This is a placeholder text
Group text
by Sunsilver on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
I have a tremendous amount of respect for service dogs and the work they do. As some of you know, I am almost deaf, and use a service dog to alert me to things I cannot hear. But the work he does is very simple compared to that required of dogs who help people with more complex disabilities.
Over the last few years, I have gotten to know a dog named Mali. I saw her advertised for sale as a pup and wanted to buy her. Alas, I held off too long, and she was purchased by a lady named Sherri for use as a service dog. Sherri is a survivor of a horrible accident which happened when a rope she was swinging on broke, and she fell over a cliff while swimming. Her right ankle was nearly severed from her foot when the broken leg bones sliced through the flesh, and the joint eventually had to be fused. She also suffers from nerve damage, fibromyalgia, juvenile arthritis, and is in constant pain. She can walk for short distances, but it is painful to do so. Mostly, she uses a wheelchair.. Mali has been a tremendous help to her, both with mobility, and in increasing her confidence.
The problem with service dogs, the REALLY smart ones, is that once you’ve taught them to alert to health problems, they think they have to alert to EVERYTHING. Without being trained specifically for this issue, Mali alerts Sherri to her blood sugar being high or low. She also told Sherri there was something wrong with her thyroid, and alerted her to an ear infection and a sinus infection. When a friend of Sherri’s dropped by one day, Mali kept nudging the woman in the breast. Finally, Sherri asked her if there was something wrong with her breast, and the woman said, “Yes, I have a cyst. I’m on my way to the doctor to have him check it out!”
Mali also wants to alert to all the sick people in the doctor’s office. When Sherri tells her “None of your business!” Mali gives her an “oh gosh” look and pouts. She sometimes adds a sigh or a moan as she settles back into a down-stay.
Mali is also very protective. On one occasion, a nurse was performing a very painful procedure on Sherri. Mali broke her down-stay in the corner of the room, placed herself between Sherri and the nurse, and slowly pushed the nurse away from the table with her shoulder.
Her protectiveness also comes out when she feels the other dogs in the household are in danger. When they set up a wading pool for the dogs, Mali nearly had a heart attack when their new puppy, Rani, went into the pool. She grabbed the pup by the scruff, and gently ‘rescued’ it from the water. The puppy was enjoying the water, and went right back into the pool, only to be hauled out again!
One of their dogs, Yuki, is nervous about being approached by strangers. If Mali senses he is overwhelmed, she will place her body between Yuki and the person wanting to pet him.
Over the last few years, I have gotten to know a dog named Mali. I saw her advertised for sale as a pup and wanted to buy her. Alas, I held off too long, and she was purchased by a lady named Sherri for use as a service dog. Sherri is a survivor of a horrible accident which happened when a rope she was swinging on broke, and she fell over a cliff while swimming. Her right ankle was nearly severed from her foot when the broken leg bones sliced through the flesh, and the joint eventually had to be fused. She also suffers from nerve damage, fibromyalgia, juvenile arthritis, and is in constant pain. She can walk for short distances, but it is painful to do so. Mostly, she uses a wheelchair.. Mali has been a tremendous help to her, both with mobility, and in increasing her confidence.
The problem with service dogs, the REALLY smart ones, is that once you’ve taught them to alert to health problems, they think they have to alert to EVERYTHING. Without being trained specifically for this issue, Mali alerts Sherri to her blood sugar being high or low. She also told Sherri there was something wrong with her thyroid, and alerted her to an ear infection and a sinus infection. When a friend of Sherri’s dropped by one day, Mali kept nudging the woman in the breast. Finally, Sherri asked her if there was something wrong with her breast, and the woman said, “Yes, I have a cyst. I’m on my way to the doctor to have him check it out!”
Mali also wants to alert to all the sick people in the doctor’s office. When Sherri tells her “None of your business!” Mali gives her an “oh gosh” look and pouts. She sometimes adds a sigh or a moan as she settles back into a down-stay.
Mali is also very protective. On one occasion, a nurse was performing a very painful procedure on Sherri. Mali broke her down-stay in the corner of the room, placed herself between Sherri and the nurse, and slowly pushed the nurse away from the table with her shoulder.
Her protectiveness also comes out when she feels the other dogs in the household are in danger. When they set up a wading pool for the dogs, Mali nearly had a heart attack when their new puppy, Rani, went into the pool. She grabbed the pup by the scruff, and gently ‘rescued’ it from the water. The puppy was enjoying the water, and went right back into the pool, only to be hauled out again!
One of their dogs, Yuki, is nervous about being approached by strangers. If Mali senses he is overwhelmed, she will place her body between Yuki and the person wanting to pet him.
by Sunsilver on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
Mali has also been trained to pull Sherri back to shallow water if she gets too exhausted while swimming.
Sherri’s household has three dogs. Recently, when workmen were installing a new heating system, they were warned not to take the dogs for granted, even though they seemed perfectly friendly while the family was around. One of the workers ignored this advice, and entered the backyard without telling anyone. He found himself pinned against the wall, and unable to move until Sherri and her husband came to rescue him!
Mali has not been around kids very much, as Sherri’s children are grown. One day, the family took the dogs to the dog park which is adjacent to a children’s playground. Mali rarely plays at the dog park, but seems to consider it her duty to patrol the fence line, and be alert for trouble. On this particular day, the calm air was rent by the sound of a child screaming. The family looked up to see a young child of about 4 year of age running frantically away from a woman, who was chasing him and quickly closing the gap. Sherri could tell it was all in play, but Mali interpreted it differently. Before the family can say or do anything she was up on her feet and had cleared an acre of the dog-park at a dead run. She was obviously intending to jump the fence, and protect the screaming child from the perceived threat.
Steve, Sherri’s husband was already running after Mali, but was too far behind to catch her. Just as Mali reached the middle of the last half an acre of the dog-park, the woman caught up with the child and both of them began to laugh. The woman tickled the boy and he wiggled and squirmed in delight. Mali immediately put the brakes on. When she reached the fence, she sat down, but did not take her eyes off the two. She sat there for some time, watching them play.
Last year, Sherri and her family had to leave their house for awhile, as an improperly installed air conditioner had caused the house to be full of toxic mould. Sherri found herself in a non-handicapped motel room, without her wheelchair. Here’s what happened:
If Teena has even half Mali’s brains, I’ll be very pleased!
Mali, Sherri, and Rani (service dog in training)
Sherri’s household has three dogs. Recently, when workmen were installing a new heating system, they were warned not to take the dogs for granted, even though they seemed perfectly friendly while the family was around. One of the workers ignored this advice, and entered the backyard without telling anyone. He found himself pinned against the wall, and unable to move until Sherri and her husband came to rescue him!
Mali has not been around kids very much, as Sherri’s children are grown. One day, the family took the dogs to the dog park which is adjacent to a children’s playground. Mali rarely plays at the dog park, but seems to consider it her duty to patrol the fence line, and be alert for trouble. On this particular day, the calm air was rent by the sound of a child screaming. The family looked up to see a young child of about 4 year of age running frantically away from a woman, who was chasing him and quickly closing the gap. Sherri could tell it was all in play, but Mali interpreted it differently. Before the family can say or do anything she was up on her feet and had cleared an acre of the dog-park at a dead run. She was obviously intending to jump the fence, and protect the screaming child from the perceived threat.
Steve, Sherri’s husband was already running after Mali, but was too far behind to catch her. Just as Mali reached the middle of the last half an acre of the dog-park, the woman caught up with the child and both of them began to laugh. The woman tickled the boy and he wiggled and squirmed in delight. Mali immediately put the brakes on. When she reached the fence, she sat down, but did not take her eyes off the two. She sat there for some time, watching them play.
Last year, Sherri and her family had to leave their house for awhile, as an improperly installed air conditioner had caused the house to be full of toxic mould. Sherri found herself in a non-handicapped motel room, without her wheelchair. Here’s what happened:
The second night at the hotel Steve was moving things from the car to the second room as the hotel somehow put us into a non-handicapped room, when Mali had enough of my over doing it. She started to become very annoyed with me. At first I did not see the signals, I just thought she was under my feet as a hotel room is not the largest of places, but then she began to become vocal. I told her to hush. Pet friendly or not, I did not wish to be asked to leave. It was not until she grabbed me by the hand, leaving a small cut that she really got my attention. I still did not get it. I am THICK! I pulled my hand back, thinking she wanted to play rough, though she has never done this before, and wondered if stress had gotten to her. Then she grabbed me by my shorts and pulled me towards the sofa and pushed me down. Okay a light bulb moment. I got it at last: time to sit still, my service dog says so. She was correct. Every muscle in my body throbbed. I have fibromyalgia along with many other issues, and we did not yet have my wheelchair here.What a wonderful dog! Mali is a littermate to the mother of my Shiloh puppy, and she is definitely one of the reasons I wanted a puppy from Story’s litter!
When Steve got back and learned what happened that was it, I had to take it easy. Lucky everything was just about done then as I would have done more, as life often dictates what one has to do.
If Teena has even half Mali’s brains, I’ll be very pleased!
Mali, Sherri, and Rani (service dog in training)
by LAVK-9 on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
Where was that service dog trained? What breed is it?
by Sunsilver on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
She was trained by her owner. I don't know if they needed the help and advice of a professional trainer. She is a registered ISSR Shiloh Shepherd. Interesting how the herding blood comes out in her desire to patrol the fenceline at the park! 
Her faded mask comes from the giant malemute blood that was infused into the Shiloh bloodline during the 1990s. As with the GSD, it's considered a fault, which was why she was sold as a service dog rather than a show dog.
Her faded mask comes from the giant malemute blood that was infused into the Shiloh bloodline during the 1990s. As with the GSD, it's considered a fault, which was why she was sold as a service dog rather than a show dog.
by Jessie James on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
Very cute dogs. It's amazing what dogs can pick up on. Thats one smart service dog.
by LAVK-9 on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
Rani is a very cute pup! Mali looks like GSD/Malimute
by Sunsilver on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
The malemute blood is way back, and I think the malemute/GSD stud (Samson) was only used four times, but yes, that's where her mask comes from!
by VomMarischal on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
In recent years I have begun having crippling migraines. My Schutzhund dog alerts to my impending headaches...bugs me til I take a pill. Otherwise, I never notice the "onset" by myself, and that means I can't stop it in time. She learned because my scent changes (and heartrate, etc) and I always reach for her when I feel bad. Dogs don't have to go to "professional programs" to count as service dogs. They just have to know how to do something to make your life work better.
by LAVK-9 on 03 February 2010 - 22:02
You are lucky Vom Marischal I get killer migrains and my dogs don't tell me anythng!!! lol Although they are very aware when I am sad and almost try to do a comedy routine to cheer me up.My newest one has even caught on to my emotions more so then the others I have raised.Maybe he is just thankful to have a better home.
by crhuerta on 03 February 2010 - 23:02
What a beautiful story Sunsilver!
Dogs are an amazing creature!
Dogs are an amazing creature!
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top