“This is crazy. I tell people not to do this. But – I’ve got a good feeling about him. And he’s the right size, and from what we’ve gathered he checks all the boxes. And how he immediately came to me to check me out when I sat down… I don’t know. We’ve come a long way and he could be gone by the time we ponder it over.” And that’s how I ended up riding home with a 76lb sack of fur on my lap named Austin, one year ago, on September 15, 2021. (By the way, seriously don’t recommend it, I could barely breathe). The first year is a whirlwind. It’s stressful, intense, lots of ups and downs and back and forth on, “Did we make the right choice”, “nope I can’t do this”, and finally smooths out into, “okay, I’ve got this.” I should know. I've done it twice now. Dive in with me on an overview of our first year with Austin. Starting Problems
What We Accomplished
What Robbie Taught Him
Hardest Parts of Year One
Best Parts of Year One
Uniqueness of Austin
Current Challenges
Where We Stand Now
What I've Learned from Training Robbie & AustinIf I have to pick 1 aspect that I’ve learned between the two of them, it’s that just because you’ve done it before doesn’t mean it will be the same or easier the next time around.
7 years ago, I was coming off the couch. Literally. I’d gotten into a rut with my pain where I wasn’t being active. My pain wasn’t managed, it was wreaking havoc on me. I threw myself into the deep end of training Robbie without knowing what I was fully capable of doing. I knew how to train animals, and I leaned into that, and found my way, but I’d never done it in horrendous pain before. Robbie revealed my capabilities, encouraged my perseverance, and returned my independence. By the time I started building Disabled Advantage, I had a pain management plan in place, of which Robbie was a significant part, and Robbie was working smoothly full time with me. He was content to nap while I worked steadily, do tasks throughout the day, and go on adventures. Starting Austin, I wasn’t coming off the couch. I was adept in these waters, and confident in myself. I had adapted to functioning with a service dog, though, and no longer had that support. I was adept, but I felt like I was drowning at times, without the aid I’d come to rely on. It was a whole new place to start from for me. I was stronger mentally and physically, but Austin pushed my limits every time I worked with him. Robbie came off the bench a few times, demanding I accept his help when he saw me limping, moving slower, or taking too long to get off the ground. He glared at Austin often. Then we lost Robbie. I was swept away. The goal of Austin kept me going during that time, knowing what he needed and what we were working towards. He was a life preserver, floating beside me. I leaned into his training to ground my soul. Like Robbie, he learned to open doors first. A piece of my system fell back into place. Next, he learned how to help me out of chairs. Another piece. Safety bracing followed, another piece. Tugging laundry baskets, pushing buttons, clap recalls (how I call him from out of sight when I can’t talk), checking in on walks based on the sound of my footsteps… more pieces floated back. Managing the responsibilities of Disabled Advantage alongside my own well-being is much harder alongside fulfilling the training and life needs of Austin. Austin is less content to nap than Robbie, and my days are 12 hours packed full of activity, be it business, house, or Austin. Rest is squeezed into cracks here and there. Sustainable? No, but I’m hopeful it will settle out soon. Austin is currently learning counter-balance, hill assist, retrieve, how to dig clothes out of the hamper, carrying a weighted pack, bracing around higher distractions, and how to be a reliable partner in all aspects of my life. Looking back in all we accomplished in this first year, I find myself criticizing myself for not accomplishing more, but temper that with what we endured and how we persevered as a team to reach where we are today. That’s something to be proud of. I look forward to what’s next for our team.
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My Name is Sally...I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This blog is about my journey training Robbie, a dog who helped me regain independence, confidence, and achieve the impossible in the face of my disability. It continues on with the training of Austin, Robbie's successor. Check Out... - "More than a Dog" was published on a site called The Mighty Categories
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