Today I decided to write a small article on Elysha and her new friend 'Jake'. Jake came to live with us nearly a year ago. Our first anniversary comes up in January.Jake is a wonderful addition to our family and I am so glad that I looked into the idea of a companion dog.
Jake came to us through the Guide Dog Assoc. I contacted them in reference to getting a dog for Elysha. We have never had a dog before - actually I have always been quite scared of dogs and spent many a day walking the long way to school just to avoid the local dogs.
I knew we needed a dog that had already been trained as I had no idea. Why get a dog - quite simply because life can be lonely at times for Elysha and I thought having her own special friend would make a difference. After our initial contact with the Guide Dog Assoc I was called a couple of times and information was shared. Then a wonderful lady from the Guide Dog Assoc came and did an interview. Looking at the whys and wherefores.
It was decided that although Elysha could have a Labrador she really wasn't strong enough to walk one and we didn't want the dog to become 'the boss'.
So we were looking at middle size maybe. We then waited. In all it was nearly two years but we knew this before hand and I started before Elysha finished up at school. Then we got the call - there was a two year old and a puppy. Both had been trained but the puppy still liked to playfully nip at heels. We knew this would scare Elysha and then she would withdraw from his handling so we went with the two year old.
Enter Jake. In comes this cute looking young fella with a bit of this and a bit of that in his breed. Bichon Frise was quite predominant and so we had a dog that a) didn't molt and b) no allergies for Elysha - fantastic.
Another quality we were looking for was a dog that maybe able to do Therapy Pet training with Elysha as we felt this could be a good way for them both to participate in the community visiting nursing homes etc and sharing.
Jake fit the mould perfectly. You have never seen a dog like it. He loves to be petted and is so relaxed we can be holding him and push his gently backwards and he just falls back - paws in the air and waits for a tummy rub.
When he's washed he smells like a wet jumper. We learnt the hard way not to let his coat get too long - being wool it just got so tangled and our attempts at using a clipper left him looking a bit mangled. Time to call in the mobile dog wash people. When they had finished he was looking a bit bald but much improved and very young.
Elysha feeds Jake everyday, cleans up his poos and is up early and removes evidence if he has been naughty and pooed in the back room.
He is perfectly trained and goes to meetings with us and will sit under the table, no noise and wait till we finish. We can take him out and tell him to go to the lou "quick quick" and go back in. So many cafes welcome us and bring water for him and some even treats. He walks right beside Elysha and only has to be pulled back every now and then. Everyone and I mean everyone stops us to ask about him and want a pat he just has that cute dog look.
Doesn't beg for food but will look at you with sad eyes until you tell him to 'go away' then he sits off to the side and just lays his head down and waits till we finish. Can sucker John and Elysha at times.
Faults: hates wet grass and rain. Will not go outside in the rain no matter how hard we work at it - we have taken him out on a lead and stood there with him in the rain but he will not go. We say quick quick and he just looks at us like we are idiots. End result is if its rainy we know he will have done something in the back room (which is an outside enclosed area) and we live with it. We scold him - he looks very dejected and some days we make him stay out but then Elysha just sits at the door and keeps telling us he is sorry. What can you do??
Barked and growled at all other dogs - his tail still going madly in happiness but there he was going berserk. We had no idea what to do - it scared Elysha terribly and I have no working knowledge of dogs. We called the Guide Dog Assoc and they sent a couple of trainers who had worked with him before. Of course he behaved perfectly for them and there were no stray dogs to show what was happening. Went and knocked on someones door - we knew they had a dog but didn't know them. Asked if they would bring their dog out and of course when he growled they pulled him up and he obeyed. CHECK
Next time we went out and he went nuts didn't matter what I said he wouldn't stop. So John took him visiting his mum and her two dogs - bit of work but we got there.
That's it for faults and so minor. REWARDS -ahhhhh so many I don't know where to start. He is Elysha's best friend. He goes with her everywhere -yes even to bed at night - but just till she goes to sleep then he wanders out-like 'yes shes asleep now' and sits with us then goes out to the back room for the night. He has everyone wrapped around his little paw. We have rules and he is very good but he does know how to work all of us. Yes even me - the dog hater has become the dog lover.
John who was adamant we would never have a dog (yes I went behind his back on this but I knew he would change his mind) is the BIGGEST SUCKER of us all. Jake nudges Johns hand and John pats and rubs and if he stops another nudge will get him patting again.
Elysha talks to him, sings to him and dances with him. He sits and listens to her laughter and stays with her always.
In the New Year we will start the Dog Therapy training and hopefully she and Jake will be able to take and share their friendship with others soon.
If you have ever thought about getting a Companion Dog for your son or daughter DO IT. You just cant loose.
Hopefully I will get into doing more posts this year. I know this article isn't really relevant to sign or Proloquo2Go but just wanted to share.
Aileen
PS We have taught Jake the Auslan signs for and he responds to SIT, WAIT, GO. We can get him to sit and wait when there are treats set up around him in a circle and he will wait and go to the treat we point to then wait for next one etc.
