Bed Boundaries

I let Morey sleep on my bed and have just gotten used to the fact that my bed will be covered in dog hair. He usually waits for permission to get on the bed (although if he is home alone he has no problem giving himself permission!) and that system has worked well for both of us.

Recently, however, Morey has been taking advantage of my generosity when it come to his bed privileges. I came home one day after leaving him at home alone to find my comforter and sheets all dug up and that he had been sleeping under the covers (he hasn't learned how to remove the evidence of his action). I love Morey, but I don't love finding his dog hair all over my sheets.

I am not exactly sure how I will be handling this problem. It only happens when I am not at home so I am considering revoking access to my bedroom to keep him from practicing this habit. I don't mind him on my bed, I just don't want him in my bed and I don't think that is an explanation he can understand. I might invest in another dog bed so he can substitute my comfy bed with a comfy bed just for him. And maybe I should put sheets on it so he can have the options of burrowing under the covers if that is how he is most comfortable....

Go! (and take a nap!)

Our church recently had a sermon series focused on "Go!" verses that encouraged action and service. At the end of the series, we had a Service Sunday where we were encouraged to participate in a service project. Morey and I chose to volunteer at Recycled Reads, a bookstore run by the Austin Public Library that offers books that have been taken out of circulation and sells them at reduced prices. We went to help sort, organize, and shelve the books.

I helped shelve books in the children's section because I could reach all the shelves. In the area they had some giant stuffed animals, included a very large black dragon. Morey was a little hesitant about approaching it at first, but once he realized it wasn't alive he settled down for a nap. I guess he figures that he spends a good amount of his time "serving" and didn't see the need to put in extra hours.






While we were working, a woman came in with a German Shepherd wearing an orange wrap around its shoulders with a medical logo on it. The woman was walking around the store with the dog, who was very interested in Morey. I was so proud of Morey because he stayed in his "down" and didn't even whine when the dog passed by. When I engaged the woman in conversation, she said her dog was for epilepsy alert and mobility assistance and then the dog proceeded to drag her over to where Morey was laying. Thankfully they just sniffed noses before the woman dragged her dog away (she was using a prong collar which always makes me cringe).

There have been several times when I have been surprised by the presence of another dog in a public place and it was a good reminder for me to make sure Morey can maintain his professional demeanor when he sees other dogs because that doesn't only happen at the dog park! It was also a good reminder that just because a dog is a service dog doesn't mean I should assume that they will be under the complete control of their human partner.

Foot Room

Traveling with the rugby team means you have to be flexible. Trying to get 10 quads onto a plane can be a lengthy process and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Although Morey typically sits at my feet during flights, on the way home from Nationals he shared a seat with some of my teammates. Morey prefers the bulkhead, but it was easier for me to sit farther back in the plane, so Morey ended up sitting by Norm and Gabe. As usual, he went straight to sleep and didn't seem at all bothered by the seating change. (I guess my feet are pretty interchangeable with someone else's feet).

On our second flight, Morey somehow ended up in the row behind me. Even though there wasn't as much space as in the front, it still worked out well because Morey was sitting by Chris, our Australian athlete who played with us this season. Chris is a quad amputee and he has no legs below the knee. This meant that Morey didn't have to share space with any feet, he got all of the space below Chris's legs. This arrangement seemed to work well for both of them and I think Morey is going to be looking to sit by amputees in the future since that allows him to have even more space!

Nationals

As I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, the United States Quad Rugby Association National Championships were held in Louisville this year. I enjoy having the tournament in this location because it means that some of my Midwest friends and family can attend. Morey's grandma convinced me that since I would be busy with rugby, she should keep Morey with her during the course of the weekend so he could have the attention he deserves. Grandma cherishes her time with Morey and I knew he would have more fun with her rather than hanging out at the gym all day.

When she came to watch our first game, she brought Morey. He doesn't typically "work" for Grandma, and I was glad to see he was on his best behavior (although it did seem funny to see him being walked by someone else). I also noticed how slowly he was walking when he first came in. Grandma's house provides a lot more exercise and stimulation than he is used to and after a few days, he was worn out! (Don't worry, it was nothing a few days of naps didn't fix!)

Morey had a little bit of confusion when I was around and Grandma was holding his leash. He wasn't sure who he was supposed to be standing by and taking directions from. He also got excited when he saw some of his rugby friends from other teams and it was fun to see his reaction to the people he knew. There were several other service dogs there and I think he might have had a secret crush on a petite black lab named Twix.

I think everyone had a good time at Nationals, including Morey. We ended up coming in 3rd which was a real accomplishment for our team. If you are interested in seeing any of the games, they are available at the following website: http://www.ihigh.com/quadrugby/

You Want Me to Walk on That??

The Furlough Class met at a library in Indianapolis. It is a great place to take the dogs because there are so many different experiences: carpet, tile, elevators, kids, book carts, café, security alarms, and many other potential training opportunities. There is one unique feature of the library that often triggers caution and fear in dogs and I wanted to see how Morey, usually so laid back and easy going, would respond.

Parts of the floor in the library are hollowed out and are used as an in-floor display. Inside the hollowed out parts are different books and objects that are then covered in a see-through material. People can walk over this area but dogs are often very hesitant to do so. And for good reason, it looks like you would drop into the hollowed out area. It usually takes a while (and some treats) to convince dogs that it is safe to walk on and even then they usually do it with caution.

I wanted to see how Morey would react and so I took him over to it and while I kept going, he stopped abruptly. He wouldn't even get close to it and tried to dart behind my wheelchair to avoid it instead of staying right beside me, We attempted it several times and each time he refused to even put a paw on the clear surface. I didn't push it and we settled down a few feet away while I chatted with a friend. While we were talking, several other dogs came by and conquered their fear of the scary floor.

When it was time to go, I asked Morey to try one more time. I tossed his leash on the clear part and I think that helped him realize that it was solid. He very tentatively put a paw out and "tested the waters". Once he realized it would hold him, he walked across it, but I could tell by his body language that he was still uncomfortable with it.

Morey is always so composed and handles everything that life throws at him and it still surprises me to find the things that throw him off guard. The clear floor was definitely one of his more "extreme" reactions" and I am glad that he was able to master his fears so he could be a good role model for the other pups in training!

Furlough Class aka Family Reunion

While Morey and I were home, we had the chance to attend an ICAN Furlough Class. Furlough volunteers are a critical part of the ICAN program as they give the pups in training a chance to practice the skills they learn in prison in the outside world. Furloughers take on pups for a week or two at a time and give them opportunities they can't get inside a prison, such as going to restaurants, riding in cars or elevators, and learning how to mind their manners in public places that are often full of distracting sights, sounds, and smells.

Some of the volunteers who worked with Morey as a pup were there and it was fun to see their reunion. Morey recognized several of the volunteers and went into a full blown body wiggle. I know they enjoyed having a chance to see Morey as a grown up working dog and I enjoyed the opportunity to thank them once again for helping Morey to become the best service dog ever.

Morey's dad, Jammer, has been a busy boy and many of his pups are now part of the ICAN Program. Most of the pups at the Furlough Class were related to Morey through either his mom or day. It was fun to see bits of Morey in each of the different dogs. Morey was surprised to see so many dogs at the library and for a moment we went back to the basics that the pups in training were working on to get him re-focused on me: eye contact and simple commands. Once Morey got over his surprise at seeing so many new dogs, he settled down nicely.

Several of the volunteers mentioned that they are faithful followers of Morey's blog. I am glad to know that by sharing some of my experiences I can motivate them in the work they are doing with the pups in training. It also made me feel some pressure to live up to the expectations of Morey's fans!

Easter Rest

Before heading to Nationals in Louisville, Morey and I were fortunate to get to spend a few days in Indiana (nothing like a little R&R before a big competition!). Morey enjoyed spending time with Grandma and his Aunts playing some ball and enjoying some tasty treats, while I enjoyed being home for the first time since Christmas.

We were home over Easter and it may not surprise you to know that Morey sported bunny ears for a good part of the day. Stay tuned for those pictures to appear!

Flight Adventures

Usually when I fly with Morey, I don't give the airline any advance notice, I just show up with him. On my most recent flight (that my dad booked for me), he checked the box saying I was traveling with a service/guide animal. Several weeks before the flight I got a phone call from the airline, asking questions about Morey's breed, size, and other logistical questions about the assistance I would need. I assured the man on the phone that Morey was an experienced traveler and I was familar with the process of boarding and de-planing with him.

I checked in at Austin without any problem and the flight attendants has reserved the entire row for me and Morey so he had plenty of room to stretch out. We had an hour an a half layover in Dallas, which allowed me to get to my next gate in plenty of time. As Morey and I were waiting for the flight, an airline employee came up to me. She asked my name and then wanted to confirm that I was traveling with a pet. I confirmed that I was traveling with a service dog and she looked over at Morey (who was laying several feet away). "Is that your dog" She asked. English did not seem to be her native language so I resisted an urge to make a joke-there weren't exactly a lot of other dogs laying around in the area.

 I confirmed that yes, he was my dog, and she looked at a paper she was holding. "Hmm, on here it says he is 80lbs so I was expecting a wolf." I tried hard not to laugh as I assured her that Morey was my dog and that although he does weigh 80 pounds he is not a wolf. I don't know if she meant a wolfhound or if there was a problem with translation, but the thought that she was expecting me to be traveling with a wolf made me laugh for the rest of the trip. Morey has been called a lot of things, but wolf has never been one of them!

Nationals or Bust!

Rugby Nationals are in Louisville this year and so Morey and I packed up and hit the road! As you can see, we travel with quite a bit of gear but I have a system that makes it all work. I can't understand why people often ask me for help while I am pushing all this through the airport, can you? : )

Police Dog for a Day?

I recently did a disability awareness training for the UT Police Department and Morey attended (I'm still trying to get him to help me with the actual presenting!). After the presentation, one of the officers who works with their canines, came up to me and handed me his business card. (The card listed his name and then said Canine Officer Spike. Morey now wants his name added to my business card.) He told me that if Morey or I ever needed anything on campus to be sure to let him know.

In a joking voice I said, "Well, I think Morey has always wanted to ride in a police car so I may ask if you can help make that dream come true sometime". The officer laughed and said "We could make that happen. He could even wear a police vest and badge". I laughed at that image and replied"The only thing I would be afraid of is that Morey might like being a police dog better than a service dog and I don't think I could support that career change."

For anyone who knows Morey, the thought of him as a police dog is pretty funny. But if he ever gets the chance to try it for a day, I will be sure to let you know!

Hoarding Habit

Last week I saw one of Morey's balls roll under the couch in my office and decided to get it out. It is an effort for me to get on the floor, especially at work, so I don't do it very often. Once I got on the floor I burst out laughing because there was not one ball under the couch, but 10! I have a stash of balls in my office, most of my bags, and in my car and I had noticed recently that these stashes were running low. Now I know why! Although Morey should have been happy to have 10 balls to play with, he seemed a little upset that I had found his secret hoard of tennis balls!

I shared this story on Facebook and then came across the picture below. I think Morey may be interested in a long distance relationship with Missy!