An email!!

Yesterday I recieved an email from a friend,

it talks about my "beautiful boy" .

Parts of it were so lovely, that I had to put them on my blog.

 "I read your blog.
I'm glad I did and now I understand the connection between yourself and midnight. I will be honest, sometimes he does "do my head in" and I forget sometimes due to his size that its all new to him and he needs guidance. He's only been in this big curious world for a short time.

I understand now that if we do get on top of his bad habits and persist with him we will eventually get there. Its called patience lol, I suppose thats why your a teacher and I'm not.
He is so adorable. You are doing so remarkably well with him and just reading your blog I understand what he means to you and why your protective over him.
Sometimes I forget that you do have a disability and tonight after reading your blog I put myself into your shoes (slippers) and realised how difficult it is for you too at times, frustrating. 

I also realised how special midnight is for you not only as a service dog but a part of the family too, he has settled in well I think and of course niddle accepts him."

This encouragement is what keeps me going

when I think it is all too hard!

Thankyou!

Could this be the boy we are talking about!!!

Yes, I think it is!!

Until next time ---- Make someone happy!

Great news!

Today I had some great news,

 we have a "PET stock" shop in Ormond,

I have been taking Midnight  there each weekend

to get used to shops,people and animals.

A couple of weeks ago one of the staff told me 

they were thinking of sponsoring Midnight and me 

on our journey towards his  registration as 

an "Assistance dog".

Now it is official!

Here he is in the beautiful new  coat  he was given today, isn't he gorgeous.

I believe one of the dog food companies is also going to help by providing Midnight's food. 

More about that when it starts.

I am always amazed by the generosity of some people.

I can't resist taking pictures of him sleeping

his legs just seem to get longer and longer!

Until next time --- Hug someone you love!

An update

I can not believe it has been nearly a month since I last wrote anything in my blog.

I think it is time to update mine,

and Midnight's progress.

This photo was taken 19/11/2010

Look how long his legs are now, 

they look like fuzzy icy-pole sticks

and go in four different directions

when he runs!!

Every day I write notes on how he is progressing,

some days are good

and some are terrible.

Hopefully I am going to paste in my notes about going to the Bentleigh Festival.

You will see it was a very good day,

I was so proud of him.

Here goes ---

Sunday – Bentleigh Festival!!

The disability ambassador.

Quote -- We have been out and about being ambassadors for disability and service dogs. I think Midnight likes people, we have done both the farmers market and the Bentleigh Festival and he didnt put a nose wrong at either. He charmed my local MP who is a great supporter of disability and I know he will try and help me get Midnight registered, he could not resist the big black eyes and sloppy tongue! We had balloons bursting in our faces, loud music, children grabbing him, adults bumping us both, and even treading on his poor toes, nothing fazed him, we both loved it. Best part was the little boy who is terrified of even the family dogs fed Midnight on his own and they were both so gentle, I wish we had a video of the day, it was so lovely.

Walked 5km, a hot day as said above, noises were no problem to him, only me! Walked loose rein all day, too interested in everything to misbehave. Crossed railway via the long ramp, talked to children while waiting for train. Street very crowded, walked close

to chair, did not appear afraid, just interested. Very tired walking home, stopped for a rest under a tree, Midnight fell asleep!!  Went to toilet when we arrived home, slept all afternoon.

It really was an amazing day for both of us.

This is how he slept for the whole afternoon!!

 I love him so much, to be able to go out

with a dog beside me, is freedom!!

Until next time ---- Hug a puppy

Update.

I thought  it was time I did  an update on "puppy training", or perhaps it should be called "granny training"!

Here is Midnight after a hard day 

walking the streets of Glen Eira!!

It's a tough life isn't it?

Notice how big he is getting, 

when he climbs on the bed with me, he takes up more than half of it.

 Newest trick is to lie the length of the bed with his head on the pillow and then very quietly push his feet against the rails, next thing I know, I am squashed against the rails and he is in the middle of the bed.

Here we are out and about in our new harness,

it makes such a difference. He is now attached to my chair by a D ring on the side, no more twisted harness.

I am now looking for sheep skin seat belt covers and they seem to have disappeared from the market.

We are now walking from 2-4 k per day, 

sometimes he is brilliant and we have a great walk, 

other days nothing seems to go right.

Now we have started a daily diary, 

this will be very important when it comes time to try and get him registered.

We have learned one very important skill,

I can now clip his lead onto his collar and he knows that he must walk behind me from the house, 

through the veranda gate, down the path 

and through the very narrow front gate.

He then sits next to the chair 

so I can clip on his wheel chair lead.

I am amazed how quickly he has learned this difficult maneuver,

the path is very narrow.

He also sits beautifully,

reminds me of when I was at school and the teacher would say the person sitting up the straightest 

could go outside first. 

He pushes his little chest out just like the boys did!

We also have sort of mastered "stop",

  "Midnight walk on" and "up the hill".

Our biggest problem at present is dogs!

we don't meet enough of them, so when we do

he goes crazy and doesnot concentrate at all.

Chris, our trainer, says he must go to the dog park,

not with me, because he is too strong for my arm, 

so it will be Jessika walking him, 

and me watching.

Sometimes I get very frustrated,

I am finding it is so much harder 

to do things in my chair -- I cannot reach far, turn quickly,

or even get down on the ground and give him a cuddle'

when he has done something really clever. 

I guess we are both learning.

I think I have written enough for now, 

my boy is sleeping next to my chair waiting for a walk.

I wonder how we will go tonight?

Until next time --- hug a puppy!!