Nov 17, 2009 Entry into the World of Service Dogs

Boy! Am I excited! Daddy's been sick for months and now, he's all better. I'm so happy for Daddy and me because I get to take long walks with him now. Yipee!!

Daddy is happy too. He so proud of me and loves me very much. He's so good to me. Our vet said that I have ideopathic epilepsy because I had 3 gran mall seizures. He put me on phenobarbitol and said we would be lucky to have only 1 seizure per month. I didn't really know what any of this meant, but I did know that it really upset my Daddy. Daddy took me home and started doing a lot of research on the internet at Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. He found a lot of research written up regarding epilepsy in humans. One particular paper caught his eye where it was suggested that a gluten sensitivity might cause seizures. He tried to identify as many triggers as possible so he could start testing them on me to see if they might reveal something he could use to help me.

The first thing he did immediately was to take me off of any foods or treats containing grains, and put me on Instinct, their chicken and menhaden fish variety. Amazingly, for five months approximately, I've not had any more seizures. Oh, happy days ;P

He has given me two doses of pheobarb every day; but he gradually reduces the size of the dose every month or so, without bringing on any seizures. Now, he's not advocating or suggesting that anyone else who's doggy has epilepsy do the same thing. He's just sharing what we've been doing.

Another piece of good news is that I'm now officiallly qualified as a Service Dog and a Medical Alert Dog because of the skills I've gained from all of Daddy's training with me. We work every day. Because Daddy is 100% disabled he gets to spend 99.9% of his time with me. He takes me everywhere he goes. I've been into I-hops twice now, for breakfast and lunch, at busy times too. Daddy is proud of me cause I just lay by his feet while he enjoys his meal. I don't bother anybody and everyone is always happy to see us coming into their stores ;P

Well, we've got to go check the mailbox for today's mail; so bye for now. Woof!...Woof! Woof!

Tuesday April 7, 2009

Well, yesterday me and Daddy had our first private lesson with Sharon, our trainer. It was great. She is so nice and gives me lots of hugs and kisses, just not when I want them. She makes me work for them. Yeah, and on top of that, she hardly ever gives me any treats. Boy that's diffe3rent. Before I knew it, I was following her all around this big room and she wasn't even pulling on me. I wonder how that happened.

Daddy seemed to know what happened; in fact, he had me doing the same thing. Daddy says it's walking on a loose leash. Whatever it is, Daddy and Sharon really like it and so do I. Daddy and I did it again when we got home and before we went to bed. And today, we've already done it a bunch of times. It's a lot of fun especially because it makes Daddy happy. Oh yeah, they got me sitting down and staying put. Boy! I never used to do that. But Daddy likes it, so I'm okay with it. Daddy says we have to practice it every day.

Daddy made up a bag of treats for me, all kinds of things, even string cheese and cheddar cheese cut up in tiny cubes. I don't mind though cause these new things really taste good.

Daddy and I are getting ready to watch a movie called 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'. It just came out today and Daddy hopes it will be at least as good as the original one It's always so much fun to watch a movie with Daddy cause my daddy makes popcorn and I just love popcorn ;P

My 3rd Entry March 14, 2009

It's only 11:08 in the morning, but I just couldn't wait to talk about all the things me and Daddy have been doing! Yesterday, Daddy got me a big knuckle bone. Boy! It really tastes good. I like it a lot better than those plastic bones and toys that I've had to chew on. Daddy says it tastes good because it's the real thing. It has real meat on it and Daddy says the bone marrow is also very good for me. I hope he tells me what bone marrow is. We're going to visit a meat processor tomorrow. It's not too far from where we live and we'll be able to get a really big bone for me. Daddy says I'll love it. I can't wait to get my teeth into it.

Last night, Daddy was tossing and turning a little bit too much to suit me; so, I got up, jumped down off the bed, and went into my crate to sleep. It's nice to have that crate when I want it. Now, if I could just figure out how to get Daddy to go in the crate, I would have that nice big bed all to my self :)

Bye for now.

Friday, March 13, 2009

I'm so happy. Daddy lets me sleep with him, at least for the last three nights; and maybe he'll go on doing it. I sure hope so cause I really like it. Daddy's big and warm and I just love to lay up against him and snuggle. I think he sleeps a lot better too. I know I do.

Yesterday, Daddy started giving me a different food. It tastes a lot better than my old food; and my tummy is feeling so much better than it has. Daddy says it's the best kind of kibble available. I wonder what kibble is. He keeps talking about giving me some raw meaty bones, whatever those are, and he thinks I'll really like them too. I hope he doesn't forget to get some for me.

Next Tuesday, I get to meet Sharon Westin. She's suppose to be a wonderful dog trainer, at least, that's what Daddy says. She's supposed to 'size me up.' But I think she's going to size Daddy up too. Daddy's a big guy. I wonder what size he is? I guess we'll find out on Tuesday.

Daddy just loves to furminate me. He's done it three times now. The first two times, He had a pile of fur on the floor beside me that was as big as I was. I wonder where all that hair came from? I hope that's not my hair. I need all my hair cause it's cold where we live. The third time he furminated me, there was a lot less and I felt a lot cooler.

Go to go; it's time for dindin :)

1rst day on dogster, 3-9-2009

Yesterday was a good day except that daddy got mad when I chewed on the furminator tool he got for me. Oh, I like it when he furminates me cause it feels so good. But he forgets sometimes that I'm only a puppy. Yeah! And we all know that puppies are notorious chewers. Yeah! I just can't help myself. I gotta chew daddy! Your socks are so tasty, especially when you're wearing them. I hope you still love me, daddy.

Boy! It's getting late and daddy wants me to go to sleep. So, I'll stop for now and be a good boy. :)