Dash's Day on the Farm

My mom's family owns a farm that has been passed down through the generations, my generation being the fifth. Now before you envision Dash cuddling up amongst cows and pigs, you need to know that the only wild animal living on the farm is Shiloh the Newfoundland - and he's the tamest wild animal you've ever met.

(Photo cred: Kelly Anderson, kraphotography.com)

So, no farm animals, but the fields are rented out to local farmers who use them to grow corn or soy or whatever else they fancy. 

For the majority of our family, the farm is not about work, but all about peace, relaxation, and a nearby getaway from routine life. Dash has picked up on this! He has learned that when we are at the farm it is almost no work and all play for him. And he loves it. 

A lot of people who are just meeting Dash as a service dog ask if he is working all the time. They wonder if he ever gets a chance to play. The answer always brings a smile: he gets plenty of time to play and also relax. 

As you can see, even when Dash is taking it easy, he has his toys ready to go. (Fun fact: Dash is known around the 'hood as "Dashy-two-toys" because of his talent and love of carrying two in his mouth at once. (Even more fun: riskier people call him "Dashy-two-balls" which is funny, but I refuse to say this in front of neighbors!)) When we are at home, Dash is free to roam the house and do as he likes, so long as he comes when I call. Truth is, he doesn't usually leave the room that I'm in - especially if we are the only ones home. While Dash enjoys just hanging around, he is always more than ready to get to work as soon as I need him. All I need to do is give him one of the 40 or so commands that he knows and he is happy to oblige. Often times, when we're just around the house and I need Dash to turn on a light or something, he can go right back to what he was doing once he has finished the task. One he hears the words "Dash, release," he knows he's off the hook! 

People also often wonder if Dash is only working when he has his service vest on. Turns out, his vest is more to let others know he's working. Dash doesn't care if  it's on or not! It's kind of like a uniform- it's how we recognize a worker but the person can do the job, ugly polo shirt or not!
But I digress - back to the farm! As is tradition, or family spent this past Memorial Day at the farm. As soon as we pulled in the long gravel driveway, Dash's ears perked up. It was that Ah ha! moment - realizing we weren't taking some long route to work, but that we were indeed at doggie heaven on earth!
Before I knew it Dash and Shiloh were romping around, sniffing everything in sight. Dash's day off had begun, but I did have one chore for him ...

Once our photo shoot was over he was off with a flash, taking in every moment of the day with delight.

The Day that Dash Taught Math Class

Today Dash and I had the opportunity to speak to a high school math class about what it is like to have a disability and how a service dog can be such a life enhancer!

You may wonder why we were invited to a math class, of all things. Well, does this answer your question?

Probably not. So I'll explain! It just so happens that my best friend Emily is a teacher at the high school and her math class has been learning about the PythagoreanTheorem and as a real life example they used it to determine the proper length of wheelchair ramps! Pretty  clever, eh? The math lesson (including this fabulous illustration) lead to a conversation about disabilities and service dogs, which eventually lead to an invitation to visit!

Dash was on his best behavior, laying under a table while the students filed in and waiting patiently while I spoke about living with muscular dystrophy. Finally it was Dash's turn to show off!

Dash jumped up as soon as I called him over, giving me a snuggle and then handing me his leash which had been hanging off of him. While Dash sat next to me and the class had a chance to marvel at how handsome he is, I took a few minutes to explain a bit of working dog etiquette.  I stressed the importance of not distracting a service dog by petting it or offering it treats. Then Dash demonstrated picking up a pen and a credit card, and then doing an "up" on the table to do a mock store transaction. As the piece de resistance Dash flipped a light switch off. I was very proud of how well he did everything. He always does bit it can be nerve wracking with all those people watching (for me more than Dash, I think). 

The students asked some great questions about whether Dash would protect me if I was attacked (nope! I'm the leader in our relationship, ergo I am the protector!), to if he had to have his leash on at home (no way! He's basically a regular dog at home!). 

As class ended a few kids got to shake Dash's paw as they left. True to form, Dash tried to sneak a lick almost every time. Not ideal but overall he did a fantastic job today. We enjoyed our time and hope to have more chances to share with others soon!

One Year

It was just one year ago that three years of waiting culminated in one of the best days of my life. Or at least one of the most impactful days of my life.

May 18, 2012 was the day I graduated from Advanced Training with my first service dog, Dash!

I had met Dash only two weeks earlier, but I loved him already. And today, I love him even more! Not only does he assist me by picking things up that I have dropped or can't quite reach, flipping light switches on and off, hitting automatic door panels in public (which are often too high or out of my range), barking to alert people that I am in need, and countless other tasks, he is also the sweetest companion and conversation topic!

My hope for this blog is to share stories of the adventures Dash and I have together, and also to shed light on what it is like to have a service dog. Thanks for reading!