Home Depot Helper

One of Morey's favorite friends works at the Home Depot. Morey has often admired Norm's orange home depot apron and when Morey found out they give them away to kids at their Saturday workshops he wanted to stop by and get one. [Ok, that may not be the exact truth...Morey really doesn't care about increasing his wardrobe but I thought he would look really cute in one. And that is why I found myself going to the Home Depot on a Saturday morning and waiting in line to ask for a Home Depot apron for my dog. I really don't have any shame!)

Apparently going to the Home Depot with your kid is a popular activity. By the time I got there they only had aprons written in Spanish. Since Morey can't read English either I figured it didn't matter.

Morey is used to wearing a vest so an apron didn't seem very different to him. As you might imagine he got lots of compliments as we shopped (I did actually have a list of things I needed to get at the HD which helped justify my trip!).

We found Norm and got a picture of him and Morey in their matching aprons. Morey already has a full time job but otherwise he might consider a job at the Home Depot. After all, he pretty much exemplifies their motto; "You can do it. We can help."

RIP Jammer

 I recently got some very sad news about Jammer, Morey's dad and one of my favorite ICAN pooches. His partner called me and explained that Jammer had passed away very suddenly. Apparently he had gone to work like usual but that evening he had started getting sick and after a couple of trips to different vets he passed away. They think it might have been a tumor that ruptured. He was only 8 so it was very unexpected and it's still hard to believe.

I knew Jammer since he started his training as an ICAN pup. Jammer lived with me for 6 months as he finished his last phase of training. Jammer helped me become a better dog trainer and during our time together I trained him to pull my chair and ride the wheelchair lift on the IUPUI campus shuttle. He was such an enthusiastic dog and loved to work. At one point I considered him as my successor dog to Jessie but he ended up working as a Facility Dog and ICAN's very successful stud dog, siring more than 100 puppies.

Jammer and Morey, Summer 2014

His new family and I have remained close and they were nice enough to let me borrow him for visits when I came home. Our most recent visit was this past summer when he and Morey got to have a reunion.

Father and Son

I see some of Jammer in Morey whenever he makes a sloppy mess on the floor when he drinks and when he bounces straight up in the air when he gets excited. He also gets his love of training from his dad. Morey is a special dog but he is also special to me because he is Jammer's son.

I know the heartache of losing not only a beloved dog but also a canine colleague. I still mourn the loss of my sweet Jessie who also died unexpectedly and far too soon. When you share every part of your life with your dog you miss them nearly every minute of every day. No matter where you go or what you do you miss the constant presence of your pooch. There are many people who will miss Jammer and I am definitely one of them. Jammer has made an impact in the world not only in the lives he touched personally but also through the lives each of his puppies, including Morey. I am thankful to have known such a special dog and am sad he has left the world far too soon.

RIP Jammer. You loved and were loved by many during your years on earth. You will be missed!

Spring Break

I spent the first few days of my spring break as a counselor at Camp Xtreme, a wheelchair sports camps for kids with disabilities. It was a great experience and I even got to try some new things- including paintball and horseback riding. There were 11 campers ages 12-21 and I enjoyed the opportunity to be a role model for kids who may not know many/any adults with disabilities.

The camp facility, Camp For All, is a barrier free facility and it was pretty incredible. When I first arrived I went to the bathroom and out of habit went to the last stall (since that is usually the only one that is accessible). However, at Camp For All all the restroom stalls and showers are accessible so we get options just like everyone else! Sometimes it's the little things...

Morey stayed at home since I wasn't sure what the schedule and camp would be like. He was very excited to see me when I got home. Now that I am not traveling as much for sports I don't leave him as often so he isn't as used to getting left behind. To make up for leaving him behind I took him to the nearby school to play. It had rained while I was gone and there was some standing water that Morey immediately found and decided to splash around in before laying down for a nice soak in a mud bath.

Even though Morey got pretty filthy it was hard to be annoyed when he was having such a good time. I felt bad about ruining his afternoon by giving him a bath when we got home but given how dirty he was it wasn't really optional. 

Although most of the time Morey looks more like a lab than a golden, after baths his inner golden retriever comes out and his tail and hindquarters are much fluffier than usual. : )

After all that excitement Morey and I both engaged in one of our favorite activities- napping!

Agility Trial

Last weekend was Morey's first agility trial. We've been taking classes since May and our agility club was hosting a 3 day trial so we decided to enter a couple of events. We had 2 events on Friday night and 2 on Saturday. Unfortunately the weather was literally freezing and the event was in an open barn so it was pretty chilly. The course was on hard packed dirt but it was bumpy so it was kind of hard for me to navigate. Luckily I had my FreeWheel which made it possible to navigate the course.

Friday night we entered two events: Touch "N Go and Numbered Hoopers. The first event Morey had some excited jitters so he wasn't exactly focused on his run- but he did have a lot of fun! Everyone complimented him on his enthusiasm.

Some expert handlers can stay in one spot and direct their dogs with verbal cues for each obstacle but Morey and I aren't to that level yet. Morey still relies on my visual cues so he has to wait for me to catch up and direct him to the next obstacle. Once he learns the obstacles a bit better he will be able to complete the course a lot faster.

I can't figure out how to embed the video of our Tunneler run but you can see it on Facebook for now: https://www.facebook.com/AustinK9X/videos. He was a bit distracted at first but settled down to business once he realized what I wanted him to do.

Since the event lasts all weekend people camp out for the weekend. People bring camp chairs, rugs and all types of dog accessories including crates, dishes and toys. I brought Morey's collapsible crate and bowl and we set up next to Morey's Airedale friend Will and his human.

Saturday we ran Jumpers and Tunnelers (two of Morey's favorite obstacles). Dogs aren't allowed to eliminate in the ring or you get disqualified. I made sure to take Morey out before his runs so we wouldn't have to worry about that. He might have taken a quick wee at the end of his run but as I learned if the judge doesn't call it, it didn't happen! :)

What am I supposed to do with these?

Agility runs are scored in a couple of ways. You have to complete the course in a set amount of time as well as complete the course without any mistakes. We weren't able to meet both criteria in the same run but we had clean runs for Numbered Hoopers and Tunnelers and got 3rd in Jumpers and 4th in Touch "N Go. We weren't in it for the win but it was fun to come home with some ribbons!
We also got a photo and mention in the Drippings Springs Century News:

I think I was shivering more than smiling!

         http://etypeservices.com/SWF/LocalUser/Dripping1//Magazine79249/Full/index.aspx?II=79249#10/z

 

Morey was worn out from all that excitement! Once he is rested up we'll be back out at the field ready to improve for next year!

Free Sample

Morey and I shop at Costco on a regular basis. They often have free samples of their products and you can practically have a full course meal if you go at the right time. Whenever I try a sample of any cooked food Morey leans close to get a better whiff. He knows he doesn't get people food but it must smell pretty good to him. I always explain they that don't have doggie samples so he can't try any.

However, the other day when we went to Costco they actually did have free samples for dogs! They were giving out individual packs of Canine Cuisine to take home to your dog. I let Morey sniff each of the flavors and based on the length of time he sniffed filet mignon seemed to be his favorite. We brought it home and are saving it for a special occasion. Morey is glad Costco values their canine customers as much as their human ones!

 The Costco lady seemed a bit amused by how excited I was about the free sample...somehow I bet we got mentioned in the break room!

Making His Mark

One of Morey's favorite jobs is pushing automatic door buttons. He knows where they are located in places we go on a regular basis so all I need to do is say "touch" when we get in the general area and he takes off running to touch them. He often gets praise from other people who comment on his enthusiasm.

Sometimes the buttons aren't working which Morey doesn't understand. He knows the door is supposed to open the door and if it doesn't open he keeps touching the button again and again. I have to praise him to assure him that he did a good job even if the door didn't open.

The button to my office building is raised high enough that Morey has to do an "up" (front paws up on the wall) to reach it. He does this at least once or twice a day and as you can tell, he has made his mark!

 

Celebrating the ADA

2015 is the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This law provided landmark protections for people with disabilities including requirements for accessibility and protection from discrimination.

There are a variety of different events happening around the country to honor and recognize the passage of the ADA. Several events are taking place in Austin including a visit by the ADA Legacy Tour Bus and a Texas Trailblazers event recognizing the contributions of Texans to the passage of the ADA.

Our office had the opportunity to host a photo exhibit called The Road To the Americans with Disabilities Act, highlighting the struggles and protests by people with disabilities prior to the ADA. The photos were displayed on the first floor of our building and we had a lot of great interest in them.

The Road to the Americans with Disabilities Act

The ADA also provided protection for people with disabilities to be accompanied by service dogs pretty much anywhere they go. (Some people think that the service dogs have legal rights but the right really belongs to the person with the disability.) Up until the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act in 2008 any animal could be a service animal but the ADAAA amended the language so now only dogs (and in some cases miniature horses) have public access.

I was invited to speak at the main event celebrating the Texas Trailblazers who contributed to the passage of the ADA. Lex Frieden, a man who helped draft part of the ADA, spoke and showed video from the 1970s and 80s before the ADA highlighting the struggles and protests that people with disabilities had to go through to fight and advocate for accessibility. A woman spoke who had been told she didn't need to go to school after she acquired a disability as a child and could no longer go up the steps of her school. Hearing these stories made me realize how thankful I am for the access and rights I now have as a result of their struggles.

I was part of a panel talking about the future of disability rights. I spoke about the struggle people with disabilities have to be recognized as competent and capable instead of just being seen for what we lack or can't do. I also talked about the lack of knowledge many people have about the rights of people with disabilities. Access is a right, it's not something provided out of pity or a sense of being nice. While there is still a lot of progress to be made before people with disabilities truly have equal rights and treatment there has been a lot of progress made in the last 25 years!

 Morey and I are grateful for all the people who fought and worked for the rights and access we now enjoy together. I am thankful to work in a role where I get to continue to the work these Texas Trailblazers and others began many years ago!