capable of doing without all that gunk. I just battle myself to not let my mind go there too often.

Waiting on his two swim events! Proud nervous mom in the stands. Dad is on deck in case of emergency”.

Update – 2nd in his heat for 50 freestyle 30.80!!

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, TYLER!!!!!

Anxiety, Austin, PTSD, Texas

Update on Lucia and SDIT Lily

An update from our trainer in Austin, who is working with Lucia, who suffers from PTSD and anxiety, and her wonderful SDIT, Lily.

“Hi Laurie!

I had another session with Lucia and Lily yesterday. It went alright, but Lucia was having a hard day since she has a tough week emotionally. Thus, we took our session easy. We worked on heeling, using high value treats and worked on close, (training her to pivot into a close position next to Lucia’s leg). Lily is a smart dog and definitely is getting it down. We also worked a little bit on “leave it” with the grass and trees that seem to distract her when Lucia needs her attention.”

I KNOW LUCIA HAS HAD A DIFFICULT WEEK, AS RECENT POSTINGS HAVE INDICATED. SHE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH MANY DIFFICULT PEOPLE IN PUBLIC. CHIN UP, LUCIA!!! YOUR TRAINER AND LILY WILL MAKE IT ALL COME TOGETHER!

PTSD

Please welcome new client Chris!

Chris is an amazingly kind man, who fell in love with Rusty, rescued and trained by Ms. Cherry Jenkins. Chris has been a policeman with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office in Austin for 27 years. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 07 and suffered until 2011. Now, he teaches about PTSD, Peer To Peep (P2P) Support, and works with the Stephen Ministry at Church. He has been considering a Service Dog to take to classes when he teaches as well as when he has one on one visits with others who are suffering. But he first wants to heal himself fully with the aid of a Service Dog.

Chris and his wife drove down from Austin, took one look at Rusty, and it was as if they had been bonded for life!! Cherry said she had literally never seen anything like it! Rusty followed Chris around EVERYWHERE – snuggled with him, walked with Chris’ wife, and when they had decided to adopt Rusty, Rusty went right to Chris’ truck, sat, waited, and loaded as if to say “OK, daddy – let’s go!” Chris has jokingly said to me that his looks belie his big heart – he’s a very tall, broad man that everyone thinks “must be rough” due to his appearance, but he is kind beyond words. Obviously, Rusty knew that, too. Never judge a book by its cover!

We are SO happy for Chris and Rusty!!! Here are pictures on the way home – Cherry will send more showing the meeting once she gets her phone fixed!!!