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by Sunsilver on 06 April 2012 - 17:04
So, I took Star to an Easter egg hunt today, a charity event for National Service Dogs. There were several hundred dogs in attendance. Every time Star saw another GSD, she woofed at it a couple of times. I guess she was hoping it was her buddy, Ranger!
A good time was had by all. A local TV station interviewed me, so I could have a spot on the evening news!
There were a number of other service dogs in attendance, but she was the only Hearing Ear dog I saw. I told the cameraman how important she is to me, especially at night, when I take my cochlear implant and hearing aid off. Without them I could be standing directly underneath the smoke alarm, and not hear it.
Happy Easter, everyone!
A good time was had by all. A local TV station interviewed me, so I could have a spot on the evening news!
There were a number of other service dogs in attendance, but she was the only Hearing Ear dog I saw. I told the cameraman how important she is to me, especially at night, when I take my cochlear implant and hearing aid off. Without them I could be standing directly underneath the smoke alarm, and not hear it.
Happy Easter, everyone!
by Abby Normal on 07 April 2012 - 22:04
Well - what a 'Star' ! Hope you get your spot on the TV.
I didn't realise she was your service dog, how wonderful. Your remark about the smoke alarm reminds me of a few weeks back when our girl woke my OH up in the middle of the night when we were asleep in bed by pawing at him, because our smoke alarm low battery signal was beeping. I thought that was very clever of her.
I didn't realise she was your service dog, how wonderful. Your remark about the smoke alarm reminds me of a few weeks back when our girl woke my OH up in the middle of the night when we were asleep in bed by pawing at him, because our smoke alarm low battery signal was beeping. I thought that was very clever of her.
by Sunsilver on 08 April 2012 - 03:04
Smoke alarms can be a problem for service dogs. I remember one lady saying how her hearing ear dog was going nuts when she visited her parents. They searched everywhere to see if they could figure out what the dog was reacting to. Finally, the dog's owner had to go home early, to relieve the dog's anxiety.
The next day, her father reported the smoke alarm in the attic had been doing the low battery beep, and that's what the dog was reacting to, even though it was 2 floors away!
My male GSD was the first dog I trained to be my ears, and the smoke alarm was one of the first things I trained him to alert to. One night, he woke me out of a sound sleep, and would NOT let me go back to sleep. I was exhausted after 13 hours on the road, and too groggy to figure what the problem was until about the 4th time he woke me up. I finally thought, 'maybe he hears something I don't!" So, I said, "What is it, Ranger?" He led me out into the dining room and looked up at the smoke alarm. I removed the old battery, and was finally allowed to go back to sleep.
I'd always thought Star was a bit too high drive to make a good service dog. Then, last summer, SHE was the one who woke me up at 4 am, and would not let me go back to sleep. I finally got up and put my hearing aid and cochlear implant processor on, and right away I could hear the low battery chirp from the smoke alarm.
Meanwhile the dog that was SUPPOSED to alert me to that sound was lying beside the bed, snoring! (He's now 10 years old, and I wonder if he is starting to lose his hearing.)
At that point, I decided to retire him, and start training Star. She obviously wanted the job! She's done very well, though she does try to forge ahead of me on the leash quite often, and when I bring out the vest and leash, she gets SO excited she jumps up and down and cries. She's so eager to work, she will actually thrust her head through the strap of the SD vest to help me get it on her!
The next day, her father reported the smoke alarm in the attic had been doing the low battery beep, and that's what the dog was reacting to, even though it was 2 floors away!
My male GSD was the first dog I trained to be my ears, and the smoke alarm was one of the first things I trained him to alert to. One night, he woke me out of a sound sleep, and would NOT let me go back to sleep. I was exhausted after 13 hours on the road, and too groggy to figure what the problem was until about the 4th time he woke me up. I finally thought, 'maybe he hears something I don't!" So, I said, "What is it, Ranger?" He led me out into the dining room and looked up at the smoke alarm. I removed the old battery, and was finally allowed to go back to sleep.
I'd always thought Star was a bit too high drive to make a good service dog. Then, last summer, SHE was the one who woke me up at 4 am, and would not let me go back to sleep. I finally got up and put my hearing aid and cochlear implant processor on, and right away I could hear the low battery chirp from the smoke alarm.
Meanwhile the dog that was SUPPOSED to alert me to that sound was lying beside the bed, snoring! (He's now 10 years old, and I wonder if he is starting to lose his hearing.)
At that point, I decided to retire him, and start training Star. She obviously wanted the job! She's done very well, though she does try to forge ahead of me on the leash quite often, and when I bring out the vest and leash, she gets SO excited she jumps up and down and cries. She's so eager to work, she will actually thrust her head through the strap of the SD vest to help me get it on her!
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