Yuku free message boards

siriusk9stlouis wrote:

---

"well I have a disability that causes me to need this dog so that I can be as normal as I look"

I love this quote- I think I will use this one when I start getting out!

Siriusk9: Also, for the benefit of other members on this board- can you break up your paragraphs a little, it's hard to read when a lot of us have TbI's or other neurological conditions or we just plain can't concentrate= one sentence at the time. Just a few lines per paragraph like most of the threads on here- look at the COL (ltcolglendavis) entries or Oyster's (You only need to do this in the Mental Health, PTSD, and this DOG column,)

Karma can bark on command, but does not know how to shut the hell up when I say, "NO bARK". When I answer the phone, she barks the entire time I am on the phone- like she wants 100% of my attention all the time. Most of the time, I get so pissed, I hang up and call the person later, or I chase her around the house to keep her quiet, while talking on the phone. I get in a rage over this most days, anyway- need help with this. Her bARK command is me opening my mouth and silently barking at her- that is where her SILENT bARK came from. So now when I ask her throughout the day, "Karma, wanna go outside and potty?" She barks once for YES and not at all for no! It works for me so we are not constantly going in and out all day.

Update on Karma- Today we have done Day #1 of me training what George (Siriusk9) and Rob (dog trainer) taught her while I was gone in LA. She drove around and waited in the car for me all day, while I went to pay my car personal property taxes and renew my plates, bank, post office, lunch and gas station. I have NEVER done that much in one day without her and I credit HER to giving me the support I need to do what normal people do without a second thought. I rewarded her with a walk in the 7 inches of snow at a park nearby and we made two laps. The snow was so deep in places, she was up to her tummy in snow and hopped like a dolphin in and out to attempt to walk in it. We then chased a collie up and down his fence line and said hi. One more lap around (my feet were getting wet and cold) and we headed back into the car. She did not run away from me once and stayed on the trail with me. She seems to be calming down a little since the training has started.

After all our errands, we took a trip to PETCO (which I hate by the way) to reward her and me for spending the day waiting in the car with me. She did an excellent job. Usually I only do one errand with her in the car- not a whole day of errands. We picked out a box of Natural Choice dog "chops" biscuits and a bag of rawhide strips, yummy. She got 1 biscuit chop when we got in the car. She already got treats earlier in the day at the bank, and the gas station. Spoiled brat!!

I've been having bouts of vertigo and dizziness over the last 2 months and am a little nervous at where this is coming from and what the DOC is going to say on Feb 2nd. I think we should train Karma to help me with this also.

More about yesterdays' picking up of Karma at the trainer's office- George and Rob had me do the commands they had taught her while I was away. I was anxious, embarrased with ZERO self-confidence. I think this is why I need more training than her. My brother went with me to pick her up and he was really impressed with what the trainers had done with her in 5 short days!! She now can walk on a leash without her pulling, sit-stay, down-stay, and lay (CLIMb) on the doggie cot and not get off. I could barely believe the progress. but when it was my turn to do the commands, I was filled with anxiety- they could see my PTSD shining on through!!

We will continue practicing- right now, we are both exhausted and playing dead for an afternoon nap,

Peace, love and oysters

Angie and Karma!!

Sirius: Have fun at the tiger exhibit!!! Don't get bit!

I don't understand the easy command- cause she already knows that word- but for not taking my hand off when I give her a treat. I don't want to confuse her. Thank you sooooo much for keeping it up with Karma. I smiled when you said you were proud of her! And how she is doing so much better.

Chrisa- fyi (for your information) The world is full of idiots- I think you saw a lot of them when you went to Capitol Hill. I am so sorry you had bad reception there, but can say that I am not a bit surprised. As for the service dog owner with a dog that barks and climbs on people- in my opinion, that makes a lot of us look really bad!!! That is NOT a service dog, I cannot even believe someone would bring a dog like that into public let alone CAPTIOL HILL- I was soooo angry reading that!!!

Well, I'll be around. Today is my Dad's 52nd bday and we are having dinner at a neighborhood pizzaeria, not looking forward to seeing family members, most of which I cannot stand! but like I have a choice!! Gonna take Karma to the nursing home where my Mom works today and walk up and down all the hallways ( I was a candystriper there for 6 years when i was younger.) I think it would be good practice. They have 3 dogs (one of which is my mom's shitzu- Sophie) that live there permanently. They walk around all day and visit the residents. Really cool. We will try it, I am pretty nervous!!