Service Dogs

May 21, 2011

Marines Kick Everybody Else’s Butts Again

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Marine Lance Weir and Canine Companions for Independence service dog Auggie at Warrior Games medals ceremony.“Marines Sweep Shooting Competition” (photo by Lance Cpl. Kayla Hermann)

That’s pretty much the headline for this year’s Warrior Games.

One person who contributed to that butt whuppin’ is my friend Lance Weir, seen here with his Canine Companions for Independence service dog Auggie during the presentation of his Gold and Silver Medals in the air rifle shooting competition.

Very cool because, besides being a friend and very well known in the CCI world, Lance wasn’t even here last year, and, according to his coach, didn’t even realize it was something he could compete in, and look at the result!

Final event is this afternoon with closing ceremonies tonight.

May 18, 2011

“The Super Dog Is… Caleb!”

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Canine Companions for Independence service dog Caleb.“And the super dog is… Caleb!”

Great post from one of the newest CCI graduates that gives you an inside look at his truly life-changing Team Training experience in the last few weeks.

Yet another classic example of why my short version answer to a question I get asked all the time – “Where do I look for a service dog?” – is always “Start with CCI, then look at the rest of the organizations on the ADI-accredited list.”

May 17, 2011

Exactly How A Service Dog Should Look When He’s Working

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Canine Companions for Independence service dog Napal at Warrior Games 2011 with Air Force team member Jason Morgan.

“Airmen Begin Warrior Games At Olympic Training Complex“

There’s so much stuff from yesterday’s Warrior Games Opening Ceremonies, there’s no way in the world I could come close to posting it all here, even just the service dog stuff. I’ll say just like I did last year that it’s really an incredible experience being there, and if you have any interest at all, you should make a point to come out here to Colorado Springs and go to them.

I did want to post this one picture of my buddy Napal, Jason Morgan’s CCI service dog (well, they’re both my friends) from the official Air Force article about the ceremony because, not only is it maybe the best picture of Napal I’ve ever seen, it shows you exactly what a service dog should like when he’s working.

May 12, 2011

“Next Stop, The Turn-In Zone!”

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Canine Companions for Independence puppy Mars.

“Mars’ DogBlog – The Turn In Zone”

A little different and very helpful perspective at the DogBlog today from Marianne McKiernan and “Auntie Dr E.” who are turning in puppies number 7 (Mars) and 4 (Calhoun), respectively, tomorrow.

Won’t surprise you that the most frequent question/comment for assistance dog puppy raisers is “How can you give them up?” or “I could never give them up.”

And, of course, I know all those “why we do it”, “How can I not turn them in?” speeches, usually given in response, plus I obviously have a lotta graduate friends with service dogs, too.

But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still tough, and Mars’ post gives you a feel for what even very experienced (and tough) puppy raisers like these two go through in the days right before turn-in.

Definitely something people – especially potential puppy raisers – need to know.

May 11, 2011

Warrior Games 2011

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Warrior Games 2011

Haven’t said a lot about Warrior Games lately, and that’s mostly because there’s been so much going on, it’s been hard to take a break from it and post anything.

Teams are all here in Colorado Springs now prepping for the Games next week, and I got to catch up with my good friend Jason Morgan and his Canine Companions for Independence service dog Napal at the Air Force Academy Community Center pool yesterday during practice.

I’ve written lots about Jason before – a search will show more, but here’s some pertinent links:

“Canine Companions for Independence Veteran Graduate In Airman Magazine“

“Out Of Everything I’ve Done To Try And Improve My Life, Nothing’s Even Come Close To Getting My Service Dog, Napal”

“Warrior Games – More Thoughts“

“Air Superiority At The Warrior Games: Air Force’s Jason Morgan And Napal“

May 10, 2011

Training People Is Just As Important As Training Dogs

Al Service Dogs, Video

Something my friend Corey Hudson, Canine Companions for Independence CEO, said in this recent podcast interview with Marcie Davis from Working Like Dogs reminded me of another one of the most overlooked aspects associated with service dogs. Marcie, who has a Paws With A Cause service dog and is on the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners board, was talking about the number of new organizations that have popped up lately, especially those targeted at veterans, and her concerns about that, and Corey said:

“Training dogs is one thing, and there’s a lotta people who do that, that does take a great deal of expertise and a lot of experience, but training at the same time and teaching people with disabilities, or anybody… to bring those two entities together, takes quite unique individuals to be able to do that. They’re not counterintuitive, but they’re not necessarily the same thing, and you put the two together… you need to, I believe, see a lotta dogs and a lotta people, a lot of graduates, before you consider yourself a qualified person. My analogy is using a baseball analogy that you need to see a lotta pitches before you consider yourself somebody who’s going to be qualified enough to put a dog in somebody’s hands that’s gonna make them more independent as opposed to more dependent.”

Still haven’t seen anything that makes this point better than the above funny five minute video from last July where two hosts from a local radio station visited the CCI campus in Santa Rosa, CA as part of their “we do your job for a day” series.

I talked about this in a little more detail in “You Can Train The Dog, But Can You Train The Human?”, the post where I first linked that video. As I said there, even those of us closely associated with CCI tend to think of how great the trainers are with the dogs, and forget about how great they have to be with the humans. It’s not accidental that it takes 3 1/2 years to become a fully qualified trainer at CCI, and I’ve had people at CCI tell me they think it really takes five years for you to get to where you feel like you know what you’re doing.

Not to mention all the interaction that goes on when you have a group of experienced trainers like that in each of the five regional centers all working together, and the ultimate impact that has on the quality of  the service dog teams they turn out.

Critical concept to keep in mind when you’re looking for a service dog for yourself, or for someone else, or a place to support or be involved with.

May 8, 2011

“After Severe War Injuries, A New Battlefield”

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U.S. Marine Juan Dominguez lies still while Peter Harsch, chief of prosthetics at Naval Medical Center San Diego, wraps a plaster mold on his leg stump.“After Severe War Injuries, A New Battlefield”

Saw this one via Soldiers’ Angels Germany yesterday. Nothing about service dogs in it, but there are two service dog-related things I wanna mention.

First, I always like to remind people whenever I see stories about troops rehabbing at Naval Medical Center San Diego (a.k.a. Balboa Naval Hospital) that Canine Companions for Independence Facility Dog Tommy is there. That’s because, even in the wounded warrior world, most don’t know that CCI Facility Dogs exist, much less that there’s one at NMCSD Comprehensive Combat and Complex Casualty Care (C5) and has been for two years now (“CCI Places First Facility Dog At A Major Wounded Warrior Medical Care Center”).

Second, note this key phrase: “The number and rate of double- and triple-amputees have risen dramatically in the last 18 months. “

More confirmation of what I’ve been saying here for some time. Namely, we already weren’t effectively reaching the existing population of physically injured veterans from all eras about service dogs and what they can do for them, and that population continues to grow daily. In addition, while the ongoing focus on “the invisible wounds of war” (i.e., post-traumatic stress) is very definitely appropriate and needed, and I mean no disrespect to anyone living with it, let’s not forget that we still have plenty of troops coming home with very visible wounds as well.

May 8, 2011

“Dealers Help Wounded Vets”

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“Dealers Help Wounded Vets”

Still catching up.

Followup video of Sam Cila accepting the National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation check for the Canine Companions for Independence veterans initiative.

Note particularly Sam’s description of what his service dog Gillian does for him – all specific physical stuff, in stark contrast to the inaccurate description in a national news magazine last year.

Apr 17, 2011

“Initially I Didn’t Want A Service Dog, I Didn’t Think I Needed One. Today, I Can’t Imagine My Life Without Her.”

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Excellent post yesterday from Canine Companions for Independence graduate Jim Sinocchi on his site that describes what his life is like since being paired with his service dog Veronique a little over two years ago.

If you’ve ever been to a CCI graduation, you know how emotional they are, and the speeches from graduates may well be the most emotional part.  Jim includes the text of his from the February 2009 Northeast Region graduation, in which he describes the experiences of his classmates. It gives you some real insights you don’t always get to see.

This quote, though, is one that any of us who’ve been around this world long enough have heard many times, reflects the feelings of many graduates that we know, and tells you everything you need to know:

“Veronique has changed my life in ways I never imagined. Initially I didn’t want a service dog, I didn’t think I needed one. Today, I can’t imagine my life without her.”

Read the whole thing here: “Veronique: More Than a A Service Dog for the Disabled”

Canine Companions for Independence Service Dog Veronique

Apr 16, 2011

Wounded Warrior Accepts National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation $10K Grant For CCI Veterans Initiative

Al , , Service Dogs, Veterans

Another “in case you haven’t already seen this elsewhere” post.

My friend Sam Cila and his service dog Gillian accepted a National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation $10,000 grant check for the Canine Companions for Independence veterans initiative at NADA’s McLean,VA headquarters Tuesday. NADCF is a long-time CCI supporter who’s expanding their support for CCI’s veterans’ effort: “Auto Dealers Raise Awareness of Assistance Dog Program for Wounded War Veterans”

“Dogs help wounded vets recover”

I understand there’s a PSA to follow – I’m looking forward to seeing it.

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