2007 Blog Review

This posting will be the 70th posting to the Summit Dogs blog. We started the blog in the middle of July and have averaged around 14 postings - or almost one posting every other day - over the 5 months of the blog existence. I think it's been a great start and we've received lots of positive feedback from our readers.

I will take this opportunity to thank Donna and Alice who are the biggest contributors to the blog; between them they're responsible for around half of all the blog's postings. Thank you!

October's graduation was one of the highlights of the year for everyone involved in Summit's work and we will be posting the recent graduates' stories alongside those of previous graduates on the Summit web site early in 2008. I hope that in amongst the other wonderful stories, we'll be able to post some more updates on the progress of Danny, Summit's Assistance Horse.

Above all, I wish everyone involved in Summit Assistance Dogs and everyone who reads this blog my very best wishes and, for those of you that use the Gregorian calendar, a very happy new year!

Daz

Morgan’s Holiday Blog, 2007

Greetings, all you canines and humans. I thought I’d let you all know how it’s going in the Lee household. Well, it’s winter time and we have snow, which I love to play in and snuffle. But I am still not supposed to run or hurt my healing knees. Bah! Humbug!

It’s also what the humans refer to as holiday time. It doesn’t mean all that much to me, except that we have a green tree in the house (!), and I can’t use it for a marking spot. It’s by the back doors where the sun comes in, and all us animals like to nap and stretch in the sun. Here’s one of the cats I live with looking out at the snow. No way would they go out and try something new! I don’t know if it’s the black cat or the grey one from the photo; they are both so rotund. (All they do is eat and sleep, eat and sleep.)

Here are shots my human took out the back window, one of the sunrise and one at night with snow and lights in the tree with farolitos. I know what those are: they are like plastic lunch bags with lights, all the thing in Santa Fe. I think in other places they are known as luminaries. Ho hum, lights don’t really do much for me, but Alice likes them.

Me, I like presents. I know there are some under the weird-looking tree with my name on em. I can smell them. Why we have to wait is beyond me.

Hey guys, don’t eat plants like mistletoe, poinsettias, or holly. You’ll wish you hadn’t. Also don’t indulge yourself like the humans do with chocolate, cookies, rich eggnog, stuff like that. Taking off pounds is not fun. You want to keep svelte (like me). It is better for your health.

For the New Year people also make something called resolutions. Alice made two: Go slowly and ask for help. She doesn’t want to do either, but her physical therapist told her that. I was a witness. I like Corina lots. She’s cool.

Alice is also letting me go to the elementary school on Mondays. Like a king I get to walk in and out of the car on a ramp. All it needs is a red carpet. Can you imagine 25 little kids (multiply that by two for their little hands) all petting me at once? It happened last week. I just sigh and let them get their thrills. Ever seen a dog in school?

Well as they say, happy holidays.
I might add peace and goodwill to all humans and dogs.
Peace!

Morgan (as dictated to his human, Alice)

Teaching something new to Apollo

Video: Teaching something new to Apollo

Well I know it seems like forever since I’ve posted anything on the blog, but it seems like our life is so routine that there really isn’t anything new to say.  However, I thought I might share a short video of Apollo learning to turn on and off the light of the ceiling fan in our bedroom.  I just put a little extra chain and a baseball pull on the fan for him to tug on.  Right now he is learning to just do it by me saying “Up” “Tug”.  I am hoping to transition that to an actual command, but I need to talk to the trainers about how to do that.  I have also been working on getting him to tug off my winter hat, but I haven’t got a video of that yet.  I sure hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!!

Peggy

December

Here’s a cool quote I found on Alice’s desk. “I’d rather be a dog and bay at the moon.” Shakespeare wrote that a long time ago. Pretty cool huh? He sure knew his stuff. Alice is very literary; she knows a lot of that kind of thing.

Life is pretty boring around the house with nowhere to go and no one to see. I’m on house bedrest, with a few outings now and then. No cavorting or frolicking, jumping, running, doing donuts, etc.

I did get a couple of get-well presents from people who LOVE ME (ME! remember, it’s all about ME!) And lots of well-wishing emails! New toys are like new books or new CDs or new movies. You get tired of the same old same old.


I um, have a pretty full laundry basket full of dog toys. (see photo). Sometimes I take them out and scatter them all around the living room. Sometimes I line them up in front of my bed in the living room. Sometimes I’d like to line up those two cats who act like top dog around here. I’m top dog! And they better not forget it!


I got a visit from my Auntie Sarah who brought me get-well presents, including an armadillo. I’ve never had a stuffed armadillo. Now I can add it to my collection of stuffed penguin, stuffed mallard, stuffed frog, and copper colored stuffed lions. My humans all call them my puppies. My favorite puppy has had his neck sewn up so many times with different colored thread he looks cool. Sometimes his brain-guts come out when I shake him in my mouth. Alice just picks it up off the floor and stuffs it back in his skin and sews him up again. This guy has been around since day one. Do you other dogs have any special toys you are fond of?


Here are the names of some of the books Alice is reading now; maybe she will learn something new about dog
language that she doesn’t know already. It could happen!

I like the first part of this title: Bones Would Rain from the Sky, Deepening Our Relationships with Dogs, Suzanne Clothier.

2) Merle’s Door, Lessons from a Freethinking Dog, by a guy named Ted Kerasote.(a freethinker!)

And a third one called On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, by Turid Rugaas.

If you are interested in dog-talk vs. people-talk take a look at these books.

Well it’s the time of year to hibernate for some creatures. Dogs don’t do that but we do like sleeping by the fire, and taking it easy.

Hey, life is pretty good. I get my meals on time every day, and walkies and treats for when I work. I have dog buddies (Aishan, the big wolf dog) and I sort of like all my dog dancing buddies, although we are not supposed to visit much with them. I have a new way to get in the car now I just walk up this ramp and go lie down.

Today, Alice left me in the car while she ran inside a place to pick up a thing. I could see her from the window. It helped to get in the front seat. There was a ---can you believe this?--- cat in the car next to mine!

I need to help Alice see where she is going. I like to put my head between the front seats right next to my person. I would sit in her front seat if she would let me, but it’s probably not safe.


Later, Woof!
Morgan, Service Dog to Alice

Here comes Christmas, ready or not!

I love this time of year, with the lights, music and people out walking. I would enjoy much more snow though. Hayden got to play in some at the Alternative Christmas Fair this past Saturday and LOVED IT!

I realized that this is his second Christmas with me. Last year at this time, he was still getting used to traveling with me to Lake Oswego, Oregon, to stay with my family. Both he and my nieces were getting to know each other, with Hayden being much more accepting than Charley and Jessie. He was taller than both and they were a little nervous about him.

This year, they love Hayden and he, them. Charley, the 3 year old loves to boss him around. She’s constantly telling him to “leave it”, whether he’s around something or not! He loves when she plays ball with him, telling him to “Dop (drop) it”, which he does, then she tells him to sit, which he does. At this point she’ll pick up the ball and throw it, either forward or accidentally backwards. He is very gentle and patient with her.


Jessie, who is 1, loves to take his toy, which causes him to look at me pleadingly. He doesn’t go and take it back until she drops it and I tell him to get his toy. She also loves to poke his eyes, put her fingers up his nose and grab at his tail when he walks by. He is very patient with her and in return, loves to clean up under the table when she has finished eating in her high chair. (I can sense all of the trainers groaning at this point.)


It seems as though Hayden has always been with me. He brings my morphine pack to me so many times a week, I take it for granted and seldom think about the days I had to go without, if no one was with me. He’s always at my side, helping me walk and navigate my way through life, increasing my independence and abilities to go out on my own without worrying.
I love this dog so much and can’t explain to others what this relationship is like. He’s not a pet, he’s not just a dog, he’s a true partner. He makes me laugh, experience joy and love in a way that entwines him into the fabric of my own being. I have a sticker on the bumper of our car that reads, “Dog is My Co-Pilot”. Many people have this sticker, but for me, it is true! Without him, navigating is much more difficult.


Needless to say, this holiday season I find myself thankful for so much in my life. My partner Jeaneen, my family and friends, Summit and my co-pilot in life.

2007 Holiday Blog by Morgan

This week I am going to have this fancy whiz-bang therapy for my stretched out knee ligaments. Alice and Wayne have agreed to this treatment, and we hope it will be successful. Alice is kind of squeamish about knees. You see, when she lived in Beijing, China, (before me), she got pushed down by a mob of subway boarders and landed on her knee. By the time she got home, her knee had swollen up to twice its size. She went to a Chinese doctor at the German clinic, and he said----

Oh hey, I don’t want to write about this now. She said it was the worse pain she ever experienced, although humans have no memory for pain. Alice has no memory, period. And did I tell you she has no short-term memory left? It’s very selective. Usually she claims Wayne never told her about some planned activity. They certainly are an old married couple: Bicker, bicker, but all in fun.

Thanks to all my faithful readers out there. I want to mention a special thanks to C. about the reference to the special kind cheese (Wensleydale) mentioned in the Wallace and Grommit videos. I did not know that. Alice said she would check out Whole Foods. YUM!

And to Chloe, the SDIT, about reading: one of Alice’s good dog buddies says, “Slow is fast.” It took me much time to learn to read. But every time Alice gets out the flashcards, I know there are special treats involved. The same goes with practicing dancing. Treats, treats, treats!

Remember my motto: Will Work For Treats.

Some dogs out there would rather have praise or a toy, like a ball. I can’t see that. It’s food for me that makes me want to do a good job. But did you want advice on the “sit” and “down” command? I don’t like to do downs. I will do them, but I take my time.

When Alice asks me to do something, sometimes she rewards me with a treat, and sometimes it is praise. I never know when I will get rewarded, so I guess I had better do it, just in case!


Here are some pictures from our Thanksgiving.


Alice put a red bandana on me, so they could tell us apart. We are all the same copper color, and Chelan, the golden retriever, and I are about the same size. The little runt is a red heeler named Scout. She’s fun to play with. Here we are running in the snow, play fighting, or stallion-leaping. I get to get up on their sofa too. Neat, how well trained my humans are. And I love to burrow in the snow. It’s fun and I love the snow.



Happy holidays! Woof!

Morgan, Summit Dog, Class of 2002,(as channeled to his human partner, Alice)

Holiday Time

Hello Friends,

I thought it was a good time to stick my head out of my hole and communicate again (c:

We are here at Christmas and I thought I would share a bit of my experiences over the past 6 yrs. that I've been with Summit.  This is the season when most everyone is happier and more touchy/feely about things which means more distraction for your dog.  I'll give you an example.

I went into the store with Krypton and just had to pick up a couple of things.  So, I finished my shopping and went to the end aisle to be out of the way.  Well, as I was putting the basket on the belt, I heard a little kid say "DOGGY!"  In that split second, Krypton got up from a sit and was turned completely around to lick that little girl.  Her parents were all gooey and trying to explain to this youngster what kind of a dog he was.  It followed that the parents said, "What can he do?"  Well, I didn't have my doggy kit with me (because I thought it was going to be a quick trip) but I did have a slipper on my foot so I proceeded to have Krypton pull it off.  He did and they were amazed and asked what else he could do?  Remember, all the time I'm trying to communicate with the checker about my groceries and keep an eye out for any people who may be in line and not that impressed with the situation that is causing them to have to wait.  I decided to put the slipper up on the shelf and K could get it and then give it to me.  Well, as my brain was quickly trying to figure this out, the slipper fell on the floor.  K picked it up and my purse fell down and I was soon to lose the 2 grocery bags in my chair.  It was a little like the Keystone Cops for those of you who are not too young to be familiar with them.  I put the slipper up on the shelf, he upped on the counter and did just what a could assistance dog does....gave it back to me.  The courtesy clerk was trying to help me put my slipper back on but I went ahead and did it.  All I wanted was to get out of that place because in all the action that was taking place at our check stand we had drawn the attention of the whole store.

Now, I've tried to go over it in my mind and wondered if I could have done anything differently and because of my interest in sharing my dog because he gives people smiles, I don't think I could.  We were ambushed by that sweet little girl and couldn't resist.  I write this to let you know that you may come in contact with this sort of situation.  What will you do?  Can you handle your animal if he gets distracted?  Do you need to take someone with you to help?  Is it necessary that you go to the store?  Can  you send someone else?  The answer to all of these questions is whatever you answer them with.  What it did for me was to remind me that the season is upon us and I am going to have to be more diligent and decide how much I can take on my outing.  If I'm tired and/or hurting, I've decided to allow people to help me like they are always asking to.  I will make the plan before I leave, on how I'm going to behave to be constructive to all involved, be productive and let K do what he does best, and.........decide to gently talk with the people who are wanting my attention at the moment I am busiest and trying to keep my mind on myself, my behavior, my dog's behavior and the people who see us.

It sounds like a lot because it is.  But, it really doesn't take away from my season.  I have just learned with age that often times it's good to just roll with the punches.  People are goosey this time of year so just be prepared and have a ball.  See you next time.  wq

The Life of a Service Dog

Continued saga by Morgan, Summit Assistance Dog, as dictated to his human, Alice


Woof! The other day I was out walking my person, visiting with two other nice girl dogs, Ginger and Terra. The humans were talking, and we were all sniffing and yearning to run off leash and play together. While we were standing by Page and Terra’s home, still talking (Alice does talk quite a lot for a human; she talks to me all the time.), a big grey husky- type dog came around the corner,(with NO person attached to his leash). We sensed its presence before our talking humans did. Terra started barking, so I decided, why not and joined in to warn that dog to get out of here! He left. Alice says I have a deep, noble sounding bark, but I’m usually very quiet.

Lately I have been feeling my age. (I am, after all, about 50ish in dog years).
Alice noticed that I wasn’t feeling up to snuff, and so she made an appointment for me to see the chiropractor. I have a really long body, and my spine goes out of whack once in awhile, just like humans do, although they walk on two legs, not four. The good doctor has this snappy sounding thingy she uses on my back to help get it aligned, and she also does energy work on me. ME! It’s all about me!

I have been working quite a lot this week. Last night I was under a table for over three hours. I went to the movies, and a 300 hundred-mile car ride on the weekend. The humans were so excited about going all that way to see a bunch of tall, skinny red-topped birds. I think they’re called ant hill cranes or something. They made me stay in the car, I am a bird dog after all. Boy one of those big birds would look really cool in my soft mouth, flapping and squawking away!

I also went to a couple of restaurants and two workshops. I went to the physical therapists ands the library, grocery store, and post office. You get the picture: lots of jumping in and out of the car. I should get paid by the hour, not just in treats and kibble.

Now I’m not complaining; my job is to take care of my person, Alice, and how can I do that when they leave me at home?

Wayne always says something stupid about guarding the cats while they are gone. Those two cats don’t need guarding; they need to be told where their place is!

I mentioned some of my favorite dogs around here. Here is a picture of Aishan, the wolf looking guy. He’s much bigger than I am, but he looks small when he is all curled up. Just look how long those legs are! I misspelled his name last time (rather Alice did).



The November weather is still good for long walks lately, and now that my back is fixed (thanks, doctor!) I will once again enjoy checking all that pee-mail out there.

Alice actually slept in this morning and let me get up on the bed with her. The cats had to be part of that too, but I just ignored them.

Next week we are going out to our country friends for Thanksgiving (whatever: I don’t get any people food, so no biggie),and they have two dogs, five horses and turkeys and chickens, and the best part, they let me roam free! I must admit, horse doo-doo is a delicacy! So that will be nice. Plus Alice and Wayne bring home firewood, to make fires in the fireplace when it is cold out. I like having a fire. It’s sooo primeval.

Well, that’s about it. Oh, and I went to the elementary school, too, this week, and soon I will show the kids (second graders) how I can read with flashcards. I have about 7 words down solid. If Alice wants me to learn more words, she’s going to have to bring out the big-gun treats. (Cheese, Grommit!) I am also going dog dancing on Saturday, Yahoooo!

Woof! Morgan, Summit Assistance Dog,
as channeled through Alice

Louise and Bailey

Louise and Bailey are one team among Summit's recent graduates. Louise posted to the blog on her "dream come true" and she sent me this photograph taken for her Summit ID card. I think it's a great photo and it shows an important aspect of what Summit does by helping nurture the emotional connection between a person and their assistance dog. What a great photo!

Anne, Andrew and Scout

After 2+ years of plotting, planning, manipulating and anguish, it’s done, finished. Scout has been with Andrew and me since 8/22/07. It was not easy.

First came the acknowledgment that Andrew was aging. The signs were not obvious; after all he didn’t have a physically taxing job. His work was simple bracing, carrying a basket up and down stairs, carrying an empty trash can from the front door to the kitchen, picking up things and accompanying me.

First to go was carrying the basket. Just shy of his 10th birthday I noticed him getting a little wobbly in his back end. Also I could hear the sound his nails made as he dragged his back paws. A visit to the neurologist confirmed he was loosing feeling in his hindquarters. The diagnosis was narrowing of the spinal column that compressed nerves going down to his back paws. A progressive but not a deadly problem, exercise should help.

It was time to begin the search for Andrew’s successor. So many  options, which would be the least stressful and best for me? Would I get a program dog and if so where? Or would I get a dog first and have him/her trained? If I choose this option where would the dog come from and who would do the training.

Because of Andrew I longed another German Shepherd. Programs usually stick with more amiable and easier to train dogs like Goldens and Labs. GSD’s are rarely available. So I would have find the dog and then someone to do the training. So much to think about and so much to decide…

About this time our Assistance Dog Club program had a panel of representatives from 3 programs speak at a meeting. Sue Meinzinger of Summit Assistance Dogs in Anacortes especially impressed me.

Eventually I sent in my application to Summit. No small task since their process is extraordinarily meticulous. A few weeks later I got a call from Elizabeth, their applications coordinator. We made and appointment for her to come for an in-home interview. The interview took and hour and again I was impressed with the level of professionalism I saw. At every step of the way they stressed the wait for a dog can be years.

After a few months I was called to come to Anacortes for an   assessment. Tess was asked to come too, Andrew as well; they want all family members included in the assessment. Seemed like all the Summit staff and even a couple of volunteers were present.

At the assessment I was asked to work with a series of 4 dogs of different temperament. As I interacted with the dogs I could see people furiously filling out forms, they were at it again. It was obvious that the high energy, high intensity dogs were too much for me.

It was quite a relief to think about a calm, quiet dog that would not need hours of exercise every day, have an opinion on every little detail, think through all possible permutations of anything until the best possible solution became obvious. Andrew is wonderful, but at times he is a bit much.

I wish I could have just let the process with Summit evolve, but I  had too many complexities in my life. Inca, the black GSD pup being fostered by Leana, triggered my longing for a Shepherd. After months of going back and forth, Yes, Inca would be perfect, No, this is ridiculous, and getting sick for 3 months it finally became abundantly clear Inca was not for me. I simply do not have the strength and stamina to cope with anything but the mildest of dogs.

Then another call from Summit came, “Come for another assessment”. This time it was 3 quiet, calm dogs, a little brown one, a Shepherd mix and a black Collie/Lab mix. I barely noticed the little guy, after all, my dog is supposed to black and/or a shepherd, not brown. But he did have a very subtle charm. And if you disregarded his color he had Shepherd outline and POINTY EARS! Scout.

A few weeks later I got the phone call from Debbie Craig telling me that sweet, gentle, little brown dog named Scout would be mine.  A new chapter in my life began at that point in time.

Anne, Andrew and Scout

“Hey, whose walk is this anyway?”

A November 2007 blog from Morgan, Summit Assistance Dog

More pictures of ME~! It’s always about me, isn’t it?

Alice has been taking me for long daily walks lately, since the weather here has been super nice. (Lots of sun and blue skies). The leaves are almost all down and the new smells on the ground are ever so enticing.

But Alice won’t allow me to sniff when we are going for walks, usually. She makes me walk right beside her on the trail, when all I really want to do is go off, and smell the earth.

She takes me to the off leash doggie play area, in Park Plazas where we live. It’s really an old tennis court. but it’ll do fine. She lets me off leash, and usually it’s in the middle of the day, and we have the place all to ourselves. There are lots of other dogs that live in the area, but most of them are little yappers (I call em dessert dogs).

Two of my favorite buddies here are I-Shon (a super big wolf looking guy who is a true spiritual dog,) and Prince Kelly, a smart little white Bichon Frieze who went to the rainbow bridge about two months ago. I miss him, as does his human, Wendy. She comes over sometimes to “borrow” me and go for walkies.

Alice throws the tennis ball (What is the big deal about balls anyway, I wonder). So I chase them until I get bored and take the ball over to the shady area, lie down and communicate that I am tired of playing the stupid ball throwing and chasing game. 

Um, can we do something different now, Ma?

I did my service dog thing tonight. I went with Alice and her neighbor friend to the Zia Diner. We always ask for a booth cause then I just go in and disappear for a while. I know Alice had some yummy treats left over in her pocket from dog dancing this morning, so I made sure I was really good, and then she might reward me with some treats.

My motto: Will work for Treats. 

When we got to the car she dropped her keys not once but twice, so I got them for her both times, and then did the perfect “car” command, and then she rewarded me with mucho praise. Not as good as a cookie, but pretty good!

Another part of our life together is grooming. I like to have my teeth brushed, but I don’t like to have my ears cleaned or my nails clipped. I love being brushed (It’s all about ME, right?) but I don’t like having my rear end or tail brushed. (That’s getting too personal) Sometimes Alice pulls with the brush too hard: ow!

I think red-gold dog hair looks good on black sweaters and black pants, don’t you?

Last time my human pack dad said my blog on Halloween was four dog bones, That’s the same as four red chilies for movies in town. I go to the movies with Alice and Wayne; popcorn rains down from the ceiling sometimes.

So I go on walks with Alice. I ask you, who is walking whom? Whose walk is it anyway?  Whenever I go out with Alice she always gets compliments on what good-looking well- behaved dog I am. I’m not vain or anything, but yeah, after all that training and Alice’s good grooming, we make a nice impression on people. I like how everyone smiles at us. I smile back sometimes…

Later, woof!

Morgan, class of 2002, (As dictated to Alice, his human)

Morgan’s Blog on Halloween, 2007

Happy Halloween! My people’s favorite time of the year is Halloween. Ever since I’ve known them, they have thrown Halloween parties. They really get into it. Every year they have a theme. Last year it was “It’s easy being green.” One year it was “Pretty in Pink.” One year the color was red. I had to wear devil horns that year. One year it was “A Murder Mystery.” They are party people. Just ask Summit people, Grant, Sarah or Sue. They’ll tell you.

My favorite time is when the weird looking people arrive to visit me. When the doorbell rings, I run and get the dishtowel hanging from the stove and run in circles greeting them. I’m not afraid of any one. I know (smell) they are really just being goofy and I like to be goofy too, so it’s fine by me.

This year the Lee Halloween party was a little over the top. They know enough people in Santa Fe now to have a big party. Some of my favorite dog people in the neighborhood came: Lisa, Lois, and Wendy. No dogs came, but that’s okay, because then I got all the attention.

After a while, everybody started dancing and trading costume parts.

Here I am in a blonde wig.


My person, Alice said she would never humiliate me again after a dog fashion show, where I had to wear a cowboy hat and then dog goggles(!), but sometimes she forgets. I don’t mind the colorful collar because that’s one of my outfits when I dog dance.


I forgot to mention the cats. When people come visit they hide. Alice had little kitty collars for them too, but no one saw them, and no one took any pictures of them, so you’ll just have to use your imagination. Personally, I thought they looked stupid, wearing collars.

This year’s party went on too long for my taste. I was interacting and even dancing with them, and then I got tired and just wanted everyone to go home!


Alice won best costume for dressing as Frida Kahlo; she was pretty cool looking. Wayne was Bacchus, god of wine.


The theme this year was to come as your idol. There was Marilyn Monroe, Garth of Wayne’s World, the Pope, a lounge singer, Lao Tzu, Gaia, Jerry Garcia, Bovina, the cow, Groucho Marx, El Presidente de Mexico, Gary Cooper, and others I forgot already.

People sure can act strange! I’m glad this time only comes once a year. I like being just a regular guy dog.

Woof!

Morgan,
Summit Assistance Dog, 2002
(As dictated to Alice, his person)

Notes from a Puppy

Hello people and dogs. It's Chloe writing for the first time. I need to talk to Morgan.

Dear Morgan - We have been enjoying your posts and learning lots about life from them. I have just started learning to read and am working on 'sit' and 'down', so if you have any advice for me, let's hear it. How many words do you know? My next word will be 'ball', and then maybe 'sit up'. My mom read about service dogs that know up to 20 words! Wow! I don't know if I could do that. Let's keep in touch.

Chloe

Notes from a Volunteer Puppy Raiser - Maya and Chloe

Hello All - You might remember that Maya moved up to Anacortes in September. We went up for Summit Graduation in October and Sue said that Maya was doing really fantastic. But.......several days ago I got some not-so-good news about her. As she became more comfortable with her new people and environment, she started barking, a habit we had worked hard to correct around here. Sue has not given up on her, but is concerned that she might not be able to stop the barking, in which case Maya would not be suitable for work as a service dog. There is another career waiting for her if she does not graduate. Sharon, her breeder, would like to offer her the job of Motherhood! She would have a happy and fun life with her family in Montana. So either way, she will be a working dog!

Chloe, Maya's little sister, is now eight months old and happily exploring the world around her. Today she went to the elementary school to celebrate Halloween with the Kindergarten classes. Everyone had on a costume - Chloe was a horse with a teddy bear cowboy on her back - and we all paraded through the classrooms in the buildings. She also was on stage last week in a program put on by the primary grades on the topic of cooperation. The classes each took a nursery rhyme and presented the traditional version and the cooperative version. Chloe was one of the horses in Humpty Dumpty, and I'm happy to report that they did get that egg together again using cooperation.

Donna

Morgan’s Blog

Greetings, all you mutts and people. I’m not too sure what my blog will be about today, since I’ve covered dog parks, dog dancing, the life of a service dog, reading by flashcards, vacations, and more.

Let’s see. I could talk about naps, but I don’t want you to fall asleep. I do love my naps, especially on Alice’s soft bed, when Wayne’s not around. She allows me to jump up on the bed. I admit I do spread out a bit.

What does “bed-hog” mean exactly?

We both think we’re getting away with something special, since papa Wayne does not approve of animals on furniture.


Alice usually spreads out a blanket, cause she has a number of special quilts she’s picky about, and doesn’t want them to get dirty. Tell that to Sophie, the black cat that thinks she owns the house.(Just because she’s the oldest animal, and the fattest, I may add, although the other cat, Willow is close in size.) She complains when I get on the bed. She thinks it’s her territory. Willow, the grey cat, (a dog trapped in a cat’s body), either sleeps with me or sleeps on the rocking chair in the bedroom.

We are all getting up there in dog years and cat years, so sleeping is important part of our time.

But I will jump up for walkies, or go with Alice when she heads out. I can tell ahead of time when she’s going to go out, because she goes in the bathroom and puts on earrings and lipstick and other girl stuff.

I am always ready for a car ride. Can you imagine some animals don’t like riding in a car? Take the two cats for example. They whine and cry and moan when Alice puts them in the car. Of course they know their destination is always the same: the vet. That’s the only time they ride in the car. They’re much happier staying home, you guessed it: napping in the sun.

Well, I guess I wrote about the napping thing anyway.

Gotta go sleep on my bed now, in the sun.

Yawn! Woof!

Morgan, Summit Service Dog, 2002
dictated to his human partner, Alice)

Grooming

I've decided to write about 'grooming' this time.

We all know that we have to groom our dogs: Brush their hair and teeth, clean their ears, etc. But I'm talking about when you are feeling awful and your dog looks scraggly and you just can't manage to do the whole thing in a day. I believe the most beneficial task long term, is to run a comb through your dogs hair everyday. It takes no more than 5 minutes and you will appreciate how your dog looks. It sounds like a 'slam dunk' but I've found that the more you do it, the better the coat looks and therefore it gets easier to do because you're not dealing with a whole lot of mats, which can be energy draining.

Now, I'm not saying the other things like clean ears and teeth are not important. In fact, I try to look at it like I'm feeling sore teeth and an earache and how much they hurt. But if it's just a couple of days, this may help you to get just the one thing done. Talk with you soon. wq

Morgan’s Blog (as dictated to his human, Alice) Life of a Service Dog

Hey all. I want to tell you about some of the neat things I get to do as Alice’s service dog. We’ve been partners since 2002.

We moved to New Mexico from Anacortes, WA in 2005. Wayne drove with the kitties; I flew (in the cabin of course) with Alice, and her service person/friend, Donna, from Seattle. It took me a while to adjust to the very different climate and high altitude.

One of the neat things I get to do is go with Alice to one of the elementary schools. All the kids make a big to-do over me and the whole front office likes me too. We go once a week. Alice is teaching me to read from flashcards to show the kids how smart I am.

We went yesterday and talked with one of the counselors. She had never heard of dogs reading or even kids reading to dogs.

Alice uses flashcards with me and I know about 7-10 different words. Some of the words I recognize and some I try to read Alice’s body language, which changes ever so slightly with the different words. For example I like to bark, but only when I am asked to. Sometimes I bark when I dog dance because I get so excited. So when Alice holds up the flashcard that says, “Alert” she raises her eyebrows a bit and I know that means to bark. Pretty cool, huh?

Another thing I love to do is explore the land of New Mexico with my humans. Alice even has agreed to camp now that she lives here. I love to be outside, and they even let me off leash ‘cause I know to stay at the campsite.



Alice and Wayne nicknamed me “Perimeter Dog” when we camp, because I go into this ancient dog pose, and sit on the perimeter of their campsite and watch for danger. We usually go for long hikes too, although Alice can’t walk that far. But she loves to be out in nature too, just like me.

At home I like to lie on the sofa with Alice. Since the cats get to be on the sofa, Alice lets me get up and snuggle with her. Here I am, sharing the sofa with the black cat, Sophie. I live with two cats, which are very spoiled and have great food that I snitch once in a while. Cat food is so good, but my humans don’t like it when I take the food from the spoiled kitties. Those cats are so lazy. They even sleep on my bed sometimes!



I like my job of taking care of Alice, and she is pretty good at taking care of me. We have a good life together. Woof!

Morgan,
Summit Service Dog, 2002 Graduate

Graduation Photos

Peggy takes Apollo's leash from puppy raiser Lisa:


Anne receives Scout's leash as Debbie and a young helper watch. Scout did not have a puppy raiser as he was an older rescue and went directly to advanced training:


Maggie takes Alki's leash from Zander who was his puppy raiser along with Peggy and receives a special quilt made for Alki from Wendy:



Donna

Notes from a Volunteer Puppy Raiser - Maya and Chloe at graduation

Hello everyone - Peggy posted on the Summit graduation from the point of view of a graduate, or two grads, because Apollo deserves heaps of credit for 'making it'. I know that it is not at all easy for a dog to do all the things we ask of her, especially when they don't make sense to her. I am posting from the puppy-raiser point of view.

We went up to Anacortes on Friday. Sue - Summit's Executive Director - said we could have Maya, my "Service Dog in Training" (SDIT), for the weekend, so we wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. We met at the Fidalgo Care Center where I was able to watch Sue work with Maya. I was so pleased to see Maya's attention and devotion to Sue. It really let me know that Maya was happy there. Of course I took a lot of photos, as there will be another book coming out, this one about Maya - her life with me, with Sue, and on and on.

When Maya saw Chloe and us, we got a huge welcome, and Chloe and Maya could not hold still. They soon fell into their familiar relationship and Chloe chewed on Maya and Maya washed and washed Chloe's ears. "Who's been taking care of you?" she wondered. "Your ears are definitely not clean enough!" We stayed in our motor home and had lots of long walks and free play time. We met with some of the other Summit or former-Summit dogs and their people.

On graduation day, Chloe had to stay in the RV, but Maya sat in the first row and watched the ceremony with interest. At one point she even jumped on the stage to get a closer look! What does she understand about her life, and where she is going?
The ceremony was great, and a bit of a tear-jerker, as usual. Peggy did a great job as class speaker. "Kudos to you, Peggy!" When we came to the part about the puppy raisers handing over the leash to the graduate, I could only wonder who would be on the stage next year. Would Maya and I be up there? Would I hand over a leash to someone who would love and cherish Maya for the rest of her life, and need her like nobody else? Maya is the fifth dog I have puppy-raised. If she graduates, she will be my first. This is no easy job to ask a dog to do. Sue is very happy with her so far, but we'll keep our fingers crossed and wait and see.

After the ceremony, we brought Chloe in to the reception for a brief visit. And then it was time to leave. Maya left first and went into her van. As we were leaving, Chloe was looking around for her. "It's time to go. Where are you?" I buckled her into her seatbelt harness. We started up the engine, and she knew that Maya was not coming with us. She cried and cried - something she has never done before.

It was a wonderful weekend, one that I will not forget.

Donna

Beautiful Bailey

It’s been 37 days since I began to experience the reality of a dream come true. Thirty-seven days ago Bailey came home with me after we finished team training. This was a dream that started without details—one of those times when you recognize that something is absolutely right, but don’t know much else. The moment of recognition occurred for me five years ago when I first met Hams, the golden retriever who is a team with my friend Hazel. At that meeting I got a strong impression of what a wonder a partnership can be.

Since that beginning the dream’s details have been filled in piece by piece: finding out the huge range of what assistance dogs do, searching web sites and talking to people to discover how and where to apply for a dog, filling out piles of forms, enlisting friends and caregivers in the process, and all the while gaining information and trying to explain to others what I thought these partnerships are all about. And then waiting and waiting and waiting.

But things really began to deepen for me when I came for my assessment days and met the amazing people at Summit. Honestly I didn’t know how to explain what I thought was the most important task I wanted a dog to do for me, and I hadn’t heard anyone describe what sounded right for me. I knew that the biggest danger to my health was falling and I had a very vague idea that a dog could help with balance. When I mentioned that I had a balance problem, people tended to think I wanted to fall on a dog! Not at all true! But I didn’t know what I wanted until I walked with a very tall poodle called Eddie during a Summit assessment day. Then I realized that lightly holding a harness would help me retain my balance. Sue Meinzinger and Bailey’s trainer, Sarah Broderick, watched me walk with various harnesses during an assessment day and figured out that using a guide dog harness would give me enough feedback to keep balanced. What a wonderful experience—no cane, and the sense of walking ‘normally’ in harmony with another creature! You couldn’t convey that kind of joy on a list of tasks that assistance dogs do!

Then one day the wait was over! An unforgettable phone call came from Elizabeth Landrum, and the marvel that I was actually matched with Bailey. But that was only the beginning of marvels. The next wonder was the exhilarating and exhausting process called team training. It was clear to me from the first day that we humans were much harder to train than the dogs. Think about this process! The puppy raiser, Christy Durham had raised the dog for 1 ½ years. Sarah, the trainer has trained the dog for 6 months, and as team training begins she is faced with training a human who has little or no idea about communicating with the dog and is disabled to boot! At the same time she must make sure that the dog does not have his training eroded by the person’s inexperience, and that bonding is transferred from the trainer to the recipient—all this was done with the utmost grace and diplomacy. These folks are so loving and skillful it is almost unbelievable.

And a word here about the support of family and friends and acquaintances—for me at least it couldn’t have happened without their efforts and good wishes both now and in the waiting time. I think it is safe to say that my husband, Seth, who has never had a dog, is totally smitten with Bailey. (It has been pointed out that he is certainly starting at the top!) My daughter, Nadya, always has a clear sense of what is good for me, and fortunately for me she is married to Mathew, a dog whisperer in his own right! I think often of the generosity of Bailey’s puppy raiser and of Deb Hall’s gift of keeping hope alive!

Now the filling in of the dream continues. Team training, as transformative as it is, is only a good beginning of this profound relationship, and like any relationship worth having, it has challenges. The first week at home, having left the daily support of team training, reminded me of the first week of having a new baby. Did he eat? Did he poop? Is he getting enough exercise? Are my family and friends petting him too much? Am I doing this right? He’s so wonderful; does someone else deserve him more than me? But Summit has wisely added regular follow-ups to help with problems and questions.


It’s only been 37 days but already I know, as others have said, that the tasks the dog performs are a great help and will evolve as my needs change, but the amazing gift is the presence of this angel. What a difference it makes!

Louise

2007 Graduation Ceremony for Summit Assistance Dogs

Well its official...Apollo and I attended the 2007 Graduation Ceremony for Summit Assistance Dogs on Sunday.


Much to everyone's surprise, I actually spoke for a few minutes at the ceremony. They had emailed and asked me to speak for the graduating class a few weeks ago. In my heart I wanted to do it and actually wrote out a speech, but chickened out and said no. I didn't tell anyone here that they had asked or that I wrote something out because I didn't want them to be disappointed in me when I chickened out. Well the lady they had asked after me couldn't make it to the ceremony because her daughter went into labor so I got up the nerve to do it. It probably wasn't great, and I almost cried in the middle of it, but I guess it went OK.


Apollo's puppy raiser, Lisa, presenting Apollo to me with Apollo's advanced trainer, Wendy, presenting our diploma and a quilt throw that one of their volunteers made for each of the graduating dogs.

Peggy

Welcome from "Wheelie Queen"

Hi Fellow Dog Fanciers,

My name is Jan Horton and I've been asked to start posting on a regular basis. I am a veteran Summit dog owner....I've had my dog, Krypton, for 6 yrs. now.

I will share about something you have a concern about or would be good to learn about. I expect we will, together, learn a great deal. If I can't find a theme, I will go back through the archives and see if there's something there that may be useful to touch upon.

First off, I want to say to the 8 new recipients: RELAX. You've done the hard work and now you begin a different kind of work--getting to know your dog and begin making great memories with him/her. You will probably get confused with what commands go with what task. It happens and you will not damage your dog permanently if you get confused. You'll remember it next time and after awhile your dog will begin to seemingly read your mind. Sue talked about the 'overnight' learning and it's all true. If you slept through that part of class, go back and read it now while there is no stress and pressure. It is worth knowing. I'm looking forward to reading about how your dogs are doing and what you are feeling about the whole process. Talk with you soon. wq

My real name is Janice but my Summit name became 'Wheelie Queen' when Deb Hall chose it for me. So, I will be signing as: wq. If you forget, you can call me Jan. Looking forward to getting to know you. wq

Assistance dogs are still dogs

People sometimes remark that it’s mean or cruel to have a working dog. The perception is that they don’t get to play, aren’t allowed to socialize – basically, that they’re not allowed to be dogs. That’s far from the reality of a service dog.

Service dogs are just that, dogs who assist. But when it comes down to it, they are still dogs. They play, socialize, and have bad days where getting them to pay attention is a losing battle.

Where I live, there are only a handful of us who have SD’s. I ran into one of the others who has a service dog, a golden retriever a bit smaller than Crystal, and we stopped to chat. While we sat there talking, we got two groups who stopped at different times to talk to us. The first group was just interested in the dogs and went on their way. In the second group, though, was a woman who thought it was mean to have a dog not be able to socialize while working, the perception being they are always working. This is true to a point, but it’s also not true. Service dogs are always working in the sense that even at home, they do various things when needed. Say I drop my TV remote; Crystal will either get up on her own, get it, then go back to bed, or I’ll call her, she’ll get it, then go back to what
she was doing.

Crystal plays, goes for walks, and rests like any other dog. The biggest difference is that she’s not just a pet; she’s a companion, she assists me, and many times she entertains me. And sometimes, like today, she lays in bed with me, nudging my arm whenever she thinks I’m not paying her enough attention.

Jenna

Dogs@Microsoft

If you're a Microsoft employee and wondering where you may learn more about the dogs@microsoft calendar, the intranet site is:

http://dogcalendar

Morgan’s blog for Summit - Dog Parks

October already! The leaves are turning and it’s cool enough in the daytime to chase tennis balls at the tennis court that has been made into a sort of dog park.

Speaking of dog parks, let me tell you that there are some really cool ones on Whidbey Island: I know, because Alice used to take me to them.

There is controversy around dog parks, whether to let your dog socialize or run into a bully that no human controls. (It’s happened to me before.)

Here I am, running for joy at a dog park in Albuquerque. (see pic)


The last time I was up in WA, there were new signs saying no dogs allowed in various parks. The same thing was true on the Oregon Coast too.

Here in Santa Fe, NM, the idea of dog park is a wide open dusty place with landmines of poop everywhere. Alice and Wayne don’t go there much, and it’s way across town.


I live in a community that has over 75 acres of open space. They were going to fence part of it, but the neighbors complained. Yada, yada, yada….

Alice is still working with the manager to get a place for us to run. Who cares if we have to share with the coyotes and jackrabbits? Man, we need a place to be free! I like to run really fast in circles, called donuts….


The Humane Shelter of Santa Fe has plans to open a new dog park, but not yet. It’s also farther than we like to drive….

Well, I’m not really complaining, though it may sound like it.

I get to go for nice long walks along the trails and Alice or Wayne let me sniff some of the time. The command is “free”.

Now the ideal dog park would be as place for humans to socialize too. A portable espresso stand would be nice.

Well, in my dog years of experience (that’s over 49 years, count em!) dog parks are a great concept. Think of all the pee-mail you can savor!

Last week one of my aunties, and dog trainer, Sarah Broderick came to visit and I am happy to report that Alice and I passed the re certification test with flying colors.

But Alice needs work, let me tell you. She needs to be a stronger alpha dog-girl, more consistent and clear in her commands. We need a refresher course. Things have gotten rather lax around the Lee house.


I’d be interested in hearing what you all think of dog parks.

Paws up or paws down?

Later…

Morgan, (Summit Service Dog, 2002 graduate, as dictated to his human, Alice)