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A Life of Service

Mom's New Physical Therapy

Ok, so I know I'm a psychiatric service dog, but I think my job may be getting bigger soon. Mom has always had back problems... Well, maybe not always, but it's been pretty bad ever since we discovered each other. She started a new physical therapy treatment now that we're in El Paso - Water therapy. It's strange. She makes weird motions in the water that cause her to make the "that hurts" face, and it makes me worry. Today was our first session. She was nervous, and I knew she needed me to keep nuzzling her and telling her she would be ok. When I nuzzle her it calms her down, and she remembers to breathe and pay attention to her stress level so she doesn't panic.

She's really sore after her new physical therapy. I've never been much of a retriever unless she's throwing a tennis ball, but I think that may change soon. It's hard for her to reach down and pick things up, and she dreads doing laundry because she'll have to reach down to get into the dryer. I really don't like picking things up that didn't go flying first, but seeing my mom make that face is worse. I've got a new road of training ahead of me, but I'm ready. I know we can make it through this.

People and their computers!

I may never totally understand Mom's drive to sit in front of that screen for so long. She goes to school there, talks to friends far away there, plays games there... She needs a good game of fetch! That'll do her good! But there she is on Dogster writing for me. I guess I'll let her. It gives me a break. I work really hard most of the time. Even when I'm not in vest, I still work. I follow her around and check on her repeatedly. It's important that she's ok...

She says I'm her angel in fuzzy pants - That I saved her life. Apparently before me she sometimes spent all day in bed. When I came along, she decided she had to take care of me, so she would get out of bed and walk me, feed me, and usually stayed up. I think that helped her get to where she is now. I made her feel safe when she went out in public. She didn't have to be afraid of falling any more. When I warn her she takes her medicine and tells someone what's about to happen. I even took care of her at the zoo once, and the other humans were really glad I was there to help because they have no clue what to do! I was even at her wedding! I love my new dad so much! Sometimes he lets me get away with things I know I shouldn't, but I'm good and don't try it with Mom.

I must admit I'm excited about this site. I'm really psyched about meeting other dogs and maybe some cats. It doesn't matter if they're service dogs too, because if their human loves them enough to give them their very own social networking page they MUST be pretty incredible family members!

Since it's pretty late now I'm going to go tuck Mom in and cuddle her in bed till Dad gets home from work. Thanks for reading, and I hope you will come back later and check on me. I lead a pretty eventful life!

Goodnight everyone!