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I had a spa day today @boneappetitutah #groomingatboneappetitbymonica https://www.instagram.com/p/B2SWDZSA9h4/?igshid=8lrudr1zp0gi

#groomingatboneappetitbymonica

He’s a short clip of some off leash training with Leo. I’ve recently come to realize that there are situations where I would need him off leash for certain tasks. Today we worked on solidifying off leash work and high distractions. Home Depot is a great place to do confidence building, distractions and fine tuning. #servicedogalwaystraining https://www.instagram.com/p/B2QDuG_gG_M/?igshid=1lvwb854d355v

#servicedogalwaystraining

Mom catches me in all kinds of sleeping positions. #sleepingdog #zzzzzzzzz #puppyrest https://www.instagram.com/p/B2NQgwmA3eC/?igshid=l6raqwi5ruf

#sleepingdog #zzzzzzzzz #puppyrest

Took mom to the cardiologist today. The doctor said she has Dysautonomia. The POTS is a symptom of that. (I kind of expected to hear this diagnosis, so it wasn’t too stressful to have it as a final diagnosis. Luckily I have an amazing medical team and support around me.) #dysautonomia #potssyndrome #chronicillness #fybromyalgia #ankylosingspondylitis https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MrDPRAfm2/?igshid=1jdxds6i47bwc

#dysautonomia #potssyndrome #chronicillness #fybromyalgia #ankylosingspondylitis

❤️❤️Leo comforts me after an episode in our backyard. ❤️❤️ I still think I can do it all. I try to be normal, but my normal comes with limits. I don’t ask for help, because I’m afraid to appear weak or less than. I put on a show, so my kids don’t see me suffering. This is my reality, and I am still trying to find the balance I need to be strong. I love to travel and explore, but since my health has been more challenging it’s become harder on my body to do. My joints and body ache and the exhaustion is unreal. Leo has been my guardian angel through it all. Things I’m learning: It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to say no. It’s okay to walk away. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to say “enough!” Don’t let your disabilities and the struggle you deal with daily define you, you are stronger than you think and beautiful with all your flaws and weaknesses. I’m constantly saying that I never thought that something I viewed with negativity (my disabilities) could connect me with so many beautiful people. My best friend @service_dog_murphy handler is in my life because our disabilities connected us. We are stronger together and help each other when needed. This community can be so beautiful when we are supporting and helping each other to stay strong. Remember kindness and compassion always win. #bekind #loveyourself #showcompassion #yourdisabiltydoesntdefineyou #yourestrong #youreamazing #yourebeautiful #youcandoanything #buildothersup #embraceyourinnerbeauty https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MexS9A922/?igshid=4m9ij0x6jvv0

#bekind #loveyourself #showcompassion #yourdisabiltydoesntdefineyou #yourestrong #youreamazing #yourebeautiful #youcandoanything #buildothersup #embraceyourinnerbeauty

Got to meet up with a friend who is the handler of a loving angel SD. Jacquie is from the first litter the organization had. She’s so sweet and both pups did so amazing together. Salt Lake City was fun, but we are so happy to be home. #servicedogweekend #servicedogtrip #servicedoglife #servicedog #starbucks #starbuckspupcup #servicedogteammeetup https://www.instagram.com/p/B2KqiRag9uZ/?igshid=x0qa9n5zyjwu

#servicedogweekend #servicedogtrip #servicedoglife #servicedog #starbucks #starbuckspupcup #servicedogteammeetup

My Service Dog is not here to entertain your children. Today at the mall I had to tell 3 children they were not allowed to pet Leo. Normally it wouldn’t bother me, but each time the parents said, “ooooo, look, look, look, a dog. Go say hi” 🤦‍♀️. Another time in the mall a mom tried to come towards us to pet Leo (I forgot to mention I was in my wheelchair at the time too) so I had my husband steer us the opposite way. Leo was working hard, I wasn’t doing the best and I needed him to be focused and not distracted. Parents, if you see a service dog and handler together, please educate your children that it is a working/service/assistance/guide dog and that they need to let it do its job. Luckily, Leo was on point and had my back. I honestly don’t know how I would manage day to day without him. #servicedog #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedoglife #donotdistractservicedogs https://www.instagram.com/p/B2IViTQA2A3/?igshid=1rqzrg1zi1ezd

#servicedog #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedoglife #donotdistractservicedogs

My Service Dog is not here to entertain your children. Today at the mall I had to tell 3 children they were not allowed to pet Leo. Normally it wouldn’t bother me, but each time the parents said, “ooooo, look, look, look, a dog. Go say hi” 🤦‍♀️. Another time in the mall a mom tried to come towards us to pet Leo (I forgot to mention I was in my wheelchair at the time too) so I had my husband steer us the opposite way. Leo was working hard, I wasn’t doing the best and I needed him to be focused and not distracted. Parents, if you see a service dog and handler together, please educate your children that it is a working/service/assistance/guide dog and that they need to let it do its job. Luckily, Leo was on point and had my back. I honestly don’t know how I would manage day to day without him. #servicedog #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedoglife #donotdistractservicedogs https://www.instagram.com/p/B2IViTQA2A3/?igshid=1r322i00hcton

#servicedog #servicedogsofinstagram #servicedoglife #donotdistractservicedogs

@thankspoint #museumofancientlifeutah and #farmcountrythanksgivingpoint we had a blast. The dinosaur exhibit was Leo and my favorite. In the farm country the big horses loved Leo, I wish I had grabbed a video because it was so cute. The picture with Leo and I in front of the horses was a hoot. While my hubby took the photo I said, “omg the horses are going to get me!” My husband laughed at me, luckily they were more interested in Leo than me. Fun times up north in #saltlakecityutah https://www.instagram.com/p/B2H4nJPgVFS/?igshid=1awr4l87efmao

#museumofancientlifeutah #farmcountrythanksgivingpoint #saltlakecityutah

“Wut iz it?” Leo did amazing @thankspoint #butterflybiosphere . The butterflies were very interested in him and he was so amazing just watching them as the fluttered around. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HtgbkAGQx/?igshid=x6r936z7kve

#butterflybiosphere

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Okay, so I know this video is super dark, but there is a reason. @thankspoint in the #museumofancientlifeutah there is a room of darkness with a crate like floor to walk through. Leo was hesitant, but with some patience and high reward treats he was going in an out of the room with no problem. I love when we work together and he has a success like this. *my overly excited voice is hilarious, but I was so happy for him. https://www.instagram.com/p/B2HnSIsgstd/?igshid=1kbxu1zqwzhg2

#museumofancientlifeutah

Leo did great the first half of the game and then in the second half he got a little rattled by how loud the crowd got. Luckily after stepping away from the game and resetting he got back on track. One thing I’ve learned is that dog ear muffs would be great for this environment. I feel like every new situation brings some form of learning for me as the handler. What I love about this community and the support I have here and at home, is that even when I feel I’m failing (which in retrospect I can see that it was just one big learning experience and I came out on top in the end) they show me love and support, helping me be successful, which in return helps Leo be successful. If you ever doubt or feel lost my DM is open, no judgement. This is a process and everyone is at a different level in that process and that’s okay. With love, Gwyn and Leo https://www.instagram.com/p/B2GJNGhAySF/?igshid=141p572ru76wv

Went out and about today. Leo seemed to struggle a bit today, so I stepped back and worked on simplifying things and making sure he was having some wins. It didn’t take long before he was back on track and being the amazing service dog I know he is. I think that it’s normal for our SDs to have off days and that we need to be willing to take a step back and evaluate the situation. I also think we need to be willing to start back at the basics and work our way back to what is the norm. This can give our SDs the chance to be successful and help them be more confident well rounded dogs. How do you approach off days? #servicedogtraininglife https://www.instagram.com/p/B2DEHTDg7PE/?igshid=1r3cdf3j7bimf

#servicedogtraininglife

Thank you so much @saltlakepetportraits this brighten a very rough day for me. Leo says thank you as well. #petportraitartist https://www.instagram.com/p/B2A2MwfA7mx/?igshid=ac3yijpyiajg

#petportraitartist

“Out with mai peepz” (Went to breakfast at our favorite local restaurant. Found out they gave cinnamon rolls. When they brought the plate out we all were quite shocked by its immense size. I will say one thing, it was yummy!) #servicedogatrestaurant (at Bishop's Grill of St. George, UT - Sunset) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2AAqHcg7ql/?igshid=9bzk5pa464bl

#servicedogatrestaurant

“I iz teh bes boi. I got halp 4 mommo” (The more I think about it, this will be a very important skill for Leo. He is learning really fast and amazes me everyday. I am so proud of him. My favorite thing about today was when the staff and customers @harmonsgrocery watched us work together with smiles and awe on their faces. This has become a safe place for us and I absolutely love all the staff and the kindness they show Leo and I.) #servicedogworking https://www.instagram.com/p/B19qiiJgJm7/?igshid=110m5qw7r9vkl

#servicedogworking

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Leo is working so hard and improving each day. I’m so proud of his progress. I wanted to say a few words about service dog training. Everybody is at a different level in their training. Each team has different expectations and goals. As SD handlers we are all working so hard to give our SDs the best chance to be the best they can be. If we all work together to build each other up and help each other be successful we then make the SD community a better place. Today’s training was amazing because of the awesome teams helping each other work on the things we each needed and being patient and supportive throughout the process. So if you encounter a team that is struggling and working hard to work through that struggle, please be kind. We all want to be successful in this journey. #kindnesscanchangetheworld #servicedogteamsunited https://www.instagram.com/p/B166SU4AjpO/?igshid=15otbjg7q2b3k

#kindnesscanchangetheworld #servicedogteamsunited

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