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Below is some information provided by Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) that shows how long it takes to train their Service Dogs. This timeline also holds true for us self-trainers, except we do ALL the work. We do everything the CCI volunteers do and everything the CCI trainers do. More importantly, we also can experience the same failure rate shown below. Something all self-trainers have to keep in mind. -------------------------- Only 40% of the puppies that enter the Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) program will complete the more than 2-year-long training and be matched with a human partner. Dogs are removed from the program along the way for health, behavior or temperament issues. Puppies that are released from the program are generally adopted by their volunteer puppy raisers or placed in carefully selected homes. At two months old: Puppy is turned over to a volunteer. Volunteers work with their dogs for up to 16 months. They provide a secure and safe home. They...

A friend (hi RuthAnn!) recently gave me a great idea for this blog. I'm going to write a nice bio and keep it at the top of the page. That way, new readers can get an overall picture of what this blog is all about rather than having to put together the story with individual posts, especially since most are now in the archives. If any of my current readers (and new ones too!) have any specific questions for me that I can address in the bio, please let me know! PS. Hi Alexis! Psyche!

NEW YORK (AP) - Scientists eased the paralysis of rats with spinal cord injury by transplanting cells taken from the brains of adult mice, an encouraging sign for developing a human treatment, researchers reported. Someday, such cells might be taken from the brains of patients with spinal cord injuries for their own treatment, said researcher Dr. Michael Fehlings. In addition, similar cells are found in the spinal cord, so perhaps researchers may find a way to activate them to improve a person's mobility, he said. Fehlings, of the University of Toronto and the Toronto Western Research Institute in Canada, and colleagues report the rodent experiment in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. The work used 97 rats. Spinal injuries were created in the lab, and the mouse brain cells were implanted two weeks or eight weeks later. While the animals didn't start walking normally, those treated at the two-week mark did gain in coordination and ability to bear weight on th...

As you could probably tell from my blog postings, last week was a recovery week for me. I had to recover from my niece and brothers visit. But it was a great visit! My motto: do all that you can, just plan on major down-time afterwards. And that's what I did. I didn't schedule anything all last week because I knew I'd need that time to recuperate because I knew I wanted to do as much as I could with my niece and bro. And so it goes. Unfortunately, today is also a recovery day. I did lots this weekend, and had lots of fun. But now I have to pay. But that's ok. I'd rather have this than not do things because I was afraid of the pain and fatigue that will inevitably come later. What the heck would I be saving my energy for anyway? Of course, I do carefully weigh things out. For some things, the pain and fatigue are not worth it. It's a careful balancing act. Ok, gotta go take a nap!

Four workers were discussing how smart their dogs were. The first was an engineer. He said, "My dog can do math calculations." His dog's name was T-Square and the engineer told his dog to get some paper and do calculations, which the dog did - no problem. The second man was an accountant. He said his dog was better. His dog, Slide Rule, was told to fetch a dozen cookies and divide them into three equal piles, which the dog did - no problem. The third man was a chemist. He told his dog, Measure, to get a quart of milk and pour 7 ounces into a 10-ounce glass. The dog did - no problem. All three agreed each dog was very smart. Then they turned to the union member and said, "What can your dog do?" The teamster's dog was named Coffee-break. He said, "Show these boys what you can do." Coffee-break went over, ate the cookies, drank the milk, crapped on the paper, screwed the other three dogs, claimed he hurt his back, filed a grievance for unsafe working...

While my niece was visiting, I showed her how the dogs can play Hide and Seek. I took the dogs into the bathroom and told her to tell them to "down". And then "stay". (Of course, I was in the background giving the hand-signals for these commands.) Then my niece and I went and hid in the living room. Then I yelled "OK" and the dogs came running. They found me first... and then the giggling led them straight to my niece. Then my niece said: "Now they should hide and we'll find them!" Bummer, it doesn't work that way.

Dogs don't cry. Dogs love it when your friends come over. Dogs don't care if you use their shampoo. Dogs think you sing great. A dog's time in the bathroom is confined to a quick drink. Dogs don't expect you to call when you are running late. The later you are, the more excited dogs are to see you. Dogs will forgive you for playing with other dogs. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name. Dogs are excited by rough play. Dogs don't mind if you give their offspring away. Dogs understand that farts are funny. Dogs can appreciate excessive body hair. Anyone can get a good looking dog. If a dog is gorgeous, other dogs don't hate it. Dogs don't shop. Dogs like it when you leave lots of things on the floor. A dog's disposition stays the same all month long. Dogs never need to examine the relationship. A dog's parent's never visit. Dogs love long car trips. Dogs understand that instincts are better than asking for directions. Do...

STORY #1 My first service dog JoJo used to be addicted to licking. She would lick her lick. Seriously, she would lick the air, and then lick again. Hence, lick her lick. Weird. STORY #2 While my brother and niece were visiting, I took my bro to my herpetological society meeting. The hubby stayed home with my 4-and-3/4-year-old niece. They had a lot of fun. In fact, when we came home at 11pm, she was still up and full of energy. The hubby, on the other hand, was exhausted. At one point during the evening, my sister had called to talk to my niece. During the conversation, this is what the hubby heard: My Niece: "I'm staying here at Aunt Lisa's and.... and...." Then she looks up at the hubby and says: "What's your name?" WHAT!?! Kids. STORY #3 I give Willie his thyroid pill every morning. He has hypothyroidism. The pill is small enough to fit in the hole of a Cheerio. Frankie seems to know the timing of this pill and runs out to bark at Willie to...

How to Photograph a New Puppy Remove film from box and load camera. Remove film box from puppy's mouth and throw in trash. Remove puppy from trash, brush coffee grounds from muzzle. Choose a suitable background for photo. Mount camera on tripod and focus. Find puppy and take dirty sock from mouth. Place puppy in pre-focused spot and return to camera. Forget about spot and crawl after puppy on knees. Focus with one hand and fend off puppy with other hand. Get tissue and clean nose print from lens. Put cat outside, clean the scratch on puppy's nose. Put magazines back on coffee table. Try to get puppy's attention by squeaking toy over your head. Replace your glasses and check camera for damage. Jump up in time to grab puppy by scruff of neck and say, "No, outside! No, outside!" Clean up mess. Sit back in chair with lemonade and resolve to teach puppy to "sit" and "stay" soon.

Well, I'm not on vacation, but my family is and they're down here visiting us. My younger brother and my niece are here visiting from Oklahoma. It's been a lot of fun watching my 4-and-3-quarters-years-old niece (she makes sure I get that 3/4's in there!) play with the dogs. They're so gentle with her and follow her around like she's the Pied Piper. That's the great thing about having very well trained and behaved dogs. You don't have to segregate them when you have company and they can be a part of all the festivities. I feel sorry for folks who just don't get this and who have to put their dogs out in the backyard when company comes. All dogs have the potential to be "good dogs". But not all humans know how to be "good dog owners".

A while back I wrote an article detailing how I've modified my life to accommodate my disability. Two areas I forgot to discuss were the items I carry in my car and on my wheelchair. So here goes: Car: Hand controls (I think I did mention these already, but they are so integral to my life they deserve a second mention.) Small first-aid kit Leash (For when sdogs need to potty. I sit in the car and hold the leash whilst they do their business.) Hand-held weather-alert radio (My brother is a meteorologist with the National Severe Storms Lab . And I live in Texas. Need I say more?) All things needed to change a tire and jump-start a battery (Not that I would physically be able to do these things, but if I needed assistance, I'd at least have the tools.) Simple tool kit Sage stick and lighter (see here for why) Wheelchair: Attached under my wheelchair is a carry bag for stuff. It stays there all the time except when I fly (a hassle to unattach to run through the scanner) Lea...

Yesterday was a good day, so we went to Walmart and got the hubby some new sneakers. The same greeter from hell was at the door when we left. This time she smiled and politely said hello. Me thinks she's been schooled.

Dog Survives After Fall Into Icy Channel GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (AP) - A dog that was presumed drowned after falling into an icy river channel that feeds Lake Michigan was found alive hours later and returned to its grateful owner. Robert Chavez was walking two of his dogs alongside the Grand River around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when his German shepherd fell into the channel and broke through the ice. The ice prevented Chavez from getting the dog out of the water, so he ran to a nearby home and called 911. When he returned to the river, he could not find the dog. Officers from the Public Safety Department and the Coast Guard station searched, but they also could not find the animal. Around 9:45 p.m., a woman reported that she and her friends had heard a dog barking as they walked along the channel's south pier. Responding officers also heard barking that appeared to be coming from a tunnel beneath the pier, but they were unable to remove a 12-inch service cover to gain access to it. Two hou...

Dog Makes Cell Phone Call To Save Owner's Life Recently in suburban Ocoee, Florida, Belle the Wonder Dog called 911 and saved its owner’s neck. The smart beagle belongs to a very grateful Kevin Weaver, who says he doesn’t go anywhere without Belle, and Tuesday morning he needed her dearly. Mr. Weaver, a diabetic, is thankful Belle remembered her recent service training and swung into action when he made that life saving call. “She started clawing at me which is the signal that I’m low and then I blacked out,” says Weaver. “Dogs are able to sense high and low blood sugars. When your blood sugar starts to rise, your breath starts to get a sweet smell to it. So you’re able to tell the highness. But when you start to drop into the low, it more drops into the seizure.” Not only can Belle smell its owner’s blood sugar levels, the other part of her training is to find Kevin’s cell phone, bite and hold down the number 9. “The phone will make a tone when it is connected and she wil...

With the Academy Awards now past, I now have a longer list of movies I'd like to see, but that I'll have to wait for until they come out on cable. Why do I have to wait? Next time you go to the movie theater, pretend you're in a wheelchair. Then find yourself a spot to watch the movie. What will you find? That the theater's elevators are a million miles down a dark hallway. That the elevator is only big enough for you, your wheelchair, and if you're lucky, your service dog. That the seats it takes you to are all the way at the very top of the theater, way in the back. That if you choose not to use the elevator and go in the entrance the public uses, you'll find stairs up the aisles. That if you can't use those stairs, you must sit at the very front of the theater. Either way, you're movie-going experience is certainly not worth the big bux they charge you, and is certainly not equal to the able-bodied person's experience. You don't have your ch...

TALK TO THE DISABLED TUESDAY! The first Tuesday of every month is hereby proclaimed as Talk To The Disabled Tuesday . NOW, THEREFORE, I, The WillaWoman, do hereby proclaim the First Tuesday of every Month as TALK TO THE DISABLED TUESDAY . I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, parents, and all the people of the World to observe this day with the appropriate actions outlined below. Pretty official sounding, eh?! Goals : Raise awareness of the Disabled's plight of feeling invisible or feeling like a circus freak. Demonstrate to the abled-bodied that The Disabled are just like everyone else. Cause a generational avalanche of knowledge to the abled-bodied 's children. Make the day of a lonely, ostracized Disabled Person . Actions : Say "Hello" to a Disabled Person . Nod and smile to a Disabled Person . Strike up a conversation with a Disabled Person . Have your child say "Hello" to a Disabled Person . Look a Disable...

Dog Is Included in Sale of House SCOTT CITY, Mo. (AP) - Perhaps Rocky has a nose for real estate. The dog is credited with sealing a home sale in Missouri. Jared and Whittnie Essner met Rocky while house-hunting in Scott City, Mo., and knew they'd found their home - and their new dog. It turns out the seller couldn't keep Rocky, so as part of the deal, the little fella went with the house. The realtor says she's never seen a contract like it: "Rocky was in black and white under personal property to stay." The former owner has visitation rights whenever he wants to see the pooch. And Jared Essner says he thinks the seller "had a better feeling" about the transaction after seeing the couple with the dog.

Last night, my buddy Frankie, who's become so bonded to me, decided to sleep on the floor next to my side of the bed. As I closed my eyes, visions of soft clouds and calm oceans filled my thoughts. Sigh. Cough.... Cough.... COUGH! UGH! Frankie farted. Not once, not twice, but three times. All made noise like my grandpa used to make, and all were thick, deadly, noxious gas attacks. I had to sleep on the couch. Of course, Frankie followed me out there and slept with me, but at least that room is bigger and not closed off like our bedroom. So there was plenty of space for the gas to dissipate. I think Frankie is one of the missing WMDs.

Frankie had his butt stitches removed yesterday. And his "anal tone" tested. Not sure which note he hit, but he passed the test. Oy.

I took Frankie for another bus outing yesterday afternoon. Although it's obvious he still needs more practice, he was much improved. Much less shivering, wasn't as afraid of the mechanical bus ramp beeping , and was able to settle down quicker. In fact, I think his biggest problem is with the constant motion. I can see that he's trying so hard to "grab" onto the bus floor with his claws while still maintaining a down/stay. He's such a good boy. I don't know why, but these bus rides wear me out. Maybe it's because yesterday some guy got on the bus with a chainsaw. No lie. Austin is weird. PS. For all you worry-worts: That guy turned out to be a nice guy!