#powerfulexistance

[actuallyservicedogs]

As an experienced handler, what are some thoughts on asking your SD to keep their head on your foot/feet whenever they are tucked underneath you? Is it a fair thing to ask of a dog (that is very good at settling)? I think I might start rewarding my SDiT for it (he naturally does so atm) and it'd be helpful in my situation to better tell if I have his full attention and he'll quickly be able to jump into his anxiety alert if his pillow starts shaking lol. Just wondering if u might have any advice

I think this is a good way to know where your dog is and also have him in a prime place to task for you if you need to. I don’t think it would be unfair for the dog -- especially if you were to allow him to adjust if he needed to. I know when I’m doing things like doing homework at a coffee shop, I definitely let my service dog adjust her position if she needs to because laying on the ground for hours can be hard and uncomfortable. You could pair it with a command so if you need him to have his head on your foot to make sure you know he’s focused, grounding, or to be readily available to you. Dogs slip up sometimes and it’d be good to have a verbal reminder.

The only thing I would say to keep in mind is that long downstays may be falling into the “unfair” zone to have him keep his head there the ENTIRE time. Like if you’re doing 5-6 hr downstays for example. But that’s where pairing the behavior with a command would come in handy. So you could either remind him or you could ask for it when you needed it.

Hope that helps!

Chelsea

[smoothexpression]

@powerfulexistance replied to your post “i’m considering applying to work at petvalu, it would be a closer...”

I'd say to apply and ask in the interview. At least then you'll know. And not have to smell popcorn.

true. i hate interviews.... i hate being disabled. why can’t i have a normal spine and need help from no one. 

[doberbutts]

#9 for the intrusive asks? :D

whats the worst pickup line someone has asked you

“I think my phone’s broken, it keeps deleting my friends’ numbers. How about you give me yours so I can see if I fixed it?”

Smooth- until you realize I was 19 being asked this by a 40yo dude when I worked at Radioshack.

[doberbutts]

Chinese crested for the breed ask :)

ALSO NAKIE

Yes yes powderpuffs are a thing but seriously, nakey.

Back when I used to go to church, there was a church member who had two of them and they were very cute. At my first store, a groomer had two puppies that I frequently stole and squished as well. They seem a lot like neato nakie terrier-ish dogs when they are not allowed to be shits and also when they’re properly taken care of. 

[smoothexpression]

[smoothexpression]

Ooooh I want to know #7!

7. biggest turn off(s)

the list could go on forever. but a good catch all is that i don’t like being treated roughly? at all, in any context. please universe go easy on me i’m a lot more fragile that i look 

[twobigears]

powerfulexistance replied to your post: housing babble I managed to corner the...

I hear there is a big dog collection of people in Boise at least? But that might just be show dog people

There does seem to be a decent agility scene there? Not nearly as big as Denver course, but decent enough. We have judge from Boise coming here in May so I’d figure I’d talk to him about it.

shotinthekidney replied to your post: housing babble I managed to corner the...

I hear you about being concerned about if something happens to your husband. Martin paid a lot of the bills because he wanted to live very rural and I didn’t make a lot of money freelancing. But Mart died and my choice to support his dream has severe consequences for me now. It’s been really tough trying to get back into a traditional career stream.

You and Martin have definitely been on my mind thinking about this. It’s something I’ve thought about for a while anyway, but since Martin died it’s been even more of a worry. I hate living around that “what if” but it’s a very important “what if”. Nobody expects that kind of tragedy to happen like it did to Martin, but sadly it happens. My husband’s dad dropped of a surprise heart attack ten years ago at 58, which is still rather young and close to home for us. He also paid a lot of the bills and it was very difficult for his wife financially when he died. I also have an older friend who is in this situation depending on her husband’s income, both of them have severe health issues and I worry about what will happen to her if/when he dies.

Very few trainers (and especially agility) are able to support themselves on training alone, but it is possible. It would definitely not be possible for me here in CO, or at least incredibly difficult, the number of single trainers I know around here I could count on one hand and that’s including general pet trainers. So I am concerned about it and choosing a place to live where it would at least be manageable for me to be the only source of income if needed. At this point I am rather “stuck” doing training because I’m far enough out of school that my degree is useless. I would have to go back to school for any hope of a more traditional job. Not that I really want that anyway.

[smoothexpression]

@powerfulexistance replied to your post “i slipped walking fox last night and landed on my back really hard. it...”

Oh gosh, I’m so sorry! If you need me to walk Fox let me know!

@hardcore-barkour replied to your post “i slipped walking fox last night and landed on my back really hard. it...”

:( hope you feel better soon, slipping is the worst

thanks guys, i think i’ll be ok, i don’t think i damaged by spine or anything, but it’s just the outside is very bruised, so when i try to lie down on my back it hurts, but i can’t sit up without back support (because of the kyphosis).