Both of us do. Not just Reilly.
We'll start with me today. I learned not to take someone else's statement as fact, even if they appear to have far more experience in something than I do. I had been told, by someone who shall remain nameless, that North Carolina did not have Service Dog in Training laws. The federal laws cover service dogs, but they leave it up to the states to decide how they want to hande dogs in training. Some allow access, some don't. I was told NC didn't address it, which by default denies access.
But that's not true. NC has access for service dogs in training, with a permanent life-time license for the dog, which they also want for fully trained dogs. There are no fees for the license, and it's purpose to to facilitate access for the dog and handler, rather than being another hurdle to jump. I'll be checking on what I need to do to get this license for Reilly sometime this week, although he's certainly not ready to start accessing places. He should be potty-trained and have some basic manners, if for no other reason than he'll give service dogs a bad name if he's wild and pees everywhere. But it's nice to know he'll be allowed access to places as needed so he can train properly!
I found this info while I was looking up ADA and EEOC for my meeting with my workplace this week. I'm starting the formal ball rolling for getting him access to work in a year's time. Unlike ADA access, this also involves EEOC. Having Reilly at work isn't considered in the same light as for, say, taking him in Wal-mart with me. At work, he falls under "accomodations", which are different for each person, and worked out between employee and employer. In practice, denying a service dog is possible. It's not likely though, unless they can provide all the services he will in some other form. At any rate, I'm prepping for the meeting with a list of what Reilly is expected to do for me in a year's time, and then in two years time. Since he can't start mobility training until he's at least 18 months old, his other jobs will need to qualify him for work prior to that. By this time next year, I expect (hope?) Reilly to be: retrieving things I drop. Retrieving things I designate, either by name for common items or using a laser pointer or other directional signal. Opening doors using a rope with hook. This will be huge for lots of areas where we don't have electronic doors. For example, if I park by our backdoor at work, there is handicapped parking and a handicapped accessible electronic entrance door. However, just inside that door is a set of heavy double doors that do not have an electronic opening. So what good does it do me to try to come that way when opening the doors is a fight? Same thing with the bathrooms doors all across campus. They are mostly heavy doors. Well, to me they're heavy, but not so much to healthy folk, I guess. I could surely get them to install a lighter one on my floor, but then what do I do if I need to be in another building for a while? Walk back across campus? After Reilly is mature enough, he'll add to those by being able to carry a pack, and learn to stabilize me while walking. The pack weight depends on if he's also stabilizing me. Normally, a dog can carry up to 20% of his body weight in properly distributed packs. If he's doing other work, that gets cut in half. Now, Reilly is likely to be around 200 pounds. That means even with me using Reilly to help me balance, he could carry up to ten pounds at his mature projected weight. That's a lot. I doubt I'd ever need him to carry that much, but I will want him to carry his own water, face towel and othe things. Inside, he can leave his water in my office, but I'd like him to carry my books, like a good fella. :) That means my notebook to class, and exams and such on appropriate days. Far less than ten pounds. He could either pack it, or pull a small cart to class. Either way would work. Right now, on a daily basis I use a shoulder bag, which throws my balance off. On exam days, I pull a cart...which throws my balance off. I can't use a backpack. Having him do it and balance me at the same time..WIN! So, I'm getting my ducks in a row to get him to work. I might not win for fall 2012, but I can't see any way they can deny me after he starts actual mobility work.
So, what did Reilly learn today? That he's got more energy than he's been thinking up 'til now. That Murphy will rat him out in a heartbeat when he's in trouble. And that Murphy wil invite him to play, but he'd better play nice or he'll be abandoned. All good things to learn.
Today, he's been more hyper than normal...more like a 'regular' puppy. Which just means that he's gotten old enough to hav a bit more energy. His energy levels will go up, and the heat will go down...and I'll start back to work, all at the same time. Murphy's Law. (Actually, Murphy's formal name is "Murphy's Outlaw", in case you're interested.) We'll sort it out. Murphy is getting quicker about calling my attention to the leech Reilly can be on his throat. Reilly was verrrryyyy persistant today. But later when Reilly was behaving, Murphy brought a squeaky toy to him to play with him. When Reilly let go of the toy in favor of the throat, Murph dropped the toy and walked away. Reilly was confused. It was good for him.
So, we spent a bit more time working on sitting, which he's quite good at now. Some leash time at the park this morning, with few chances to try out stopping leash pulling. I also was forgetting to have him wait at the door when I open it, for permission to exit instead of slipping out as soon as he can. He needs to learn to wait, especially when getting out of a car. And to wait for me, for regular doors. So that's back in the day. We had some rain today, so more towel practice. At his age, he wants to eat the towel, but he'll outgrow that.
Another mostly quiet day for me, albeit a busy one for Murphy. Jake just gets on the sofa or bed and stays out of range. That won't work much longer!
Meg and Reilly
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