How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Tammy works downtown, and I go to work with her. We take the same route most every day.

People stare at me on the Train, on the street, pretty much anywhere we go. Sometimes they try to pet me. I know they're admiring not only my good looks, but also the obvious dedication to my job.

We have to walk a few blocks from the Train station to Tammy's office, and we usually meet a few other dogs on the way.

Some are working dogs, like the Beagle whose job it is to look both cute and hungry for his panhandler human. I think he's got a pretty good gig...

And there's a guard dog lying on the floor at a high-end jewelry store: we've never actually met, but we've eyeballed each other enough to be acquainted. I feel sorry for him - he looks so sad and bored. I almost want to try a heist, just to give him something to do. I won't, though - I'm a PADS dog.

There's another dog we meet: it lives in an upscale furniture store right by Tammy's office. I say 'lives', but it doesn't really. I think it's supposed to be 'ART'. Now, I know what you're thinking, what does a dog know about art? Well, I know cute from ugly, and this ain't cute!

In the first place, it's got no eyes! It's got no fur; it's made of spun glass or something, and it's a lamp. It has an electrical cord for a leash, but I've never heard of a leash coming out of there before!!! Ouch!

It just stands there, and for $630.00 it will light up a corner for you. That's including the 15% discount...

I can light up the whole room for you for nothing; and if you still want the overhead fixture on, I can do that, too. (I might do it faster for a treat!)

And when I have my uniform off, you can get a free cuddle, too.

Look at that basket of puppies: which would you rather have, a nasty old overpriced lamp, or one of these cuties?!

On The Job With Link

Back in April, Tammy and I were asked to do another presentation - this one for PADS. But this wasn't just a standard look-at-what-the-wonder-dog-can-do show; this time I was introducing PADS Puppy-in-Training Link, from the IBM Litter.

He is 4 months old, and so cute he could probably get away with anything, even stealing a chicken salad sandwich. Maybe I'll get a chance to show him some day...

But he was pretty good. Even though he's more professional cutie than anything else, I could see the serious service dog waiting to grow into the blue and gold cape. There's no doubt in my mind that PADS Puppy-in-Training Link will be a fine assistance dog one day.

He wasn't too polished or dignified in showing off his skills yet - after all he's just getting "down" mastered - but he sure had the right attitude! He settled right down while the humans finished talking about PADS. I was so proud of him, even though he's so cute the kids hardly paid any attention to me. (Ouch!)

We talked to a whole bunch of kids, from kindergarten right on up, plus parents and teachers. They heard all about PADS - how we dogs are specially trained to help people who have disabilities live more independently.

Of course, since we're dogs - ahem, man's best friend! - we enrich their lives just by being who we are: loyal, friendly, cute, loving, helpful, cute, cuddly, mischievous, cute, furry, adorable - you get the picture...

Anyhow, back to the presentation: so, PADS needs Puppy Raisers, people who will help rear and socialize babes like PADS Puppy-in-Training Link.

Puppies need people; people need puppies. PADS needs YOU! Yes, you! Don't you have room in your home, in your heart, for somebody like PADS Puppy-in-Training Link?

Think about it!

GIRL GUIDES PRESENTATION: A NEW YEAR'S STORY

In January, Tammy and I met with the Girl Guides at an Elementary School where the Guides and their leaders invited us to talk about disability issues.

I really enjoy doing these kinds of educational presentations, as they give me an opportunity to show off some of my skills as a PADS Assistance Dog and also give our audience a glimpse of how a person with a disability lives. I am certainly the most interesting example of Tammy’s adaptive equipment!

Tammy starts by introducing herself, her human personal assistant – and me – I sit pretty until it’s my time to shine - and then she shares some of her experiences about what it is like to live with a disability. I like it when she tells the funny stories. She also talks to the kids about how important it is to see the person with a disability as a PERSON first and to be aware first of common humanity, and the things shared by people everywhere. She talks about differences too, but shows disability as yet another aspect of diversity.

Then she educates the children about cerebral palsy, and the some of the challenges it can bring. She demonstrates this by showing how she uses her adapted cup holder and camera tripod to enjoy her favorite activities of drinking a cup of hot chocolate at Starbucks and photography. Then it’s my time to shine. I demonstrate how I am used as an adaptive tool to assist Tammy retrieve an item from the floor and help her take off her sweater. The kids are always so amazed.

After this demonstration, Tammy gives the audience the opportunity to experience what it might be like to live with a disability through empathy building exercises. She gives the children oven mitts to wear which restricts their ability to use their hands and fingers and then has them do an activity that requires finger dexterity such as writing, buttoning up their jacket, or operating their ipod within a time limit. After this activity, Tammy asks questions about the task and whether they found it easy or hard. She also generates discussion around other ways in which we adapt and perform activities in our daily lives and in what ways we can support people with disabilities at school and in the community.

Finally Tammy gives the children an opportunity to ask questions about the presentation. The kids want to know about me and the PADS program as well as more questions about Tammy and her experiences living with cp. It is always so much fun!

A Letter from an Admirer

Dear Pads Service Dog Breeze,

Thanks so much for taking the time to write those informative and inspiring articles. Your human sounds like quite a woman, but I may be somewhat prejudiced in that regard as she happens to be my niece.

I met you just before Christmas at your Handler's wild and crazy Family holiday residence - you know, the one where the lady of the house isn’t particularly crazy about dogs. Mind you, she does have a very warm and loving heart, and I suspect
that you’ve managed to wriggle yourself into that heart a wee bit because,
well......you are awfully darn cute and cuddly. Hopefully your Handler will

let me huggle and snuggle you one of these days when you’re not on duty.

In the meantime, keep up the great job, and thanks for keeping that niece of
mine on her toes [so to speak].

Our loving little pooch, Spuddy, sends his best regards. It’s always been his
dream to be a working/helping dog, but alas, I fear he’s not cut out for that
sort of thing as he simply will not cease and desist from madly chasing the
deer and squirrels off of our and neighbours properties at every opportunity.
At these times he becomes completely oblivious to any and all commands or
requests made by his people. Oh well, we love him to pieces anyway.

Lotsa love to the Handler,
Your step-auntie

Sniffin' for Santa - More Holiday Stories 2007

SNIFFIN’ FOR SANTA


It was an early start for us that Sunday morning in November. The day dawned clear and cold, perfect weather for the Santa Clause Parade through Downtown.

I knew something was up when Tammy dressed me in a goofy red and green cape festooned with jingle bells, over my usual PADS working vest. My nerves jangled with every jingling step we took to the train station. The trains were crammed to overflowing with humans of every description, which made it much more difficult to keep my mind on my work.

So many men! So many children! So many people noticing how adorable I was in my Christmas finery! It was hard to focus, but I did my best. I was, after all, not only representing PADS in the parade, but also setting an example for all the PADS freshman puppies who were also in attendance…

It was a c-c-c-cold morning! I could tell Tammy was c-c-c-cold, too, because she was grumpy, and wouldn’t let me warm her up with a ‘my lap’ hug. We had to wait for a long time outdoors, along with many other parade entries – you can’t just start a mile-long march all at once, especially when some entries have four feet, some two, some are cars, some trucks, and others wheelchairs!

The Parade was kick started from a City Park tour trolley by the Mayor. By the time our little entourage finally got going, the air was full of frenzied excitement – I could smell it everywhere, along with horse and dog poop, of course.

We followed bagpipes, high-school bands, some great big horses, lots of acrobats and floats, and some very serious police dogs. We marched past three hundred thousand people who were clearly excited and happy to see us – but I could sense they were anticipating something even bigger.

As we turned the final corner, I looked behind me and saw him, the Great Man Himself, in all his fat red and white glory – Santa Clause. And I was glad I’d been a good dog all year!

Poo Corner

It’s a fact of life that you-know-what happens. When you gotta go, you gotta go. Now, my manners have been subverted to meet human standards, which differ greatly from dog standards in bathroom matters.

Just like our table manners standards are different… You, for example, would never take advantage of the opportunity to eat an apparently unattended steak. I, however, under the influence of many thousands of years of instinct, against only a year or two of training, might be forced to gobble up a rare, ownerless sirloin… It’s survival!

Same with poo. Not to be a potty mouth, but humans and dogs are clearly separate species when it comes to bathroom stuff. We canine types communicate with pee and poo; it’s how we set our boundaries, say ‘hi’ to each other, differentiate between friends and enemies, and even let that handsome German Shepherd down the street know we’ve noticed him. (Hi, Rex!)

Tammy is crazy conscientious about cleaning up after me, but since she has limited hand function, she does the poo corner clean-up once or twice a week. She brings a BIG bag, and does it all at once! (She keeps threatening to make me do the poo pick-up, but luckily I don’t have opposable thumbs)

Tammy makes sure she cleans up after me regularly, and of course poo corner is an isolated area where nobody’s kids can step in doggie-doo, but some people aren’t the least bit worried about what their canine friends leave behind – I’ve smelled some really old news in the grass
Gotta go now!

Christmas Holidays 2007

April 15, 2008

This past Christmas was the first time I spent with Tammy's extended family - whoooeeee! Let me just say that no two humans are exactly alike... but human kids are not unlike puppies - slobbery, stinky, and perpetually chewing on something!
Because there were always people around, I spent a lot of time off from my usual routine. Tammy's dad clearly enjoyed my company, and so did her siblings and nieces and nephews. I love kids - and they love me, too!
What I liked most was all the extra attention I got during our walks to the local park with Tammy and her family. Back at home everybody knows me, and knows what's expected of me, but here - well, let's just say I got away with a couple of what I like to call 'table-scrap moments'. Tammy thinks she caught me every time, but strictly between us, I manage to nab a perk or two along the way, if you know what I mean!
I liked Tammy's dad as much as he liked me, so I said 'yes' when he asked if he could share his impressions of our meeting.

Some Dogs Are...

Some dogs look like grouches with attitude, some look merely odd, some fit in oven mitts, and some only in the back of pick-up trucks. But say “Golden Retriever” and everybody thinks of long silken hair and feathered legs, kindness, intelligence, attentiveness, loyalty, an easy lope and the best nose in the business, and envies the owner.

Some time ago our daughter Tammy applied to have a PADS dog. We didn’t think she had much of a chance. After all, cerebral palsy didn’t keep her from independence, a busy life of advocacy and referral services, committee work and speaking engagements, so what could a dog do for her? Besides, she had a black male cat who ruled her apartment with tooth and claw.

But the unlikely happened. She was elected to try it out, and word came back that she was to be trained with and by – wait for it – a Golden Retriever. As part of the training all Tammy’s family members received stern warnings. This is a working dog, a dog in uniform, a highly and expensively trained animal. Do not, repeat, do not meet the kind gaze of this dog with kindness in return. Do not simper over her in uniform. Do not surreptitiously let fingers slide over silken head or encourage black wet nose to snuffle palm of hand. And never, repeat never act on the knowledge that you are the original dog whisperer and so can interpret a slightly lifted eyebrow from a head on front paws as an invitation to come and cuddle.

You can’t say that we weren’t properly warned. It didn’t make any difference, though. One look at this gorgeous young animal with impeccable manners and we all felt the need to make clear to her our admiration. Tammy was adamant, however. “Breeze, heel,” and the poor dog’s ears drooped as she took her place.

Well, suffice it to say that we managed to sneak a caress or two. And of course the reality of a PADS dog isn’t all silk and gold. Excrement happens, as do frustrations with lapses in training, with people’s lack of understanding on the street, with other dogs that can’t decipher PADS, with the daily routines as time consuming as a child’s. But Service Dog Breeze has also added a new dimension to her mistress’s life, whether it’s yanking off a coat sleeve or opening a door, or loping along beside the wheelchair in her airy way, or just waiting patiently, head on Tammy’s shoe, for the next assignment.

So thank you to the family that made the young Puppy-In-Training Breeze feel secure and valued and then had to give her up, and thank you to the trainers who can think dog thoughts. Thank you to the citizens of this great country who agree together that providing such a service is the right thing to do. And thank you, I guess, to the cat. Even he couldn’t resist being nice to a Golden Retriever.

Life With Service Dog 'Breeze'

April 14, 2008: From Tammy's Point of View

In the spring of 2007 PADS Service Dog Breeze blew into my life like a hurricane. I should have known something big was up when the voice over the phone asked whether I was sitting down…For those of you who don’t know, I’m a quad – I’m always sitting down! The big news was that I had been matched up with a PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs) dog. Her name is “Breeze”, and she’s a Golden Retriever. I had been on the PADS wait list for about 6 months; and I'd put a lot of thought into getting a helper dog for 3 or 4 years prior to applying. I wanted extra help for those times when nobody was around - after my staff had gone for the night. PADS Service Dog Breeze and I were introduced shortly thereafter, and hit if off right away. After our first meeting I had visions of Lassie pulling me out of the well. I was very excited by the prospect of greater independence, though perhaps some of my care staff feared for their jobs… A month later I was attending the two week training session.

The PADS basic training session - which I have dubbed “Doggie Boot Camp”, was an intense, even exhausting process. I had to learn how to be boss of a dog – which is different from being the boss of people, and worlds away from being boss of a cat. In the first place, none of my care staff will work for kibbles, and they won’t wag their tails either, no matter how enthusiastically I praise them. On the other hand, I don’t have to bribe them with treats to motivate them. As for my cat Rocket: well, let’s be real – nobody bosses a cat. He still runs the house.

Being the senior partner in a working dog team takes a huge commitment, all the consistency I can muster, patience, and great self discipline. Not only do I need to reinforce her basic training daily, I constantly have to establish that she’s NOT a pet – she’s a working dog. I was warned too by the PADS instructors that people who had in the past avoided eye contact with me would find any excuse to make conversation, now that PADS Service Dog Breeze was along. It’s true – she is a real ice breaker, even though every encounter with the public has come to include the words”No, you can’t pet her – she’s working”.

PADS Service Dog Breeze and I are still learning to work together, but already she can hand me the phone, retrieve dropped items off the floor, including the TV remote, papers, pens, and change. She can open all the doors in my apartment including the fridge. Maybe one day she will be able to get me a beer! She can turn lights off and on, as well as push buttons to activate doors and elevators. She can help me take my jacket off by tugging at the sleeves, and the other day she handed my bank card to the cashier at my local pet store.

PADS Service Dog Breeze has helped me tremendously in the short time we have been working together, and I expect she’ll become even more useful as time goes on. My favorite times with her however, are in the evening when her assistance dog apron is off and she is my doggie companion. She seeks my attention with adoring eyes, and sticks to my side as though she were Velcroed. She loves to rest her chin on my foot as I sit and watch TV before settling for the night.

The things that make PADS Service Dog Breeze a great assistance dog are the same things that make her a good dog – she is loyal, obedient, and eager to please. I look forward to leading an even more active, independent, and happy life with her in the future!

For more information on the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society, and its programs, check out the website at www.pads.ca

Welcome to The Adventures of PADS Service Dog 'Breeze'

April 7, 2008

This is where PADS (Pacific Assistance Dogs Society) Service Dog Breeze will share some of her experiences, observations, and insights (in-smells?) What does the human race look like from the perspective of a working dog?

Breeze works with Tammy, a community advocate who is also quadriplegic, as she navigates through or around some of life's everyday obstacles...

Join us weekly to find out how the world looks through the eyes of a real modern working girl: she's not just a somewhat vain blonde and beautiful golden retriever, she's also dedicated, altruistic, (though she can be had for a steak...!) a gifted communicator, and thoroughly professional. (Except, as we have noted, in the presence of steak...)

Breeze welcomes your comments here or at her personal email address, breeze@pads.ca