specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 my son's new guide dog, Dozer! I'm in Ontario right now for training week, and can't wait to get home to introduce Dozer to his boy! It's been bitter-sweet, as we had to retire the first guide dog, Princess Leia. I brought her to live on my mom's acreage. I didn't expect to cry when I left her, but I did! Oh well, she is beyond happy there, with miles of greenery and no pavement in sight. Onward and upward, with our new furry family member! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 He's gorgeous! :001_tt1: Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Beautiful! Enjoy Dozer. He looks like a great one. Do tell us how your ds reacts to that sweet dog! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Your son is one lucky boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 How cool, more details? If it isn't a nosy question how come your son isn't there to meet the dog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyndie Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Sweet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 How cool, more details? If it isn't a nosy question how come your son isn't there to meet the dog? Not nosy at all! My son has pretty severe (classic) autism and does not do well on planes. Also, it's fairly standard procedure for *most* autism guide dogs to be trained with their handlers alone, since the dog must obey our commands and bond with us. Once we pass the public access test (accredited by ADI, the international authority on guide dog standards) then we go home and the trainer visits us a few weeks later in order to work with the whole team (which could include all handlers or parents, the child and any therapists, schools, etc.) It's at this point that the trainer connects the harness to the child and the dog, thereby assuring (or greatly improving) safety in the community. My boy has zero safety awareness and no fear. His attraction to letters and numbers and ALL bodies of water have nearly cost him his life on several occassions. It will be nice to be able to venture out again, with my boy's new best friend. :001_wub: I know a lot of people are not too familiar with guide dogs, let alone ones trained for special needs children, as their roles and skills do differ, so if you have any questions at all, I'd be more than happy to share. I love awareness. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 HE'S ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!!!!!!!! And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the name!!! Every time I see a lab I long for the two I lost. They had a good life - both died at age 14 and 4 months! sniff! Enjoy that handsome guy! well, both of them! ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4kiddies Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Beautiful dog! Good luck with him. It's amazing what service dogs can be trained to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Dozer is beautiful! I have a friend with a guide dog for blindness and another with a dog for hearing. It's amazing what they can be trained to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Well, if your son goes somewhere he shouldn't does the dog stop him? What does "connect the harness" mean? Are they really physically connected when they go out? I'm off to google, this is fascinating to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 How cool! He's gorgeous!! I'd love to know more about how he helps your son. Guide dogs fascinate me.....they are so incredibly smart! Does he keep your son away from places that could put his life in danger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 (edited) Well, if your son goes somewhere he shouldn't does the dog stop him? What does "connect the harness" mean? Are they really physically connected when they go out? I'm off to google, this is fascinating to me. Yes, the dog would stop him. That's the beauty of it. The dogs hunker down and are almost like cement on the floor. I can tug as hard as I am able and he won't budge. OK to explain the harness: the dog has a coat on. The coat has a handle my son can hold on to. It also has a loop that a small tether (picture a 2 foot leash) attaches to. The other end of the tether is connected to a magic belt around my son's waist. Yes, it's magic :lol: because it locks and he can't figure out how to unlock it. :lol: If you want to see it, click my profile, I have a picture of our (now) retired guide dog Leia with my boy. You may be able to spot the tether and the handle. How cool! He's gorgeous!! I'd love to know more about how he helps your son. Guide dogs fascinate me.....they are so incredibly smart! Does he keep your son away from places that could put his life in danger? There's so much these dogs can do for kids with autism. Safety is the number 1 thing they provide. Another biggie is that these dogs are usually the child's only friend. Kids with (classic and severe) autism typically don't know how to make friends. They also give the public a visual cue that there is a disability, thereby increasing allowances, or awareness of an otherwise invisable disability. It is very difficult on families with these kids to have a "normal" life because of their child's behaviours. People can be so cruel and judgemental, giving dirty looks when the child has a meltdown, or telling me that I should just spank him because he's spoiled. Or swearing at me telling me that my son is disgusting for pulling down his pants in Walmart and pooing in the aisle. Sorry folks, this kid is not spoiled, he has a disability that isn't obvious to casual onlookers. The dog gives them a heads-up that there may be more to this little boy than meets the eye. People tend to be more understanding and helpful. Another thing this dog provides is an opportunity for my son to interact with people. Folks can walk up to him and ask him the name of his dog, ask if they can pat him, etc., and it's just wonderful for his interpersonal and communication skills to be approached so often and in the same manner with the same questions. For many kids with autism, these dogs also provide a "constant" in a world of change; they are great transitionary tools to comfort a child who does not handle change well. Kind of like a security object. In my house, these dogs also offer free food crumb pick-up! :lol: I hope I've answered some of those questions. Again, feel free to ask more. There are some neat things these dogs have been trained to do or tollerate, and I can share that another time. Edited January 19, 2010 by specialmama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 If you want to see it, click my profile, I have a picture of our (now) retired guide dog Leia with my boy. You may be able to spot the tether and the handle. I lied. I do have a pic there, but you can't see the handle or tether. These ones are better. Here's our retired Princess Leia and my sweet boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaichiki Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Wow! Wonderful photos. Thanks for explaining how guide dogs work with children with autism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 What a darling pair! Is Leia old or......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 wow, Specialmama, thanks for sharing all you did! I also find it fascinating! I've wanted to foster the puppies for the guide dogs but can't do it until my girls are older. They'd just get too attached. Your boy is so cute! I absolutely LOVE that last picture! It's so special!!! We had a black and yellow lab. :crying::crying::crying::crying::crying: Our labs were our first kids, and they were SPOILED!!! GREAT dogs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denisemomof4 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 ps - the picture of you and Dozer...... WHERE'S THE SNOW??????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 I thought I should add to the safety bit. Kids with autism sensory disfunction. That is, they can be hypo- and/or hyper-sensitive for any and every sense. This impacts safety for many reasons. In our case, there are many days where my son cannot bear to have his hand held. It literally hurts him. So on those days, we have to hold onto his shirt. What would you think if you saw a seemingly normal 8-18 yr old boy walking in the mall and his mother was holding onto the back collar of his shirt? What if when she paid the cashier she could not let go of him? What if when she went to the washroom he bolted out of the bathroom, out the building and onto the highway? Well, let's just say that the freedom to sneeze is indeed a luxery that I do not have, without a guide dog. The dog gives my son a HUGE degree of freedom that he would not otherwise have. He doesn't have to have me physically holding on to him. Instead, he feels like he has some control because, after all, HE is walking the dog. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I did not know anything about this. Your son is adorable and his dog is a beauty! Thanks so much for the photos! Good thoughts, :grouphug:s, and prayers for a long, positive, loving friendship with your beautiful little boy and Dozer. Mariann:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 What a darling pair! Is Leia old or......? No, she's only 4. She suffered a leg injury early July and although we could have given her cruciate surgery, she would have likely retired a year later due to all the concrete and mall floor walking. Much better to live the life of a dog on grass with some omega joint supplements. There was also some upheaval with the dog guide organization, and the founder left based on a principle which I agree with. He started an autism program within a pre-existing guide dog organization and we followed him here. So that also explains the different working jackets on the dogs. wow, Specialmama, thanks for sharing all you did! I also find it fascinating! I've wanted to foster the puppies for the guide dogs but can't do it until my girls are older. They'd just get too attached. Your boy is so cute! I absolutely LOVE that last picture! It's so special!!! We had a black and yellow lab. :crying::crying::crying::crying::crying: Our labs were our first kids, and they were SPOILED!!! GREAT dogs! Puppy raising is a great thing! Hard work to ensure the dogs have exposure to many different stimuli in the public, but the reward is great. All the puppy raisers I know admit that it is hard, but the joy they have seeing that dog better another person's life far surpasses the heartache. I'm sorry about your labs... gosh, and anyone else who lost some furry friends! They really do become like members of the family! ps - the picture of you and Dozer...... WHERE'S THE SNOW??????????? I KNOW!!!! SO UNFAIR!!! We have a ton back home!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
specialmama Posted January 19, 2010 Author Share Posted January 19, 2010 By the way, thank you all for your wishes and comments... he is a super sweet dog! If some of you are interested, here is an article about when we got Leia. And for those stalkers out there, don't even try to find us. We're unlisted and don't live *there* anymore. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen500 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 That's great, Karyn! Thanks for sharing this--I didn't know service dogs could be so helpful for some kids with autism. Last year I met someone who had a service dog for a child with nut allergies. I had no clue about that, either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 What a wonderful thread. Thank you for sharing. I hope your DS and Dozer bound immediately. There is nothing better than the relationship between a boy and his dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dina in Oklahoma Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Best Wishes for a long friendship! Dogs Rule! Dina :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I miss Princess Leia :crying: Even if she did have a weird fetish for my husband. *sniffle* Congrats on Dozer. If you happen to get a chance, talk with the Dude about me, would ya? I'm still not sure this is something they could work with... Dozer is a beaut. :D:grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blessed2fosteradopt Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 So happy for you and your family. That is a beautiful dog and I hope he and your son will become fast friends. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RanchGirl Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Karyn, thanks so much for sharing all this, it was really interesting to learn about guide dogs for autism. Both Dozer and Leia are just beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandtinagilbert Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 What a handsome boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swellmomma Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 Beautiful dog! I looked into getting ds a service dog years ago but because he is not confirmed to be on the spectrum we could not get an approved one. We have been lucky that as ds has gotten older many of his specific pulls have dramatically decreased. HE still runs away from home, the mall etc, but not with the frequency he did. He used to have a thing for elevators, he would run away in search of elevators, most malls we went to did not have them, so he would bolt out of the mall in search of one. He would also hide, one time after hours of searching for him with police and mall security we found him in the back store room of the SEARS shoe department on the top shelf of one of the racks. He apparently climbed in the service door as a delivery truck was backing up and hid in there. It is terrifying to go out in public and worry about your child bolting, or doing something that will make others judge him when he can't control it. I am so glad you will have Dozer to take princess leia's place to keep your son safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeatherM2 Posted January 19, 2010 Share Posted January 19, 2010 I really enjoyed reading this thread. Very informative. Your dog is beautiful. Reminds me of our lab in his younger years. He has a lot of grey now, just like me. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.