Morey's annual vet visit is in December. He always walks in happily since he doesn't have his vest on and therefore can interact with all the people and animals inside. However, once they take us back to the exam room he starts to remember what happens in this place and suddenly he is a little less eager to interact with the vet and vet techs. They take dogs in the back to weigh them and draw blood and when they bring him back he runs over as if to say "Do you know what they did to me?"
He wouldn't approach the vet until she offered him a tasty meat treat. Even then, his back feet stayed put while he stretched the front half of his body to accept the treat. It is funny to see Morey be hesitant to approach people because he is always such a friendly dog.
Morey weighed 79.6lbs and the vet complimented him on being fit and trim! I am very diligent about keeping him at a healthy weight because I want to do everything I can to keep him working as long as possible. When I worked for ICAN it was unfortunately very common to see the service dogs get too heavy and that is so bad for their health. It can sometimes be hard for a person with a disability who may not easily be able to get out to provide their dog with exercise but it is an important thing that we as human partners need to do to take care of our dogs as well as they take care of us.
The vet also gave Morey compliments about his clean teeth (which I diligently brush every night). Again, this is another easy way to keep Morey healthy as long as possible. When I first got him he wasn't really a fan of getting his teeth brushed but once I found out he prefers Poultry-flavored toothpaste he now comes into the bathroom whenever he hears me get out my toothbrush!
Morey got a clean bill of health and I'm hoping to keep him that way for the coming year!
Morey
Morey, My 2nd Service Dog
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Golden Friend
My mom has been involved with ICAN in a variety of ways, including taking care of the newborn pups, furloughing dogs and taking care of dogs when they need a break from prison. She is currently taking care of ICAN's recently retired breeding dog, a golden retriever named Jamie (named in honor of Jamie Young). Jamie the dog needed a place to recover after her pups left and to stay until she was spayed and recovered from surgery.
Jamie is two years old and loves to play! She and Morey had a blast playing with each other but her energy far exceeded his and Morey was exhausted by the time we went home! Jamie's favorite game to play is tug and she would tease Morey into playing with her by dangling a toy in his face. She didn't actually want the toy- she just wanted to play with him.
Jamie is a social dog and wanted to be near Morey all the time. She isn't allowed up on the human beds but whenever Morey was on the dog bed she wanted to join him.
I enjoyed watching their body language as they played. Although Morey is usually quite docile he can look ferocious when he plays. My sister would sometimes think they were getting too rough but I was watching their body language and could tell despite the snapping of teeth and body slamming that it was all in good fun. Jamie didn't always want to stop when Morey did so there were a couple of times that we had to stop their play and encourage a quiet activity like chewing bones or antlers.
Since my mom didn't get to come to Texas to celebrate Morey's birthday we had a belated party for him, with Jamie and Buddy the shih Tzu as guests. Morey very much enjoyed his presents which included new toys, a new antler and two new feeding toys!
Morey and Jamie also got to go to church together. They adapted very well to their "professional relationship" after the romping and running they did at home.
After we had gone back to Texas my mom was talking to me on the phone about Morey. She told me that Jamie got up and started looking around for him. She definitely liked the visitor from Texas!
Jamie is two years old and loves to play! She and Morey had a blast playing with each other but her energy far exceeded his and Morey was exhausted by the time we went home! Jamie's favorite game to play is tug and she would tease Morey into playing with her by dangling a toy in his face. She didn't actually want the toy- she just wanted to play with him.  |
| More than a few toys met their match while Morey was home! |
They also enjoyed some antler chewing together.
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| Break time! |
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| All worn out! |
Jamie is a social dog and wanted to be near Morey all the time. She isn't allowed up on the human beds but whenever Morey was on the dog bed she wanted to join him.I enjoyed watching their body language as they played. Although Morey is usually quite docile he can look ferocious when he plays. My sister would sometimes think they were getting too rough but I was watching their body language and could tell despite the snapping of teeth and body slamming that it was all in good fun. Jamie didn't always want to stop when Morey did so there were a couple of times that we had to stop their play and encourage a quiet activity like chewing bones or antlers.
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| The weird looking green thing is actually a feeder- you sprinkle food between the "grass blades" and the dogs have to lick it out. |
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| Look at all those wrinkles! |
Morey and Jamie also got to go to church together. They adapted very well to their "professional relationship" after the romping and running they did at home.
After we had gone back to Texas my mom was talking to me on the phone about Morey. She told me that Jamie got up and started looking around for him. She definitely liked the visitor from Texas!
Back to Prison
Since I was home for a week over Thanksgiving I had a chance to go to the Indiana Women's Prison for part of a training session with the ICAN staff and handlers and their current dogs in training. Morey spent part of his time in my training at IWP and always recognizes when we go back. I have fond memories of my time in prison and always like to go back when I can (not many people probably say that!) which isn't as often now that I'm in Texas.
There has been a lot of turnover with the IWP handlers since I left so I only knew a few of the current handlers. Some handlers have gotten released from prison (obviously a good thing!) while others have been fired from the program because of violating prison rules. Being part of ICAN is a job that requires high standards and it's always hard to see a handler make choices that violate their ability to stay in the program. Not only does ICAN lose talented handlers but the handlers lose out on an amazing opportunity to learn valuable life lessons and give back to the community.
It was fun to visit with the handlers and meet some of the pups in training. They were proud to show off their dogs and with Team Training coming up, to explain who their dogs were going to be matched with. Despite all the new dogs and familiar sights Morey behaved very professionally, serving as a role model to all the younger dogs on how to act as a service dog.
The handlers only get to see one side of the service dog training and are always eager to hear more about how they act/react when they are out working in the world. I was happy to be able to share some of my experiences with Morey in hopes of emphasizing to them how crucial their work is in creating a well-trained service dogs. Training loose-leash walking, recalls and stays can get repetitive and boring after a while but these are critical skills for service dogs. Handlers often want to jump right into training retrieves and tugs before their dog has a solid foundation with the basic skills. Knowing this, I gave a few examples of how Morey's basic skills allow him to my service dog partner hoping these examples will emphasize the importance of training these skills.
I really miss having the chance to work in the prisons and was glad to be able to visit. One of the things I love about ICAN is how the dogs are used to change lives even before they start their life as a service dog. This becomes very obvious when you have a chance to talk to the handlers who have dedicated their time to training a dog that they will one day hand over to someone else. As someone on the receiving end of this gift I am extra grateful for everyone who helped Morey become the wonderful service dog he is today!
There has been a lot of turnover with the IWP handlers since I left so I only knew a few of the current handlers. Some handlers have gotten released from prison (obviously a good thing!) while others have been fired from the program because of violating prison rules. Being part of ICAN is a job that requires high standards and it's always hard to see a handler make choices that violate their ability to stay in the program. Not only does ICAN lose talented handlers but the handlers lose out on an amazing opportunity to learn valuable life lessons and give back to the community.
It was fun to visit with the handlers and meet some of the pups in training. They were proud to show off their dogs and with Team Training coming up, to explain who their dogs were going to be matched with. Despite all the new dogs and familiar sights Morey behaved very professionally, serving as a role model to all the younger dogs on how to act as a service dog.
The handlers only get to see one side of the service dog training and are always eager to hear more about how they act/react when they are out working in the world. I was happy to be able to share some of my experiences with Morey in hopes of emphasizing to them how crucial their work is in creating a well-trained service dogs. Training loose-leash walking, recalls and stays can get repetitive and boring after a while but these are critical skills for service dogs. Handlers often want to jump right into training retrieves and tugs before their dog has a solid foundation with the basic skills. Knowing this, I gave a few examples of how Morey's basic skills allow him to my service dog partner hoping these examples will emphasize the importance of training these skills.
I really miss having the chance to work in the prisons and was glad to be able to visit. One of the things I love about ICAN is how the dogs are used to change lives even before they start their life as a service dog. This becomes very obvious when you have a chance to talk to the handlers who have dedicated their time to training a dog that they will one day hand over to someone else. As someone on the receiving end of this gift I am extra grateful for everyone who helped Morey become the wonderful service dog he is today!
Sibling Reunion
I apologize for the extended delay in updating Morey's adventures. I'm finishing 2014 in a rush but will go back through and add the details and pictures you have come to expect. In the meantime, you can get a "sneak peek" at what's coming in the next few blog posts! I'll try to be better about posting in 2015!
While I was home for Thanksgiving Morey had a chance to reunite with his littermate Shani. Shani was the only pup in the litter who went into law enforcement instead of service dog work. Dogs that have high energy and intense drive (for balls, Frisbees, etc) usually don't make good service dogs but those same skills can be an asset when it comes to police work. Shani became an award winning drug dog and pretty much cleared her district from drug business because word got out that she could sniff out drugs no matter how well they were hidden or disguised. Shani recently retired and back with her puppy raiser and so Morey and I got the chance to visit her.
There were 3 yellow pups in Morey's litter and 5 black pups. Shani is black and you would never guess that she and Morey are littermates! Not only is there color different but so are their body builds and facial features.
While Morey and his mom Cleo seemed to share a special connection when they got to see each other last summer, Morey and Shani didn't seem to recognize each other or act any differently than they do when they meet any other dog. Still, it was fun to see them both together now that they are all grown up and settled into their careers!
While I was home for Thanksgiving Morey had a chance to reunite with his littermate Shani. Shani was the only pup in the litter who went into law enforcement instead of service dog work. Dogs that have high energy and intense drive (for balls, Frisbees, etc) usually don't make good service dogs but those same skills can be an asset when it comes to police work. Shani became an award winning drug dog and pretty much cleared her district from drug business because word got out that she could sniff out drugs no matter how well they were hidden or disguised. Shani recently retired and back with her puppy raiser and so Morey and I got the chance to visit her.
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| Shani and Morey |
While Morey and his mom Cleo seemed to share a special connection when they got to see each other last summer, Morey and Shani didn't seem to recognize each other or act any differently than they do when they meet any other dog. Still, it was fun to see them both together now that they are all grown up and settled into their careers!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Happy Halloween
This year I dropped the ball on Halloween costumes. I spent most of the week catching up after being gone for a week and Halloween just snuck up on me. I had a meeting to go to that encouraged people to wear "healthy-themed" costumes so I was trying to use that theme for inspiration.
Inspiration hit at 10:30pm on Thursday night. I decided Morey would go as a cow and bring along his farm animal toys (including a pig, duck and chicken) and I would dress as a farmer and bring fruit, veggies and grains so that together we would represent the 5 food groups. Not bad for a last minute costume!
Morey was not thrilled about the costume but he graciously cooperated. He wore his costume to/from and during the meeting. The cow tail kept moving along his back as he walked and he kept turning around to look at it. It must have felt strange to have a second tail! The hood with the horns wouldn't stay on his head so many people thought he was a dalmation. Personally, I've never seen a dalmation with an udder but I guess there is a first time for everything!
At home at night we had a good number of trick or treaters (although only a few of them actually said trick or treat!). At first Morey came to the door with me but once he was ignored a few times he decided not to waste the energy and just stayed on the couch. Unless he is the one getting the treats he said it's not worth the effort!
Next year I'll try to get an earlier start on our Halloween planning. If you have any suggestions please let me know!
Inspiration hit at 10:30pm on Thursday night. I decided Morey would go as a cow and bring along his farm animal toys (including a pig, duck and chicken) and I would dress as a farmer and bring fruit, veggies and grains so that together we would represent the 5 food groups. Not bad for a last minute costume!
Morey was not thrilled about the costume but he graciously cooperated. He wore his costume to/from and during the meeting. The cow tail kept moving along his back as he walked and he kept turning around to look at it. It must have felt strange to have a second tail! The hood with the horns wouldn't stay on his head so many people thought he was a dalmation. Personally, I've never seen a dalmation with an udder but I guess there is a first time for everything!
At home at night we had a good number of trick or treaters (although only a few of them actually said trick or treat!). At first Morey came to the door with me but once he was ignored a few times he decided not to waste the energy and just stayed on the couch. Unless he is the one getting the treats he said it's not worth the effort!
Next year I'll try to get an earlier start on our Halloween planning. If you have any suggestions please let me know!
Left Behind
Since rugby is no longer part of my life this year I have found myself with a lot more availability in my schedule. I was invited to participate in two different opportunities in San Diego and decided to take advantage of both of them!
For the past several years I have been involved with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a non-profit that provides support for people with disabilities to participate in sports and athletics. They provide grants for training, equipment and competition and hold various sports clinics and camps. One of their biggest fundraising events is the San Diego Triathlon Challenge and this year I was invited to attend! The triathlon consists of a 1 mile swim, 44 mile bike ride and 10 mile run. I didn't have enough notice to train for those distances so I decided to participate in a relay team which each person taking one component. I decided to do the swim since it seemed a lot easier than the bike or run distance!
I was also invited to a Paralympic Talent ID Cycling Camp at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego. Who could say no to that opportunity?? The Triathlon was on Sunday and the camp was Monday-Saturday so the timing was perfect. One of my best friends lives in San Diego so I decided to add a day on each end of the trip to visit her. Might as well make the most of the flight!
All these events would add up to a week of travel and being gone. I didn't know exactly what to expect at the triathlon or the cycling camp so I decided to leave Morey at home. I think the longest we've been apart is 4 days so this would be the longest separation we've had since we've been together. I went back and forth on my decision but finally decided to stick with my original plan.
I was surprised that I actually got a little teary when it was time to leave. I knew Morey would be fine but it was still hard to leave him behind. Halfway through the week my roommate texted me saying Morey wouldn't eat. Of course my "mom guilt" immediately kicked in and all I could think about was Morey thinking I had abandoned him. The next night my roommate texted me saying Morey barked all night whenever he heard a sound outside. At that I began to feel bad for my roommate too!
Even though I had a great time on my trip I was very glad to be reunited with Morey! My friend brought Morey to the airport to pick me up and he was quite excited to see me. I've already decided I won't leave him home that long again!
Happy Birthday!
Morey turned 6 this year. I still remember the day he was born- I had a rugby tournament and kept checking my phone between games to see if the puppies had been born! I still think of him as a young dog but at 6 he is solidly middle-aged now. We'll be celebrating our 4th anniversary of being together this December which is hard to believe. Time flies!
I'm sorry to report that Morey had a rather sad birthday. Usually my mom and sister come to visit so we can celebrate in style but this year I was getting ready to head out on a trip so it was just me and Morey. His birthday was on a Friday so we spent the whole day at work. One of Morey's biggest fans at work saw my birthday Facebook post while she was doing an early morning errand and she picked up a birthday present for him and then brought it to my office to deliver it to the birthday boy. She said she never gets to buy soft toys because her dogs destroy them but she had a feeling that Morey would treat it appropriately. Morey was very excited about his birthday present!
After losing my sweet Jessie at age nine (way too early!) I don't like to think about Morey getting older. Morey is such a part of me and I really can't even think about not having him in my life. I tried to focus on celebrating another year of his life instead of dwelling on how few birthdays he might have left. Sometimes it takes a loss to make you appreciate what you have and that is certainly the case with me. Over the last few months I have been intentional about cherishing each moment with Morey and am trying not to take his presence in my life for granted.
So here's to Morey and many more years of health and happiness!
I'm sorry to report that Morey had a rather sad birthday. Usually my mom and sister come to visit so we can celebrate in style but this year I was getting ready to head out on a trip so it was just me and Morey. His birthday was on a Friday so we spent the whole day at work. One of Morey's biggest fans at work saw my birthday Facebook post while she was doing an early morning errand and she picked up a birthday present for him and then brought it to my office to deliver it to the birthday boy. She said she never gets to buy soft toys because her dogs destroy them but she had a feeling that Morey would treat it appropriately. Morey was very excited about his birthday present!
After losing my sweet Jessie at age nine (way too early!) I don't like to think about Morey getting older. Morey is such a part of me and I really can't even think about not having him in my life. I tried to focus on celebrating another year of his life instead of dwelling on how few birthdays he might have left. Sometimes it takes a loss to make you appreciate what you have and that is certainly the case with me. Over the last few months I have been intentional about cherishing each moment with Morey and am trying not to take his presence in my life for granted.
So here's to Morey and many more years of health and happiness!
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