Our first week...

How is Wyatt doing with Blaze??? I get this question a lot this past week. 

Wyatt knows Blaze is his dog! He smiles at Blaze when he passes him in the house, when he is greeting him at school, etc. He makes great eye contact with Blaze and giggles at Blaze's actions (Blaze can be a pretty funny dog). I have been introducing Blaze to Wyatt's every day world (and getting Wyatt use to Blaze in his every day world), bringing him to therapy here and there, putting them in Wyatt's room together, having Blaze in bathroom during bath time, playing outside together, etc. I've brought Blaze to Wyatt's social group a couple of times last week. Wyatt turns around at least every 5 minutes to be sure Blaze is still laying behind him.

I am thankful that Wyatt already seems excited about Blaze. I look forward to their bond growing stronger. We have tethered Wyatt to Blaze while going to and from therapy, at target and grocery, etc. Wyatt seems very comfortable with the tethering. In his six years of life, this is the first time he has walked through stores without holding mom and/or dad's hand. Such an independence opportunity for Wyatt. 

Many people ask, when will they bond. Depends on the child and dog. It could take a few months up to several months. Wyatt is a kiddo that takes awhile to warm up to new things. One year for Christmas he got a swing set for outside, it took him two weeks to play on it. 

Some things I have learned the first week:

• Having a service dog draws more attention to your family. Everyone looks, some people smile and some people gawk as if they never have seen a service dog.
• It's only been a week, but I feel like people are a little more patient with us. 
• Every morning when we take River to summer camp, the guy working the front desk makes a point to say hi and bye to Wyatt (and waits for Wyatt to respond). One day after dropping River off, Wyatt and I were leaving and a few ladies were oohing and aahing over Blaze. The front desk guy said, "forget the dog, I think that kid is pretty awesome". 
• Wyatt had a tantrum after leaving River at summer camp (don't think he was sad to leave his brother, more that it was unfair brother was at place with a swimming pool). People waited kindly for me to get him together and out the door.  Also Blaze did amazing. It's like he knows, he stood patiently looking at me with his sweet eyes like "you got this mom".
• A lady at the grocery story, in line in front of us, offered me her $10 dollar off coupon...kind gesture.
• Everyone is excited to tell you about their pet dogs and cats when they see you with a service dog. I am pretty sure every target and grocery trip we took (four total last week - crazy, right), someone had a story to tell me.
• Wyatt is enjoying the independence being tethered while shopping. I took both boys and Blaze to grocery Saturday morning to grab a few things. While we were checking out I was giving Blaze command to come "here" and lay "down". Once he was settled, I looked up to see Wyatt has grabbed and opened bubble gum. Rookie mistake on my part. 
• It's an opportunity to spread autism awareness. When people ask about Blaze, I have the opportunity to tell them the things Blaze does and will do for Wyatt. 
• Integrity of my pack is more important than opinion of others! I've been running 2 miles with Blaze in the evenings. He, much like me, loves to socialize. When he sees another dog he gets a bit excited, I give him the "leave it" command so we can continue our run, not distracted. A few times I have had to give a firm "No". I've gotten some looks, which is hard for me to not stop and say, "he is my son's service dog. Once he gets away with jumping around for another dog, I won't be able to break it later on when he is working with my son. I know I sound firm but that's how I get him to know I mean business." Instead I remind myself that integrity of my pack is more important than opinion of others.
• Our bond (Blaze and mine) is getting stronger. I practice commands with him daily and surprised how much better I am getting. He is 100% trained, he knows the commands, it's me getting the tone, body language correct. Here is he practicing the "lay on" command. This command would provide deep pressure for Wyatt. Unfortunately we didn't have any humans around while practicing, but Monkey Joe did great.Also I got him to do it the first time! At Team Training it took me at least 400 times. 
  

We will continue to bring Blaze more and more into Wyatt's world. One day he will attend therapy and school with Wyatt (without me). I know that day will be awesome for both of them! 

Blaze is home!!!!

Not sure where to start or how to even explain Team Training with Good Dog! last week. I'm pretty sure I experienced every single emotion possible  - excitement, nervous, terrified, anxious, sad, happy, overwhelmed, grateful, ecstatic, and accomplished. I wanted this so badly for Wyatt, I've waited a year and a half for this week; however, I also felt this huge sense of responsibility, I had to succeed....but boy I had no idea how hard it was to succeed!

Four dogs had been placed with families, one of them was us! We all sat in a room from 8:30-5:00 Monday - Friday, learning about commands, forming bonds with our dogs, and becoming benevolent leaders.  We each were umbilical corded with our dogs (tethered) for the five days, the first three days after training we were not to speak to one another till we met back at training. Three of the four of us stayed in the same house, passing by one another with only a smile (oh yes and keeping our dogs from playing with each other).

We had the opportunity to practice our skills by going out to lunch on Wednesday and to the mall and lunch on Thursday. I learned fast on Wednesday not to offer the trainers a taste of my appetizer, as he took a bite of a fried pickle and then threw the rest on the floor right in front of Blaze (rookie mistake). Of course, Blaze passed with flying colors. While at the mall, we shopped, practiced the elevator and escalator. Blaze and I practiced walking slowly, not pulling on the leash, and that we didn't have to always be with the "pack" (hard for both of us). Blaze and I did a little underwear shopping as we practiced not being obtrusive in public.

A few of my favorite things/lesson learned about team training:

1) When I was able to give a command correctly and Blaze responded was the most amazing feeling ever!!  Prior to team training, I thought you just gave a dog a command. I didn't realize it took the correct tone and body language, and most importantly confidence. I never knew how high pitched my voice was till I was trying to get Blaze to go under a table and he kept jumping up on the table. Thank you Blaze for teaching me that lesson (he is much smarter than me).

2) Learning all things dog! We learned so much about our dogs, their personalities, why they matched with us, grooming them properly, and understanding the stress our "working dogs" might experience. I will always remember that no matter what happens it's the handler and never the dog, the dog law "if it worked; I'll do it again. If it didn't, I won't", and the integrity of my pack is more important than opinions of others.

3) The three other families! When your child gets a diagnosis of Autism, you automatically join this "club". A club of parents and therapists who fight for their children day and night, who hope that one day their child may talk or one day their child will have a friend (and many, many other things). As we would say in the south, these three other handlers were good people!  We all watched each other push past our comfort zones, watch each other fail, and succeed. We cheered and encouraged each other when needed. Oh, also they listened to me complain about not being able to socialize in the evenings - boy was that hard for me.

4) The Good Dog! organization is the  most amazing, caring, loving non-profit organizations ever!!!  I have never seen someone else care so much about their "clients". The trainers were patient, generous with encouragement, and confident with constructive criticism.  They care so much about the dogs only using positive training methods and encouraging us to remember our dogs are "thinking dogs"! They were able to provide such valuable information!  I can't imagine ever working with another organization.

Please know, they are a nonprofit and always accepting donations, if you have an extra $20, $100, $1000, or $100,000. I promise you your money will be well spent. Donations can be made on their website - http://gooddogautismcompanions.org/.

5) Blaze!! Oh my goodness, he is the most amazing dog ever. He is always ready to go, first dog ready to do the command (of course, only if I didn't confuse the poor guy), he is the biggest snuggle bug ever, and his eyes will make one's heart melt. He is full of energy and love.  I can't wait to see he and Wyatt bond.


On Saturday, Blaze graduated from a dog "in training" to a "service dog" and he has became a part of our family! Graduation was such an awesome experience! I am so grateful to be part of the Good Dog! family!

I am so thankful that I had my sister and brother-in-law (and three of their four children) sitting behind me at graduation. Our families have stood behind us with every step of Wyatt's diagnosis and journey. We are so lucky to have such amazing support.

This week taught me so much and I have so much hope for Wyatt and Blaze!! I can't thank the Good Dog! organization enough. I promise to share more about Blaze and Wyatt's adventures. Already I can say, we went to Target (Wyatt, Blaze, River, and me) and had a successful trip with no whining. We had a social bridging opportunity when we took River to camp and 15 kids swarmed Blaze and Wyatt was right in the middle of the action. We have seen Wyatt and Blaze make eye contact a few times (eye contact is so hard for Wyatt). I feel good things will happen! Thank you Good Dog!!!

It's Time!!

I am sitting in the airport, waiting to depart New Orleans, praying the weather and airline cooperate so I can arrive in San Diego this evening. As I'm watching the rain fall (of course it storms an hour before my flight...please no delays, please no delays), I think about this journey. I dreamed of this week training in San Diego, dreamed of Wyatt having a service dog, and it's all here!

I'm so grateful for all of those who donated, shared our stories with others, and listen to me talk about this opportunity a million times! The next five days, I will participate in training from 8am- 5:30pm (quizzes included, please pray I pass). On Saturday, Blaze will graduate from a service dog "in training" to a service dog.  I'm so thankful that my sister and her family will join me at graduation, as I know this will be such a memorable day in my life!

I keep reminding myself to be present, feel, and acknowledge the emotions as they present themselves. Monday through Wednesday evening we are instructed, that after training, we are not to have human contact, as an opportunity to bond with our dogs. I am so looking forward to this time with Blaze, also reminds me of how fortunate I am that Blaze's trainer, Sam, has been so open to meeting us prior to this training. I feel like I have a head start in the bonding process! Hopefully, Blaze is as excited to see me, as I am to see him!

Today I feel beyond excited, so ready for this opportunity for our family! I feel sad, as it is hard to say goodbye to Eddie and the boys for a week ( River told me at least 40000 times how much he will miss me and why can't daddy go). I'm nervous, when you want something so bad for your child, I hope that I do well! And again, I feel grateful for this opportunity, grateful for all those who have helped make this happen!

I will try to provide a quick update daily for those who would like to follow my journey this week!