Training Tails
November 6th, 2006
We finally made it to Xenia (well, actually we are staying in Beaver Creek) and so far it has been BUSY :) My mother in law and I managed to get 3 kids on a 7 1/2 hour trip in "one piece." It was a relatively nice trip. We only got "lost" once and that was about a block from our hotel...because believe it or not, the street signs do not hang in the middle of the traffic lights (as in most cities I have been in) they are over to the left...in which case, when it is dark (like it was when we got here) you cannot see them until you are right on top of them...and since the road we were on was 4 lanes we had to IN the lane we needed to be in...there was no changing your mind... so we got REALLY turned around. Thankfully Nikki was "there" to get us turned around right... it is a very busy city and our hotel room is BEAUTIFUL. We have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, vanities, living room, kitchen, dining table, tv's in each room, laundry valet, grocery valet, free breakfast, free WIFI and more!!! We are VERY happy to be here and thankful to Make A Wish foundation for making it a possibility. It is 11:39 now and everyone is sleeping (as I should be) but I am too wound up. A picture of Lacey is staring me in the face right now and I can't help but get excited about the possibilities... of all the ways our lives could be about to change... in just a few short hours... I"M SO EXCITED. I wish Phillip understood, but I PRAY that tomorrow he will. Anyway, we are here and I will be updating every night that I can. I will also be posting pictures too. I hope you enjoy reading about our journey. -Misty
November 7, 2006
Our first day of training & meeting Lacey!! What a day! We met so many wonderful people, and DOGS!!! Let me tell you, the fur is flying! Karen says the dogs are shedding their coats to get ready for their winter fur...OH MY... Tory was going around gathering up fur and making doggie wigs!
Anyway... in our training class is Phillip & Lacey
,
Charlie & Snoopy (yes, like Charlie Brown & Snoopy)
Sage & Marco
Logan & Akira
Cady & Sean
and then Murray is there for some "tweaking" with Reece. (Murray is from a previous class)
Lacey, as you know is a hound mix (not sure WHAT mix...). Akira and Snoopy are Great Pyranese - Boxer Mixes. Sage's dog is an all american mutt (like Lacey!) , and Cady is a Black German Shepherd. They are all wonderful!
Training started out with everyone's dog being brought out and getting aquainted (lots of treats and praising for the dog...to get them 'happy' with you). Phillip wasn't crazy about Lacey putting her teeth on him, but now it's like "old hat" to him. He hardly yanks his hand away now! Lacey LOVES to give kisses and she really seems to like the children...even Phillip. Actually, I think she may like Phillip best. It could have something to do with the fanny pack of treats he wore around all day, but who knows & really, who cares...as long as they like one another!
We then worked on a couple of different commands (as a group we all give our dogs the command and Jeremy walks around to make sure everyone is getting some kind of response from the dogs). Today we worked on Sit, Down, and the 'tricks'. Each 4 Paws dog (at least Autism Assistance Dogs) is taught Shake, Bang (play dead), Speak and Roll Over. It's hillarious to see a bunch of grown ups standing around "killing" thier kids' service dogs!! For the tricks Jeremy gave us Beggin' Strips (Doggie Cocaine as Jeremy calls them) and Lacey really was NUTS. She would go through every trick with one command, just hoping to get a treat. I would tell her "Down" and she would try to shake, jump, and speak before she ever got her elbows to the floor! Now I know WHY Jeremy calls it that! :)
After the training day was over we packed the children and Lacey up and headed home. We weren't 100% sure about how Lacey and Phillip were going to do together...until we got them to the hotel. Lacey watches Phillip, she goes to him without being "commanded" to do so, he pats her, kisses her, and speaks to her without having to be told too. He is tolerating her teeth when she takes a treat, and he smiles at her kisses (which he used to detest)!!! We are so amazed already at the bond that is forming between the two. This evening when I put Phillip to bed, I put Lacey in there too. Phillip wasn't quite ready to go to bed so he: 'took Lacey for a ride'. She doesn't seem to mind. He has pulled her ears rather exuberently, sat on her, held her leg & rolled around in the bed next to her.
Our first day of training is finally at a close. Though we didn't do any tracking, or anything that "hard" with the dogs today...it was defin. VERY tiring. There are kids running around everywhere, cats running around, dogs lying everywhere, and people shouting, talking, and laughing! It's a very busy place!
Tomorrow will be here soon, so I better get some sleep now. Out to walk Lacey I go! Good night & thanks for reading!
November 8, 2006
Today training started at 10 a.m. A few of us were there at 9:30 to let our dogs run out back in the acre and a half lot that 4 Paws now has (it's awesome~ totally fenced in so the dogs are free to roam!)
We started the day with going around w/ everyone telling Jeremy how the dogs did overnight, if we had any questions/ concerns, and how the dogs were doing with the kids. I, of course told Jeremy that Lacey had been wonderful, that she was only not cooperating with Roll Over, and that she ADORES the kids!!! (we all adore her!) Then we worked on Down and Sit, worked on using the Down and Sit commands from different directions and while holding and not holding the leash. Jeremy has trained the dogs to understand that Down means "lie down until you are told to get up" and that Sit means "sit down until you are told to get up, or lie down." If the dogs lie down when they are supposed to be sitting, you give them a quick "snap" of their training collar and say "NO, sit" (the same if they sit when they are supposed to be lying down.) You can walk over top of the dogs, around them, throw treats around (for most) and even balls (for most) and they will stay in their "position."
After we had all worked on those commands a few dozen times, we worked on "Place" (you lie a mat down and tell the dog Place, and the dog is to go to their 'place' and they can sit, lie down, whatever, so long as they stay on their place), and "Heal". We worked on Heal with a buggy also, and got to see Murray and Reece work together with tethering. (we can't wait to use tethering so that Phillip will have some independance from us!)
Tomorrow morning we are going to start working on tracking. Now, I found out something 'interesting' about Lacey today. She is the fastest dog on Earth! This morning she out-ran every dog at 4 paws. EVEN the dogs that are bigger than her!! I am in for a MAJOR workout tomorrow! She is like a streak of brown lightning!
Anyway... after training today we came home and Lacey greeted "her kids" with a slobbery kiss (all 3 of them have to have a kiss), then she climbs up on the couch for a nap. She tolerates Phillip playing with her ears, trying to ride her like a horse, etc with a grain of salt. She goes into her kennel with a simple "kennel up" and is currently laying on the couch with Phillip who is (unsuccessfully) trying to aggravate her to peices! He has sat on her, had her head between his knees, pulled her ears, played with her feet, and had his feet and legs laying over the top of her body...and she just lies there like he isn't bothering her at all! What a BLESSING! Normally if he were supposed to be lying down, he would have already been up 1000 times, but with Lacey there he has just stayed there. They snuggle up occasionally and all is well in "our little world."
Hope you enjoyed reading about Training Day #2 and we hope to "see you" again tomorrow! Good Night & God Bless!
November 9, 2006
Today training started with our first Track! Lacey is trained to track Phillip by his scent if he ever gets lost/ runs off. Well, right now she is trained to track Jeremy (the wonder trainer) but soon she will know that she is to be tracking Phillip. She has to learn his scent well to learn that she is supposed to be tracking him. We started by having Phillip (and Shawn, who was nice enough to go 'hide' with Phillip) walk about 300 yards away from where Jeremy, Lacey and I were standing. We let Lacey watch them walk off at first (she was howling and barking w/ anticipation the whole time!) and then took her away when they were almost there. Jeremy took her tracking collar and her flexi lead, showed them to her, got her excited by talking 'fun' to her and then hooked her up and she was ready to go! Lacey weaved back and forth for a few seconds and then her nose was to the ground and she was off... flying as fast as Jeremy would let her go. I was running along (much out of breath...whew) and Jeremy was telling me how to "read her" (meaning when she 'has' the scent, when she is trying to find it, etc). In less than 5 minutes she had found Phillip & Shawn and was getting lots of praise and treats for "playing a good game" of hide & go seek! After that, we all went to lunch and met back at 4 paws to start training on some new tasks: Lap, Nuzzle, Over, and to work more on all the others we have learned so far. Lap is a command for the dogs to lie their head in your (Phillips) lap.
Nuzzle is for them to kind of 'request' attention. Lacey sticks her nose into Phillip's arm (or wherever) and nuzzles at him for attention, and Over is for her to lie all the way over Phillip's legs (useful for times when he is throwing a fit, or taking his meds and trying to get away).
We had to put Lacey in a Gentle Leader today which looks kind of like a muzzle, but is not. It really just makes it where I have "control" of her head, and instead of "correcting" her with her "choke chain" I 'lead' her in the direction I want her to go (If I want her to lie down, I gently pull her towards the floor and tell her Down). I have to do this because she is a hound and has a very high pain tolerance, and NOT that I am trying to hurt her when I correct her, but I want her to at least acknowledge that I have corrected her...and she doesn't. She knows what she is supposed to be doing, but right now Jeremy is still "the boss" to her so she has to learn to respect me. She doesn't like the Gentle Leader so hopefully it will not take her long to learn that I am the "boss" and then she will no longer have to wear it.
After training today, I took my first trip to Wal-Mart with Lacey (along with Melissa (Logan's Mom) and Akira). Wal-Mart was SUPER busy and the dogs did well. Lacey's only "problem" was that she wanted to lick every child that went by. We came home and when we got to the door she could hear the kids in side and her tail was going 90 miles an hour! She was soo happy to see them and went straight over to give Phillip kisses! Right now, as I am typing this Phillip and Lacey are on the couch (supposed to be sleeping) and Phillip is alternating between kissing her and head butting her (which he doesn't do to hurt her...it's just stimming). She just looks at him and then lies back down... 'whatever' she says! :) She really is a blessing to "put up with him" Hopefully she will not decide he is "too much." Thanks for reading! Good Night & God Bless!
November 10-12, 2006
I am sorry for missing the last few days. Jamie got here on Friday afternoon and we have been busy all the time since then...he, Lacey, & Phillip are in bed asleep right now, so I thought I would take this opportunity to catch up. I am not exactly sure what has happened on what day but I will try to recall it as best I can.
Friday started with a track (again) at a different park. This time Nikki (Charlies' Mom) took Phillip for his walk to "hide." They walked straight for about 100 yards then veared off to the right and hid behind some small trees & brush. Lacey and I watched them about 1/2 way and then I took Lacey behind some cars so that she couldn't see (Jeremy says dogs are natural cheaters so if she watches where they go then she will not "track" she will just run in the direction she saw them go LOL). Jeremy snapped on her tracking collar (which has a heavy duty latch) and her flexi lead (which is solid nylon mesh, not those little stringy ones) and she was ready to go! She was pretty much right on Phillip's trail the whole time, only getting off of it a bit when they had veared to the right...she found them in no time flat and was ready to do it again! She really is a 'tracking machine'!
After everyone had a practice at tracking we took lunch and headed back to 4 Paws training center. We went over everyone's night (did the dogs eat, where did they sleep, how are they doing w/ the family, etc) and discussed any questions we might have. Then Jennifer (one of the puppy trainers) took 3 of us at a time to the store (myself, Nikki & Matt went to Lowe's Hardware) to see how the dogs were doing in public. Lacey and Phillip went out tethered for the first time and they did fantastic. (I know the pic. isn't great, but it shows Phillip holding on & both of their harness'.
We also put Lacey in the gentle leader which she isn't crazy about, but she is much more obedient when it is on. She stayed in a down while Phillip looked at some books and several kids walked by (this is her weakness) and she walked nicely with Phillip while he held on to the handle on her back. Then we went back to 4 Paws and proceeded to work on tethering. That means that we put the dogs' harness on, put them in a "down" in the middle of the floor and while we held their leash Jeremy hooked a really LONG leash to them and basically dragged them around the floor with it (by their harness) They do this 'exercise' so that the dog will be used to being pulled around by their harness. It was hillarious to see some of these dogs (75 lbs. and more) being dragged across the floor on their stomachs!) They were on hard flooring so they just kind of slid along. Then, Jamie finally got to Ohio (he loved the flight, by the way) and watched as we worked on the basics again (with distractions, like balls bouncing across the floor, treats flying, etc). We went to Logan's Roadhouse after training and Lacey went with us. She laid beside the table in a corner and was very well behaved (she only got up a couple of times when she saw lindsey drop food from the other side of the table...)and the manager even came and asked if there was anything Lacey would like!!! I bet that doesn't happen often!!!
Saturday started with another track in the FREEZING cold & rain! It was crazy. Friday we were out in long sleeves and jeans, and Saturday we had to wear coats & hats,etc. Lacey did great as usual. Jamie and Phillip 'hid' and Lacey and I tracked them. It was the first time I 'handled' Lacey while she tracked (Jeremy had always done it previously). We did pretty good. Even Jeremy said so, which is like the "ultimate compliment" because I think most of us feel like we have to "impress" him with our 'great handling skills' LOL After tracking we went to lunch at the mall where we were later meeting Jeremy for our first 'public access eval.' Jeremy just walked with us (Lacey and I) while we were strolling around the mall. Because Lacey is CRAZY over kids he had me take her to build a bear. WOW. When we first walked in she was wagging all over (NOT just her tail LOL) but after a couple of gentle corrections (she was wearing her gentle leader again, so it just takes a gentle tug to correct her) she was back on track and just kind of glancing at the children. She did great otherwise. We had Phillip tethered while we were there (other than when Jeremy walked with us, because Phillip was playing in the Mall Playground) and they did great. There was one point when Phillip was trying to walk off because we were standing still and Lacey just laid there looking at him. It was funny because Phillip figured out that Lacey was holding him to his place so he went over to her and was going to step on her paws to try to get her up! LOL It wasn't funny because he was going to hurt her, but because he figured it out and was 'mad' about it!!! After the mall (which by the way was so busy that we couldn't move 5 feet without walking around someone) we got to finish for the day. We went to PetSmart and ToysRUs with Lacey that night and she did great in TRU (stayed in a 'down' for probably 10 minutes while Phillip looked at books) but then got a little over excited in PetsMart. She still wasn't "bad" there, but I forgot to put her gentle leader on her so she ddin't really want to listen. Jeremy said that they are like little kids and that Lacey will "try us" the first dozen or so times we go out...just to make sure that the same rules apply outside of 4 paws, as they do Inside 4 Paws... LOL
Sunday started with another track. It was dry today but FRIGID (about 39 degrees). The kids all stayed in the vehicles until it was their turn to 'get tracked'. I hid with Phillip today while Jamie tracked with Lacey & Jeremy. They did really well together and had no trouble finding us. After everyone had had 'their turn' at tracking we went to lunch. Jamie, Phillip & I went to Perkins with Nikki, Erich, Charlie, Snoopy, Melissa, Shawn, Logan & Akira. It was great fun to see all the other customers' faces when they realized that there were 3 dogs under out table and not just one. They could see Akira at the end of the table, but NOT Lacey and Snoopy who were both UNDER the table (which by the way is soemthing else that 4 paws teaches them...to go "under" the table) HA..especially when 2 of them were HUGE dogs! LOL Then we went back to 4 Paws training center and Karen was there. We talked to the intern from Australia who is here to learn about the Autism Assistance Dogs so that Australia can start having them also!!! And she hung around and took a bunch of pictures of everyone and visited with the dogs some. We worked on healing the dogs around all of the other dogs (which is a distraction both ways (for the dog being 'healed' and the dogs that are being 'healed' around).) Then he talked to us about general care for the dogs: food, grooming, medications, etc. and answered any questions that we had (like what kind of brushes we needed, when we needed to give meds, is there anywhere to get life insurance on the dogs (yes), and things like that). After that we talked about what we would do on Tuesday (track then probably go to another store) and then the day was over. We are off tomorrow (YAY) so we are going to spend the day with the kids and relaxing. I'm sure Lacey is ready for a 'day off' too. She is SO tired that every night she comes back to the room and just 'crashes' until morning. Seems that the other dogs are doing the same things! SO, that's what's been going on. I hope you enjoyed reading about everything! Thanks for reading & God Bless!
November 13, 2006
Today was our day off from training because Jeremy had to go to the prison to see the dogs that are "in jail" (see 4 Paws website for more info. about that program). We got our room cleaned up then went to the mall for a few hours. We had Phillip & Lacey's picture taken (they are BEAUTIFUL!!!) and they did well. Then we went to Cracker Barrel with Nikki, Erich, Charlie & Snoopy. The dogs did great after they finished saying "hi" to one another. Then we came home and Phillip and Lacey shared a banana! Phillip would get a bite
then he would give Lacey a bite,
then he would get another bite. I know some of you are just grossing out, but for Phillip to share his banana... big thing... especially because she wasn't verbally asking him for a bite, he was just doing it of his own will!!! HOORAY!!! Anyway, Lacey goes to bed with Phillip every night and has no problem with the Go to Bed command LOL. Thanks for reading & God Bless!
November 14, 2006
A very sad thing happened today. My grandmother (age 86) died today. She was my mother's mother and has been suffering from cancer for over a year now. Please remember my family in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.
Today training started with everyone just sitting around the training room with their dogs and asking Jeremy questions and talking about how the dogs were doing, and "problems" we might have (like the dogs trying to play too rough (which they do sometimes)), and any problems we are having with commands, etc. We asked about Lacey growling at a color of person. She was surprised by him and then she couldn't seem to get over being afraid of him so she growled... Jeremy told us what to do with her and she hasn't done it since. We were not going to tracking this morning because a lady from Iams dog food was supposed to be coming to talk to us about taking care of and feeding our dogs. She ended up not coming so we went over our basic commands again and working the dogs with distractions (like other dogs walking around the room, etc) and then at around noon we broke for lunch. Jamie and I decided to stay at 4 Paws for lunch today (along with Melissa & Shawn and Nikki & Erich) and we let the dogs run out back. After lunch we went to the park (the fair grounds park) and did a track with the dogs. This time we were "in charge" of the dog and Jeremy walked/ trotted behind and told us what we should be doing, etc. I was the one tracking w/ Lacey today and we did GREAT until we got to the point where Jamie and Phillip had scared a groundhog down into the woods! Lacey of course smelled the ground hog and decided to look for it and IF I had been "reading" her body signs then I would have known that she was "off track" because she wasn't pulling as hard on the Flexi when she went into the woods...but because I'm NEW to this tracking stuff (LOL) I followed that crazy dog down into the woods where she went back and forth and up and down this slope and wound us around trees and through some brush... GEESH.... then we went back UP the slope and started off where we got distracted and we went right to where they were (a little bit past, but then back) and down into the little gully where they were hiding! YAY Lacey~! And kudo's to me because I did pretty good other than letting her go on a wild groundhog chase! LOL
Then I got the bad news about my grandmother so we left to come back to the room because I wanted to be with my children. We will not be leaving because I know that my grandmother would not want us to NOT get to take Lacey home because of her funeral...so I will be continuing with my updates. I think tomorrow is our last day of actual trianing (the Iams woman is coming in the morning then I'm not sure what we are doing in the afternoon. Thursday is our Public Access test (which Jeremy says we have nothing to worry about because even though Lacey is very hardheaded she is VERY good when we are out in public. And then GRADUATION!!!! YIPPEE!!!! Thanks for reading & God Bless!
November 15, 2006
Today started with us meeting at the center to listen to the Iams lady. She brought us all electric toothbrushes to brush our dogs teeth (Jeremy gave us the rest of them for our kids LOL) and told us about the right nutrition for them, etc. After she left we went out for a track before it got really nasty outside. It had already started to rain and it was only 41 degrees (the rain was FREEZING) but we all braved the wind and rain and did the track anyway. Lacey and I were totally on their own for the first time (Jeremy just stood back and watched) and we did GREAT!! Jeremy once again said that Lacey has a great nose and that all we have to do is make sure she is "ON" her track and not just running cause she likes too. She ran dead on most of the way and only got off a little at the corners (this is typical behavior when a dog tracks) and ran to find Phillip *and Jamie* like a pro! Jeremy said we did great...which once again is lke "the ultimate" compliment. :) Then we broke for lunch (we went to Bob Evans with Nikki & Erich) and met back at 4 Paws. Everyone is sure to pick at me when Jeremy tells us what time to be back because one day last week I was late because I thought Jeremy said 1:15 and he had said 15 til 1. Sooo... I was 30 minutes late and everyone makes sure to tell me "15 AFTER, Misty" or "15 TIL, Misty" I just go ahead and say "I know, I know" before they even say it now... LOL. Anyway, we met back there and worked on basic commands again and then worked on "touch", "nuzzle", and "over" and then worked some with the kids (the ones that would participate) and then we talked to Jeremy about our public access test. He assures us that he isn't worried about any of us passing. He said if he were, he would have worked w/ us more before now... thankfully. I don't know what we would do if we actually failed tomorrow. But hopefully all will be well. We went to Logan's (again) after 'work' today and Melissa, Shawn, Logan and Emma met us there. We had Lacey and they had Akira and Lacey did NOT want to stay in her "down". I finally had to take Tory's coat and lie it on the floor so that she would have something to lay on. She does NOT like to lie on a cold floor! She's so spoiled! Anyway, after that we came home and worked on getting everyone to sleep.
Thanks again for reading & God Bless.
November 16, 2006
Today we GRADUATED!!!!! Ok, so that didn't happen first, but HEY it's so exciting that I had to put it first!! I am SO proud of myself, of Lacey, of all the 'guys and gals & dogs' that we 'worked' with, of Jeremy and of 4 Paws!!! YAY!!!!
Today actually started at 11 o'clock at the mall. We met Jeremy at the mall (our times were staggered) so that we could do our Public Access Test. We had to walk through the mall with Lacey in "heal" and we had to go into stores do "Sit", "Down", drop the leash (noticebly for the dog), the dog had to ignore sudden noises and people walking over them and around them (Lacey DOES sniff the kids, but other than that she mostly ignores them when she is "working"), and they had to go into a "down" and 'hang out' for a meal at a restaurant. We did this portion of the test in the mall Food Court. There were birds flying around and I could tell that it took A LOT of self control for Lacey to not get up and at least bark at those birds, but she didn't... I was SO proud! (She got a beggin' strip for that) :) ~~Yes there were birds in the food court at the mall (Jeremy said there used to be trees in there and that was probably why they removed them LOL) Lacey did well on her P.A.T and only misbehaved when she saw Jeremy and she wanted to go and greet him! Then we left (Jeremy had to watch us to see how she was getting into the van (if she waited her turn in a "Sit")). We went to PetSmart and picked up some Kong's, Nylabones and things for Karen & 4 Paws (check out their wish list on www.4pawsforability.org and click on New News). And then we went back to the training facility for graduation. We were all so nervous and then Karen and Jeremy finally relieved our stress when Karen said "Jeremy, do HAVE to fill out ALL of this paperwork? Is there anyone's I don't have to?" and Jeremy said "No, sorry you have to do them all" We were all breathing a sigh of relief then! The kids were SO cute during graduation! Phillip was up on the stage (just a little carpet covered rise from the floor) when Jeremy came over with the caps for the dogs & kids' so he just grabbed one from Jeremy and put it on...Jeremy said "well, I guess Phillip & Lacey can go first!" LOL SO I walked Lacey up onto the stage, Phillip and Lacey put on their caps and Karen (and everyone else) took lots of pictures while Phillip acted silly with his hat!
Then the others' graduated too!
Sage, Marco & Chris Allan
Logan, Akira, Melissa, Shaugn & Emma Davenport
Sean, Cady & Matt LaRochelle
Charlie "Brown" and Snoopy, Nikki & Erich Maul
Anyway, then we filled out papers, said our "goodbye's" took pics. of Phillip with Karen
& Jeremy "the wonder trainer"
and then left 4 Paws! 
We are packing tonight (well some of us are-LOL)
and leaving first thing in the morning for WV to go to Grannys' funeral and then off to NC we go... HOME!!! Finally! We are so excited to introduce Lacey to our families and to introduce her to her new home! . Thank you for reading & God Bless. In addition, thank you for your thoughts and prayers over the last two weeks and all of your support! God Bless! -Misty
Home again, Home again, Jiggety Jig!
November 21, 2006 - We've been home for a few days now and things are settling in (somewhat). Lacey is doing well. She is still STUBBORN (I don't think she'll ever NOT be) but she is well behaved when we are out so that counts for a lot! I wanted to share with you how things have changed (though small things) just since we have been home. TOnight for instance, I went to check on Phillip and instead of being up and in front of the TV like he usually is: he was in the bed lying on Lacey! SO sweet! And yesterday I went to Wal-Mart (nothing unusual right?) BUT I went with all three of my kids...BY MYSELF (well, with Lacey) and NO ONE was in a buggy! It was great! People stared at us (especially when Lacey was basically dragging Phillip (because he didn't want to walk with us, he wanted to stop and look) and then he had a melt down over some Elmo coloring books (Lacey went to him and gave him a kiss :) )...but I am used to the stares. The really 'funny' thing was that when we were first going into the store a man walked by and said "I don't envy you one bit" and I thought... I would if I were you... I have a GREAT life! Not to mention that he had NO IDEA how much easier it was to be holding onto Lacey's leash and Tory's hand (I was carrying Lindsey) that it was to try and carry Lindsey and still hold two hands! Plus, part of the time Tory holds onto the end of Lacey's leash while I hold the extra handle on the leash so don't have to hold any hands (just hold Lindsey and the leash)!! Life is good! I can finally relax for two seconds at the mall when Phillip isn't in a buggy because I know he can't get any further than the end of his tether, I can put him to bed at night and know that if he escapes his room in the middle of the night that I will know it because Lacey ALWAYS goes straight to the nearest face and LICKS IT (or jumps up in my bed...either way I will wake up LOL) I can know that Phillip isn't alone...even when we are not there and that he is learning new things..maybe because of the comfort he feels with Lacey in his life. Yesterday he said 3 new words/ phrases!! (Tree, Not Funny, and What's up!) That is AWESOME!!! Who would have ever thought that a 50 lb. hound dog from Ohio could/would change our lives so much?
We are sure glad she did though...and so thankful to the family that donated her and to 4 Paws for picking her for us! Thank you all for reading, to all of you who had a part in making this dream come true, thank you for all the prayers, support, and for reading & sending messages, etc. Thank you all & God Bless you each and everyone.
Sincerely, Misty - Mommy to Phillip the Wonder Boy, Lacey the Wonder Dog, Tory & Lindsey
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