Category Archives: Texas

Anxiety, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, Tourette's Syndrome

11 year-old Trenton and his Priddy SDiT

From trainer Candace, in Fort Worth, who is training with 11 year-old Trenton, who suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome and anxiety, and his SDIT, “Priddy”. Trenton’s mother, Jennifer, is very vigilant about training and is very dedicated to the process.

“Trenton’s SDiT, Priddy, is doing incredibly well! We spent an hour going over mock Public Access Test scenarios at a local mall. Priddy is getting great at everything. We went through each command, working a few times through scenarios and talking about any potential “hiccups” and how to handle them. Jennifer wanted a better understanding of what exactly to work on for the test. Their goal is to have Priddy certified by the beginning of October. She is doing great with her young handler, Trenton. He is doing well controlling her, with some verbal cuing from Jennifer. Overall, they are in great shape for the PAT. Go Goodpaster family!”

Dallas-Fort Worth, Equipment, Mobility, Muscular Dystrophy, Texas

Vedant’s SDiT Simba

From our trainer, Candace, in Ft. Worth. She has been juggling an internship while training, so she apologizes that there are not more pictures. But we congratulate her on passing her internship!

“Simba, the Singhania family’s son Vedant’s SDiT, (Vedant has Muscular Dystrophy) has been on a little bit of a training vacation. But, he is doing wonderfully! Today, the family worked on retrievals! We practiced with one of Vedant’s socks, so that Simba can get used to bringing back things that smell like him. I showed them how to turn the command into a game, and their SDiT just had a ball (or sock!) We also addressed his digging behavior, which he has just picked up. It seems that it might be an anxiety issue when he digs. Also, it seems that the family were accidentally reinforcing that behavior by engaging him in a game of chase once they caught him digging. We are still working on this.

Vedant got a new electric scooter, so we practiced walking Simba with the scooter. He wasn’t scared, nor did he bark at it! They need to practice walking with Simba and the scooter outside, but it was too hot at the time I was there to do this. Simba is a dark dog and just doesn’t like the sun so much. He has quite a personality! There was a lot of review that happened to go over his basic and advanced training techniques. Simba is still so young and has come such a long way. He will be a great companion for young Vedant. The Singhania family is doing great with him!”

Austin, Military, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Vietnam Veteran Travis and SDiT Sergeant

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Vietnam Veteran Travis, and his SDIT, Sergeant:

“On Sept 23rd, I had my first initial session with Travis and his SDIT, Sergeant. Sergeant is a tri-colored collie and is very smart. He has lots of food drive, but also likes to play with a tug. I worked some with a sit/down and sit/stay and the dog did as expected for being so raw and only just over two years old.

At our second training session, Sergeant proved to still be a very exuberant dog and is a very quick learner. We worked on basic obedience – mainly sit/down stays. I had an extended talk with Travis about training his dog: that sit means sit and down means down. I instructed Travis about leading the dog up to being able to stay in whatever position Travis commands even if he leaves the room. We talked a little about rewards as well and the pros and con’s of using praise rewards and food rewards… I only took one picture and here is the beautiful dog below in a down stay!”

Austin, Mobility, Pain Management, Texas

Daveed and his SDIT Redmond

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working hard with 19 year-old Daveed, who suffers from mobility and other medical issues due to a rare disease called Polyarteritis Nodosa, and his SDIT, Redmond!

“On Monday, Sept 22nd, I had a training session with Daveed and his SDIT, Redmond. We worked on reinforcing the down/ sit stay, we worked on reinforcing a sit when Daveed stops walking, and while waiting for Daveed to climb the stairs. And I also introduced the first “find your spot” game to Daveed and Redmond, which is the act of the dog finding his designated spot in whatever room they may be in… They enjoyed it, we had a good session, and they are making considerable progress!”

SO PROUD OF YOU, DAVEED AND REDMOND!!

 

Military, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Amber and SDIT Brinn

From our trainer, Andrew, who is working with Wounded Warrior, Amber, and her SDIT, Brinn!

“On Monday, September 22nd, I had my first session with Amber where we mainly talked about the capabilities of her SDIT, what she has already worked on, and what she would like to see from her Service Dog. Brinn already knows a plethora of commands as Amber has been working with her daily for the month that she has had her. She knows basic obedience, come, wait, leave it, load, unload, cover…etc. What she needs is reinforcement. So we went over that.

Brinn does have a problem pulling on the leash when she has a normal nylon collar on so I showed Amber a technique for loose leash walking. Amber has begun working with Brinn on it already. They are also fostering a dog originally named Wendy and together they both are not good at focusing on the commands as, they want to play instead of listen. Wendy is more trained than Brinn is and responds better than Brinn to the commands when she is alone with a handler. We discussed working with them and scheduling times to teach the stricter commands.

All in all we had a good session! I was only needed to instruct them on reinforcement of the commands that Amber has already been working hard to teach Brinn, and we will continue to do so in future sessions… I did not take pics this the my phone died so my camera was not available…”

GREAT WORK AMBER AND BRINN!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, ANDREW!

Anxiety, Austin, General, Medical Alert, Panic Attack, Psychiatric, PTSD, Texas

HAGGER THE HUMUNGOUS HAS PASSED!!!!

From our trainer in Austin! HAGGER THE HUMUNGOUS HAS PASSED!!!!

“I am happy to announce that Lee and Hagger have passed the Public Access Test! We met at Walmart this morning and took a nice stroll with Hagger heeling beside Lee the whole time. Lee took Hagger through some tight quarters and narrow turns and Hagger fit right in!

Hagger does sits and downs on commands just once. He has great stays as well with a shopping cart going by him!

We headed to Subway to eat and settle while Lee and I talked for a bit, Hagger made himself at home on the floor!

Lee has worked and trained Hagger TIRELESSLY to get him ready and he has been more than successful!

I am so happy for those two!”

LEE AND HAGGER, EVERYONE AT SERVICE DOG EXPRESS IS SO, SO VERY PROUD AND INSPIRED BY YOU BOTH – YOUR DETERMINATION, YOUR COURAGE, AND YOUR DEDICATION. THE WORLD IS TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE YOU BOTH IN IT! AND TO OUR TRAINER – WONDERFUL JOB!!!

General, San Antonio, Texas

19 year-old Daveed and his SDIT, Redmon

From our trainer Andrew, who is working with a dad and son team, Jesse and Daveed with their two separate SDITs. It’s difficult to train two dogs, but he’s doing a great job! Here is his write up with training with 19 year-old Daveed and his SDIT, Redmon.

“This session was comprised of mainly teaching Daveed’s SDIT, “Redmon” duration with a down/stay. We also went to the back yard and taught the dog to sit when Daveed stops walking, and we taught Redmon that he needs to sit patiently at the bottom of the stairs as Daveed ascends so as to not rush past him and knock him back down them, as Daveed has balance issues. Redmon is a very good dog, loyal and smart… His motives are treat based and praise to some extent.”

Austin, Experience, General, Texas

Lucia Is Dedicated!

From our trainer in Austin, who continues to work with dear Lucia and Lily even though Lily has already passed her PAT – Lucia is just that dedicated!

“I had a session with Lucia and Lily yesterday at Petco. We worked on Lily’s fascination with the squeaky sounds! Lily LOVES toys but also gets really amped up when she hears a squeaky sounds and wants to go find it. So I came up with the idea for Lucia to desensitize Lily to the squeaky sound by finding a YouTube video of squeaky toy sound effects and work on keep Lily calm while the sound goes off.

They also worked on leave it with toys on the floor and Lily has gotten so GOOD and leaving the toys alone!

I brought my dog to the session as well to be a distraction for Lily and Lily did not mind her at all. She has this down!”

WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY INNOVATIVE AND CLEVER IDEA ON THE PART OF OUR AUSTIN TRAINER!! BRAVO TO OUR TRAINER, LUCIA, LILY, AND SQUEAKY TOYS!!!

Anxiety, Army, Military, PTSD, San Antonio, Texas, Veteran, Wounded Warrior

Hug him Tabitha!

An update from trainer Beverly, who is working with Wounded Warrior DJ, and his SDIT, Tabitha!

“At this session, we practiced previous skills of heel, wait, sit, down and leave it. We added more distractions at Lowes, and Tabitha did very well at focusing on DJ and doing what she was asked to do. I showed DJ how to work with Tabitha on her restaurant skills and Tabitha did very well staying under the table while we discussed his “homework for the week” for about 20 mins. Tabitha knew when DJ’s anxiety was increasing and climbed up to give a hug!

The plan for the next session is a weekend intensive session to work on any remaining issues, and to practice her PAT skills to see what remains to be addressed.”

WHAT AMAZING PICTURES BEVERLY PROVIDED SHOWING TABITHA IN AN OFF-LEASH SIT/STAY, DOWN/STAY, DOWNING UNDER THE TABLE, AND GIVING “IT’S OK, DAD” HUGS!!