WORKING!

Now that Middi is 12 months old and reasonably well behaved, it is time to start trying to push the boundaries.

When I got him , my aim was to train him as an Assistance dog, using Chris from Baybark as our trainer.

The first hurdle to get over is to pass the --

ASSISTANCE DOG PUBLIC ACCESS CERTIFICATION TEST.

On the front page it states --

"The Test is to ensure that dogs who have public access are stable, well-behaved, and unobtrusive to the public. It is to ensure that the client has control over the dog and the team is not a public hazard".

Sounds very sensible to me, 

it is a shame that all dogs and their owners don't have to sit this test!

It is done at a shopping centre, in 14 sections----

1. Controlled unload from a vehicle.

2. Approaching the building  [in our case shopping strip]

3. Controlled entry through a doorway.

4. Heeling through a building [large shop]

5. Six foot recall on lead.

6. Sits on command.

7. Downs on command.

8. Noise distraction.

9. Restaurant.

10. Off lead.

11. Controlled exit.

12. Dog taken by another person.

13. Controlled load into vehicle.

14. Team relationship.

When I first read the requirements I thought it was very hard, 

now nearly nine months later I don't think it is really that bad.

Every time Middi and I go out, we are practicing parts of it.

On Wednesday Chris and I started restaurant training,

this means Middi has to behave beautifully in an eating place.

He must lie quietly next to my chair [with his tail tucked in], and of course he must not scum food!!!!!

It was an interesting experience,

I am used to taking him to coffee shops and sitting outside, I like the fresh air and there is more room for my wheelchair to maneuver.

I was so nervous, Chris keeps saying it is me she is training,

if I am calm he will be calm and do as he is told.

Of course he was good, 

once Chris worked out how to fit both of us into the shop and reminded me to keep praising him and giving him treats, he went to sleep!

The most important thing I forgot, was to stop him shaking himself when he stood up to leave, no one wants dog hair in their coffee!

It was a good experience for all of us, 

now I feel more confident, so Middi and I might join the coffee set!

Until next time ------ hug a puppy!!!

Stop press:

Middi and I went to the park for lunch today,

here is a photo to prove that he does stay beautifully beside me!!

Melbourne on a sunny winter's day is heaven on earth.

Another experience!

Remember Chris suggested we should go to dog school?

I think it is time for an update on our progress.

Before we started It was agreed,
that Middi and I would stay in the beginners group with the least trained dogs,

he and I are learning  how to get on with all sorts of dogs.

We do all the exercises the others do,

but we use our own words and signals.

I cannot believe the change in  Middi and I!
in the few weeks we have been going,

he has calmed right down 
and I am confident that I can manage him.

Here are a couple of pictures showing

"going through a gate"

Compared with the narrow doors we have to squeeze through this is a breeze!!!

Agility is one of the exercises we do each week,
because of his wonky legs Middi can only do part of the course.
He can step sedately over the jumps,
climb carefully along the dog walk,
and sit beautifully on the platform.

Here are the photos to prove it!!

 Sometimes I don't judge distances very well,

look where Middi's tail is!!!!

Now I am really glad Chris encouraged me to go,

Middi and I have such a good time that last Sunday morning 

we got up really  early and attended two different classes.

The people at the school are very supportive of what I am trying to achieve with Middi and the trainers ask me lots of questions about our training.

This week we were asked to visit a different group,

so the dogs could get used to a big wheelchair

and a "working dog".

Dogs are often afraid of this big silent chair.

I am really enjoying the challenges of dog school.

A Special Day!

Friday 3rd June, 2011

was a very special day in Midnights life --

it was his birthday!!

He is now 1 year old.

We had a celebration at Petstock with his girlfriends.

His cake was a community effort --

Helen made it [and covered it in chocolate]

Gabe decorated it

and I put on the M&M's.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BOY!

That boy AGAIN!

Apart from Indie, 

I think I am the only person who looks at my blog.

Therefore I think I can put up as many pictures as I want,

of the most beautiful black poodle ---

IN THE WORLD!

Look at those eyes

and that gorgeous, shiny, big black nose.

I rest my case!!

Until next time -- love your four legged friend!

Remember Me?

Someone in our house is not happy!

Even though she has a smile on her face

she lets us all know that girls should not have to suffer the indignities of a bucket head.

The trouble is , like many dogs, she is allergic to "Wandering Jew".

Even injections and pills don't stop the itch, so she has to wear the collar.

Being our smart little darling, she has worked out that if she pushes her head under my table, then reverses, she can pull it off.

She has the most amazing balance

and can sit on her solid little bottom for ages.

she will put herself anywhere to get a tickle.

Indie is always a softie, a pat on the face always works wonders.

Her mum always has time for a tummy tickle

and then a neck cuddle.

She looks like a long suffering angel,

but she is Top Dog, 

and bosses Midnight around unmercifully.

Its only when she pinches his bones that he minds.

Until next time --- tickle a fluffy tummy!!

That Hoist again and again!

This new hoist of mine is turning out to be a real treasure,

I have found another use for it!

I am making one of my felt mobiles ........

it  is perfect for hanging the mobile,

to join all the pieces together.

I sit under the hoist and rest the mobile on my tray,

when I want to see how every thing is going I just press the up button.

I wonder what other uses I will find for it.

All suggestions will be accepted!!

Until next time ....... Enjoy Life!!!

Fun with Felt.

 I love working with my hands,

when I became disabled I was encouraged to "make things".

Not so easy with eyes and hands that had minds of their own.

Eventually I rediscovered felt.

When I was a child I made stuffed animals from felt, 

I remember having a stable of felt horses, 

I wish I had kept them for my girls to play with.

Felt is so easy to work with, 

the colours are bright, it doesn't fray

and it is very easy to sew with your eyes shut!!

Bella is turning 2,

I know she loves playing in the home corner at play group,

so I thought pretend food would be a good present.

 Some of the ideas came from the internet,

and some are my own.

ENJOY!

Bacon and fried eggs for breakfast.

May be a salad sandwich for lunch,

or perhaps you would like ham or a drumstick with it.

A roll up made with sorj bread or wholemeal might be nice, there are so many things to put in it.

How about pasta for tea, you could eat it with tomatoes, or even cheese strips.

fancy something sweet for morning tea,

how about a sweet biscuit or a jam tart?

or may be an iced donut with sprinkles on top.

they are always good with a cup of tea.

I had so much fun making this food, 

now I need to find some more "birthday children"

Until next time ---  enjoy a donut!!

Continuing the questions.

Tonight I have decided to finish answering Annies questions.

It has been a very interesting experience, working out the answers.

Here we go again.......

2.      How did you end up in the position you are in now?

Fl    Flu >> pneumonia >> a virus.

4.      What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

DiDifficulties are many, losing my independence, having to be dependent on other people for the basic things of washing, toileting, dressing, moving from bed to chair. Other people thinking that because I live in a power chair I have lost my intelligence, my power of speech and I am deaf. People talk to my carer about me e.g. what does she want to eat? Lack of access to most buildings – wheelchairs do not climb stairs. Lack of Job opportunities.

5.      Have you achieved anything in your years in your chair (medals, trophies e.t.c)? What are/were they?

Y Yes I have achieved many things, in sport I won the first “run” I did as a disabled athlete.

MMy main achievements have to do with advocacy, after two years I have at last persuaded City Link to allow me and any other power chair user ,who feels capable, to run in the long RCH good Friday run.This is a run through the Domain tunnel and over the Bolte Bridge,it was a hard fight, as they could not understand that I am as safe, if not safer than someone running on two feet.

 I   I am still trying to persuade the Victorian Marathon to allow power chair runners to compete in the Vic Marathon and other Marathons.

I II have persuaded local Government to put in a path for people in chairs to access the local bike paths. I  had a curb cut put in at Caulfield station so that people with a disability of many sorts can use the taxi rank without “walking” down the middle of a busy road.

MMy latest achievement is to persuade the Glen Eira Council to look at disabled parking spaces in the municipality and change the way they are made e.g. Long cuts in the foot paths for parallel parking, and a designated bus parking place in Elsternwick shopping centre. If this passes the final council approval it will be a first in Victoria.

“ To me the advocacy wins are much more important to winning at sport; these things will benefit many people, not just me”

6.      What are some of your goals for the future?

MMy goals for the future – to continue fighting for equality for people with a disability, to keep myself as active both mentally and physically as I can.

TTo train and register, the first privately trained service dog in Australia, this would give many people the chance to have a dog to help them live their lives a little easier. Overseas this happens; if there is a test that service dogs have to pass I want my beautiful, well trained dog, to be able to sit the test.

7.      If you met a Genie and they granted you 3 wishes, what would the wishes be?

 

   Not the one that many able people seem to want for me – to walk again! There are many things that I think are important. >>>>

1.              Tolerance and equality for all people, no matter their race, their colour or their religion [or lack of]. This would mean no more wars; unfortunately I am certain this will not occur in mine, or my grand children’s life times.

2.              A world that is not being destroyed by our human greed.

3.              A chance for all people with or without a disability to reach their potential, this would mean enough food, shelter, and schooling, these are basic human rights.

8.      Have you gotten better over the years?

   How?

   The simple answer to that question is no!

  I have however worked out many alternate ways to do things that I used to do before I became disabled. I am always thinking of solutions to problems. E.g. I can play with my dog by getting in my sling. [ Annie, look at my blog for further information about this, and use your own words]

9.      Tell me a bit about your disability

  I    I think I covered this in an earlier question, see above.

   How did your life change at first?

    I was devastated! I became very depressed for quite a long time. 

 Then I realised that like everything else in my life, I had two choices, 

I could give up and die, or I could fight for life.

   For me the decision was life, it is different now, but it is still an adventure that I will follow until it ends.

A         Anne. 26 / 5 / 2011

 Well that is what I wrote, it made me think, and probably if I had more time I would have writen more. Probably just as well I didn't.

           

      Until next time ---- Think of the world we are leaving

                                     for our grandchildren!!

postscript, sorry about the double letters at the beginning of paragraphs -- blame Blogger!!!!!!

An interesting day?

Remember my boy?

Two days ago he looked like this......

Hard to tell if he was a bear or a dog.

His face was overgrown and his eyes were invisible.

His legs had great hairy blobs on the ends 

that were supposed to be feet. 

There was so much hair growing between his toes that he skated on my polished floors. 

He even told me that he could not possibly do a "drop" because the floor was too dangerous for boys with long legs.

That was the last straw!

Today I sent him for a hair cut, 

and this is how he came back.........

A beautiful clean face and a pair of huge brown eyes.

His feet are now half the size they were, 

and there is no itchy hair between his toes.

He looked very handsome,

EXCEPT FOR THIS...

A purple and white bow!!!!!

He is a BOY, they do not wear bows, under any circumstances!

I took him  to Petstock 

because I knew Amanda could cut the bow off, 

I did not trust my wonky hands.

While I was waiting a lady came up to pat Middi

and said " what a beautiful poodle, what is her name"?

Next time his hair is cut, I will remember to say

NO BOWS!

An interesting training session this morning.

Chris is a very positive teacher,and is teaching me to be the same,

when Middi does something well he is rewarded 

with  praise and often a treat, 

if he is blowing me off ,Chris and I pretend to eat the treats. 

When he is really pushing the boundaries 

I tell him there will be "consequences", this usually works wonders.

Today he was being very cheeky.---

He knows that I always go in the front door first,

there are no exceptions --I am the pack leader.

This morning he decided the rule was going to change, 

so he started running in and out the door, thumbing his nose at me.

I gave him two chances and then warned him about "consequences:,

by this time my housekeeper was having problems keeping her laughter in.

I wheeled up to him, took him by the collar and told him in my best teachers voice to sit and stay!!

Then I wheeled back a few paces

and told him to sit/drop five times,

[that is push-ups for naughty pups]

when he finished I told him his last sit was beautiful and rubbed his head.

It really amazes me how  well this works, 

he behaved like an angel for the rest of the morning.

I did not loose my temper, there was no physical punishment,

just me being the leader.

Tomorrow we have a session with Chris, I am going to expect wonderful work from both him and me!

Until next time --- remember, it could be worse!!

That hoist again!

Playing on the floor is getting better and better.

My hoist is a wonderful thing for Middi and me.

He has worked out that if my wheels are in the room when I get into my sling, we are probably going out.

BUT

if there is no chair about, we are probably going to have a play on the floor.

This causes much excitement and he runs  round and round under the sling, while I am lowering it.

He has worked out approximately where I will land

and puts his head right where my head will be.

Next comes the face wash!

then he buts me gently in the stomach, 

so I will scratch the special place behind his ears.

Last night I decided to take some pictures from the floor,

here is the first one,

not great photography, but I am down, the blue "thing" is my sling.

After the cuddle we play "touch" with my stick,

usually he does not chew it!!

Next he finds a toy, last night it was his pull ropes,

we played with them for ages, now he has learned to bring them back to my hands when I let go.

After half an hour ........

we were both exhausted, but very happy.

I treasure these times when we can be so close to each other.

Until next time --- treasure the special moments!

Just a bit of fun!!

Last week I went to Costco,

it is an enormous barn of a place that sells all sorts of "stuff"

While I was there I found a box of toys

that I thought might suit that boy of mine.

He loves anything with a squeak, the louder the better!!

There were seven toys in the box and five had squeakers!!

I left the box open on the lounge room floor,

this is what I came back to half an hour later......

A MESS! -- one down and six more to go!!

Here goes the next one!!

and we are left with the indestructible, ear less, squeakless,

 fox. He has lasted an amazing two weeks.

Poodle boys have very strong jaws!

An Interesting project

Tonight I received an email from Indie's friend Annie,

she is doing an interview for a journalism award,

these are the questions she has sent me, remember she is only in grade six! 

Questions for Anne:

1.      What difficulties do you face?

2.      How did you end up in the position you are in now?

3.      How old were you when you were disabled?

4.      What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

5.      Have you achieved anything in your years in your chair(medals, trophies e.t.c)? What are/were they?

6.      What are some of your goals for the future?

7.      If you met a Genie and they granted you 3 wishes, what would the wishes be?

8.      Have you gotten better over the years? How?

9.      Tell me a bit about your disability

   How did your life change at first?

A very interesting set of questions, I have been asked to answer them in depth, perhaps my answers might be too deep for an eleven year old.

Incidentally, she had to pick someone she thought was inspirational!

Usually I hate that word because I find it embarrassing, but I think children look at things differently to adults.

What difficulties do you face;

The biggest  difficulty I face is coming to terms with loosing my independence.

Before I became disabled I was a teacher of special children and   grandmother to Indie,

now I need someone to look after me all the time.

In the old days I could go where ever I wanted, 

now I can only go out, if I can get a carer to take me,

and if the place I want to go is accessible!

How old were you, when you became disabled;

Well, Indie was not quite 3 years old,

and I have been disabled for nine years,

so I guess I was in my middle 50's!!

Sometimes it seems such a short time ago.

 What do you think is the most difficult about having a disability?

This is such a big question, 

I think I will leave it for tomorrow night.

Until next time ---- Think about those sleeping out tonight,

It is going to be very cold!