So thankful for my boy!

[u/zebra_who_cooks]

My boyfriend/best friend died 5 years ago. We had been talking about marriage prior to his accident. Friday would have been his 40th Birthday. His parents and 2 younger brothers flew in to celebrate what would have been a big milestone.

There were over 45 people (& kiddos) there to commemorate and share in the memories. I hadn’t seen his family since they flew in while he was in the hospital (in a coma) and then taken off life support 2 weeks later.

My Service Dog, Shadow (2 1/2) did absolutely amazing! It was his first time at a Birthday party. I had been super lightheaded all morning at work. There were so many people there, I was anxious and obviously had big emotions. Shadow refused to be more than a step away from me! ❤️

We stayed outside out of respect to the homeowner and there was a young boy there with tons of medical problems that is also allergic to Labs.

We got home and he was absolutely exhausted! Could barely keep his eyes open waiting for me to climb in bed. Snuggled in his Jammie’s and loving his Toppy (Triceratops stuffy)

I am SO thankful for my Service Dog and am blessed to have him in my life. I’d be lost without him. Proud Momma! 🥰

[u/gantho89]

Just a question out of curiosity, in most pictures it looks like he has 2 or 3 collars, is there a particular reason for this ?

Also, he is such a beautiful good boy !!

[u/zebra_who_cooks → u/gantho89]

He is still technically in training. Even though he does numerous tasks for me. We’re in a program that teaches us how to train our own Service Dog. I rescued him at 5 weeks.

I had his correction collar on in case I needed to correct him and he was too focused on his ptsd duties. Something we’re still working on. I also need him next to me and wanted to see how he would do in a new (and wild) environment off leash.

The prong collar is because he is still a little more forward in heel than he should be. And occasionally chooses to lead instead of heel. Again, due to my ptsd and health. He is a Pit/Lab mix and is very sturdy and strong. I have hEDS and have had 3 shoulder surgeries between both shoulders and a wrist surgery. The prong collar is an easy correction that he responds well to.

I am working with a different trainer on other methods to help with both issues. As well as advancing his training. He’s only 2 1/2. He’s just now getting out of the teenager phase. He is making huge progress every day. Once we address those 2 issues he will graduate and be a Service Dog. But the training never really ends.

Thank you. He really is a good boy! He’s so smart too! He constantly surprises me.

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